Even as Australia eyes the heady prospect of operating nuclear-powered attack submarines in the future, it is facing the challenge of keeping six ageing Collins-class diesel-electric submarines in service for many more years.
This is to be tackled through the Collins Life-of-Type Extension (LOTE) programme, known as Project Sea 1450, which hopes to keep them operationally viable into the 2040s.
Rear Admiral Stephen Hughes, Australia’s Head of Navy Capability, speaking to Naval News at the Indo-Pacific 2025 naval exhibition in Sydney last November, acknowledged the challenge of maintaining one submarine fleet whilst preparing to induct another. He said it is “a really complicated equation,” for, “At the moment, we’ve about 160-200 people in the US and UK nuclear pipelines. If you think about that, that’s like two or three Collins’ worth of people in that system. But at the same time, we’re delivering Collins capability.”
In mid-2024, the ABC reported that half of Australia’s submarine fleet would remain out of the water for the rest of that year due to “unprecedented corrosion problems”. Engineers discovered significant corrosion damage on HMAS Sheean during a routine full-cycle docking, and the LOTE was listed as a product of concern on 13 December 2024.
An unnamed Collins-class submarine is seen in dry dock at the Henderson Marine Complex in Western Australia. (Credit: ADF)
Hughes acknowledged “it’s going to be tough” managing the two submarine lines of effort. However, he praised the alignment from the highest levels of government and the Department of Defence down. “It’s going to be a big job, but we’re eating the elephant one bite at a time.”
Naval News asked about the risks for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Hughes noted there will always be naysayers, “But you’ve got to remember, we’re pretty focused on delivering both outcomes. Are they high risk? Sure – schedule is demanding, technologies are demanding, workforce is demanding. I could list all the things that could go wrong, but one thing we’re really good at in Defence – despite maybe some other commentators’ views – is risk management.”
Hughes shared that the RAN is coming out of a dip in Collins-class availability, with four out of six submarines now operational. “Now all eyes are on Collins moving forward and the transitioning. The LOTE is an important part of that, and that’s technically complex. It’s not beyond the wit of man to be able to do it, but it requires that balance between workforce and industry, building capability for the nuclear submarines, and at the same time keeping Collins going.”
Another view of a model of the Collins-class submarine, designed by Saab Kockums and the first submarines ever built in Australia. (Credit: Gordon Arthur)
As for the LOTE, Defence told Naval News, “The life extension of the Collins-class submarines will involve a combination of effective ongoing sustainment, selected capability enhancements and an LOTE extension project.” It added, “Defe