How Japan Biffed Selling its Soryu Submarine to Australia

As the dust settles on Japan’s unsuccessful bid to sell its Soryu-class submarines to Australia, Tokyo has a lot to think about. The failure in Canberra was Japan’s second strike in its politically-led push to export its homegrown weaponry.

The joint bid by the Japanese government on behalf of two defense heavyweights — Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries — lost out to a conventionally-powered variant of France’s Barracuda-class nuclear submarine. Germany was also in the running with its Type 214.

Australia wants 12 new long-range, non-nuclear submarines to replace its current six Collins-class boats starting around 2030. The program could cost more than $15 billion.

While Tokyo’s hopes of selling Soryus to Australia and P-1 maritime patrol aircraft to the United Kingdom have been dashed, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s dream of a healthy defense export market survives—but only if Japan can learn from its failure down under.

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Excitement and Concern Over France's Win of the Australian Submarine Contract

Australia’s choice of French shipbuilding giant DCNS to lead the country’s ambitious 12-ship submarine construction program caught most observers by surprise. The quasi-government-owned DCNS — which often competes in international naval programs but rarely scores a major win — had been seen as an also-ran in competition with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and the Japanese government for the lucrative, Australian $50 billion (US $38 billion, €33.2 billion) Future Submarine contract.

But Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s April 26 announcement that the decision was “unequivocally” in favor of the French design set champagne corks popping in Paris even as Australian politicians and commentators debated the choice.

“This was the absolutely unambiguous recommendation from the Department of Defence that came through the competitive evaluation process,” Turnbull said, adding that all three bids were of a “very high quality.”

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France to Build Australian Submarines, but With American Components

Australia may have awarded France a bumper contract to build its next generation of submarines, but its highly secretive combat system will come from close ally the United States.

French shipbuilder DCNS last week beat off Germany and Japan to secure the Aus$50 billion (US$39 billion) deal to design and build the 12 subs, a scaled down conventionally-powered version of its 4,700-tonne Barracuda, to be named Shortfin Barracuda.

But it will have little to do with armaments and the complex combat system, which American defence giant Lockheed Martin — which is in the running to be involved — said was “essentially the eyes, ears and sword of the boat”.

Australia has made clear it prefers the American AN/BYG-1 system, along with the joint Australian-US heavyweight Mark-48 torpedoes as its main weapon.

A decision has yet to be made on which company will be responsible for integrating the system — essentially to detect, acquire and track targets — with US defence contractor Raytheon also said to be a contender.

Given the close relationship and the fact that its technology will be used, Washington was always going to take a keen interest in Canberra’s choice to build the boats.

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France to Build Australia's new Attack Submarine (ssk)

France has beaten Japan and Germany to win an Australian mega-deal to build a fleet of 12 new submarines in Australia, for the Australian Navy SEA 1000 program. The decision was formally announced by Australian Defense Minister Malcolm Turnbull today. The SEA 1000 program is the largest acquisition program in the history of Australian defense, representing an investment of around $50 billion. The submarines will replace the six Collins class submarines (Kockums’ Type 471 submarine) commissioned between 1996 and 2003. The lead ship of the Collins class is expected to retire by the early 2030s.

The Australian Government’s requirements addressed by the new design are superior sensor performance, stealth characteristics and range and endurance similar to the current Collins Class submarine.

Industry watchers had anticipated a decision to come later in the year, but Turnbull’s gamble on a July 2 general election sped up the process. The submarines selected for the Australian Navy are based on a diesel-electric version of the 4,200-tonne Barracuda nuclear-powered submarine designed by DCNS. The first Barracuda submarine is expected to be commissioned with the French Navy next year. Subject to discussions on commercial matters, the design of the Future Submarine with DCNS will begin this year.

The variant offered by DCNS is a conventionally powered diesel-electric design of the submarine – named ‘Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A’, a version of the Barracuda specially designed for the Australian Navy. The boat has a length of 94 meters, and displacement of 4,000 tons (when submerged), 200 tons lighter than the French Barracuda. It is designed as a sea-going submarine for long range and long endurance.

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REPORT: North Korea Just Lost a Submarine

Details remain scarce, but reports state that North Korea has lost one of its submarines. It is not clear what exactly the suspected state of the submarine is but North Korea is frantically searching for it. This event could not come at a worse time as tensions on Korean Peninsula are at an all time high.

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Frustrated Taiwan Wants Promised Nonnuclear Submarines Promised by US

n 2001, President George W. Bush's administration released the largest arms package to Taiwan since the closing of US military bases on the island in 1979. The deal included four Kidd-class destroyers, 12 P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and eight diesel-electric submarines.

