잠수함 호주, 콜린스급 수명연장 추진, 토마호크 발사기능과 잠망경 개량은 삭제

[위종민]

호주 정부가 6월 5일 콜린스급 잠수함을 2030년대까지 운용하기 위한 추진, 무기 및 센서 등의 수명연장 프로그램을 발표했지만 잠수함 발사 토마호크 미사일 발사능력과 사프란이 어택급 잠수함에 장착하기 위해 개발한 옵트로닉 마스트 장착은 비용문제로 보류됐네요. 

콜린스급에서 토마호크를 쏘려면 어뢰발사식 TLAM을 쏴야 하는데, 생산중단된 지 12년이 지나 상당한 수량을 추가주문하거나 미해군의 재고를 구매해야 한다고 합니다. 미해군에서 어뢰발사실 TLAM을 쏘는 잠수함은 시울프급 3척뿐이고 현재 재고수량은 불명이라고 하네요. 영국이 아스튜트급 SSN에 사용중이고 네덜란드가 이를 사용할 계획이라고 합니다. 

또한 사프란이 어택급 잠수함에 사용하기 위해 사프란이 개발한 옵트로닉 마스트 시스템도 개량에서 제외됐네요. 이 마스트에는 이미 3,300만 호주달러가 지출됐다고 합니다. 

1998년 취역한 2번함 SSG-74 HMAS 판콤부터 개량이 시작될 예정이라고 하고, 비용은 40억 ~ 50억 달러 가량이라고 합니다. 

https://breakingdefense.com/2024/06/australia-to-move-forward-with-collins-class-life-extension-but-scales-back-upgrades/

Australia to move forward with Collins-class life extension, but scales back upgrades - Breaking Defense

Australia to move forward with Collins-class life extension, but scales back upgrades

The life extension program will bridge the gap between the retirement of the Collins-class and the arrival of the first American Virginia-class submarine.

By   JUSTIN KATZon June 05, 2024 at 10:05 AM

Royal Australian Navy Collins-class submarines are set to be replaced in the 2040’s by a UK designed SSN AUKUS fleet. (Australia DoD)

WASHINGTON — Australia is moving forward with its plan to conduct a $4 to $5 billion life extension on its Collins-class submarines, with HMAS Farncomb (SSG-74) first in line, but has scaled back previously planned upgrades, the government announced today.

“The life-of-type extension of HMAS Farncomb will be undertaken by the highly skilled workers at ASC and commence in 2026 at Osborne in South Australia,” the Australia’s Department of Defence said in a statement. “The life-of-type extension program will ensure the future availability of the Collins-class submarines, without compromising on submariner safety.”

Farncomb is the second boat in Australia’s conventionally powered fleet of six Collins-class submarines. It was commissioned in 1998 and had been expected to retire in the mid-2020s along with the rest of its class. But with Australia not planning to receive its first American Virginia-class submarine, part of the AUKUS trilateral security pact, until the 2030s, Canberra has pulled the trigger on extending its legacy submarine fleet to bridge the expected gap in its navy’s force structure.

“The life-of-type extension program underscores the Albanese Government’s unwavering commitment to keeping Australians safe by ensuring the [Australian Defence Force] has the capabilities it needs to deter potential adversaries,” said Pat Conroy, minister for defence industry.

“Sustainment of the Collins-class submarines continues to meet the Navy’s operational requirements and ensures the submarines remain an enduring, potent and credible capability that is critical to Australia’s national security,” he continued.

Notably, Australia has opted to scale back previously planned upgrades to the optronics for its submarines, citing “added complexity and risk to the life of type extension program,” according to the statement. Optronics refers to a visual sensor technology widely used on submarines.

“The SSN AUKUS nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines will likewise not be fitted with this particular design,” the statement added.

The Collins-class will also not receive the Tomahawk cruise missile after the Department of Defence and the United States advised the Australian government that it “is not viable and does not represent value for money.”

However, today’s statement added that the government does still plan to equip the Hobart-class destroyers with Tomahawks and “the government has agreed in-principle to fit the Hunter-class frigates with Tomahawks, subject to a feasibility study.”

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

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.

Torpedo tube-launched Tomahawk Blk IV, fired from USS Pasadena (SSN-752) in 2007. Image NAVAIR.

Pursuing this plan therefore therefore necessitates renewed production through a meaningful bulk order. Alternatively Australia would need to buy suitable weapons from remaining stock, if any, of the US Navy. The USN only operates three Seawolf-class SSN equipped to use TTL Tomahawk. The current status of the remaining USN stockpile of weapons remains unclear. 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.

Safran Attack (L) and Search Optronic (R) Masts at Pacific 2019.

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.

Collins Life Extension Goes Ahead, Australia Drops Tomahawk