Originally Posted by
Asturias56
I suspect they're worried that the Australians are only the first in line - if the US started selling SSN's to Japan, S Korea and maybe India it would make the PLA (N) look a bit .. exposed - all that money in surface ships.........
But India already gets SSNs from Russia! Australia has always operated submarines far from home, and missions in excess of fifty days are not uncommon for the
Collins class. What makes you think that Australian submarines would be a threat to PLA(N) surface vessels and not submarines? I suspect Australia seeks a counter to an increasing Chinese submarine forces, as well as submarines operated by smaller nations that might come into conflict. I also wonder if they are look to do more task group type deployments.
Pity that they have no V/STOL aircraft to go on the twp LHDs with ski jumps.