Tri-Service
Australia Buys Submarines From France in £27bn Deal
Australia has ordered 12 new submarines from France in a deal worth £27 billion.
French shipbuilder DCNS beat competitors from Japan and Germany to the contract.
The order of the Shortfin Barracuda submarines is Australia’s largest ever defence contract.
The country's Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said they would be built in Adelaide using Australian steel, creating 2,800 jobs.
He added that the decision was "securing the future of Australia’s navy over decades to come".
DCNS Promotional Video
Japan, which had been the frontrunner in the bidding process, called the decision "deeply regrettable".
Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said Japan would "ask Australia to explain why they didn't pick our design".
The Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A will replace Australia’s ageing Collins-class submarine.
HMAS Rankin, sixth submarine of the Collins-class, in 2006
It is over 90m long and weighs 4,500 tonnes with state-of-the-art stealth capabilities.
DCNS says the exact details are confidential but the Australian Navy insisted it would at least match the 12,000 nautical mile range of the outgoing Collins-class submarines.
Cover Image Courtesy: DCNS
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