"Australia is continuing its challenging transformational maritime projects that will, the country hopes, result in a larger and more potent fleet by 2030. Of the range of major capability decisions contained within the Defence Capability Plan, the decision to double the RAN's future submarine fleet is the most contentious - and certainly the most expensive. Combat capabilities required of the future submarine range from strategic strike with land attack cruise missiles to anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence collection, special forces support and the ability to carry different mission payloads such as unmanned underwater vehicles. The range of requirements, coupled with the need to undertake prolonged covert patrols over the full distance of Australia's strategic approaches and in operational areas, suggests a boat up to 30 per cent larger than the 3,300 tonne Collins, which is the world's second-largest conventionally powered submarine."