Replacement of Australia's Collins Class Submarines

bobbymike said:
www.defensenews.com

US Navy’s submarine fleet is too small. Here’s how selling some may help.

The U.S. Navy’s fleet includes 49 attack submarines, despite a formal requirement for 66. It’s also facing crewing and maintenance problems.
www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com
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The author(s) of that article neglected to add another bonus for letting the RAN have 3 Virginias... Australia has begun preparing to build parts of the Virginias still to come (USN as well as RAN) - which will ease some of the current labor and manufacturing shortfalls that have contributed to the slower-than-planned/desired construction pace.
 
BlackBat242 said:
Australia has begun preparing to build parts of the Virginias still to come (USN as well as RAN)
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Do you have any details? All the statements I’ve read seem to very carefully exclude that option (which would likely run into Buy America provisions mandated by Congress).

To be more specific, they do mention preparing to be part of the British SSN-Aukus supply chain, but no mention of any US SSN supply chain.
 
OK - the US subsidary of Austal...
usa.austal.com

Austal USA receives order for three Virginia-class submarine modules

MOBILE, Ala. – Austal USA received an order for the manufacture and outfitting of three electronic deck modules for the Virginia-class submarine program. The order, valued at $10.6 million, was issued by prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat. Construction will begin in fall 2023 and...
usa.austal.com usa.austal.com

September 11, 2023
Austal USA receives order for three Virginia-class submarine modules

Mobile AL. - Austal USA received an order for the manufacture and outfitting of three electronic deck modules for the Virginia-class submarine program. The order, valued at $10.6 million, was issued by prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat. Construction will begin in fall 2023 and the modules are scheduled to be delivered to Electric Boat by the middle of 2025.

The construction of these modules is the result of the strategic partnership formed in 2022 between Austal USA and Electric Boat, supported by the U.S. Navy, to take a strategic sourcing approach to expanding the production capacity of the submarine industrial base. As part of the partnership, Austal USA is constructing and outfitting Command and Control Systems Modules (CCSM) and Electronic Deck Modules (EDM) for the Virginia- and Columbia-class programs.

“This order signifies the confidence Electric Boat and the Navy have in Austal’s talented workforce to maintain a steady production line building quality modules on time and on budget,” said Austal USA Vice President of New Construction Programs Dave Growden. “We are excited to play an important role in the submarine industrial base and about being part of a program critical to our Nation’s security.”

Austal USA has continued to expand its facilities and workforce to support the growing demand of the submarine industrial base. The order for the three modules follows an initial order for a CCSM in February 2023.
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BlackBat242 said:
OK - the US subsidary of Austal...
usa.austal.com

Austal USA receives order for three Virginia-class submarine modules

MOBILE, Ala. – Austal USA received an order for the manufacture and outfitting of three electronic deck modules for the Virginia-class submarine program. The order, valued at $10.6 million, was issued by prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat. Construction will begin in fall 2023 and...
usa.austal.com usa.austal.com
Click to expand...
What's the electronic deck module?

This sounds like the control room and then the middle level of the Virginia class... (Torpedo Room being the lower level of ops compartment)
 
Good question, I have no idea.

The point being that the AUKUS treaty is allowing Australia-based companies (through their US subsidiaries) to get contracts for SSN/SSBN work that they have not been eligible for previously, to the benefit of both the USN and the RAN.
 

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