Originally Posted by
Flap Track 6
My employer is a supplier to the Astute program and has been picking up talk of additional equipment orders. Spares? Overhaul float stock? Additional boats?
Thanks for that, FT6. The Astute class is attractive for the RAN because of the lower cost and smaller crew but there are significant concerns about the PWR2 reactor being 8 years shorter life (than the Virginia’s S9G) and the reactor cooling system requiring electrical pumps to always be running whereas the S9G can produce reasonable power levels with convection cooling - very important in event of a total power failure.
I think that the RN needs additional Astutes in these uncertain times as 7 boats is insufficient to have a presence where the UK has global interests. They may be gearing up to build more of them along side of the Dreadnought assembly. Alternatively, additional spares is definitely a possibility to support the current Astutes if their utilisation has to be significantly increased.