How cheap you want to go with those sailors lives or your national defense?
I served over twenty years in the RAN. I don’t believe you ever compromise on safety or capability and especially not for reasons of money. But I also know there are unscrupulous contractors out there who will take advantage of that approach and we need to be aware of that.
Note - I’m not just basing this on nothing either. I was involved on the edges in advising Canada on its purchase of the Victoria boats. I’ve seen the type of situation that can develop without proper oversight.
I’m not a submariner, because I couldn’t handle that. I see submariners as the best of the best and I want them to have the best. But I don’t want to be ripped off getting it, if we can avoid that.
If you ever seen work done in a US shipyard, you would not be surprised that someone could do it for 50% less.