Since then, the package has been completed except for the submarine offer. The many sticking points include the fact the US has not built diesel-electric attack submarines since the last Barbel-class was finished in 1959. But that has not stopped Taiwan's Navy from pushing forward on an official release via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) office before beginning an indigenous build program.

Taiwan’s frustrations with the US FMS process it began 14 years ago are growing, leading it to pursue an indigenous construction effort that it hopes will provide some tactical and strategic leverage against China’s rapidly growing naval modernization efforts.

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Australia now Evaluating 3 bids for Collins Class Submarine Replacement

Now that all three competitors have issued final proposals in Australia's AU$ 50 billion (US $36.44 billion) Future Submarine program, an expert advisory panel will begin its evaluations and issue findings next year to guide the government's selection.

Up to 12 large conventional submarines will be acquired under Project Sea 1000. The Australian government selected France’s DCNS, TKMS of Germany and the government of Japan to participate in a competitive evaluation process (CEP).

“Since the CEP began in February, all three participants have worked closely with [the Department of] Defence and they should be congratulated for the hard work and significant investment they have made to reach this point,” Australian Defence Minister Sen. Marise Payne said in a statement.

“Submarines are Defence’s most complex, sensitive and expensive capability, so it is important that evaluation process is fair and robust.”

Each of the three bidders is required to submit three strategies for construction of the Future Submarine, from full completion in their home shipyards; through a hybrid model where initial boats are built in the home yard and the remainder in Australia; and a complete build in an Australian shipyard.

DCNS is proposing a conventionally powered derivative of its Barracuda nuclear attack submarine, known as the Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A. The company announced that its proposal, which includes a government-to-government agreement between the Australian Department of Defence and France’s Direction Générale de Armament, was submitted on Nov. 27.

TKMS is bidding a submarine which uses its existing HDW Type 216 boat as a reference design, but will be significantly scaled up to meet Australia’s requirements.

During the Pacific 2015 Maritime Exposition held in Sydney in October, TKMS Australia Chairman John White announced that the design would be named "Endeavour," after the barque of Capt. James Cook who landed on Australia’s east coast in 1770.

The Japanese government, in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Shipbuilding, is dealing directly with the Australian Defence Department’s procurement organization, the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group. The Japanese are proposing a new submarine design based upon the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force’s current Soryu-class boat.

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Indian Navy Wants More Scorpene SSK Submarines

The Indian Navy is considering buying additional Scorpene submarines to top an earlier six-vessel order, Indian Navy Chief Adm. Robin Dhowan said at an annual news conference here Thursday.

Though he did not give any details on the number of additional French-made Scorpene diesel-electric attack submarines being considered, a senior Indian Navy official said, there is a requirement for three additional Scorpenes. A formal note to request the additional submarines has not been submitted to the Ministry of Defence.

The Navy's Scorpene project itself is behind schedule by more than four years.

Under the 2005 deal, the first submarine was to have been inducted in 2012 but now has been delayed until December 2016. Earlier, the Indian government had threatened to impose penalties if the submarines were not inducted on a schedule, with the first one to be inducted in August 2015 and the remaining five every six months following.

In 2011, then-Defence Minister A.K. Antony told the Indian Parliament that under the contract signed with MDL, the first submarine was scheduled to be delivered in December 2012, and thereafter one each year until December 2017.

The first French Scorpene submarine built by Mumbai-based Mazagon Docks Ltd. (MDL) under technology transfer from DCNS was launched in April 2015.

Indian Navy sources now say the last of the six Scorpenes will be delivered by 2022.

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Japan Urges Australia to buy Their Submarines, Increase Defense Cooperation

Japan's defense minister urged Australia Sunday to award a huge submarine contract to his country, saying such a deal would help bolster regional security.

Australia has put out to tender a project worth up to Aus $50 billion (US $36 billion) to replace its current diesel and electric-powered Collins Class submarines.

France and Germany are also in the running with Japan to secure the order, with a Nov. 30 deadline to submit final proposals.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said picking Tokyo could help ensure maritime security in the Asia-Pacific, alluding to the importance of regional allies such as the US, Japan and Australia working together in the face of China's growing military might.

He said after talks with his counterpart Marise Payne in Sydney that awarding Japan the contract would be of "strategic importance, significant strategic importance, and this is not just about transfer of defense equipment and capabilities."

"This will lead to operational cooperation between Japan and Australia... Japan and Australia and the US."

