Coastal submarines come after existing British programs

Should the Royal Navy revive small coastal submarines for operations west of Ireland?

No immediate revival is recommended. More P-8s and continued Type 31 and Type 32 production would take priority over another submarine line.

A separate British coastal-submarine class would require another design and production line while competing with the SSN program for money and attention. The new boats could not easily draw technology from the nuclear program, and buying abroad would clash with the political expectation that British warships be built in Britain. Expanding the P-8 force and continuing the Type 31 and Type 32 programs would provide capability sooner. The larger procurement lesson is that sustained production of a working design is usually more efficient than repeatedly opening and closing programs.