Internationale ontwikkelingen op onderzeebootgebied.

[Harald]

Australia Proceeds With Collins Life Extension, Drops Tomahawk And Optronic Mast

Collins-life extension narrows in scope, subject to funding pressures and American advice on Tomahawk-integration.

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Four Collins class submarines at sea.
Collins-class submarines HMAS Collins, Farncomb, Sheean and Dechaineux at sea in Western Australia. Image Australian Defence.
Australia Proceeds With Collins Life Extension, Drops Tomahawk And Optronic Mast
Collins-life extension narrows in scope, subject to funding pressures and American advice on Tomahawk-integration.
Alex Luck  06 Jun 2024

The Australian government in an official announcement on June 5 declared their intention to proceed with the next phase of the life extension for Collins-class submarines dubbed "Life Of Type Extension" (LOTE). The Collins-class comprising six boats represents the current submarine capability of the Royal Australian Navy.

Life extension to keep Collins operational for two more decades
Collins originally commissioned with RAN, after significant development troubles, in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Australia then pursued a successor dubbed Attack-class under its SEA 1000 program. That effort however saw cancellation in 2021. Instead Canberra is now determined to introduce nuclear powered submarines in cooperation with the USA and UK under AUKUS. Due to the resulting significant gap for a timely replacement Collins will now have to serve throughout the 2030s and possibly into the 2040s. To enable this plan, the design requires significant life extension measures keeping the boats operational exceeding 40 years of service.

In this context all six boats are to undergo a package of modernization including propulsion, weapons and sensors. However the new announcement now shelves the previous plan of integrating Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles (TLAM) and a new optronic mast produced by French supplier Safran.

Torpedo tube launched Tomahawk unfeasible
RAN intended to equip Collins with the Tomahawk missile for providing additional "strike and deterrence capability". The phrase is ironically again used in the June 5 statement dropping the capability. Australia took this decision based on "advice from Defence, in consultation with the United States, that adding Tomahawk cruise missile capability to the Collins class submarines is not viable and does not represent value for money." Collins would have to use the torpedo-tube launched variant of TLAM, which, as Naval News understands, has been out of production for over 12 years.

Pursuing this plan therefore therefore necessitates renewed production through a meaningful bulk order. Alternatively Australia would need to buy suitable weapons from the existing stockpile of the US Navy. The USN still operates tube-launched Tomahawk from Seawolf-class SSN. The UK is another existing user, operating the type on Astute SSN. The Netherlands previously intended to modify its old Walrus-class SSK for use of TLAM. The Dutch Navy was furthermore planning to use the tube-launched TLAM also on their Walrus-successor dubbed Orka. Recent Dutch media reports suggest this plan is in trouble over American unwillingness to approve integration on the French-designed Orka-class. Dutch officials have dismissed related problems in response.

Modern optronics dropped from LOTE
In addition the announcement clarified that the Safran-developed optronic mast system will not be part of LOTE. Safran originally developed the Australian variant for use on the cancelled Attack-class submarines. The shifting Australian attitude on using the optronic mast for Collins was apparent already in a Senates Estimates exchange with ADF officials back in February. At the time senator Jacqui Lambie grilled Defence-officials including the Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Hammond on expenses incurred for the mast. According to the estimates hearings in February and June, Defence has already spend AU$33 millions on the optronic mast before deciding to abandon the effort integrating it in the Collins.

Other aspects of LOTE continue to be more obscure. As indicated above, the total package also includes modernisation of the diesel engines, considered the top priority for LOTE. In addition work on the electric motor, sonar and hull regeneration measures are also key aspects. The first boat to undergo LOTE is HMAS Farncomb, second of the class. Recent media reports highlighted the discovery of "unprecedented levels of corrosion" on both Farncomb and her sistership HMAS Sheean. Government officials have yet to clarify how these issues will impact the overall timeframe and scope of the life-extension for Collins going forward.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/collins-life-extension-goes-ahead-australia-drops-tomahawk/

[Harald]

Dus geen upgrade voor de Collins boten met Tomahawks !

