This is a fantastic sub that is the epitome and example of British ingenuity and innovation. But at 2.4 billion a sub, it is simply too expensive, and in my opinion a big mistake. The Royal Navy has ordered 4 Astute class submarines to be built. The per unit cost per sub alone represents a 3.5-4% of the entire UK military budget. When Parachute training has been discontinued or cut back, and the Scottish regiments are sharing kilts, it probably is not the most logical thing to do. I don't say this because of COIN warfare, and that western militaries don't need to innovate conventional capabilities (they do). But submarines have always been strictly a deterrant, and quite frankly, the day submarines such as this are no longer a deterrant is the day that we will have bigger problems to worry about.

If there is anything that the post cold war era has taught us it is that the surest way to avoid war is leaving no enemy an opening to attack. When it is clear that a successful attack is impossible then peace must be the only choice. The Chinese are building up their submarine strength. And it would be a lot better to have the capability now and not need it than to have to start a crash building program when it is already too late.

oops, I meant to say the cold war era, not the post cold war era.

dk the astutes probably will have 25 years lifespan which makes their effective cost 100 mil a year which is a much more reasonable bite of the defense budget.

It's 400 million a year for all 4 boats, and this doesn't include maintenance costs and what not. The Royal Navy will probably want to order more of them as well. It's highly unlikely that the Brits will be involved in a conventional war anytime soon that they will be able to use these. I don't see them going to war with the Chinese over Taiwan, for example, so it is very likely that it will remain a deterrant. On the other hand, better safer than sorry, and you have to pay for the best sub in the world. But I do believe an increase in the military budget for the UK. The only people who really want a budget increase is the military. The UK military is refusing to cut the fat out of the UK military budget, much like the US is currently doing. But my point was that if you talk to many in the British Army I am sure they are not too happy that the Navy is getting 2.4 billion dollar subs, while they are sharing kilts. I agree you have to make some sacrifices, but now is not the best time to do it for the UK military.

Don't get too worked up over the kilts, I just used that as an example. Not a good one I admit. But airlift capability is far more important for global power projection to protect UK interests around the world than Astute class submarines. It's nice that Astutes can launch Tomohawk missiles, but that is a job that destroyers do too well to pay for a 2.4 billion dollar sub with the same capabilites. And as far as I know the Trafalgar class could also fire tomohawk missiles. It would have been cheaper and more cost effective to just upgrade the Trafalgars. Anyways, you're British and I'm not. Sacrifices must be made, I believe that buying astute class submarines should not be high priority for the UK. You and most of the UK obviously have a different opinion on the matter. It's just something to think about next time squaddies start bitching about their kit. It's not like this problem is exclusive to the UK. While the US military is out buying Virginia Class subs and F-22's, we use scrap metal to armor our Humvees and some of our bases do not have enough toilet paper. (And I'm not joking about that either). These capabilities are important, no doubt, but when it gets people killed for the aforementioned reasons, I tend to be wary of 2.3 billion a piece Virginia Class subs. I've been unfortunate enough to witness that spending money in the wrong places can lead to people going home in a box. If you saw some of the hummers we drove around in Iraq you would agree. The only thing we can do is throw more money at the military. And discontinue research on star trek teleportations and the gay bomb might help as well.

UK still holds far-flung territories.  Astute class with tomahawk can help assure
retention and role on the global stage.  That's what UK is paying for, actually.

v^2

This is a fantastic sub that is the epitome and example of British ingenuity and innovation. But at 2.4 billion a sub, it is simply too expensive, and in my opinion a big mistake.

With good help of USA and even french.

BTW, this cost cover R&D phase for the first sub.Real production cost is much less.

UK needs Astute today or later.

SSN are backbone of blue sea navy as carriers are backbone of the projection component of a navy.

Even with 4 SSN , UK garantee that it has possibility to sink any warship of any nation in any place of the world.Including removing a SSK threat.Most of nations have less than 6 modern SSK.

And as secondary tool to launch a bunch of accurate cruise missiles without warning everywhere.

It is a conventional deterrent as much as a major tool in any conventional war involving navy.

I think without doubt that Astute is one the 4 major (in priority) programs of UK with Eurofighter, Bowman  and carriers.

And it is the same for France (carrier, Rafale, BOAT and Barracuda).

Rest are modernisations.

 

A submarines are one of the most powerful naval units, it would be foolish to get rid of them because the army is doing most of the work at the moment. The next conflict might require subs.

I do hope that the blog in question is not eureferendum.

Yimmy,