According to an unnamed source in the Royal Navy, HMS Triumph, Torbay, Artful, Talent, Trenchant and Ambush are undergoing maintenance, while HMS Astute is still being tested. If true, this would mean that London has found itself in a situation unseen for decades.
"I want to point out that reports on UK submarines have surfaced right after the [US Navy] said that approximately 60 percent of its aircraft are not combat ready. … This looks like a coordinated campaign which pursues only one goal. It wants to convince Americans and Brits that they have underdeveloped fleets which need to be swiftly reconstructed and which require increased defense spending," he suggested.
Earlier in February, the US Navy said that more than half of the aircraft in the Navy and Marine Corps' arsenal are non-operational.
Sivkov maintained that the Royal Navy has experienced troubles, but its state is not as dire as some portray.
"True, the United Kingdom has spent less on defense in recent years. One could assume that this could have contributed to fleet wear and breakdowns. But it does not look like the situation is as catastrophic [as described]. This looks like a prearranged scenario, a coordinated information campaign aimed at securing more funds. And they will get them," the analyst said.
The information regarding the Royal Navy Submarine Service has ostensibly been kept away from UK Prime Minister Theresa May since high-ranking defense officials are concerned with her reaction. According to the Sun, former Prime Minister David Cameron "flew into a rage" when he was informed of the situation in 2014.
BAE Systems, a British multinational defense, security and aerospace company, is expected to build a total of seven Astute-class subs, each estimated to cost more than $1.7 million.
The aging Trafalgar class has been in service since 1983. It is expected to be fully decommissioned by 2022.
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