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Australia to Buy U.S. Nuclear-Powered Submarines in Naval Expansion
WSJ ^ | March 8, 2023 | Michael R. Gordon

Posted on 03/10/2023 6:22:18 PM PST by george76

Deal is set to be announced at meeting of Biden and leaders of Australia and U.K.

...

The U.S. will speed up Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines by arranging for Canberra’s first few subs to be built in the U.S.

....

The plan to sell up to five U.S. Virginia-class submarines to Australia is intended as a stopgap to provide the country with nuclear-powered subs by the mid-2030s.

...

The alliance is called Aukus, an acronym for Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. In addition to collaborating on nuclear-submarine technology, the countries intend to cooperate on artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, hypersonic missiles and undersea technologies

...

Nuclear-powered submarines are far more capable than their conventional counterparts because they can operate stealthily underwater over great distances and long periods. The nuclear-powered subs for Australia would only carry conventional weapons.

...

Australia has six diesel-electric Collins-class subs, but they will be phased out in coming years. Under the Aukus plan, Australia is expected to buy at least eight nuclear-powered subs.

The Virginia-class submarines that Australia would buy might be a mix of attack submarines already operated by the U.S. and ones that would be manufactured from scratch.

...

The Aukus deal has been controversial among some U.S. lawmakers because it would provide submarines to Australia that would otherwise have gone to the U.S. Navy, which has been struggling to boost its own fleet of attack subs.

....

Building a nuclear submarine is a lengthy process. Though the Navy has budgeted for two attack submarines a year, the U.S. had been producing them at the lesser rate of 1.5 annually during that period... It takes roughly six years to build a sub

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: australia; nuclear; nuclearpowered; nuclearsubmarine; submarine; submarines; subs
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1 posted on 03/10/2023 6:22:18 PM PST by george76
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To: george76

Great news but it will take 7 or more years.


2 posted on 03/10/2023 6:26:58 PM PST by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
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To: george76

If they’re nuclear they won’t,IIRC be allowed into New Zealand ports.


3 posted on 03/10/2023 6:30:08 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (No Doubt Now: Stolen Election)
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To: george76

Which China will oppose, while denying that they have plans for Australia as part of their lust for world dominion. It is the nature of demonic Communism.


4 posted on 03/10/2023 6:34:25 PM PST by daniel1212 (Turn to the Lord Jesus as a damned+destitute sinner, trust Him who saves, be baptized + follow Him!)
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To: george76
. Though the Navy has budgeted for two attack submarines a year, the U.S. had been producing them at the lesser rate of 1.5 annually during that period... It takes roughly six years to build a sub

And I think the US only has 2 shipyards that can handle repairs on this class. But just make sure you do not call the ship "she" until you ask its AI how it wants to be addressed.

5 posted on 03/10/2023 6:39:30 PM PST by daniel1212 (Turn to the Lord Jesus as a damned+destitute sinner, trust Him who saves, be baptized + follow Him!)
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To: george76

well, it’s be pretty embarrassing if they dint since they already told the frogs to screw off...


6 posted on 03/10/2023 6:41:08 PM PST by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: george76

This story first broke in the Summer of 2021, and here we are regurgitating the same story 18 months later with little new information (the number of boats going to Australia may have increased). I’m starting to wonder if this wasn’t a ruse to prevent Australia from getting the French-built subs. Because that would displease China.


7 posted on 03/10/2023 7:05:33 PM PST by Charles Martel (Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: Williams

I think they should expand the deal to sell them some of the ones we are retiring or have recently retired, in order for them to have something now.


8 posted on 03/10/2023 7:22:42 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: george76

Hmmm.. Budgeted for 2 per year and producing 1.5 @3.45 billion per copy.

What’s happening to the left over 1.725 billion...


9 posted on 03/10/2023 7:27:27 PM PST by READINABLUESTATE
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To: Secret Agent Man

The delay is to train the crews. It will take years.


10 posted on 03/10/2023 7:32:41 PM PST by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
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To: george76

Five Virginias will cost them a just a smidge over 1% (one percent) of their GDP.

I can’t imagine how they must have tortured the numbers to make the math come out right on that decision.


11 posted on 03/10/2023 7:37:14 PM PST by Paal Gulli
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We need to get a mass building for subs. We meed at least 50 more nucs between japan us Korea Australia to bring China down. Plus 40 diesel coastal subs for Korea and Japan.


12 posted on 03/10/2023 7:40:03 PM PST by 5inch38gunner
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To: george76

Will they retain the gender neutral features of the US navy setup?


13 posted on 03/10/2023 9:31:22 PM PST by doorgunner69 (Let's go Brandon)
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To: 5inch38gunner
"We need to get a mass building for subs. We meed at least 50 more nucs between japan us Korea Australia to bring China down. ..."

The 14 Ohio-class subs we already have between them carry 2688 independently-targetable nuclear warheads. How many more are you thinking we'll need before you feel safe?

14 posted on 03/10/2023 9:57:13 PM PST by Paal Gulli
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To: Paal Gulli

One can never have enough ammo, no matter what kind.


15 posted on 03/11/2023 2:10:05 AM PST by mabarker1 ( (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!! A fraud, a hypocrite, a liar. I'm a member of Congress !7)
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: Fred Nerks

Oz buys US subs.

The French must be pished.


18 posted on 03/11/2023 5:04:59 AM PST by Candor7 ( ( Ask not for whom THE Trump trolls...He trolls for thee!))
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To: george76

More here...

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1745915/submarines-tri-alliance-rishi-sunak-joe-biden-anthony-albanese-ben-walllace-counter-threat

Why all the Kabuki theater?

Just deliver the things to the ChiComs and cut out the phony middlemen.


19 posted on 03/13/2023 5:31:12 PM PDT by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
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To: Who is in charge?

The US, our former republic, doesn’t have any allies.


20 posted on 03/13/2023 5:32:02 PM PDT by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
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