New Collins-based submarine ‘best fit’ while waiting for Aukus, defence experts say

Four former senior navy personnel say conventional sub could be in water by 2032 to cover Australia's needs before nuclear program

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Australia only has one option left, a group of former senior navy personnel say, and that's to build conventional submarines while waiting for the nuclear-powered program to begin.

Unions, industry and strategists are concerned about the capability gap as the existing Collins class fleet starts to retire before the new submarines arrive. The defence minister, Richard Marles, says that dealing with that gap is his top priority, and that he has an open mind on how to do it.