The move has led to concerns there will be a significant capability gap,with the first of the existing Collins-class submarines scheduled to go out of service from 2038 and the nuclear-propelled submarines potentially not coming on line until the 2040s.
Chief of Navy,Vice Admiral Mike Noonan,recently revealed that thesix Collins-class submarines, which were built in the 1990s,might need to undergo two complete rebuilds over coming decades to keep them in operation if the nuclear boats were not ready by 2040.
But Vice-Admiral Jonathan Mead,the head of the government’s nuclear-powered submarine taskforce,said on Wednesday Australia was looking for a “mature” design from either Britain or the United States that could “accelerate the delivery of the first submarine in Australia in the 2030s”.
Basing the Australian submarines on an existing design would mean the schedule wouldn’t necessarily be dragged out by years in the design phase,as the French-built submarines would have been. The first of the French attack-class submarines would have been delivered years in 2034.
If it goes with an existing design,Australia would have to choose between the US’s Virginia-class submarines and Britain’s Astute-class boats. It is widely believed that Australia is more likely to develop a version of the Astute submarine because the British submarine is smaller and less expensive.
Vice Admiral Meade said the government was “looking at a mature design” and that could “accelerate the delivery of the first submarine in Australia in the 2030s”. He said “at the moment the aperture is wide” but the taskforce over the next 18 months will “narrow down the aperture and get us to the optimal pathway”.