Originally Posted by
ORAC
Assuming France would have agreed to change the contract to nuclear, and at what cost, I doub5 th3 first would have been delivered by 2035.
Also, seeing as they were complaining they couldn’t even get to 60% local build content on a conventional boat, I doubt that even. 20-30% local content would have been offered - totally against the entire Australian required concept of locally built and supplied support (see previous video ref the Collins class).
Lastly that would have required the entire fleet to b3 refuelled every 5 years in France, placing the entire force at the mercy of French political designs. Seeing as they are pushing a pro-China policy in the EU that would have been an unacceptable risk.
But apart from that, you have a point.
The first Suffren is already sailing. Ok I am perhaps a little optimistic about 2035 , but all 12 would have been ready in 2040 ( 19 years from now ).
IMHO Australia will never get the latest nuke subs from the US.