The problem with Sirius is the lack of capability, yeah she carries a bucket load of fuel, but not much else, always the issue with something not purpose built.
Originally there was talk of an order of 3 Cantabria Class, but that slowly ebbed away. Will an "option" be taken before construction ramps down too far on the current two ships ? possible, I have no doubt that Navantia and the Spanish Government would be offering a good price for a third to keep the yards going, but as mentioned by Assail, the DWP & IIP pretty much says it all at this stage.
Something that has to be remembered though, is we are getting purpose built, fit for purpose ships, one for each coast. This is a massive step up from what we have traditionally had. This is still a win !
Will we keep Sirius for the short/medium term after the Cantabria's come on line ? I think for a short time, but believe she will be disposed once the new ships hit FOC, or not long after. Purely based on manning and budgetary constraints, and just to bring a little politics into it, probably a new Government in power when that decision time comes around, and I believe the Defence budget will have had a hatchet taken to it !
Cheers
Agree with your points (and with Assail and alexsa too), voices of reason.
In the not too distant future we will see two new fully equipped AOR's entering service replacing one rather elderly AOR and a rather large AO, but with minimal capabilities other than being a rather large fuel tanker and not much else.
As I understand it, the two new AOR's have been reported as scheduled for delivery in 2019 and 2020 (will that slip? Who knows), the statement by the Def Min the other day, announcing the names, said that the ships would enter service from 2020 and reach FOC in 2022.
And of course on top of that, the DWP and DIIP are suggesting a decision just prior to 2025 on if a 3rd AOR or additional Choules type ship would enter service in the late 2020's.
Now without trying to go off into 'la la land', I do wonder if there is a 'part way' solution to keeping Sirius a bit longer and also not eating into the operational and manpower budget, yes everything does come at a cost.
Maybe at the least, it is worth keeping Sirius in some sort of ready reserve, not operational but at least keeping the ship maintained on the basis that 'if' required it could re-enter service at reasonably short notice.
Not suggesting that the two AOR's will have unknown issues arising upon entering service, but if recent history is anything to go by (Choules problems and also the problems with the two LHD's), it might be worth keeping Sirius around as an 'insurance' policy considering she is still a relatively young ship.
And of course this all comes at a cost, I would assume (yes should never assume), but to maintain Sirius in an extended readiness state or a maintained mothballed state, shouldn't cost an arm or a leg, millions of dollars? Probably yes, 10s of millions of dollars? Maybe? Beyond that, probably not.
In the big scheme of things, maybe worth considering hanging on to her until at least the two new AOR's are fully at FOC and possibly a little bit longer until their is a final decision on what will happen with the potential 3rd AOR.
Anyway, just my two cents worth!
