Australia Develop a New Submarine for Export : Pyne

15 November 2017

Australia's future submarine (photo : Navy Recognition)

Christopher Pyne reveals vision for export version of Australia’s Future Submarines

AUSTRALIA could export a brand new submarine in 20 or 30 years, Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne says.

Mr Pyne was asked at a major submarine conference in Adelaide on Tuesday morning whether it would be possible to sell submarines overseas now that Australia is embarking on the $50 billion Future Submarines project.

He replied that we would never sell the French-designed Shortfin Barracuda — we want to keep the best submarine in the region for ourselves.

However, he said, we could develop an “export version”, in the same way the French did, to both sustain the industry here and meet the needs of other nations.

Mr Pyne has previously talked up the possibility of Australia as an arms exporter, but the focus has been on simpler warships.

However, he said today the idea of exporting submarines was “something we can explore”.

“Strategically we want to have the regionally superior submarine — that means the submarine made for the Australian Navy will be a unique product. There won’t be one like it in the world,” he said.

“We don’t want any other country in our region to have the same level of capability.”

But, he said, it might be possible to have an Australian version then an export version.

“I have a very broad vision about shipbuilding and submarine building,” he said.

“I am certain we will become a export nation for shipbuilding and if we can become an export nation for submarines, that’s something we can explore.

“I do think there are possibilities for that and I don’t think we should be limited in our thinking.”

He said the timeline for such a project would be 20 to 30 years, so it doesn’t interfere with the Future Submarines.

Mr Pyne was speaking at the 4th Submarine Institute of Australia’s Submarine, Science, Technology and Engineering Conference 2017.

(Adelaide Now)