![\"Image](\"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/20130322ran8544339_125.t514bdf77.m800.xefb278f9.jpg\" "\\"Image")
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The current controversy over Australia\u2019s Future Submarine Program, its schedule and the associated life-of-type of the current <\/span>Collins<\/span><\/i> class has resulted in much hyperbole as to the difficulties associated with keeping elderly boats in operation. A quick survey of the state of affairs in the major submarine operators overseas may provide some context to concerns that the <\/span>Collins<\/span><\/i> class will have to run for well over 30 years of service.<\/span><\/p>\n In the US, four <\/span>Los Angeles <\/span><\/i>class nuclear powered attack submarines (SSNs) are scheduled for decommissioning in 2017 after 36 years\u2019 service, while the hull life of the <\/span>Ohio<\/span><\/i> class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) has been extended to 42 years. There have and will be earlier removals from service, such as a 33 year old <\/span>Los Angeles <\/span><\/i>class unit in 2015 and a 31 year old boat in 2016, but it\u2019s likely that 34\u201335 years will be the average as the SSN force changes over to the new, but less numerous <\/span>Virginia<\/span><\/i> class. The French are in much the same position. If the <\/span>Barracuda <\/span><\/i>class SSN program runs on time, the first of the earlier <\/span>Rubis<\/span><\/i> class will be replaced in service after 34 years in commission. If the current fleet of SSBN is replaced on schedule, this will happen around 2035, when the first of the <\/span>Le Triomphant<\/span><\/i> class will be 38 years old.<\/span><\/p>\n British figures are slightly more conservative, but it\u2019s also true that the Royal Navy has been and remains under considerable financial pressure and has neither the funds nor the personnel to run its nuclear boats for any longer than planned. The current four operational <\/span>Trafalgar<\/span><\/i> class SSN are scheduled for removal from service after 30\u201332 years in operation as they\u2019re replaced by the <\/span>Astute<\/span><\/i> class. The life of the <\/span>Vanguard <\/span><\/i>class SSBNs\u2014presuming that the current \u2018Successor\u2019 program runs to schedule\u2013will be \u2018about 35 years\u2019. It could well end up being much longer, given the potential challenges of the replacement.<\/span><\/p>\n The state of the Russian submarine force is a much murkier subject, but it\u2019s clear that a large number of SSBNs and SSNs will have to run on for well over 35 years if force levels are to be maintained\u2014at least seven SSN which are believed to be operational are already more than 25 years old, as are at least four KILO class diesel-electric patrol submarines (SSKs). At least two operational SSBN are over 35 years old, although they should be replaced in the next few years.<\/span><\/p>\n Purely conventional (that is, diesel electric propulsion) submarine operators are more difficult to assess because the operational roles and conditions vary so widely, while many navies\u2014particularly in Western Europe\u2014have been significantly reduced after the end of the Cold War. Nevertheless, competent operators have SSKs 35 or more years old (Turkey has three Type 209s of this age, Ecuador two and Peru four), while there are many other 30 year plus units running.<\/span><\/p>\n The reality is that the more significant element in considering the working life of a submarine must be its most recent refit rather than its original entry into service. It will be how well the remainder of the life of the <\/span>Collins<\/span><\/i> is managed and whether government will be willing to make the necessary financial commitment to supporting the class that will count in the end. In such circumstances, the 2026\/2030 argument is basically irrelevant.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The current controversy over Australia\u2019s Future Submarine Program, its schedule and the associated life-of-type of the current Collins class has resulted in much hyperbole as to the difficulties associated with keeping elderly boats in operation. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":25166,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[253,1051,223],"class_list":["post-25164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-collins-class","tag-future-submarine-project","tag-submarines"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n