COLLINS LOTE

There are a number of submarine ‘present’ and ‘future’ related areas which demand attention from the perspective of research. The ‘Life of Type Extension’ (LOTE) for the Collins class has ramifications for both submarine capability and availability. Closely related to these is the amount of training required for operators at sea to ensure the maximum benefit ensues.

LOTE offers a huge challenge and opportunity to radically improve the process leading to capability improvement that is significantly in advance of that available to an adversary. The real focus of research for improving capability should not just be the basic integration of (glacially developed) new technology, but the determination to go beyond the norms of a standard ‘risk assessment’ judgement in deciding the value of the benefits that emerging (but perhaps not fully proven) technology has to offer. Future investment in continuous capability improvement requires much greater concentration on the clinical (but rapid) assessment of the technology being developed in relation to countering the threat, well ahead of the emergence of new threat capability.