What you need to know: The British Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines could now eclipse the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class submarines, raising questions about the trajectory of American shipbuilding.

– While the Virginia class boasts impressive firepower, the Astute class outperforms in speed, maintenance costs and reactor design: its Rolls-Royce pressurized water reactor requires only one refit per duration of life.

-In contrast, Virginia-class submarines have slower speeds and higher maintenance requirements.

-Given the U.S. Navy’s current shipbuilding challenges, adopting a smaller, more efficient design like the Astute could offer a solution to the decline of U.S. maritime power and ensure competitiveness in the face of countries like China.

Could the British Astute-class submarines outperform the American Virginia-class submarines?

There is a famous story that dates back to the end of World War II. The head of the US Navy was studying a combined flotilla of American and British warships. He telephoned his British counterpart and asked: “How does it feel to command the second largest navy in the world?” ” To which the British admiral replied: “What does it feel like to command the world?” second order navy?”

The reason this moment is crucial is that, for the first time in centuries, the British Royal Navy had fewer ships in its historic fleet than another power. In this case, the Americans.

From that moment on, terminal decline The history of the British Empire and its army, especially its navy, was an illustration of what declining empires look like in their final agonies.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy was producing increasingly complex, sausage-like warships. The Cold War sets in and the British following their passage into uselessness until finally their empire completely collapsed. But the Americans had created the most advanced navy in the world.

Rot in the US Navy

Today, the United States Navy is in relative decline. It shows: The U.S. Maritime Service cannot maintain reliable shipbuilding schedules. Additionally, the ships they have are rusting for the world to see.

At the same time, adversary countries, such as China, continue to build relatively cheap (but effective) systems, such as their anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) systems, to overcome America’s naval advantages in wartime.

It is now possible that even in shipbuilding the Americans will be eclipsed by the British. In particular, the Virginia-class nuclear submarine the Americans undertook to mass build (replacing the legendary Los Angeles-class attack submarines) could be technically inferior to the British nuclear model Clever-class submarines (cue the dramatic “dun-dun-dun” music).

THE Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine is built by the BAE Systems Maritime branch while the American VirginiaThe class submarines are built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding. Great Britain Clever The class is smaller than its American “rival”. In fact, the Virginia This class is the ninth largest class of submarines in the world, according to the Naval Technology website..

Which is the best?

In terms of engines, the Clever the courses are powered by a beautiful Rolls-Royce pressurized water reactor, known as Core H. This particular type of reactor does not need to be refueled. In other words, the submarine’s nuclear reactor only needs one overhaul instead of two throughout its service life. This means that the Clever the class is more affordable in terms of maintenance costs.

THE Virginia class submarines are powered by a S9G reactor designed by General Electric. While the Virginia-class submarine can reach cruising speeds of 25 knots, the Clever the class is faster at 30 knots. Between the advantages of refueling and speed, the Clever class is a better sub than the awesome Virginia class.

Finally, in terms of weapons, the Clever The class carries six 21-inch torpedo tubes capable of firing heavy Spearfish torpedoes.

These silent killers can also deploy Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles when engaged in land attack operations. In addition the CleverSubmarines of this class can store up to thirty-eight different weapons on board.

A Virginia-Submarines of this class, however, have greater firepower. It has four 21-inch torpedo tubes for the ubiquitous Mk48 torpedo and has twelve Tomahawk vertical launch system tubes. With the Virginia Payload Module on the new generation of Virginia-class submarines, it can carry up to sixty-five additional weapons in storage.

So yes, the Virginia the class is superior in weapons.

THE Clever class is a better investment

However, in terms of speed and maintenance, the Clever class is a better investment. Of course, the weapons package is not as robust as the Virginia-class submarines.

But the reduced size and speed as well as lower maintenance costs would likely mean that the Clever class, if built by American shipyards, would be easier to produce and less expensive.

Right now, the US Navy needs a way out of its current situation. shipyard woes. Smaller, cheaper submarines are one way to achieve this.

So yes, the British could have produced a better attack submarine than the Americans.

About the author:

Brandon J. Weicherta national security project of national interest analystis a former congressman and geopolitical analyst who contributes to The Washington Times, Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is available for purchase wherever books are sold. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

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