Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates

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hauritz

Well-Known Member
With the first Attack sub still 15 or more years away the US is already pushing Australia to enter into a deal to develop the next generation of nuclear submarines.
US pushes next-generation nuclear attack submarine development deal for Australia
Republican House of Representatives member Michael Conaway, has launched a resolution calling on the US Department of Defense and Navy to work with "five-eyes" partners Australia, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand on an "international joint-build, cost-sharing program".

Given that the development time for submarines can drag on for decades it probably isn't a bad idea to enter into an agreement with the US and start the process as soon as possible.

Of course there is the issue of nuclear power to contend with but Australia will probably have around 30 years to sell the idea of nuclear submarines.




 

t68

Well-Known Member
With the first Attack sub still 15 or more years away the US is already pushing Australia to enter into a deal to develop the next generation of nuclear submarines.
US pushes next-generation nuclear attack submarine development deal for Australia
Republican House of Representatives member Michael Conaway, has launched a resolution calling on the US Department of Defense and Navy to work with "five-eyes" partners Australia, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand on an "international joint-build, cost-sharing program".

Given that the development time for submarines can drag on for decades it probably isn't a bad idea to enter into an agreement with the US and start the process as soon as possible.

Of course there is the issue of nuclear power to contend with but Australia will probably have around 30 years to sell the idea of nuclear submarines.
I can see that really go down well in NZ, CA well see if they still have a submarine program soon as for the US/UK?AU food for thought
 

Rob c

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Oy. I have four grandkids that are part Moari. I have been punished enough.
Hell, try to keep track of my offspring, my kids who are English,Irish, French, Scottish, African/American, Mohawk Indian, Moriori and some we haven't confirmed, By the time you get to the grandkids and great grandkids it gets totally out of hand. You could say the ancestors have been around a bit.
 

ASSAIL

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Hell, try to keep track of my offspring, my kids who are English,Irish, French, Scottish, African/American, Mohawk Indian, Moriori and some we haven't confirmed, By the time you get to the grandkids and great grandkids it gets totally out of hand. You could say the ancestors have been around a bit.
I think all you warlike Maori, including a prominent Mod, are set on taking over the RAN thread :eek:
 

hauritz

Well-Known Member
I can see that really go down well in NZ, CA well see if they still have a submarine program soon as for the US/UK?AU food for thought
The submarine they are talking about would be the SSN(X) which will probably be an evolved version of the Virginia class. They are scheduled to go into production from 2034.

I am not sure whether this would be of interest to Australia as they may be looking at building evolved versions of the Attack class. A lot will depend on how successfully Australia's submarine program will be progressing at that stage and on whether or not we were even interested in the nuclear option.

On the other hand it is becoming increasingly more expensive to develop new technologies and these sorts of international collaboration programs might be the way forward for smaller powers such as Australia.
 

StingrayOZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
The future is probably one unified reactor for the US/UK SSN in the next generation. Fitted for life.
Australia would probably appreciate being covered by such an arrangement, if it wanted to join it in the future and to benchmark our capability or just allows access to sensors and other tech. I expect this is just a starting point for future talks.

Canada? Subs? Defence spending? Working with the US? Nuclear? Really?
NZ? Ok, now someone is having a laugh. What is being described is Kiwi kryptonite. I don't see other new outlets running with this exclusive.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
With the first Attack sub still 15 or more years away the US is already pushing Australia to enter into a deal to develop the next generation of nuclear submarines.
US pushes next-generation nuclear attack submarine development deal for Australia
Republican House of Representatives member Michael Conaway, has launched a resolution calling on the US Department of Defense and Navy to work with "five-eyes" partners Australia, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand on an "international joint-build, cost-sharing program".

Given that the development time for submarines can drag on for decades it probably isn't a bad idea to enter into an agreement with the US and start the process as soon as possible.

