Perhaps the biggest concern about the present situation with Australia’s future submarine program is the acute and growing probability of a capability gap.
We believe the current plan for the design and construction of 12 Attack class submarines by the French government-owned company Naval Group is fundamentally flawed.
The first submarine is not expected to be in service until 2035 at the earliest, which is far too late from both a strategic and an operational perspective and will likely leave our defence forces with a major capability gap.
EXCESSIVE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS
The already excessive cost has blown out by 60% before even a preliminary design has been produced and at $80bn for design and construction and $225bn for total through life cost the submarines are outlandishly expensive.
OFFSHORE BUILD AND MAINTENANCE
The reason we build submarines in Australia is to be able to sustain them, while Naval Group will aim to maximise French industry involvement – currently without any competition in the process there is an inadequate level of engagement between Naval Group and Australian suppliers.
OUR
Reports
We commission various policy experts to research and produce reports on the state of submarine manufacturing in Australia.