Collins class LOTE announced

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MikeJames
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Collins class LOTE announced

Post by MikeJames »

Hi all, as you're no doubt aware our contract with Naval Group for the new Shortfin Barracuda class subs is...challenging, and likely to be late in delivering the new subs (if the contract isn't cancelled).

Therefore the RAN will be undertaking a massive Life Of Type Extension (LOTE) on all six of the Collins class, starting in 2024.

This will involve a 2 year long operation to open up each boat in turn and gutting them, replacing the motors, batteries, diesels, combat system, sensors, periscopes and more. Once they zip them back up at the end of the LOTE they will be a new sub inside an old skin, and expected to provide another 10+ years of service. The original designer Kockums, now SAAB, is likely to b involved.

This is a high-risk option, we've never done anything of this magnitude before and expecting it to be completed within 2 years is a major stretch.

ASC will have to undertake this work while building the Hunter class and preparing for the start of construction on the Shortfin Barracuda's, whenever that eventually happens (if it actually does).

One of the reasons this is a major issue is that successive Governments (on both sides of the political divide) have been putting this into the too hard basket. It's not been helped by a succession of Defence Ministers, most of poor caliber, who either didn't want the job or were not suitable for the role, who have looked at the whole submarine issue and successfully ignored it. One Defence Minister Stephen Smith, actually boasted that he was ignoring the Collins replacement / upgrade problem because it was all 'too hard'.

One silver lining. If they can make this happen successfully, then it bolsters the case for dumping Naval Group and designing our own 'son of Collins' here in Australia (with SAABs help). That's probably a good thing as the feeling is growing in Canberra that Naval Group will never deliver on the contractual obligations and that they are treating the project as an extortion attempt on the Australian taxpayer and a French job creation program.

Fingers crossed that they get it successfully achieved.

Mike
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