If HMG does commit to a class of 12 it gives the builder and reactor suppliers (I assume BAES Submarines and RR Submarines) much greater certainty which should be good for planning, processes, mamagement, recruitment, retention (of people and corporate memory). I hope they will learn from mistakes in the Astute programme.
Ordering a class of 12 for delivery at 18 month drumbeat gives 16.5 years that plus the work on development and construction implies that (assuming there is one) work on the follow on class should beginning as the last one commisssions.
ORAC, the T-boats' reactors could be and were refueled - the A-boats' reactors have full-life cores which will have been running for some time before commissioning.
Friday will be the 23rd anniversary of
St Albans commissioning, highlighting the massive time gap between 23 and 26. One ray of hope coming out of yesterday's turgid pile of goodish (and also many worrying) intentions was:
Defence must also create the conditions for sustained innovation and industrial support to the Navy. An ‘always on’ supply line for shipbuilding is essential to retain industry skills and reduce the delays in delivering new ships that otherwise lead to additional support costs for ‘running on’ ageing platforms. Long-term partnering agreements with funding commitments over multiple years or decades, such as those underpinning the delivery of SSN-AUKUS, would help to realise efficiencies and de-risk major investments while also contributing to UK economic growth. More flexible regulation is also needed to support vital experimentation in areas such as autonomy, including through the creation regulatory ‘sandboxes’—designated areas at sea in which the Navy and industry test and deploy new technologies.
I await the announcement of the carrier drumbeat ...
NOT
PS One does wonder where the are going to get all the lads and lasses to spend months cut off from social media while dodging sunshine crewing the 12 boats - maybe AI will help
PPS Cross posted with N_a_B