The Australian government has announced that it has placed the Collins-class submarines on the “Product of Concern” list. The issue of supporting and maintaining the submarines’ capabilities is under review, and their placement on this list means that the country’s Department of Defense will have increased oversight over the issue. “Products of Concern” are weapons systems whose loss would pose a risk to Australia’s national security and defense, which is of course a concern to the country’s government. The six Collins submarines entered service between 1996 and 2003, and in 2016 the selection of the French Shortfin Barracuda Block.1A submarines to replace them was announced. However, in September 2021, the AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States) defense agreement was signed, the option of French submarines was canceled and Australia chose the SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine solution. However, the new submarines are expected to enter service in the late 2030s and until then Australia will have to keep the “Collins” capable and modern. That is why Australia launched, last June, the upgrade program for the first “Collins”. The LOTE (Life of Type Extension) program will keep the submarines capable until the 2040s and was deemed necessary as an interim solution program until the arrival of the new nuclear-powered submarines. The cost of upgrading the “Collins” is expected to range between $ 2.65 and $ 3.32 billion, while the work will be done in Australia. The first submarine to be upgraded is HMAS “Farncomb” and will be ready in 2026. The upgrade program does not involve the installation of new systems (optronics), due to increased risk and cost, while the upgraded submarines will not be equipped with Tomahawk land-attack missiles, due to high costs.
