SSK Collins modernizado

[Penguin]

Refitted subs now world class
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 77,00.html

* Patrick Walters, National security editor
* April 04, 2007

AFTER a three-year refit costing more than $150 million HMAS Waller is now the best conventional submarine in the world.

That's the verdict from the navy's submariners after the Waller became the first of the six Collins Class boats to be fitted with a wholly new combat system and a more powerful torpedo.

Close co-operation with the US Navy has meant that HMAS Waller is now equipped with the same combat system installed in America's state-of-the art nuclear-powered Virginia class attack submarines.

"I am extremely confident of the new combat system and the new weapon. The Collins class will be exceptional and in my personal opinion is the best conventional submarine in the world," Commodore Rick Shalders, commander of the RAN's submarine arm, told The Australian.

After inspecting HMAS Waller yesterday John Howard said $921 million had been earmarked for the upgraded combat system and new torpedo for the Collins class submarines.

The latest improvements come on top of hull modifications and new propellers to reduce noise, and the installation of new communications equipment including new masts for high speed data transmission.

Mr Howard said the key to delivering the higher capability boats had been "unprecedented" access to US submarine technology.

But manning the Collins boats remains a major planning headache for the Navy with the first of the class, HMAS Collins, having to be used for training new submariners before it can be put to sea fully crewed later this year.

The manpower shortages have seen the submarine force plan to spend 397 days at sea this year (an average of 88 days per available submarine) compared with 490 days at sea (113 days per boat) in 2005.

Labor's defence spokesman, Joel Fitzgibbon, said last night the reduced number of submarine days at sea flowed from the Government's failure to respond quickly to workforce shortages.

"They should have seen this coming. As a result our submarine capability has been reduced and our national security undermined," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Mr Howard said the government had earmarked more than $100 million for a review navy seagoing and submarine service allowances and was committed to recruiting and retaining high calibre submariners.

[Delta Dagger]

AFTER a three-year refit costing more than $150 million HMAS Waller is now the best conventional submarine in the world.

Será? Será?

[Degan]

En teoria, en los papeles....es MUY bueno.

Ahora que estarían correguidos sus problemas, creo que estaría en la lista de candidatos.