The Attack Class will begin entering service in the early 2030s replacing the six Collins Class submarines, which have been in service since HMAS Collins commissioned in 1996. The US Navy's Virginia class nuclear-powered attack submarines are successors to the Los Angeles class boats. The Attack class was so named as it represents the inherent stealth, long range endurance and lethality of a submarine. The first of class submarine will be commissioned as HMAS Attack (II). The Virginia class was designed as smaller, less expensive and more versatile alternative to the advanced but extremely expensive Seawolf class. The class will enter service in the early 2030s with construction extending into the late 2040s to 2050. The Navy continues to build the next-generation attack submarine, the Virginia (SSN 774) class. The Suffren Class submarines are a cousin to Australia’s upcoming Attack Class fleet. The largest Defence procurement in the nation’s history, the Attack class submarine program is an investment of more than $50 billion in Australia’s security based at Osborne Naval Shipyard. The Seawolf class is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy.The class was the intended successor to the Los Angeles class, and design work began in 1983. Soryu was the first of the Soryu class of diesel-powered attack submarines. The Attack class Submarine Program will provide the Royal Australian Navy with 12 regionally superior, conventionally powered submarines which will be known as the Attack class. Twelve VIRGINIA's have been commissioned to date and they will replace Los Angeles Class submarines as they retire. A total of 30 Virginia class nuclear-powered attack submarines are planned. Meaning it would be huge. Designed and built in Japan, the submarines are 275 feet long and displace 4,630 tons submerged. The Virginia-Class Attack Submarine Is Becoming the Navy’s Undersea Spy. ( AP: Ludovic Marin ) Defence Minister Linda Reynolds declined 7.30's interview request. A fleet of 29 submarines was to be built over a ten-year period, but that was reduced to 12 submarines. The Attack-class submarine is a future class of submarines for the Royal Australian Navy based on the Shortfin Barracuda proposal by French shipbuilder Naval Group (formerly known as DCNS) to replace the Collins-class submarines. And probably very, very expensive. They are also used to protect friendly surface combatants and missile submarines. The U.S. Navy’s next attack submarine could share the dimensions of the new Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine. The Navy continues to build the next-generation attack submarine, the Virginia (SSN 774) class. An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants and merchant vessels.In the Soviet and Russian navies they were and are called "multi-purpose submarines".