Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0

[iambuzzard]

Interesting update. It makes better sense, I don't know why they didn't start with this. If we had one boat with twice the life of the other two it would mean that we would have a single orphan asset for about 15 years. That's a logistical nightmare. This enables a simpler transition to the eventual AUKUS boats.

I am interested in the payload agreement. I imagine this is very secret squirrel stuff, however we have been discussing what might form the future payload for a Ghost Shark, and it looks like this is starting to be shaped. I wounder how central Anduril are to this.

Anduril got a commitment for the Barracuda missiles from the US Government recently, I wonder if their Copperhead torpedo could be in the mix.

Also and most importantly, why did Anduril name their air product after a fish, and their undersea product after a land snake. This is doing my head in.

Mine too, Sammy

 

[Going Boeing]

Having the 3 Block 4 Virginia’s makes sense as they should be approaching retirement as No’s 6, 7 & 8 SSN AUKUS boats are available from Osborne.

I could not understand the plan to have the 3rd Virginia as a new build as it would still have approximately 15 years of life left when the 8th SSN AUKUS becomes available.

 

[iambuzzard]

Having the 3 Block 4 Virginia’s makes sense as they should be approaching retirement as No’s 6, 7 & 8 SSN AUKUS boats are available from Osborne.

I could not understand the plan to have the 3rd Virginia as a new build as it would still have approximately 15 years of life left when the 8th SSN AUKUS becomes available.

It's also commonality of all three boats. Crew training and transfers between them will be simplified.

 

[StevoJH]

Has it been confirmed that the RAN will still be getting Block IV Virginia class?

There is no reference in the official statement by the Defence Minister as to what Submarines will be transferred.

Hopefully we don’t end up with Block I hulls, they are not much newer then Collin’s and even if the RAN can get 40 years out of the hulls they will start to age out in the late 2040’s.

 

[iambuzzard]

Has it been confirmed that the RAN will still be getting Block IV Virginia class?

There is no reference in the official statement by the Defence Minister as to what Submarines will be transferred.

Hopefully we don’t end up with Block I hulls, they are not much newer then Collin’s and even if the RAN can get 40 years out of the hulls they will start to age out in the late 2040’s.

I think it was clearly stated all three will be Block IV.

 

[StevoJH]

I think it was clearly stated all three will be Block IV.

The written joint statement released by the Defence Minister refers only to Virginia Class Submarines, it does not mention age or specification.

I haven't looked for any video statements, so it may have been mentioned there.

Would be happy to be proven wrong.

 

[Going Boeing]

Has it been confirmed that the RAN will still be getting Block IV Virginia class?

There is no reference in the official statement by the Defence Minister as to what Submarines will be transferred.

Hopefully we don’t end up with Block I hulls, they are not much newer then Collin’s and even if the RAN can get 40 years out of the hulls they will start to age out in the late 2040’s.

Previous releases indicated that the first 2 Virginia’s will be Block 4 as they are required to have 20 years of service life available when they enter service in 2032 & 2034 - the earlier blocks would not have enough life considering the reactor fuel is designed to last 33 years.

The Block 4’s are desirable as they have lower maintenance requirements than the earlier Blocks which suits RAN operations.

 

[StevoJH]

Previous releases indicated that the first 2 Virginia’s will be Block 4 as they are required to have 20 years of service life available when they enter service in 2032 & 2034 - the earlier blocks would not have enough life considering the reactor fuel is designed to last 33 years.

The Block 4’s are desirable as they have lower maintenance requirements than the earlier Blocks which suits RAN operations.

That was the original plan, and I'm hoping that it is still the plan.

However I find it concerning that there has been no recent detail on the matter.