Unpublicized is the main value of the future AUKUS SSNs. That is as long range strike platforms for nuclear missiles to deter China.
Australia
is considered equivalent to a NATO partner by the US and UK.
Within NATO the US shares an estimated 20 nuclear weapons each to Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. These are deterrents against Russia. Europe's geography permits these weapons to be deployed on relatively short range platforms, fighter-bomber aircraft, dropping free-fall B61 nuclear bombs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_sharing
Australia's
requirements are for much longer range nuclear platforms - to put mainland China at
risk. Hence the plan for AUKUS by the late 2040s is to supply Australia with
the best nuclear weapon platforms, which are nuclear propelled submarines.
Only multi-mission SSNs (unlike huge specialised SSBNs) are affordable for a middle power like Australia. SSNs have the speed and range to
quickly be in striking distance of China's major cities (mainly talking Shanghai and Beijing). This is if China attempted to
attack or blockade Australia.
Within patrol areas considerably east of Taiwan, Australia's SSNs will mount 6 to 8 future submarine launched hypersonic missiles (SLHMs - first coined here) with a range of around 4,000km. These would be a generation or two after LRHWs. Missiles China would have a
great deal of trouble stopping quickly enough.
All part of Australia's naval expansion:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fbvoti0uvM
Thanks Anonymous at 3/30/2024 5:56 AM
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fbvoti0uvM is valid if all goes to plan.
But typically 25% to 100% of Australian shipbuilding projects are cancelled or radically altered.
This is due partly to changing DoD decisions.
But mainly due to opportunistic or plain destructive political decisions for electoral gain as governments, Defence Ministers and Prime Ministers change.
In contrast to efficient ship planners like Singapore or even the US - Australia is better at ANNOUNCING NEW PROJECTS than actually building new ships.
Regards Pete
Pete .... different topic .... Sub developments in Brazil, with Naval Group ..... info on capability and time line ....
ReplyDeleteFYI ......
Jim
...third of 4 enlarged Scorpenes ...... about 10 yrs to build, sounds fairly standard, AIP or lithium batteries are NOT mentioned ....... but they're new(er) ...... and an SSN is under development !
... Tonelero, Dec., 2020 .......
Jim
Brazil's newest sub christened before Lula and Macron
Thursday, March 28th 2024 - 19:32 UTCFull article1 comment
The Brazilian submarines are bigger than the original French Scorpene model from which they derive
The Brazilian submarines are bigger than the original French Scorpene model from which they derive
Presidents Emmanuel Macron of France and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil
French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazilian Defense Minister Jose Mucio Monteiro, and Marine Commander Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen attend the launching of the third Scorpene-class diesel-powered submarine built in Brazil with French technology, at the Itaguai shipyard in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil March 27, 2024. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
Thursday visited the Itaguaí Naval Complex,
the facilities in the State of Rio de Janeiro where the Tonelero (S-42) submarine - a joint undertaking between the two countries - was christened by First Lady Rosângela Lula da Silva.
Brazil's first lady Rosangela "Janja", breaks a Champagne bottle as she is named the godmother of the third Scorpene-class diesel-powered submarine built in Brazil with French technology, during its launching ceremony, at the Itaguai shipyard in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil March 27, 2024. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
The S-42 belongs to the Riachuelo class and is 72 meters long and capable of reaching a speed of up to 21 knots (or 37 kilometers) per hour. It has an autonomy of 6,000 nautical miles (around 11,000 km) and up to five days underwater, carrying up to 35 crew members and six 21-inch torpedo tubes in addition to tanks to load up to 18 F21 torpedoes and/or SM39 Sub Exocet missiles and underwater mines.
It has a displacement capacity of 1,870 tons and can operate at depths of up to 350 meters powered by four diesel-fueled engines and one electric engine.
Propulsion
4 × MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesels[5]
1 × Jeumont-Schneider EPM Magtronic electric[5]
3,909 hp (2,915 kW)[5]
1 × shaft[5]
The Brazilian boats are larger in length, tonnage, and cargo capacity compared to the original French Scorpene model from which they derive.
The first submarine of the project was the Riachuelo (S-40), which has been in operation since 2022; the second, the Humaitá (S-41), was launched last year; and the fourth, the Angostura (S-43), is under construction and scheduled for delivery next year.
The submersibles stem from a technology transfer agreement with France signed in 2008 when Lula was going through his second term in office. The accord also provided for the building of the Itaguaí complex.
