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<\/p>\nA massive program of upgrades to Australia’s aging fleet of Collins Class submarines, aimed at keeping them in the water a decade longer, is being scaled back.<\/p>\n
The federal government says a plan to replace the diesel engine and generator in each submarine will not be pursued, and instead each submarine will be assessed individually and given the upgrade it requires.<\/p>\n
It means that while weapons systems and other critical capabilities will be upgraded, most if not all of the submarines will operate their original engines until retirement in the 2040s.<\/p>\n
The first submarine to go into the “life of type extension” process will be HMAS Farncomb in the next few years, the second-oldest submarine in the fleet at 28 years.<\/p>\n
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Richard Marles addresses the Lowy Institute about AUKUS in Melbourne.\u00a0 (AAP: Con Chronis)<\/p>\n
In a speech delivered to the Lowy Institute in Melbourne, Defence Minister Richard Marles said the “enhanced sustainment” upgrades were a change that needed to be made.<\/p>\n
“This will see a pivot in our approach that reduces risk, upgrades capability and maximises availability for the navy,” he said.<\/p>\n
A secret review carried out by Gloria Valdez, a former US Navy official, is understood to have found the submarines could continue to run for a decade without the engine replacement, and this approach would shorten the time taken to carry out upgrades.<\/p>\n
The changes will also see additional resources put into some of the fleet’s younger submarines, starting with HMAS Rankin, which is currently undergoing regular full-cycle docking.<\/p>\n
HMAS Farncomb is expected to be the most complex upgrade, while younger submarines will require less complex work.<\/p>\n
Mr Marles said the changes would ensure the work being done was tailored for each individual submarine.<\/p>\n
“We will prioritise sustainment and accelerate upgrades for the fleet’s youngest submarines,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The program will reduce engineering risk by sustaining existing systems where appropriate while continuing to upgrade critical capabilities, including weapons and combat systems.<\/p>\n
“It has the transition to our future fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines as a key consideration.”<\/p>\n
A critical AUKUS step<\/p>\n
The Collins Class submarines were originally envisaged to have a life of about 30 years, and HMAS Farncomb would have been retired around now.<\/p>\n
Instead, $11 billion will be spent keeping the six submarines operational for 10 years longer than planned, and they will begin being retired in 2040.<\/p>\n
HMAS Farncomb and HMAS Collins will both reach retirement age around then, with further submarines to be retired roughly every two years after that.<\/p>\n
It is a significant cost upgrade from the original $4-5 billion estimate set aside for the project a few years ago, but the government argues the project was underfunded to begin with.<\/p>\n