Construction of new offshore patrol vessels starts in Adelaide in 2018, then transfers to Western Australia to make way for construction of nine future frigates, scheduled to start in 2020.
Advertisement
Japan was the early favourite and last November Tokyo said handing it the contract would help bolster regional security, with some senior USA officials, including former deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage, also backing a Japanese build.
As part of its sales pitch, Japan’s bidders highlighted the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, where China has been moving missiles, building islands, and making sweeping territorial claims to the chagrin of its neighbors.
This latest military export gives President Francois Hollande some temporary relief. “The French offer best represented the capabilities best able to meet Australia’s unique needs”.
“I want to seek an explanation of why (the Japanese bid) was not chosen, and have the findings reflected (in our future activities)”, Nakatani said, according to Kyodo.
But the wind turned against Japan in September previous year when Abbott was replaced by Malcolm Turnbull, who is known to be the most knowledgeable person about China within the Australian political arena.
Japan was a strong contender, but there was concern the country lacked experience in exporting such complex military hardware.
“It is critically important that with a sovereign defense capability we have the skills in Australia to build it, to maintain it and sustain it”, he told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. “In the long term that is probably of greater importance to us than the submarines”.
“Australian workers will be building Australian submarines with Australian steel”.
Australia already has one of the world’s largest conventional submarines, the Australia-built Collins class, and the navy insisted that its replacement at least match its range of 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 kilometers). Retaining votes in key electorates in that state will be critical for the government.
Fairfax Media understands that Defence did not recommend the all-Australian build over the hybrid option, but rather said both approaches would be acceptable. – Submarines will be most sophisticated naval vessels being built in the world.
“While exact details remain confidential, DCNS can confirm the Shortfin Barracuda is over 90 meters in length and displaces more than 4,000 tons when dived”, said Sean Costello, CEO DCNS Australia, when announcing the bid.
“We respect the decision of the Australian government to choose DCNS as its preferred partner for the procurement of new submarines and wish Australia and all involved every success in the realization of this demanding program”, said Torben Beckman, a spokesman for Thyssenkrupp.
Advertisement
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian added Tuesday the contract would also create thousands of jobs in his country.