[pz]

Tomahawk missiles and optronics axed from Royal Australian Navy Collins submarine upgrade

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/tomahawk-missiles-and-optronics-axed-from-royal-australian-navy-collins-submarine-upgrade/?utm_source=rss-twitter&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_campaign=RSS

Australia's Collins-class consists of six submarines commissioned between 1996 and 2003 based on the Type 471 design from Swedish shipbuilder Kockums. New nuclear-powered submarines will replace the Collins-class in the 2030s.

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The Australian Government has outlined plans worth AUD4 billion (US$2.6 billion) to AUD5 billion to upgrade and extend the life of the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) six Collins-class submarines with the HMAS Farncombe going into dock in 2026.

A previously announced optronics upgrade has been scrapped and it has been decided that Tomahawk missiles will not be added to the boats.

According to Defence Australia, the government department responsible for defence, the optronics upgrade "will not proceed following advice that it would have added complexity and risk to the life-of-type extension programme [and that] adding Tomahawk cruise missile capability is not viable and does not represent value for money".

"These decisions will reduce risk for the Collins class programme and will help maximise availability as we transition to our future nuclear-powered submarine capability," the Defence Australia stated.

The department added that the SSN AUKUS nuclear-powered conventionally-armed submarines which will replace Collins-class will likewise not be fitted with the optronics system.

The Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines Australia will receive in the early 2030s will come with the Tomahawk as standard equipment.

Tomahawk cruise missiles will also be used by RAN's Hobart-class destroyers and the Government has agreed in-principle to fit the Hunter-class frigates with Tomahawks, subject to a feasibility study.

[Harald]

Italy Set To Increase Submarine Force, Develop New U212 NFS EVO

The Italian Navy (Marine Militare) is working to increase its submarine force with two submarines of a new class known as "U212 NFS EVO" which will be larger than the NFS boats currently under production.


https://www.navalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/U212-NFS-CNE-2024-1.jpg

During the Defence Leaders Combined Naval Event (CNE) 2024 in Farnborough, UK, the Marina Militare unveiled its submarine fleet developments from now to 2050.

In a his presentation titled "Italian Navy perspective for upcoming submarines", Commander Stefano Oliva, Submarine Research & Development Office at Italian Navy General Staff, provided the audience with the first details about the future developments of the submarine force, aiming to increase the fleet from 8 to 10 boats by 2036. By then, the Italian Navy submarine fleet would consists of

- upgraded U212A,
- U212 NFS (Near Future Submarine)
- U212 NFS EVO (Evolved)
The production of a new generation submarine (NGS) would start after 2040. The Italian Navy also launched the path to develop a large displacement autonomous underwater vehicle (LDAUV).

.../...

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/italy-set-to-increase-submarine-force-develop-new-u212-nfs-evo/#prettyPhoto

[Harald]

Unprecedented corrosion discovered on Collins Class submarines, half of fleet to remain out of service this year

Half of Australia's Collins Class submarine fleet will remain out of the water for the rest of the year with unprecedented corrosion problems discovered on two of the ageing boats.

Officials from ASC, formerly Australian Submarine Corporation, have confirmed three submarines are currently in shipyards receiving upgrades and urgent maintenance, meaning just three others are available for the Navy during 2024.

At a Senate estimates hearing, ASC CEO Stuart Whiley revealed that engineers had discovered significant corrosion damage on board HMAS Sheean during full cycle docking work which will require further repairs until at least Christmas.

"The delays have been primarily caused by hull preservation issues relating to the weapons discharge and a number of hull forgings which we've not seen before," Mr Whiley told the committee.

"You have to remove all of the corrosion, so you have to grind it out, then you have to replace the metal you've removed effected by welding techniques and then you have to machine the weld to effectively get the tolerances to fit for the equipment that then goes on to it.

