I have raises this once before Scott. Here in WA, we have experience in long distance remote operations ( mining). Here in WA, we have vast experience in remote underwater unmanned robots ( oil & gas). Here in WA, we want some of the sub maintenance work on the collins class subs ( a decision 18 months late), why? I think that the federal govt., through the defence forces, should in the first instance dedicate money into the design and manufacture of unmanned submarines, firstly in a recognisance mode, to be made here in WA. With an option to look to a offensive design. SA can have the collins sub maintenance work.
IMO, this is where we should be moving to, as a population, we just wont have the submariner numbers to meet the fleet of new subs. This makes more sense to me. Happy for comments.
