The analyst said “this is certain to have played a crucial factor in Australia’s decision” to tap the French defense maker.
Advertisement
Mr Turnbull said the French bid “represented the capabilities best able to meet Australia’s unique needs”.
DCNS has said it plans to build a 4,500-tonne conventionally-powered version of its 4,700 tonne Barracuda, to be named Shortfin Barracuda.
Japan is demanding answers from the Turnbull government over why it lost to France in the race to build Australia’s next generation of submarines.
Japan’s Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani described the decision as “deeply regrettable”. “Whoever builds the submarines is going to have to incorporate that and that shouldn’t be a problem”.
The Turnbull Government will maximize Australian industry involvement in the program and will work closely with DCNS to identify opportunities for local businesses to integrate into the supply chain.
Mr Turnbull stresses he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are committed to the countries’ special strategic relationship. Then, government MPs from South Australia rebelled – they wanted guarantees that the vessels would all be built in Australia, and last September, Tony Abbott was out… toppled by his own party.
“The submarine project alone will generate 2800 Australian jobs”. We actually didn’t expect the Australians to decide on the French.
Australia is boosting defence spending as it seeks to protect its strategic and trade interests in the Asia-Pacific while the USA and its allies counter the growing might of China. Japan would have built Australia a variant of its 4,000-ton Soryu submarine.
Germany, which had publicly offered to build the entire fleet in Adelaide for AU$20 billion less than half the navy’s expected cost offered a larger variation of its Type 214 submarine made for Australian specifications called a Type 216.
Grevatt added that DCNS is now involved in submarine license-building programs in India and submarine support programs in Malaysia that have both involved substantial transfers of submarine-related technologies and knowhow.
“We will ask Australia to explain why they didn’t pick our design”, he added.
Advertisement
It said on its website that the new vessel would be “the recipient of France’s most sensitive and protected submarine technology and will be the most lethal conventional submarine ever contemplated”. The existing Collins class submarine has a top speed of 20 knots underwater and 10 knots on the surface; and a range of 400 nautical miles underwater and 11,500 nautical miles on the surface. The new subs needed to have similar capabilities, along with superior sensor performance and stealth, and a cutting-edge combat system.