"That's effectively what we're trying to do here, and these are in fairly difficult, unique places to do [the work]," Mr Whiley explained to the committee under questioning from Liberal senator Simon Birmingham.

While work continues on HMAS Sheean at Adelaide's Osborne shipyard, different corrosion issues have also been discovered on HMAS Farncomb which has extended her scheduled intermediate docking at the Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.

"There's a variety of corrosion on a number of areas throughout the boat... it's relating to corrosion of frames and parts of tanks that we've not seen a level of for a boat of this nature."

At the same time HMAS Rankin has also arrived at the Osborne shipyard for a scheduled maintenance full cycle docking period but Navy has not yet handed the boat over to ASC, the first time half the fleet has been out of action since 2012.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, whose department wholly owns ASC, was also questioned about when she had been informed of the extent of the problems on the Collins Class fleet.

"I'm satisfied that ASC are doing what they need to do and engaging with Defence and in terms of matters relating to Defence's overall budget I work closely with the Minister of Defence on those matters."

When pressed by Senator Birmingham on when she was last formally briefed by ASC on the Collins Class fleet, Senator Gallagher confirmed she met with the organisation in February but could not recall precisely what was discussed.

Australia is hoping to continue operating Collins Class submarines well into the 2030s when they're gradually replaced by second-hand nuclear powered Virginia class boats purchased from from the United States under the AUKUS partnership.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-31/unprecedented-corrosion-discovered-on-collins-class-submarine/103919164

[Harald]

Type 212CD AIP Will Change Underwater Game For Norwegian Navy, Says Submarine CO

Norway's new Type 212CD diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) will bring air-independent propulsion (AIP) to the Royal Norwegian Navy's (RNoN's) submarine flotilla for the first time. This technology will also bring the navy game-changing capability, according to the commanding officer (CO) of one of the RNoN's in-service boats.

.../...

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/06/type-212cd-aip-will-change-underwater-game-for-norwegian-navy-says-submarine-co/

[Harald]

How Saab is betting big on its C71 'Expeditionary' subs to win Canadian contest

The Swedish firm has competition for the lucrative Ottawa contract from sub makers from across both Europe and Asia.



In this quiet coastal town in the southeast of Sweden, hull sections of two Blekinge-class submarines sit perpendicular to each other on dry land at Saab's Kockums shipyard. The vessels bear few identifying marks, save for the large holes on one section reserved for the boat's multi-mission portal. Company officials say for security reasons they can't identify which boat is which.

Visible from just outside the building is the Baltic Sea, the hunting ground the two new subs are slated to begin patrolling when they join the Royal Swedish Navy's fleet in 2027 and 2028.

But even seaside on a sunny day here, at the top of mind for most company officials is a larger variant of these submarines, a vessel they hope will one day troll the open ocean nearly 4,000 miles away for a different military, and for a hefty price tag.

Following a disappointing loss earlier this year in a Dutch competition, Saab says it will double down on its latest submarine design, C71, for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, a program that has already captured the attention of numerous shipbuilders from around the globe with a reported price tag of at least $60 billion Canadian dollars for up to 12 submarines.

Though a recent Canadian defense policy document was unclear about how many subs Ottawa will pursue, the competition is already gearing up and is expected to be fierce. The Royal Canadian Navy is in talks with companies from South Korea, Japan, Spain, Germany, France and Saab's Kockums here in Sweden. (Breaking Defense, like other outlets, accepted travel accommodations from Saab for this trip.)

But a top Saab official says he's keenly aware that even if the C71 is the best sub, other factors could torpedo the company's bid.

"It will come down to very much a political play again," said Simon Carroll, president of Saab Canada, who traveled to Sweden to accompany reporters on a tour of the shipyard.

