What is the minimum number of nuclear-powered submarines you need for a viable capability? At the moment all 6 UK SSNs are tied up at Faslane. The outcome of AIR 6500 Phase 1 has been decided – and Lockheed Marin are the worthy winner. However, this seems contrary to the DSR recommendation in favour of an off-the-shelf solution, so what else will be ignored? Is MQ-28A Ghost Bat under threat? Then the story of how big, brave RAAF officers at a basic flying training school in Tamworth locked their doors and hid under their desks rather than speak with three visiting Australian journalists. By comparison, senior US government and military figures routinely make themselves available to the media – and we learn far more from them than from our own people about what the heck is actually going on.
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