Yes, there was certainly an element of pork-barrelling with the decision to build new subs in Adelaide but the same thing happens in America and the UK etc with most Defence equipment etc.
American Virginia class subs use WEAPONS GRADE uranium fuel and are simply not for sale, not even to Australia.
In the video Mr Johnston admitted that the Americans would not have the capacity to build extra Virginia class subs for Australia, so isn't that fact alone the end of the 'buy Virginias instead' argument?
He said the newly launched nuclear Barracuda is "not a bad sub", let's hope so, but it has not yet been to sea ... so how does he know that? What would their price be to us? He did not mention that they would need to return to France every 10 years of their service lives to have their 'civilian grade' uranium fuel replaced. Cost of that?
Nuclear subs certainly have greater range but are noisier than diesel subs, and more easily detected in shallow waters due to the heat signature of their reactors.
Most diesel subs are capable of cruising speeds of around 20 knots, our Collins class are, but they drop down to around 4 knots once they enter their patrol area to avoid detection, as would a nuclear sub.
The nuclear Barracuda can fire cruise missiles via its torpedo tubes, the Australian version will clearly be able to do the same.
