Australia would save billions of dollars if it leased used US nuclear submarines to replace the troubled Collins-class fleet, an American naval expert says.
''If you want to utilise the submarine force for long-range missions the nuclear submarine is the queen of the seas,'' Sam Tangredi, a former US naval captain turned academic and strategic analyst, told The Canberra Times.
Dr Tangredi, who was in Canberra to speak at an anti-submarine warfare forum at the Australian Defence College, said taking over some of the submarines due to be retired early by the US Navy as part of its defence cuts was almost certainly the cheapest way to build an interim Australian underwater capability.
Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt told last week's naval conference in Sydney an Australian-designed and built replacement for the Collins-class boats was unlikely to be in service before 2035. Independent analysts have said it would cost billions of dollars to refit the existing six boats to keep them operational for that long.
Dr Tangredi said if cost effectiveness was considered the major criteria then the second hand nuclear option was worth a look. ''Given the [Collins replacement] program is so long range, as an outsider I would advise the Australian government to look at the nuclear option,'' he said.
''My argument would be that in the long run - if you take the view Australia should not develop its own submarine production facility because it is too expensive to develop the infrastructure - you might as well wait until you can rent US SSNs [nuclear attack submarines] that still have their life in them but are no longer utilised.''
US nuclear submarines regularly use Australian ports and the defence posture review has suggested upgrading the submarine wharf at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia to make it better able to take American SSNs.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith recently reaffirmed nuclear submarines were off the agenda as far as replacing the Collins was concerned.
''We don't have a nuclear industry which has the capacity to do the work required to develop, maintain and sustain nuclear submarines,'' he said.
''If we went down the path of nuclear submarines it would essentially, in my view and our view, require the wholesale outsourcing of our submarine capability.
''People can put the [nuclear] argument forward but that's the only option that's not on the table.''
Dr Tangredi said the most likely contenders for Australia to lease would be boats from the 688 Los Angeles class production run.
Among the fastest underwater vessels built, the 688s can top 33 knots when submerged. The SSN Dallas of Hunt for Red October fame was a Los Angeles class.
Built between 1976 and 1996, the 688s are twice the size of a Collins and have a crew of 129. Their reactors are good for 30 years.
The 688s that undergo deep maintenance at the end of 30 years can then be operated for another 10 years.
Range is unlimited and Los Angeles class boats are armed with cruise missiles for land attack and anti-ship missiles and mines for marine operations.
''The cost effectiveness comes from developing the training with the US or UK and then, once you have your crews, taking on these assets that are left over,'' Dr Tangredi said.
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