Comments by "Bob thebomb" (@bobthebomb1596) on "Australia to consider leasing or buying existing submarines from the US, UK" video.

@philmurdoch1203 Listen to the video again, he addresses that very point. The latest US/UK reactors are built such that they do not require refueling during their operational lives, current French reactors do require refueling. That would leave Australia with two options: Send the subs back to France for a mid-life refuel, or invest in their own refueling facilities. Both options are expensive and result in the boats being unavailable for longer during refit.
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@philmurdoch1203 At the time they went for a non nuclear boat, so the point is moot.
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If leasing is explored then the choice would almost certainly be for US boats. The UK is still operating two of the older Trafalgar class boats while construction of the final Astute's is completed. There is certainly no option to lease A-boats as the UK is woefully short of numbers itself. A couple of T-boats might be an option, but they are old and may well have little hull life remaining.
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