September 8, 2023

Might SSN-AUKUSs Arrive Before Australia's Virginias?


Captain Reifstek, USN (Courtesy LinkedIn)
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From https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/09/07/allies-target-early-aukus-milestones-to-keep-20-year-plan-on-track/

It is so nice to see Capt. Lincoln Reifsteck [USN above] Manager, AUKUS Integration and Acquisition Program, said:

1.  “Australia has very sophisticated manufacturing capabilities for certain kinds of parts and could take on work for the collective AUKUS nuclear sub supply system.”

Pete Comment: That the US and UK would outsource parts of their submarine supply chain national security to efficient Australia is a welcome surprise.

2.  “the U.K. will begin building its first [SSN-AUKUS] later this decade [ie. in the 2020s]”

and

3.  “Australia will follow “very shortly thereafter””

Pete Comment: So the UK’s very limited (usually late) submarine design/build workforce leapfrogging the 15 year Dreadnought SSBN program (lead Dreadnought to be commissioned in the early 2030s) in order to start building SSN-AUKUS in the 2020s is also a surprise. My spies advise both submarine types would need to be built in the same Barrow-in-Furness shed.

It is all happening so fast, it seems. What could go amiss?

2 comments:

  1. Nicky9/09/2023 4:46 AM

    Hi Pete,

    Check out North Korea's Low budget version of the Golf class Submarine and a Budget version of a Delta class SSBN

    https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/north-koreas-diesel-electric-ballistic-missile-frankensub-emerges

    https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/09/08/see-north-koreas-new-ballistic-missile-submarine/

    https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/09/north-koreas-new-submarine-carries-10-nuclear-missiles/

    https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2023/september/13552-north-korea-unveils-hero-kim-kun-ok-tactical-nuclear-attack-submarine.html

    I think what North Korea is trying to do is revive the old Soviet era Golf class Submarine or build a low budget version of a Delta class SSBN

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pete9/10/2023 6:50 PM

    Hi Nicky at 9/09/2023 4:46 AM

    I turned my response to you into article "NK's New "SSB" Missile Firing via Test Barge?" of September 10, 2023

    at https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2023/09/nks-new-ssb-missile-firing-via-test.html

    Regards Pete

    ReplyDelete

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