nup, runs out after the 5th ssn aukus in the mid 2050s.
Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
- Thread starter OPSSG
- Start date
Maybe they'll become our version of Taiwan's WW2 era subs
If the Japanese can pump out a Taigei submarine for under a billion dollars every four years, why would we not look at that option overMaybe they'll become our version of Taiwan's WW2 era subs
11 billion for a refurbished Collin’s and all the challenges that go with such an endeavour.
I’m sure it’s not as simple as the above but the above needs a very very good answer.
Upgrading Collin’s also makes us very subservient to two much larger players in the UK and USA.
The Collins Class cannot escape the reality of age.
Sure everyone is playing nice at the moment with the aim of the greater good; but realpolitik can bite you in the bum.
To Quote Don Chip
“If ever there was a need to keep the bastards honest, now is the time”
Our transition to HMAS AUKUS needs some leverage from our end.
Spend money on a Colin’s refit , or buy some insurance, options and stop gap capability with a modest number of new build submarines.
Cheers S
The $11 b is probably the life of type through to retirement, including workforce and infrastructure that can and will pivot to AUKUS. An interim type will cost a lot more than the sticker price, and could easily workout to be more expensive.
I can imagine the logistics and training burden required to operationalise a 3rd submarine type, all for the introduction of a Japanese type only being a stop-gap measure pending arrivals of first Virginias etc.
What an absolute nightmare that would be to try to organise, fund and crew.
In the meantime we would still be operating Collins, unchanged.
If anything, the introduction of an interim far more modern conventional sub, even though it’s suboptimal in the Australian operational context, would detract commentators and motivations to follow thru and get the SSNs. -
The Band-Aid would default to the lesser standard.
Nah, IMO don’t get distracted.
upgrade what we have and prep for the arrival of the actual solution.
What an absolute nightmare that would be to try to organise, fund and crew.
In the meantime we would still be operating Collins, unchanged.
If anything, the introduction of an interim far more modern conventional sub, even though it’s suboptimal in the Australian operational context, would detract commentators and motivations to follow thru and get the SSNs. -
The Band-Aid would default to the lesser standard.
Nah, IMO don’t get distracted.
upgrade what we have and prep for the arrival of the actual solution.
Going Boeing
Well-Known Member
Every article from official sources has stated that the RAN is to acquire 8 SSN AUKUS vessels with the 3 Virginia’s to be only interim boats.
The only articles that state that the RAN is only getting 5 SSN AUKUS vessels have been from journalists who haven’t researched the available information sufficiently and didn’t plot the timeline to realise the Virginia’s are only being used as interim capability until the locally built SSN’s are available in sufficient numbers.
If you have information from a reliable source that contradicts this, would you please post the links?