Originally Posted by
Navaleye
You should bear in mind that switching to a French SSN gives you a sub that requires refuelling every 10 years using shoreside infrastructure Australia does not have. An Astute with a Core H reactor is fuelled for life, thus cheaper to run and maintain and arguably more capable and can be integrated with US kit. Its a sensible move IMHO
Although defuelling at EoL tends to require the same infrastructure as that for refuelling. I don't think they'll get an infrastructure saving here, but probably a reduction in scope of mid-life refit in both cost and duration.