Australia chooses nuclear submarines
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Australia will acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, likely to be based either on Britain’s Astute-class vessel or the U.S. Navy’s equivalent, the Virginia class
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VIRGINIA CLASS (U.S.): Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding

Propulsion
General Electric S9G reactor

12 VLS tubes

Armament: Mk 48 torpedoes and Vertical Launch System (VLS) for Tomahawk cruise missiles. Up to 37 weapons stored

Four torpedo tubes

Displacement 7,925 tonnes Speed 25+ knots (46km/h)
Length 115m Crew 132
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ASTUTE CLASS (UK)
Built by BAE Systems

Propulsion
Rolls-Royce PWR2 reactor

Armament: Six torpedo tubes capable of launching Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. Up to 38 weapons stored

Displacement 7,400 tonnes Speed 30 knots (56km/h)
Length 97m  Crew 98 
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AUSTRALIA’S SUBMARINE FLEET 
Current: Diesel-electric
6
Future (by 2040): Nuclear-powered
8
Indigenously-built Collins class, first deployed in 1996
Range: 21,300km (surfaced)

To be built in Australia under security partnership with U.S. and UK
Range: Limited only by food supply
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Sources: FT, Ministry of Defence, Reuters, Royal Australian Navy, U.S. Navy © GRAPHIC NEWS