Cheaper Subs or More of the Same?

The Day.com has a interesting article about the navy looking into smaller, cheaper subs to restore numbers to the fleet. Here is an exert:

"Electric Boat has been awarded three research contracts totaling almost $21 million, the first granted under the Pentagon's Tango Bravo program, whose goal is to develop a half-size, half-price attack submarine.
EB had submitted proposals that were among more than 30 received by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, which is funding Tango Bravo. DARPA spokeswoman Jan Walker said additional contracts with other companies are expected soon.
The news was warmly received at the shipyard here.
“We're very encouraged that DARPA and the Navy are funding the development and demonstration of these technologies,” said EB spokesman Neil D. Ruenzel. “Electric Boat has been investigating these areas for several years, and we believe they can play an important role in the future of the submarine force.”

While I think it is a wonderful idea for smaller, cheaper subs, and long over due, I consider it a mistake to depend on this government subsidized dinosaur for something inexpensive. It would be far better to give it to a shipyard not dependant on military contracts (Austal?) and who would be open to new, even radical ideas. That said, I think more feasible than a small sub is the new classes of Unmanned underwater vehicles which could replace the giant Cold War era subs far cheaper, and harder to detect.