"If you think fighters are political, submarines take it to another level," he added, alluding to competitions in the Czech Republic, Finland and other European countries that chose the American F-35 Joint Strike Fighter over Saab's Gripen.

https://breakingdefense.com/2024/05/how-saab-is-betting-big-on-its-c71-expeditionary-subs-to-win-canadian-contest/

[Huzaar1]

Waarom zou een Orka ontwerp dat alleen op papier bestaat en waar nog geen contract voor getekend is meer kans hebben dan een produkt dat men van de plank kan kopen? De Canadezen kopen meestal van de plank.

Orka is van de plank, tenslotte

Idd denk ik ook
Maakt denk ik ook meer kans dan de type212CD

.
Zou stomste zet van Canada ooit zijn zich te committeren aan een beperkt ontwerp terwijl er een hele wereld duikboot producenten bestaat die ze veel meer kan bieden.

[Kornet43]

Idd denk ik ook
Maakt denk ik ook meer kans dan de type212CD

Waarom zou een Orka ontwerp dat alleen op papier bestaat en waar nog geen contract voor getekend is meer kans hebben dan een produkt dat men van de plank kan kopen? De Canadezen kopen meestal van de plank.

[Harald]

Je kan er vanuit gaan dat Frankrijk (eventueel met Nederland samen) een vergelijkbaar bod doet voor Canada met de Orca klasse als basis.

Idd denk ik ook
Maakt denk ik ook meer kans dan de type212CD

[Parera]

Je kan er vanuit gaan dat Frankrijk (eventueel met Nederland samen) een vergelijkbaar bod doet voor Canada met de Orca klasse als basis.

[Harald]

Canada weighing international 'collaboration' on future subs

Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said his German counterpart approached him about joining the German-Norwegian submarine package.

Canada is weighing "collaboration" from foreign partners in a bid to figure out a way forward on replacing its fleet of aging Victoria-class submarines, even as critics say the Trudeau government is not doing enough to fast-track the procurement.

There are "real opportunities for greater collaboration with others on this. And so we're pursuing those discussions as well. I'm pretty confident we will get to a determination of our path forward on underwater surveillance submarines," said Bill Blair, Canada's Minister of National Defence, speaking in Washington on Monday.

"We need to be able to be, to the extent possible, connected and interoperable with allies. We all have a shared mission, those of us who are close and aligned, and finding the best way for us collectively to achieve that mission is really in our interest."

Interestingly, Blair told the event hosted by the Defense Writers Group that he has received reach out about joining the German-Norwegian Thyssenkrupp-made 212CD class submarine package.

"I met last week with the German defense minister, and he brought to me a letter signed by both him and our Norwegian counterpart — they are interested in working collaboratively with Canada on a number of different options across a broad range of defense capabilities, but also included underwater surveillance," Blair said. "Frankly, I'm pleased and we're hearing from many others as well."

Canada operates four Victoria-class submarines, whose design dates back to the late 1980s; the youngest of the subs entered service in 2003. However, Ottawa has struggled to regularly deploy the subs over the history of their use. One estimate says the fleet has another 15-20 years of life, and given the lengthy timelines for submarine production, getting under contract sooner rather than later seems imperative.

The pool of potential contenders are deep: shipbuilders from Japan, South Korea, Germany, Sweden and the United States will likely be considered as the ministry does its work.

When Canada's recent Defence Policy Update (DPU) was released, critics quickly jumped on the fact that rather than including specifics about what a new submarine fleet might look like, the paper instead said that, "We will explore options for renewing and expanding our submarine fleet" in the future. Blair today said he "regrets" using the term "explore," given the criticism that it  "is not a very clear and powerful word.

"It's certainly not my intention to be wishy washy. What I've tried to articulate very, very clearly and strongly in the document is, we know we have to replace our submarine fleet, and we're going to do that," Blair said. "There's some work to do."

