Hmmm ... the Collins debacle was only ever just that .. a total debacle that cost A$6billion and counting and around A$350million a year to keep barely ONE sub operational and let's hope that we don't ever have to TASK the bloody thing !!
And it seems there are powerful arguments from a number of quarters to spend upwards of A$40billion to build a dozen 'son of Collins' ... which might mean perhaps 3 in the water at any one time !!
Now take a peek at this mutha !! The RN Astute Class Submarine .. built by BAE Systems and they work !!!
This is the current state of play of wot a 21st century sub looks like and deployed by our friends and enemies !!
* the nuclear reactor will never need refueling and makes needed oxygen and fresh water from sea water.
* the submarine can circumnavigate the globe submerged without ever having to surface.
* hunter/killer capabilities can travel at over 30knots (60kms/hr) submerged = 1500kms/day submerged.
* armed with Spearfish anti-sub torpedoes with attack guidance kill range of 54kms at 80knots (150kms/hr).
* Sonar is so powerful it can detect a vessel leaving harbour 3000kms away whilst submerged.
* carries 38 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles with a range of 1240 miles (2000kms) with pin-point accuracy.
* more than 39,000 acoustic tiles mask the vessel's sonar signature = less noise than a baby dolphin.
The RN Astute Submarine is considered the best tactical hunter/killer sub going around and formidable weapon given the land attack capability.
IMO .. forget 'son of Collins' junk and grab a half a dozen of these 'kick-a..... beauties' for about A$10billion and get serious about protecting the neighbourhood from would-be bullies !!
PS: most certainly, we should not sign off on anything till we sort the 'nuke powerplant' thingy which a brave SA Premier Weatherill is trying to get onto the table ..
