AUKUS
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 472
Likes: 13
From: SAUDI
Joined: Oct 2018
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,247
Likes: 1,658
From: Ferrara
Singapore's main strategic issues are balancing between Malaysia and Indonesia - and they keep on reasonable terms with both
China is important economically but you won't find many tears in S'pore over the movement of a lot of trading from HK - and S'pore Security is rumoured to be top rate with a lot of Israeli input
From a military point of view they run a very capable green water navy - plus a first class Air Force. I'd agree that its very unlikely they'd want SSN's - they're surrounded by really shallow water for a start so any operations would be a long way from home
China is important economically but you won't find many tears in S'pore over the movement of a lot of trading from HK - and S'pore Security is rumoured to be top rate with a lot of Israeli input
From a military point of view they run a very capable green water navy - plus a first class Air Force. I'd agree that its very unlikely they'd want SSN's - they're surrounded by really shallow water for a start so any operations would be a long way from home
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 151
From: A better place.
Interesting announcement here today:
https://www.9news.com.au/national/au...8-b69d694cac3e
https://www.9news.com.au/national/au...8-b69d694cac3e
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 638
Likes: 101
From: australia
Thread Starter
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,642
Likes: 7,343
From: Peripatetic
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/n...e-technologies
Anduril Industries buys unmanned submarine maker Dive Technologies
Anduril Industries buys unmanned submarine maker Dive Technologies
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 638
Likes: 101
From: australia
Who the F was dive technologies and their 17 employees?
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dive-technologies/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dive-technologies/
Joined: Jun 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 17
From: South Pole
The founder of the company is Palmer Luckey who developed Oculus Rift, one of the first VR sets. This decision by the ADF mirrors the Ghost Bat/Loyal Wingman program. It’s a smaller agile company doing advanced developments rapidly compared to established defence contractors. Anduril are also responsible for the USAF Advanced Battle Management Systems. Pretty impressive company to partner with and one that should be able to develop a capable XL-AUV in a relatively short timeframe.
I suspect its dimensions will be limited to what can fit on a Collins class as they will be around for quite a while.
Navy Recognition Anduril RAN XL-AUV
I suspect its dimensions will be limited to what can fit on a Collins class as they will be around for quite a while.
Navy Recognition Anduril RAN XL-AUV
Last edited by Going Boeing; 10th May 2022 at 03:33.
Evertonian
Joined: May 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 13,470
Likes: 278
From: #3117# Ppruner of the Year Nominee 2005
French showing their maturity I see. 
But the new Government were mostly supportive on these matters, doubt there’ll be any changes re Subs.
But the new Government were mostly supportive on these matters, doubt there’ll be any changes re Subs.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 272
Likes: 27
From: The Empire
Openly, in the initial stages, it won’t change. Strategically, though our new PM and the Deputy are both proper “trade unionists”, they can’t afford to stray too far from the established norms.
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 638
Likes: 101
From: australia
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 638
Likes: 101
From: australia
There will be more pressure for it to be an onshore jobs program. Less chance of the first one or two being built overseas
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,618
Likes: 205
From: aus
I cant see there being any major changes to the scheme. Maybe some apologies to france and US on how !!!!tly our previous government handled the a announcement originally. Funny thing is I have always considered the barracuda to be in the butter zone of what i consider is optimal tonnage a crew requirment for an australian sub. A barracuda with an HEU reactors is a good option for australia. Also been warming up to the concept of getting a KSS-III from south korea, building some conventional subs to replace the collins, would allow australia to get back the skills in sub building meanwhile the design can be fettled and converted in a nuclear sub. Yes it going to be longer with more displacement, but a lot of the same systems will be able to be used
Albanese was sworn in this morning australian time and that after noon hes on a jet to Japan to meet with Biden, Modi and Japanese PM. Its for the Quad, but can imagine AUKUS will be discussed between australian and US representitives
Albanese was sworn in this morning australian time and that after noon hes on a jet to Japan to meet with Biden, Modi and Japanese PM. Its for the Quad, but can imagine AUKUS will be discussed between australian and US representitives
Thread Starter
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Joined: Jul 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 24,642
Likes: 7,343
From: Peripatetic
The problem being France only produces a LEU reactor, not HEU, bringing us back to the need to refuel every 5 years and being dependent on France for refuelling - which is not an acceptable risk.
If you want a sub with a reactor fuelled for its service life you need HEU, which leads you back to US/UK reactor design and supply - even if the rest of the sub is built in Australia.
If you want a sub with a reactor fuelled for its service life you need HEU, which leads you back to US/UK reactor design and supply - even if the rest of the sub is built in Australia.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 216
Likes: 54
From: Somerset
HEU, LEU fuelled or whatever, the design of the reactor, electrical power and propulsion units is not independent of the design of the rest of the boat. It is a fallacy to think that you can easily 'nuclearise' an existing design. If you want a nuclear powered boat buy one that was designed as a nuclear powered boat. It will be cheaper and quicker than designing a new boat that happens to have some bits that look like another conventional boat.
Systems integration is hard work.
N
Systems integration is hard work.
N
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,618
Likes: 205
From: aus
The problem being France only produces a LEU reactor, not HEU, bringing us back to the need to refuel every 5 years and being dependent on France for refuelling - which is not an acceptable risk.
If you want a sub with a reactor fuelled for its service life you need HEU, which leads you back to US/UK reactor design and supply - even if the rest of the sub is built in Australia.
If you want a sub with a reactor fuelled for its service life you need HEU, which leads you back to US/UK reactor design and supply - even if the rest of the sub is built in Australia.
Its worse than that, if that just the problem that could be lived with. The issue lays with the NPT. France giving AUS reactor technology would straight up be a breech of the NPT and open australia and france to international sanctions. Thats the reason why brazil is having to design and construct its own reactors and not just use french reactors in a french submarine. So while I think a nuclear barracuda was the butter zone size sub for us, it was never going to happen
My take has always been virginia to expensive, needs to many crew and is just to much sub for us, astute no VLS. I think a 3rd option of either the new SSN(X) or some form of bespoke "regional sub" for countries like australia and possibly SK, Japan or india in the asian pacific or italy, germany or other europeans