Subs today...

Various Collins replacement talk today.

The Australian: one of the alleged defence intelligentsia states that a Collins upgrade is the way to go.

Another states it isn't.

There were talks of a leak in regard to a Collins replacement timeline.

Out of that, it is interesting that the last government which was fired from their job, put in place a rigged game.

Something really surprising today (for its quality).

This from The Strategist.

The author's next to last paragraph says it all:

"It seems highly likely that lithium ion MSBs are the future for Australia’s next submarine fleet, but only once R&D has delivered a well-tested, safe design for submarine applications."

Commendable read.

Any future Japan Soryu will be made with Litium-Ion batteries and no AIP.

Sounds good, but the technology has to-date not been proven in an operationally representative submarine.

I think this battery tech is the way to go, but it is not the way to go if it hasn't been risk-assessed.

Also, any Japanese sub that will replace the Collins will have 6-8 meters added to its length. It will have a bunch of other changes that won't be a stock boat. Add the battery issue, and it could be high-to-extreme risk without a prototype.

In other news, the entrenched defence bureaucracy is still barking mad when it comes to reasonable plans to defend our nation.