October 26, 2018

A US Plan for 5 New SSGN and 30 SSN(X) Submarines: Australia?


Partly drawing from David Axe’s learned article “The [US] Navy's New Submarine Plan Is In. Take a Look.” in The National Interest, October 24, 2018 https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/navys-new-submarine-plan-take-look-34202 . 

As well as Columbia SSBNs, the USN reportedly plans to develop two new classes of submarine, that is:

-  5 new Large Payload Submarine SSGNs. Will they have an Ohio SSGN or Columbia class size?
    and retain the 154 Tomahawk capability of Ohio SSGNs? 

    Are 5 SSGNs quoted with the expectation Congress will trim the number to 4? 

and

-  30 new SSN(X) to enter service from 2034. They would reportedly be bigger than the 8,000 ton
    Virginias, more like the 9,000 ton Seawolf class. "The Navy indicates that the next-generation
    attack submarine should be faster, stealthier and able to carry more torpedoes than the Virginia
    class". 

   The SSN(X) plan is instead of upgrading the Virginias. The SSN(X) would not have the later
   Virginia's 40 Tomahawk Payload Module capability. But have a greater capability for ASW [mainly
   against Chinese and Russian subs].

COMMENT

Russia has also been talking about a 2 or 3 new submarine type project, called "Husky", since at least 2017. This was to include new SSNs, "multi-purpose" SSGNs and SSBNs. But a new Russian SSBN class make little sense as Russia plans to keep on building Borei/Borey class SSBNs through to the 2030s.

If the SSN(X) means the Virginia class become “old” technology might this increase the chances second hand Virginia’s could be sold to (or built for) the Australian Navy?

1 comment:

  1. GhalibKabir10/30/2018 5:03 PM

    I personally feel a fleet of high end AIP SSKs(SSPs) for defensive patrols and couple of SSNs for deterrence backed up by top of the range ASW weaponry would serve Australia better. It may be a more prudent way to deploy hard earned financial resources..

    It will still be a very costly venture. I assume Australia will be looking at life time costs of US 150-200 billion dollars for a fleet of 4-5 Virginia SSNs. With the Barracuda SSKs 150 billion lifetime costs, a decent sub fleet is going to be costing > AUD 0.5 tril.

    I do hope they design and make subs to suit Indian Ocean and Western pacific salinity and related water conditions. Kockums bungled with the Collins in that respect, as the design was not suitable for Australian waters, and resulted in very expensive life time costs with very poor return.

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