Have a laugh, its the SSN(X) Looney Tunes

[macnz]

Before reading on: this is REAL Looney tunes territory.  READ this in the Australian Fin Review 4 days ago, just as Australia announced SPA and name of first future sub and class - HMAS Attack

"Republican House of Representatives member Michael Conaway, who represents a district in the ship-building state of Texas and sits on the Armed Services and Intelligence committees, has launched a resolution calling on the US Department of Defense and Navy to work with "five-eyes" partners Australia, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand on an "international joint-build, cost-sharing program".

Despite the French deal, as well as likely resistance to nuclear propulsion in New Zealand and Canada, Mr Conaway is urging the US government to sign within the next three years an agreement with Canberra and other close allies to spur the next-generation submarine program. Mr Conaway warns "new innovative ideas must be pursued" to offset the estimated $US5.5 billion ($7.6 billion) unit cost of so-called SSNs, or nuclear-powered fast attack submarines."

Source: www.afr.com/news/politics/us-pushes-nextgeneration-nuclear-attack-submarine-development-deal-for-australia-20181214-h193xh

Comment:

...so the US/GOP want to sell the world another F35-isque program? Who wouldn't want a joint common SSN(X) sub?

re: NZ

Think someone better school Mr Conway on our; Navy, defense budget, public histrionics for expensive warships and nuclear propulsion. But hey maybe in 2050 instead of a $1.5 billion LHD, maybe NZ will see the sense in a $8 billion SSN (empty) as our flagship.

re: Canada

not only no infrastructure supporting nuclear propulsion, there's Canada's procurement process, and post-NAFTA animus to contend with.

re: UK

There's a £7bn shortfall in the MOD budget for the next 10 years that is likely to grow to £14.8bn following BREXIT.  There's also 4 SSBNs+Trident still to be funded in the Dreadnought programme and a Carrier Strike Group to man-up but besides that sure the Brits will see the wisdom in participating.

re: Australia

Aside from having no infrastructure supporting nuclear propulsion, probably SEA 1000 will still be embroiled in roll-out and the RAN will be welcoming a plan B by 2040. After all, the 6 Collins class started in the early 80s, were completed by 2003 and then took another 10 years to iron out the fleet serviceability issues to reach FOC in 2016.

There's already a MLEP under consideration for the Collins and lobbying to design research further*

* www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-13/future-naval-submarines-renamed-attack-class/10614876