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DCNS Offering Australia Conventional Version of Barracuda Nuclear Submarine

DCNS filed a draft proposal at the end of September and aims to submit a final offer at the end of November in Australia’s tender for a new class of attack submarines, reported to be worth Aus $50 billion (US $36.3 billion), a spokesperson for the French naval shipbuilder said.

Technology transfer will be part of the French offer of the concept vessel Shortfin Barracuda, a diesel-electric version of the Barracuda nuclear-powered attack submarine being built for the French Navy.

“The transfer of technology will be complete, to allow Australia to meet its objective of sovereignty and independence,” the DCNS spokesperson said.

Australia’s Sea 1000 project to replace the Collins submarines has attracted competing bids from DCNS, a Japanese offer from Mitsubishi Heavy Industry and Kawasaki Shipbuilding, and German specialist ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The tender is for six to 12 units.

A selection is expected by the middle of 2016, the spokesperson said.

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China Transfering Submarine Shipyard Technology to Pakistan

China is to build four submarines in Pakistan port city Karachi, fulfilling a new defense deal between the two countries, Pakistan local media reported on Wednesday.

The new defense deal includes eight submarines, which are going to be put into production at the same time in China and Pakistan. This makes the arms deal the biggest ever to China.

Announcing the deal, Pakistani Minister for Defense Production Rana Tanveer Hussain said that the deal had been finalized and four submarines would be built in Karachi. "China will transfer the technology to Pakistan for submarine construction," the Minister told Dawn, the Pakistan media.

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Japan Offering Extensively Modified Soryu Class SSKs for Australian Submarine Procurement

Japan’s submarine bid team has outlined the details of its proposal for Australia’s SEA1000 Future Submarine program to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s existing Collins-class boats.

Speaking at the Pacific 2015 International Maritime Exposition in Sydney, Australia, officials from the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation consortium and the Japanese Ministry of Defense have confirmed that if Japan is selected to construct SEA1000, the submarines will be built in Australia with Japanese technology transfer.

Masaki Ishikawa, from Japan’s Ministry of Defense, said that the Japanese consortium is “very confident that we can build boats from Day One in Australia.” In such a scenario, the Japanese are proposing that a training center will be set up in Adelaide (in the state of South Australia) to train 300 engineers involved in the program.

In addition, a full-scale mock-up initially will be built by government-owned Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) in Adelaide to train the Australian submarine workforce. The training is expected to take place over three years, part of which will occur in Kobe, Japan.

However, the Japanese have also suggested that they prefer the hybrid option of initially building some of the Australian submarines in Japan and the rest in Australia, and expect that this will result in Australia taking delivery of the first submarine faster, avoiding the need for building a mock-up for training—saving money in the long term.

The design being offered by the Japanese is a modified Soryu-class diesel-electric submarine, and will run on lithium-ion batteries as opposed to air independent propulsion (AIP). However, AIP could be offered if Australia has such a requirement.

The modified Soryus for Australia will also incorporate a new, Australian-developed hydrodynamic design, while the preferred combat system and a new heavyweight torpedo—which will be the submarine’s primary armament—are being jointly developed by Australia and the United States.

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Royal Thai Navy Selects China's Yuan-class for Procurement

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) has formally selected China's Yuan-class (Type 041) platform to meet a requirement for three submarines, RTN Commander-in-Chief Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich, announced on 2 July.

He said the RTN's procurement committee voted unanimously in favour of purchasing the submarine, which has been designated S26T (Thailand): a reference to a modified export version of the Yuan-class. The RTN plans to take delivery of the first S26T within six to seven years.

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Australia Rules out Swedish Submarines for Collins Class SSK Replacement

Australia will not partner with Sweden to build its next-generation submarine fleet, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday, narrowing the list of potential partners for the A$50 billion ($39 billion) program to Germany, France and Japan.

Swedish defense firm Saab, France's state-controlled naval contractor DCNS and Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems have expressed interest in the project.

However, but Abbott ruled Sweden out over its lack of recent experience.

"The last Australian submarine came off the production line in about 2001. As I understand it the last Swedish submarine came off the production line in about 1996, so it's almost two decades since Sweden built a submarine," Abbott told reporters.

"We are working with the three countries that have continuous, relevant submarine experience."

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hrmph.  At this point, they just ought to buy Virginias.   If its a $39 billion program, then you can purchase 14, almost 15, of them.  That's more than the planned procurement of 12 and they could use the US facilities for the nuclear fueling and whatnot.  Kinda like how the Brits do something similar for their Vanguards.

India Interested in Japan's Soryu Submarine

India has invited Japan to compete in the Indian Navy's (IN's) long-delayed INR500 billion (USD8.1 billion) Project 75I (India) requirement for six diesel-electric submarines with land attack and air independent propulsion (AIP) capabilities.