The agreement with France foresees the construction of a fifth submersible. The nuclear-powered Alvaro Alberto (SN-BR) is still in the development phase and with no construction forecast. The unit would make Brazil join the exclusive group of countries having nuclear-powered submarines: China, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Russia.
The hull of Riachuelo was laid down at Cherbourg, France on May 27, 2010, and it was jumboized at the Brazilian Navy Shipyard in Itaguaí in late 2012.
.. 2018 .....
The first submarine Riachuelo was launched on Dec. 14, 2018, and began sea trials in Sept. 2019.
The Humaitá was launched on Dec. 11, 2020.
Tonelero is the second boat of the Brazilian Navy to receive this name, in honor of a military operation during the Platine War (1851-1852).
The previous Tonelero (S21) belonged to the Oberon class and served in the Brazilian Navy between 1971 and 2004. .... and later sunk at its' pier ......
Hi Anonymous at 3/31/2024 2:55 AM
ReplyDeleteThanks for the text, similar to or from https://en.mercopress.com/2024/03/28/brazil-s-newest-sub-christened-before-lula-and-macron
minus the photos...
Hi Pete
ReplyDeleteAs interesting is the infra part of the project close to 70 % of the cost
In Itaguaï a naval sub base, including a 8000 T boat elevator,has been put in place while an industrial site ,ICN ,has been built about 3 km away linked by a 14m (45 feet)diameter tunnel
On that site all the subs of the Br Navy are now based, training , total maintenance incl weapons ,sensors ect as well as the ICN yard for construction .Naval G own about 49 % and the ICN could probably build Scorpene sub assemblies for export
The Brazilian Navy has web site pages on this Prosub project with photos of this massive project initiated in 2008
Hi Anonymous at 4/01/2024 4:28 AM
ReplyDeleteAs Naval Group (NG) doesn't have any new Scorpene orders (India's and the final Brazilian Scorpene "Angostura" are old/pending orders) I'm not sure NG would risk losing money/business by licensing Brazil to build Scorpenes for new export customers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riachuelo-class_submarine#Units
Thanks for the tip on the Brazilian Navy's Prosub Project. Here is last week's Brazilian Scorpene submarine "Tonelero's" launch from the Brazilian Navy's website https://www.marinha.mil.br/agenciadenoticias/marinha-lanca-submarino-tonelero-ao-mar-em-itaguai-rj
Regards Pete
Hi Pete
ReplyDeleteNaval in its communication appears quite bullish on the Scorpene
Construction of sections is not a licence for the boat , but a fairly standard process to increase capacity
Brazil has a strong metallurical industry (steel, construction , oil plateforms ...)and an excellent industrial reputation
Persistent rumours point to a very near term deal (days or a few weeks ?) for 2 Scorpènes Evolved in Indonesia to be constructed at PT PAL in Surabaya
"Serious" Fr Defense press relying public Indonesian sources..without usual reservations
(must have been checked with "contacts" at Naval ,..)
Article today in Zona Jakarta, recent article in Antara (Indonesian press agency,semi official status..)
Reelection of Prabo.. also..make sense
Would be perceived a as a blow to the Korean more than to the "usual suspects", TKMS, SAAB , Navantia and the Russians)
competition in Morroco,Poland, Romania ,Philippines also
Hi Anonymous at 4/02/2024 7:49 AM
ReplyDeleteYes Brazil's heavy industry and NG are worthy entities to advertise...
I was addressing the issue Anonymous at 4/01/2024 4:28 AM raised "Naval G own about 49 % and the ICN could probably build Scorpene sub assemblies [in Brazil] for export [to third countries].
No doubt about it Indonesia's PT PAL could assemble Scorpenes at its Surabaya shipyard.
Cheers Pete
Sir Pete, may I ask what you think of this claim by NG?
Deletehttps://www.naval-group.com/en/naval-group-and-pt-pal-have-signed-contract-indonesia-2-locally-built-scorpener-evolved-full-lib
It is said that the Scorpene Evolved submarine can stay submerged for more than 12 days. Is this a valid claim? Previously, I read an article of yours and found that the Soryu submarine with its lithium-ion batteries can only stay submerged for 7-9 days, even though the Soryu is larger than the Scorpene Evolved. What is your opinion on this?
Hi Pete
ReplyDeletehttps://www.naval-group.com/en/naval-group-and-pt-pal-have-signed-contract-indonesia-2-locally-built-scorpener-evolved-full-lib