Latest news on the New Submarine Deal, first article was written by Kevin Rudd in the Guardian.
Submarines project ‘a handful of toothpicks at the mountain’
Former prime minister Paul Keating has called the federal government’s planned submarine project under Aukus “a handful of toothpicks at the mountain” and will be “very old boats” when they’re ready by 2040:
Eight submarines against China in 20 years time, a handful of toothpicks at the mountain. Kim Beazley and I … built the Collins. I built the Anzac frigates, they were built for the defence of Australia.
Their range was to stop any incoming vessels, military vessels against us. What Arthur is talking about is our attack class submarines to contain Chinese submarines, hunter killer submarines and knock them out. What has that got to do with the defence of Australia and what possible impact could we have militarily with eight submarines Arthur Sinodinos?
These submarines were designed in the 1990s. By the time we have half a dozen of them, it will be 2035, they will be 60 years old. In other words, our new submarines will be old tech, like buying an old 747. And here we are, we’re going to wait 20 odd years to get the first one and 35 to 40 years to get the lot. For what will be then very old boats.
He says the French nuclear submarines would have been the newest in the world.
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