Hi Bureaucratus Lex, regarding your June 11, 2022 comment. I reckon the following:
AUSTRALIAN SUBMARINE PROGRAMS OUT TO THE 2070s:
This starts with the Collins Life of Type Extension (LOTE) to be done by ASC from 2026to 2035 on the 6 Collins. This LOTE will keep 5 Collins in service till 2034 - then steadily down to 1 in service by 2043.
INTERIM CAPABILITIES
By 2043 very large semi-Autonomus UUVs, under AUKUS "undersea capabilities" will be an established Australian weapons system type. A major example is the now grown to 80 tonnes Orca AUVs (already with a 7,000nm range). Orcas will do much of the Collins' intelligence gathering job, like towed array sonar and can be part weaponised with smart mine laying. Orcas could be launched from the Northwest Cape Point Murat pier, significantly shortening transit routes to operational tasks.
Also Australian and shared Australian-US ASW and anti-ship assets can do many submarine jobs. Assets like P-8s, large UAVs, satellites, warships and fixed undersea sensors.
AUKUS SSNs
All this during acquisition of:
- Virginia Block VIs or VIIs from the 2040s
or
- UK SSN(R)s from the late 2030s if Australian money speeds up UK plans. Aus SSN(R)s can fit Lockheed Martin integrated US AN/BYG-1 Combat Systems) that the RAN is already using.
Noting much US compatible Combat System software (including databases and sensor views) are already aboard UK nuke subs sharing the Atlantic with the USN sub force. US weapons on Aus SSN(R)s can also be worked out.
Australia can operate Orcas and these SSNs out to the 2070s.
Thats the plan. Some context see