Of course there is the issue of nuclear power to contend with but Australia will probably have around 30 years to sell the idea of nuclear submarines.
Well from the Kiwi POV if it involves nuke subs, the said pollie must've been smoking that there electric puha a.k.a., the wildwood weed. As far as I am aware, it's against the law here for entities to own and operate nuclear reactors on a permanent basis within NZ and it's territorial waters. I don't see any public support to change that in the foreseeable future either unless a viable breakthrough in fusion power happens.
 

Stampede

Well-Known Member
Well from the Kiwi POV if it involves nuke subs, the said pollie must've been smoking that there electric puha a.k.a., the wildwood weed. As far as I am aware, it's against the law here for entities to own and operate nuclear reactors on a permanent basis within NZ and it's territorial waters. I don't see any public support to change that in the foreseeable future either unless a viable breakthrough in fusion power happens.
What ever military practicality and appeal the concept has, it would be too great a political challenge to get traction in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Interesting thought bubble but not an idea to push.

Regards S
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Canada will likely never get a replacement for the Victoria class with new SSKs let alone SSNs. Canada will be out of the sub business by the early 2030s if no replacement happens and once gone it will never be restored.
 

Milne Bay

Active Member
Canada will likely never get a replacement for the Victoria class with new SSKs let alone SSNs. Canada will be out of the sub business by the early 2030s if no replacement happens and once gone it will never be restored.
That is a great shame - skills once lost, take a long time to replace from scratch.
I think that any submariners from Canada that want a career would be most welcome in the RAN.
I have noticed a couple of times in RAN video footage, submariners with accented english.
MB
 

StingrayOZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
That is a great shame - skills once lost, take a long time to replace from scratch.
I think that any submariners from Canada that want a career would be most welcome in the RAN.
I have noticed a couple of times in RAN video footage, submariners with accented english.
MB
I think around 30% of the RAN sub-force are transfers. RN, Canadians, Dutch (white South Africans who spent some time with the dutch then move on). UK makes up the largest contingent.

The ADF is particularly good at raiding talent. If Canada doesn't replace their subs, Australia would gladly absorb all of their uniforms that would want to come over who haven't already. There is a significant Canadian cohort in the RAN already. However, Canada hasn't exactly been bursting at the seems with sub crews either.
 

t68

Well-Known Member
Removing the weapons ...does that mean that they are stripping off weight in preparation to refloating it or are they just scrapping it on the spot?

When HMS Nottingham ran aground at Wolf Rock she was towed back to Newcastle where explosive ordnance was offloaded(wet or not) and was taken to Singleton for controlled explosion, it would be the same in this case they cant risk raising her whilst EO is on board.
 

hauritz

Well-Known Member
I think around 30% of the RAN sub-force are transfers. RN, Canadians, Dutch (white South Africans who spent some time with the dutch then move on). UK makes up the largest contingent.

The ADF is particularly good at raiding talent. If Canada doesn't replace their subs, Australia would gladly absorb all of their uniforms that would want to come over who haven't already. There is a significant Canadian cohort in the RAN already. However, Canada hasn't exactly been bursting at the seems with sub crews either.
The USN SSN numbers are expected to fall to a low of 42 boats by 2028. By then Australia's own fleet of submarines will be on borrowed time. Even the UK only operates 7 attack subs these days. If Canada relinquishes its submarines as well the "Five Eyes" might be struggling with a shortage of operational subs through till the 2040s.
 

StingrayOZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
The USN SSN numbers are expected to fall to a low of 42 boats by 2028. By then Australia's own fleet of submarines will be on borrowed time. Even the UK only operates 7 attack subs these days. If Canada relinquishes its submarines as well the "Five Eyes" might be struggling with a shortage of operational subs through till the 2040s.
Which is probably what the future US sub deal is about. How much would it take to push say Australia into a combined US/AU/UK sub project and instead of operating 6-10 SSK's, operate 6-10 SSN's. Once Australia is onboard, it would be easier to sell to Canada for possibly 3 SSN.

With Australia's new subs, it is probable that we can take on the kind of missions that they would normally give to a SSN. Australia might even be able to operate two squadrons a west and a east coast squadron.

Can't rely on the US to do all the heavy lifting. They might be the biggest dog, but the biggest dog can no longer do all the work himself.
 
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