Nuclear submarines, unlike diesel-electric boats, can be used underwater. They are larger and require a greater infrastructure. They require a two-year overhaul on the spot before they can be restored to service. They also require a storage space for used gasoline.
Nuclear submarines use high-enriched uranium as their fuel. HEU is one the most deadly metals on Earth. It is also one of the simplest materials to work with. HEU is not required to be replaced throughout the life of a submarine. It is possible that the fuel can contain poisons. This could cause fuel efficiency to drop. In some cases, the poisons can be burnt off.
In nuclear submarines, there have been several types of reactors. PWRs, built by Westinghouse, were some of the earliest. Rolls-Royce continued to develop these PWRs. The cores were created for Royal Navy submarines. They are built to last for at least 30-40 years.
Later on, lead-bismuth cooled reactors were used, which were able to be used in submarines. These designs were used on the K-27, an experimental predecessor of the Alfa class. The experimental reactors had problems and the submarine was built at Gremikha Bay.
In the 1960s, long-range antisubmarine weapons were invented. These were submerged to launch the missiles, and were designed to be able to hit targets in far away regions. They could reach a distance of nearly 2,500 miles.
There have been over 100 nuclear submarines that the United States has used. The US Virginia-class submarines come standard with HEU. The US uses high-enriched uranium for its other submarines, like the Virginia, Skipjack and Dreadnought. It is possible to add a burnable chemical to the core in order to prolong its lifespan. The only countries that use HEU for naval reactors are the USA and Britain.
In recent years, the United States has been involved in a security alliance with the UK and Australia. This alliance aims to counter China. These three countries share a common point of view in security matters. They have now signed a new security agreement in order to form a security alliance. This pact will make Australia the seventh-powerful nuclear-powered submarine in world. This pact will also enable Australia to be the second recipient of US technology.
Australia will end its multibillion dollar submarine deal with France, and will instead enter into a new security partnership with the United States (US) and the United Kingdom. The agreement will allow Australia to become the second nation to receive US nuclear submarine technology.
Australia will also receive diesel-powered submarines, which are thought to be a complementary technology to the US's nuclear subs. These submarines will work together with the UK and US, as Australia does not have a current nuclear power industry. The majority of the subs work will, however, be performed overseas.