It's unclear whether the US would refurbish the submarines before giving them to Australia, but Parker said it's reasonable to assume they would."If it is already of the age that it needs to have gone through its first one, which is about the 10-year mark, then you would expect that we would get [a refit]," she told SBS News.Parker said it's a reassuring sign that Australia was receiving Virginia-class submarines, as opposed to the older Los Angeles-class submarines reaching the end of their life."I was a little bit surprised because I thought they might sell off the Los Angeles-class because they have less need for those," she said.But some critics don't believe all Virginia-class submarines are made equal.The 'in service' Virginia-class submarines Australia will receive are Block IV boats "It was a down payment on our submarines full stop — to invest in enhancing the ability of the US submarine industrial base," she said