Without being able to secure actual funding for the submarines in the DPU, the goal was to signal to industry and international partners that Canada is in the information gathering stage, Blair said. He also emphasized that whenever the submarines are bought, it will help push Canada over the NATO target of 2 percent GDP spending on defense. Last month, Canada pledged to increase defense spending by $5.9 over the next five years, a sum that still falls short of the alliance goal.

"We've got some work to do in both determining what our requirements are, what choices are available within the market, and we're beginning those processes right away" shared Blair. "And then once we've done that work, I'll be in a much stronger position to go back to my own government saying, we now have a very clear path to this new capability acquisition, and then seek the funding for it."

Replacing the subs "is necessary. It is, I might suggest, inevitable," he said. "One of things we're hearing from our armed forces, but also hearing from industry, they need the clarity and certainty of direction, and then commitment. And so I hope in the DPU, I provided them with direction. And I'm working hard on getting the commitment."

That will be welcome news from industry, which also found the language in the DPU to be underwhelming.

Speaking to a group of reporters and analysts in Stockholm on Monday, Simon Carroll, President of Saab Canada, said of the language, "I don't personally think that goes strong enough, that that wording is strong enough for future submarines in Canada. I think we need to advance the 'explore' status and put some money to it or put some numbers to it at the moment. So I think that was for me a little disappointing."

Continued Carroll, "Others will say it's given us policy coverage. And I get that. I just think we need to get moving forward because I think putting it in the same categorization as a number of the other 'explore' capabilities that Canada wants to look at in the future doesn't say we're going to buy submarines in the future, even though we know full well that the Victoria class submarines are on their way out." (Breaking Defense, like other outlets, accepted travel accommodations from Saab for this trip.)

While noting that the work is underway, Blair was careful not to put any sort of hard timeline on when a final decision could be made on moving forward with a submarine buy.

"You'll forgive me, I can't get too far ahead or presenting anything to government," he said. But, "I have a sense of urgency around this."

https://breakingdefense.com/2024/05/canada-weighing-international-collaboration-on-future-subs/

[Harald]

https://www.hartpunkt.de/deutschland-und-norwegen-schlagen-kanada-maritime-partnerschaft-vor/

Duitsland en Noorwegen stellen een maritiem partnerschap met Canada voor

Tijdens zijn bezoek aan Ottawa gisteren deed de federale minister van Defensie Pistorius het voorstel aan zijn Canadese collega Bill Blair voor een "trilateraal strategisch maritiem partnerschap" waaraan ook Noorwegen zou deelnemen. Zoals Pistorius zei in een gezamenlijke persverklaring na de gesprekken met Blair, had hij een brief overhandigd met de voorstellen ondertekend door zijn Noorse collega en hemzelf. Volgens Pistoris zou een dergelijk maritiem partnerschap zich moeten richten op het veiligstellen van maritieme communicatielijnen in de noordelijke Atlantische Oceaan en het Noordpoolgebied.

Hij had eerder in zijn verklaring benadrukt dat de Duitse samenwerking met Canada van strategisch belang is, "of het nu te land, op zee of onder water is."

Na de gesprekken kondigde Blair aan dat hij in totaal 76 miljoen Canadese dollar zou investeren in de kortetermijnaankoop van munitie voor het Iris-T luchtverdedigingssysteem, dat de komende weken aan Oekraïne zal worden geleverd. Canada neemt deel aan een initiatief onder leiding van Berlijn. Uit de verklaringen van de twee ministers bleek niet duidelijk of verdere specifieke bewapeningsprojecten werden besproken.

Zoals bekend kopen Noorwegen en Duitsland identieke CD-onderzeeërs van de klasse 212 aan en onderzoekt Noorwegen blijkbaar ook samen met de Duitse marine de mogelijke aanschaf van fregatten. Terwijl Canada het bouwcontract voor nieuwe fregatten al heeft gegund, wil het land de komende jaren zijn verouderende onderzeebootvloot vernieuwen. De Duitse scheepswerf thyssenkrupp Marine Systems wordt als mogelijke leverancier beschouwd, waarschijnlijk ook met het U212CD-ontwerp. Als Canada geïnteresseerd is in een maritiem partnerschap, zou wapensamenwerking op onderzeeërs ook een optie zijn. Dit zou de interoperabiliteit vergroten en de kosten voor alle partners verlagen door schaalvoordelen.

