Australia’s submarine program has truly lost its rudder

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Opinion: Australia’s submarine program has truly lost its rudder | Peter Hartcher

China is well on its way to achieving its goal of complete military modernisation by 2027 and already has more warships and submarines than the US. China’s shipyards launch a new sub every year or so.

By that time, Australia will have exactly as many subs as it has today, which is the same number it had a quarter-century earlier, according to Morrison government’s statements on Thursday. But it does represent an increased level of trust and an intensified commitment to share technology and advanced weaponry. This includes co-operation on some of the same next-generation technologies that Beijing has declared as its highest tech priorities – quantum computing, quantum communication, artificial intelligence and cyber.

But the three wartime allies have chosen to announce as their first initiative a plan to help Australia acquire nuclear propulsion technology for submarines. First, the Morrison government has cancelled the existing contracts to buy 12 French-designed submarines. This was the deal that the Turnbull government struck five years ago. The subs, to be built in Adelaide based on French design, were to cost an estimated lifetime total of $90 billion. The first was supposed to enter the water in about a decade from now.

But we know from the Morrison government that the proposed new nuclear subs will be delivered years later than the French-designed subs, and cost more. And because it’s planning “at least eight”, Australia could end up with fewer than the 12 in the previous deal.

 

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ScottyFromMarketing has no effing idea, except executing random strategies to keep his job.

Australian culture, Australian value!

Australia helped the US agricultural industry by upsetting our biggest trading partner. Now we help their defence industry by upsetting the French. With an off the shelf price of $2-3b each, what is the other $70b for?

So Australia ditches the French designed Attack class submarines which were based on the French nuclear powered Barracuda class submarines to buy US or UK SSNs. Did anyone think to ask Macron ‘Mon ami, pouvons-nous avoir la version à propulsion nucléaire?’

Opinions are like arseholes i guess. We've been avoiding nuclear powered subs, not craving them

More reliant on the US. Just like the afgahn air force...

Good article apart from the emphasis on Adelaide which from my understanding has the talent and existing facilities to build these new subs. Still no surprise over the handling of the French contract by Morrison and co going by previous history! 🤔

Peter, you are kidding yourself to think that Australia can defend itself against China without US.

On the money Peter!

Maybe we should build Chinese nuclear submarines? That way, our universities could get involved.

Redress this past error with our new &welcomed ally ScottMorrisonMP with additional subs. Japan ready to build submarines in Aust&train local engineers Frontrunner bidder Japan offers to build Soryu vessels entirely at Aust shipyards in an effort to secure $20bn defence contract

I can guarantee that there will be no subs for Australia. Just a bs announcement to upset China.

Good article, the more I read on this the less likely I see a sub ever being built. Today's headline should have read Morrison announces 'interdepartmental committee'. No subs will ever be built here. Leasing a couple may be the best option.

Australian leadership is rudderless ScottMorrisonMP is not the leader Australia can afford ThatFellaDownUnder ScottyTheAnnouncer Australia

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