Ex-Dragoon
Question for you.
As I understand it, it is going to cost us 2100 Million Canadian Dollars to build three JSS's, not including cost over runs.
4 Bay class LSL's (16,000 tonnes) cost the Brits less than 640 Million Canadian Dollars and are crewed in total by roughly the same number of seamen as currently man an AOR (recognizing that there are many trades in an AOR not directly related to sea-keeping). Apparently the British crew size is 60 all ranks per vessel vice, I believe, 247 all ranks for the AORs.
That means that at least 3 LSLs could be built and crewed for less cost than one JSS. (Might even leave some money for a degree of ice-strengthening).
I know that the fleet is designed to work with three AORs, however we have been limping along with two AORs for almost a decade now and the JSSs won't be on-line for at least another 7 years.
Could we look at replacing the purchase of the three JSSs with a purchase of 2 JSSs and 3 Transport ships?
Also might not the removal of the transport task from the JSSs, and the resultant simplification in design, reduce the unit cost of the JSSs and eventually allow for the purchase of a third unit in any event?
Is that something you might consider doable?
Cheers mate.
PS Based on information supplied in Flug Revue http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRTypen/FRC-17.htm and at the UK MOD's Defence Procurement Agency's site http://www.mod.uk/dpa/ipt/C17.htm one 16,000 tonne LSL capable of carrying 300 to 800 bodies plus transport and kit is cheaper than one (1) C-17.
The Budget for Squadron of 4 C17s leased for 7 years (750 Million Pounds or 1500 Million Canadian Dollars) would easily purchase 4 LSLs at 640 Million Canadian Dollars and leave money on the table for 23-24 EH-101 Utility or 23-24 C27J SAR/Transports or 11-12 C130J Hercules.
http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRTypen/FREH101.htm
http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRTypen/FRC-27J.htm
http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRTypen/FRC-130J.htm
http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi
(Just to take the discussion away from a strictly "us against the navy" battle
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