Een paar weken geleden bracht de Canadese premier Justin Trudeau echter de mogelijkheid ter sprake om kernonderzeeërs aan te schaffen , net zoals Australië doet in het kader van AUKUS. Zijn minister van Defensie gaf gisteren in een persverklaring met Pistorius toe dat de kosten voor nieuwe onderzeeërs nog niet in de begroting waren verwerkt. Ze werken er echter hard aan om deze, evenals de verwachte kosten voor efficiënte raket- en luchtverdediging, op te vangen. Als deze projecten erbij betrokken zouden worden, schat Blair dat de Canadese defensie-uitgaven ruim 2 procent van het bruto binnenlands product zouden bedragen.

[Harald]

Portugal Deploys Submarine NRP Arpão To The North Atlantic ( zooo das een lang reis naar de North, wel anders dan de warme wateren bij Portugal)

The Danish Navy announced that the Portuguese Navy deployed the Tridente-class attack submarine NRP Arpão in the North Atlantic.

Danish Navy press release

The Arctic Command welcomes a Portuguese submarine in Nuuk these days. The Portuguese navy, Marinha Portuguesa, has sent the submarine ARPÃO to Nuuk, where it will remain in port for a few days before heading north together with the inspection vessel EJNAR MIKKELSEN.

The plan is for the submarine to make a voyage under the ice off Greenland, and EJNAR MIKKELSEN will support the submarine and be an escort ship. It provides good training for the crew of the EJNAR MIKKELSEN, who get the opportunity to train with and act as support for a submarine in Arctic waters.

The diesel-electric submarine ARPÃO will also sail in Baffin Bay between Canada and Greenland, and after sailing under the ice and another short stay in Nuuk, the submarine will sail towards Halifax.

For the citizens of Nuuk, there will be an opportunity to come and see the submarine and get on board on Friday. Follow the group Nuuk Citizen Info, where we announce the time and place.

Author's Note
The Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa) has deployed one of its two Tridente-class diesel-electric submarine (Type 214) to the North Atlantic region. The deployment will reportedly last until mid-May.

The Arpão was developed by the German company HDW, launched in 2010 and commissioned to the Portuguese Navy in 2011. It is 68 meters long and has a displacement of 2,020 tons, with a crew of 35. It is capable of conducting vigilance, patrol and reconnaissance missions, and equipped with advanced sonar and communications systems.

Aside from the two existing Tridente-class boats, the Chief of the Navy, Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, has expressed on several occasions the need for Portugal to acquire at least two additional units over the following years: "We are in a crucial area for logistical movements between the Americas and Europe and this is crucial for NATO's logistical movement [...] If we Portuguese, who have the Azores, don't take an active part in protecting these maritime lines of communication, be they for data, cargo transport or people, we are somehow diminishing our strategic value within the coalition itself."

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/04/portugal-deploys-submarine-nrp-arpao-to-the-north-atlantic/

[Harald]

AUKUS Underwater Capability Developments Target Torpedo-Tube UUV System

Details have been set out for four workstrands being developed, within Pillar 2 of the AUKUS trilateral strategic defence and security partnership, to generate new underwater battlespace capability for the Australian, UK, and US navies. One new capability priority is capacity to launch and recover uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) from submarine torpedo tubes.


AUKUS Pillar 1 aims to deliver an SSN for the Australian and UK navies. AUKUS Pillar 2 aims to deliver underwater capabilities including a torpedo-tube launch-and-recovery system for UUVs that is designed to fit any submarine. Artist impression by L3Harris.

