fdr:
Is Aus's intent to have submarines as defensive assets, or as longer range assets? t
That's where the choice between Diesel and Nuke boats lies.
An AIP (German 212 or similar) would certainly offer good defensive capability, but Aus is as big as the US with way more coastline.
Maybe the unrestricted cruising range of an SSN allows them more flexibility and fulfills all other needs.
Dunno.
Not my bucket of popcorn to butter, but you need to look hard that the intentions at the Operational and Strategic level before assessing their choices (cost being the other 800 pound gorilla in the room).
Just looking at tactical capacities is too narrow of a view to take.
Part of my problem with Mr Trump's offer of the Virginias - sending a few to Oz early puts pressure on US shipyards, and maybe that forces an increase in capacity?? -- is that he may change his mind next week.
Which throws a curve ball at the kind of time horizons needed to plan and implement something like standing up an SSN capability.