The seven SSNs the PLAN has now is a passing anomaly. There's a simple algorithm to determine the number of SSNs the PLAN will have in the future: Take the number the Australians will get in their wildest dreams and add a zero to the end of it.
Australian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter Jeff Head
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Even Northern Australia is bit too far for most strike platforms against China, other than strategic bombers. But that would make Australia the strategic targets for PLA. Australia is perfect for the upcoming H-20 range-wise, compared to CONUS. H-20 plus HN-2000 can strike anywhere in Australia without refueling. SSNs and CSG could also be sent around Australia.
I suppose this is what "bind Australia to the US and UK for generations" is all about.
I can certainly see China using this precedent to sell SSNs to Pakistan now. From an Australian POV it makes little sense to me. Aus would denude the rest of its defence budget to buy a slack handful of SSN that would make little difference to the strategic balance in the IndoPac region, especially once the new halls at Bohai Shipyard have been running near capacity for a few years. I am not sure Aussie government has seriously calculated the long terms costs of buying, operating, crewing and disposing of SSNs (the last part is often overlooked).
Invest enormously to build a nuclear submarine industry to construct a handful SSNs, then what? Is there an export market for Australia-made nuclear submarines? Are they going to continue to invest in R&D to keep developing the new generations of subs?
It's going to be incredibly expensive to develop the whole supply chain just for the sake of maintaining the handful subs.
Skywatcher
Captain
In the 2040s, they're going to have to choose between the SSNs or sixth generation fighters.
Thats what I am also thinking. The US might want to involve more partners in its military R&D projects so that it can benefit from other countries' budget. It will then sell the new products to its partners thus having economies of scale.
Its kind of a genious actually. It is co-opting other countries' military budgets for its own military development
Well that has a long and inglorious tradition in Europe at least. After all the arguments over workshare and political delays, there are rarely any cost savings and often equipment is late. EF Typhoon was a good example. However, such projects do have the advantage of being very difficult for any one nation to cancel.
escobar
Brigadier
A trilateral arrangement like this is quite literally impossible for China to do, even with its closest partners.
Seem the commitment is to build “at least 8” SSNs
Seem the commitment is to build “at least 8” SSNs
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