Originally Posted by
balboa1968
I told you 1 month ago, 1or 2 sub in 2040, if the RAN takes the Suffren class, it will be all 12 before 2035 ! Game, Set and Match !
Quite obviously, out of the question. Point was made a month ago that the refuelling requirements put Australia in a loss of sovereignty scenario if the French have any sort of a tantrum.
If Australia develops a submarine capability gap, AUKUS will fill it with non-sovereign assets with regular rotations through expanded east and west coast infrastructures. Many Australians will find this palatable as opposed to relying on French good will in the face of CCP coercion! And this is what many folks seem to forget-AUKUS is about protecting a country who is standing up to China more than most and having far more to lose economically than most. China's pressure on Australia has strategic ambitions little different to Imperial Japanese forces in 1942. Fracture and isolate Australia from the US and secure the western reaches of the Pacific.
The ADF is also being rapidly expanded with capabilities delivering a long range punch to offset a delayed deployment of Collins replacements.