The main advantages of a modern AIP and diesel-electric sub over nuclear subs is that they are quieter and cheaper.
Nuclear subs still dominate in submerged endurance, deep-ocean performance, speed and weapons load, but modern non-nuclear subs are stealthier and with the right equipment and tactics are more suited for operations in littoral waters with choke points, islands and shallow coastlines such as the North Sea, the Mediterranean and the Western Pacific.
A nuclear subs reactor must constantly pump coolant, generating some amount of detectable noise. Non-nuclear subs running on battery power or AIP can be virtually silent. New small, high-tech non-nuclear attack subs are highly effective in coastal operations and pose a significant threat to less-stealthy and less-maneuverable nuclear subs. Measures can and have been taken to reduce sound and magnetic signatures of nuclear subs, but the steam turbine still makes them naturally far more noisy than AIP subs. Nuclear subs are also generally larger making them more detectable through either acoustic, infrared or magnetic sensors. Nuclear subs also have to cool down nuclear reactors with hot water being dumped into ocean, leaving long trails behind the submarine which is detectable by IR sensors.
The older Los Angeles Class boats cost US $1 billion. The newer Virginia Class cost between US $1.8 to $2.5 billion, and Britain's Astute Class costs US$1.8 billion. A Swedish T-96 Class costs $100 million, while at the upper end a German Dolphin Class would cost US$ 500-870 million. American nuclear submarines also cost US $21 million a year to operate and US $200 million to refuel and modernise at their half-life cycle.
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