Critical design work on the Royal Australian Navy’s Future Submarine Program will move to South Australia from 2022, fueling more local jobs and investment. The 12 new submarines will be constructed in Adelaide, utilizing a national supply chain and ensuring this $50 billion initiative is completed with Australian expertise.
Artist impression: RAN future submarines. Naval Group image.
The project will deliver the best submarines to the Royal Australian Navy, and create almost 3000 jobs directly and throughout the supply chain. Now the Turnbull Government is also confirming that the detailed design work will move from France to Australia in 2022. Currently, initial design work is taking place in Adelaide and Cherbourg, France. Up to 270 Australian jobs will be created in the detailed design and production planning activities.
This announcement coincides with the visit to Australia by the French President, Emmanuel Macron. The engagement of France’s Naval Group represents the enormous opportunity being delivered through Australia’s strategic partnership with France.
Naval Group’s commitment to building Australia’s sovereign defence industry capability is reinforced by the decision to migrate detailed design of the Future Submarine to Australia. Preparations will involve a range of training activities for Australians to ensure they achieve the necessary qualifications and develop the essential skills to undertake both detailed design and production planning.
Undertaking the detailed design and production planning locally will ensure our sovereignty goals are met, in a smooth transition to construction of the submarines in Adelaide. During detailed design the Future Submarines will be developed and planned to a high level of precision using advanced computer-aided software, which includes the layout of all systems in each compartment of the submarine.
At the same time, the schedule for the construction of the submarine will be planned in detail, guiding shipyard workers on each stage of the build. More than 600 Australian companies have so far registered interest with Naval Group to be part of the Program.
Video on Australia's future submarine
Australia's Future Submarine Program:
The Australian Government selected Naval Group (then known as DCNS) as its preferred international partner for the design of 12 Future submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. The announcement was made on April 26 2016 by the Australian Prime Minister the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon. Marise Payne, The Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, the Hon. Christopher Pyne and The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett. DCNS was competing with the Shortfin Barracuda design against TKMS' Type 216 and Japan's Soryu class designs. Based on the French Navy Barracuda SSN currently in final stage of construction, Australia's future submarine will be will be 97 meters in length and 8.8 meters in diameter.
In September, Lockheed Martin was selected as the preffered combat system integrator. All 12 submarines are expected to be built in Adelaide (South Australia) with technology transfer from Naval Group.
