Originally Posted by
dead_pan
If you want range and endurance, why not develop an unmanned system? They could also go a lot deeper than a manned sub. Talking of which, I wouldn't be surprised if China has developed such systems and our now contemplating deploying them in international waters off Australia's bases, to pick up and shadow their subs as they leave port.
While I can understand the Oz decision, our role doesn't exactly make sense. As Theresa May noted in Parliament yesterday, would we really contemplate going to war with China over Taiwan or anywhere else within that neck of the woods?
In buying a nuclear boat - you're acquiring a modular mothership that can remain on station for upto 3 months.
It will be able to deploy all sorts of long range UUVs, ROVs - and possibly even tube or silo launched aerial drones that are yet to be developed.
It's also a powerful SIGINT asset to augment the South east asian Sosus networks that are already on the ocean floor and tracking local submarine activity - all in the public domain.
https://amti.csis.org/indias-underse...-indian-ocean/
and
https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/20...se-submarines/