Quote Originally Posted by canadian boy
Actuallly there is technology that would allow for quick deployent and new stealth technology will soon be advanced enough to hide a sub that has surfaced so they will still have the element of suprise.

And don't worry about the price becasuse at 30 billion thats only a piece of the cake that america spends on their B-2 Spirit bomber at about 200 billion apiece, So you could build 20 of the subs at the price you listed for the same price of 3 B-2 Spirit bombers.
Erm. I think you are out. By a factor of lots. If B-2s cost $200 billion, the combined cost of the fleet would exceed 1/3rd US GDP. Methinks not. Crazy man.


On a seperate note; I have often wondered if it would be possible to produce a ship that whilst submerisble had a dive depth of 20m or something- ie no need for a silly pressure hull, yet 100% radar stealthy. Missiles can be launched entirely submerged and any gun systems could be used mostly submerged. Not a carrier, which would cede that advantage during normal operations, but an Aegis destroyer? Obviously to have radar coverage, you need to protrude, but could an infinite-loiter solar powered flying wing provide that, perhaps?