Son of Collins needed for transition to N-power

By Peter Roberts

The need for sufficient time to get the construction of nuclear submarines right and a well signposted looming gap as our Collins class submarines reach the end of their lives suggest a son of Collins submarine vessel should be built in Adelaide, according to defence expert Peter Briggs

The former president of the Submarine Institute of Australia, writing for ASPI Strategist, part of think tank the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said that with no room in UK and US construction schedules a hybrid build of n-subs could work

“As an example, the front half of the submarine, containing the weapons, crew accommodation and control room, could be built in Adelaide and the after end, containing propulsion, in the UK.

“That would enable the workload to be spread, offer economies of scale and enable US weapons and a US combat system to be incorporated for Australia’s needs, with US design assistance.

“Such a strategy would, however, add significantly to the complexity and risks – it won’t be quick. We should allow for sufficient time to get it right and to hedge against likely delays.”

Meanwhile the ageing Collins will require a life-of-type extension (LOTE) and a we should build additional Collins submarines, updated to the LOTE configuration, would be the lowest risk option, Briggs argues.

“Such an approach would exploit existing supply chains, minimise logistical and training impacts and require the shortest lead time.

“The effort to build additional Collins should have started much earlier…but that doesn’t preclude the government from initiating an urgent design effort now, providing a viable option to commence building in 2024 should fears about the SSN timing prove correct.”

This programme should aim to commission the first new Collins boat in 2032 and one every year thereafter, achieving a force of 12 submarines in 2038, when the first LOTE Collins retires.

“The ‘Collins hedged’ approach wouldn’t delay the achievement of an operational, sovereign nuclear submarine force – indeed, it may well shorten the timeline and make it realistic.

“…There’s no way we can achieve this in the same timescales without increasing the number of conventional submarines in the period before Australian-flagged SSNs can join the fleet.

“The long-lead-time preparations, such as training experienced technical personnel and refining a design to meet our requirements, can occur in parallel with this programme, so that we time the SSN building program to avoid a valley of death in the shipyard.”

Further reading:
Read Peter Briggs article here
LET’S BUILD SUBMARINE DRONES AND AN EVOLVED COLLINS CLASS
DITCH NUCLEAR AND EVOLVE THE COLLINS CLASS, OUR BEST SUBMARINE OPTION – BY PETER ROBERTS

Picture: Defence