Which submarine will Australia build?

Now it has been decided that the RAN should acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered fighter-killer submarines (SSNs), the question is: which one?

Given that Australia’s technology partners in this nuclear company are the US and the UK, the choices will be the US Virginia class, the British Astute class or – unlikely, but who knows – maybe an Astute class boat that comes with a US fighter aircraft is equipped management system and the use of US weapons.

Some Australian specific adjustments to either class might be required, but it’s hard to imagine that anything other than minimal changes to a proven design would be accepted in-service when the switch to the nuclear option adds years to the already leisurely schedule of the attack class.

Nothing is ever easy, and another complication is that both the US and UK have now initiated programs for their next-generation Virginia and Astute class successors.

The timing of the US SSN (X) and UK Submersible Ship Nuclear Replacement (SSNR) programs ensure their relevance to Australia, probably not as potential platforms, but with improved capabilities that can be used in late-built Virginia or Astute class can be integrated.

The first nuclear boat for the RAN is expected to be completed around 2035, the first US SSN (X) is scheduled to be completed in 2031, while a firm schedule for the SSNR does not yet need to be announced but will likely be required around 2035 when the first class HMS Astute completed 25 years of service.

According to the US Navy’s current shipbuilding plan, the last four of 39 Virginia-class submarines will be procured in 2032 and 2033. The seventh and final boat in the Astute class will enter service in 2026.

Both types represent the very latest in western hunter killer technology.

A Virginia-class submarine is 115 meters long, 10.36 meters wide, displaces 7,900 tons, has an underwater speed of more than 25 knots and a crew of 134 people. The boat is powered by a single General Electric pressurized water nuclear reactor and a pump-jet propulsor (developed by BAE Systems for the earlier British Swiftsure-class SSNs).

In terms of armament, a Virginia boat uses two six-cell Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs) for UGM-190 Tomahawk Block IV land attack cruise missiles with a range of 1,700 km and four 21-inch torpedo tubes for Mk-48 ADCAP- Torpedoes or mines. The last eight (Block V) boats in the class will have a new middle section of the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) that will house an additional 28 tomahawks, increasing the tomahawk population to 40, boat length to 140 meters and displacement to 10,200 tons will.

An Astute-class submarine is 97 meters long, 11.3 meters wide, displaces 7,000 tons, has an underwater speed of up to 30 knots and a 98-person crew. The boat is powered by a single Rolls-Royce pressurized water nuclear reactor and a pump-jet propulsor.

In terms of armament, an Astute boat has six 121-inch torpedo tubes with storage space for up to 38 Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes and / or UGM-109 Tomahawk Block IV land attack missiles.

According to the US Congressional Research Service, the newest Virginia-class Block IV is estimated to cost A $ 4.4 billion. The UK’s National Audit Office values ​​an Astute class boat at A $ 2.6 billion.

Experience has shown that construction in Australia will, in whole or in part, contribute significantly to these amounts.

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