When the US Retreats - SYMPTOMS OF EARTH EMERGE: Regional Tensions to Spark Submarine Manufacturing Boom in Asia-Pacific

If funds we had for defense represented a GROWING ECONOMY, our allies would not be building up arms and contributing to a situation where MULTIPLE out of control scenarios result in nuclear chaos and war.

National Defense Industrial Association

Asia-Pacific navies are expected to surpass European nations on submarine spending over the next 10 years because of increasing instability in the region, according to a new report.

The submarine market in the Asia-Pacific region is valued at $7.3 billion this year, but is projected to grow at an annual rate of 4.18 percent to reach $11 billion in 2025, according to a new report “The Global Submarine and MRO Market 2015–2025,” produced by Strategic Defence Intelligence, a London-based business information firm. The United States is expected to remain the largest market for submarines, with a projected cumulative spending of $102.2 billion over the next decade. 

The growth in Asia is primarily driven by major countries such as China, India, Australia and South Korea, which are focusing more on developing their naval capabilities. This is attributed to the rising number of maritime conflicts and potential threats in the South China Sea as well as the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the report said.

“Growing Chinese assertiveness in disputes over islands in the South China Sea and the rapid modernization of China’s submarine fleet spurred the demand for submarines in countries such as India, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and Vietnam,” Sravan Kumar Gorantala, an analyst at SDI said in a statement.
Smaller nations such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore are also investing in submarine acquisitions in order to strengthen their naval arsenals, according to the report’s executive summary.
China, India and Pakistan prefer nuclear-powered submarines, the report said.
“Major defense spenders like the U.S., the U.K. and France prefer nuclear-powered attack and ballistic missile submarines instead of conventional submarines,” said Gorantala.

And now beginning VERY SOON, a cash strapped USA will begin retiring LA Class 688 Nuclear boats. Can you think of a use for them?