AFP, Sydney :
Japan has assured Australia it will share its most secret stealth technology if it wins a contract to design and build Canberra’s next generation of submarines, a report said Monday.
Three international bidders are competing for the project worth up to Aus$50 billion (US$36 billion) to replace Australia’s current diesel and electric-powered Collins Class submarines which are set to be retired from about 2026. The tender process is now closed with submissions received from DCNS of France, Germany’s TKMS and the Japanese government.
Besides matching the range and endurance of the Collins Class, the new generation of subs are expected to offer superior sensor performance and stealth capabilities.
Japan’s Deputy Defence Minister Kenji Wakamiya said Tokyo ordinarily only shared details of its Soryu class submarine with the United States, but Australia was also considered a deeply trusted ally.
“It is of major importance to us that we will be sharing this secret technology with Australia,” he told The Australian newspaper in comments published Monday.
Wakamiya added that Tokyo’s willingness to do this demonstrated the importance it placed on maintaining regional security.
“Please also recognise that this decision was based on Japan seeing Australia as a very important partner,” he said.
“And I believe that a joint project to build the new submarine would contribute greatly to maritime safety in this region.”
Japan has assured Australia it will share its most secret stealth technology if it wins a contract to design and build Canberra’s next generation of submarines, a report said Monday.
Three international bidders are competing for the project worth up to Aus$50 billion (US$36 billion) to replace Australia’s current diesel and electric-powered Collins Class submarines which are set to be retired from about 2026. The tender process is now closed with submissions received from DCNS of France, Germany’s TKMS and the Japanese government.
Besides matching the range and endurance of the Collins Class, the new generation of subs are expected to offer superior sensor performance and stealth capabilities.
Japan’s Deputy Defence Minister Kenji Wakamiya said Tokyo ordinarily only shared details of its Soryu class submarine with the United States, but Australia was also considered a deeply trusted ally.
“It is of major importance to us that we will be sharing this secret technology with Australia,” he told The Australian newspaper in comments published Monday.
Wakamiya added that Tokyo’s willingness to do this demonstrated the importance it placed on maintaining regional security.
“Please also recognise that this decision was based on Japan seeing Australia as a very important partner,” he said.
“And I believe that a joint project to build the new submarine would contribute greatly to maritime safety in this region.”