Australia, the UK, and the US formally announced the AUKUS accord in September 2021. Two focus areas have been declared to date, named Pillar 1 and Pillar 2. Pillar 1 encompasses development and delivery of a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the UK Royal Navy (RN), using the SSN-AUKUS design being developed under the RN's lead. Pillar 2 focuses on developing a range of capabilities to further enhance combined interoperability between AUKUS members. Pillar 2's coverage continues to expand, and currently includes artificial intelligence (AI), cyber, electronic warfare, hypersonic, information-sharing, innovation, quantum, and underwater capabilities.

Speaking at the Undersea Defence Technology (UDT) exposition, held at London's ExCel exhibition centre in early April, the RN's Commodore Andy Perks – outgoing Deputy Director for Underwater Battlespace Capability in the RN's Develop Directorate – said that each of the nine capability areas is being developed under a separate working group.

Within the underwater battlespace working group, he added, four workstrands are currently underway.

First is the development of an interchangeable UUV, to be launched and recovered from a submarine torpedo tube – what is known as a TTL&R capability.

Cdre Perks explained that work is based around the Leidos/L3Harris Iver4 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Within the TTL&R capability development process, Cdre Perks underlined the emphasis on the recovery element. However, while this element is technologically challenging, he stressed that using a UUV is a good way to deploy a lot of capability from a submarine.

Rear Admiral James Parkin – the RN's Director Develop – told the UDT conference in his keynote address that the TTL&R capability, which will be delivered for the RN under Project Scylla, can be fitted to any submarine and removes a boat's need to surface to recover a vehicle.

"It gives an SSN its own offboard system," said Rear Adm Parkin.

The submarine will be able to deploy a UUV, and then adapt how it uses the UUV, without having to involve another platform, he added.

Dan Packer – AUKUS Director for the USN's Commander Submarine Force, and a retired USN submarine commanding officer – underlined the operational importance of the UUV TTL&R system. With submarines looking to bring increased capability into a more challenging operational environment featuring shallower, contested waters, a TTL&R UUV will help preserve a submarine's ordnance capacity, he said.

Cdre Perks added that the USN has already conducted TTL&R sea trials, with the RN set to follow suit.

In July 2023, L3Harris demonstrated the TTL&R capability, accomplishing what the company said in a statement was "a fully autonomous launch and recovery of an AUV from an underway submarine", with the test demonstrating the development and integration of a homing and docking solution designed to enable the TTL&R process.

Once the TTL&R capability has been worked through, the aim is to be at a mature point in programme development where companies can be invited to propose payload ideas, said Cdre Perks. While the UUV is key to unlocking interchangeability, the payload is more critical than the UUV itself, he stressed.

The second underwater workstrand is the concept of using AI and machine learning (ML) to augment underwater acoustic data processing. Here, testing has already been conducted using a USN P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). A cloud-based approach was set up to enable AI/ML analysts to use data algorithms to process data; the P-8A then drew on the information output.

Third, for critical underwater infrastructure (CUI) security, the AUKUS partners are looking at commonality in operations and processes, and improving understanding of each other's capabilities. In November 2023, the three navies conducted the Integrated Battle Problem 23.3 exercise, out of the RAN's Fleet Base East naval station, Garden Island, Sydney: AUVs were used in the exercise to monitor CUI, including seabed pipelines and cables.

Finally, the AUKUS partners are looking at interchangeability in underwater self-defence capability, including torpedoes, countermeasures, and other effectors.

While delivery of an SSN capability for the RAN and RN under AUKUS Pillar 1 is a longer-term programme, AUKUS Pillar 2 is set to meet the requirement to provide more tangible, targeted outputs in the nearer term to begin tackling new challenges to the global order that are unfolding almost daily, said Cdre Perks.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/04/aukus-underwater-capability-developments-target-torpedo-tube-uuv-system/