Official sources said India had recently forwarded a proposal to Tokyo asking it to consider participating in the Project 75I tender with its 4,200-tonne Soryu-class submarine.

The Soryu class is currently under evaluation by the Royal Australian Navy as a replacement for its six Collins-class boats.

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Japan Proposes Collaboration for Australian Submarines

Japan is proposing jointly building Australia's new submarines, instead of exporting a new fleet, a report said Monday, after concerns in Canberra over the effect on the domestic ship-building industry.

Under the proposal, Japan's defence ministry is to cooperate with Australia in developing special steel and other materials for its new submarines, while Tokyo will be in charge of assembling them, the Mainichi Shimbun said.

The Australian side has taken "a positive stance" on the proposal, the daily said, adding that the two countries may strike a deal by the end of 2015.

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Taiwan Kicks off Conventional Attack Submarine Program After US Failure to Deliver

After waiting on the U.S. to make good on plans to develop a diesel electric attack submarine (SSK) for almost 15 years, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence announced it was kicking off its own domestic attack submarine construction program this week, the agency told Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan.

Defense officials told the legislative body preparation work would begin this year starting with a modest $315,000 start into a $94.46 million four-year effort, beginning in earnest in 2016.

The planned result would be around four SSKs to replace the island’s current boats — two Dutch-built, 1980s vintage 2,600-ton Hai-lang-class SSKs and two World War II era U.S. Guppy-class boats used for training.

“At present the navy’s demand is submarines ranging from 1,200-3,000 tons,” Vice Adm. Hsiao Wei-min with the Republic of China Navy (RoCN) told the legislator on Monday.

The new boats are a long awaited hedge against the expansion of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the looming threat of an amphibious assault from the mainland.

“After Taiwan has lost air and sea control, it’s the subs that will still be able to attack groups of amphibious landing aircraft,” Wang Jyh-perng, RoCN reserve captain told the Asia Times in 2011.

In 2001, the Bush administration promised Taiwan eight U.S.-built SSKs but the boats never materialized for several reasons.

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India Forms Constortium for Next Gen Submarines

Three state-owned Indian companies have formed a consortium to meet the Indian Navy's requirement to procure six next-generation submarines, it was announced on 30 December.

Engineering group Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), metal producer Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (Midhani) and Hindustan Shipyards Limited (HSL) said they are bidding to be "considered as a prospective bidder" for the Project 75I (India) programme.

The three companies said in a statement that their joint bid - facilitated through a memorandum of understanding signed on 26 December - will "provide the country with a credible domestic alternative" to build submarines.

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Procurement Delays may Force Poland Navy to Abandon Submarine Capability

The deputy commander of the Polish Navy's Submarine Squadron has warned that the force faces a bleak future - and possibly even disbandment - if the government fails to order new vessels soon.

With its four Sokól-class (Type 207) diesel-electric patrol submarines (SSKs) due to retire by 2017, the navy had anticipated that a tender for procurement of three replacement units would be issued by late 2014/early 2015. The published strategy included delivery of the first Orka SSK in 2019-2020, two new vessels in service by 2022 and the third by 2030.

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Brazil Plans 15 SSK & 6 SSN Submarine Force for Navy

Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil - MdB) commander Admiral Julio Soares de Moura Neto reaffirmed on 12 December long-term plans to boost the country's naval power to eventually include 15 conventional and six nuclear-powered submarines.

"Our aim is to propel Brazil forward into the 21st century with a more well-equipped navy supported by a stronger defence industry," Adm de Moura Neto told IHS Jane's at the recent inauguration ceremony of the main facility built for Brazil's submarine development programme (Programa de Desenvolvimento de Submarinos, or PROSUB) at Itaguaí Shipyard, Rio de Janeiro.

"PROSUB is the most ambitious contemporary development of the Brazilian Navy, representing a substantial investment in the country through technology transfer, professional training, and regional growth through the generation of income," he said.

Dilma Rousseff, who presided over the inauguration, stressed the importance of modernising the MdB to ensure the country's sovereignty.

Built under the guidance of DCNS, the new submarine facility is the result of a partnership between Brazil and France providing for the construction of a naval shipyard, a submarine base, and four Scorpène diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) under a technology transfer agreement. The partnership also includes technical assistance for the design and construction of the non-nuclear portions of the Brazilian Navy's first nuclear-powered submarine (SSN). The new building is designed to allow simultaneous construction of two submarines.

Under current planning, the first SSK (or S-BR) is scheduled to be completed in late 2016 and to enter service around mid-2018 following trials and testing. The remaining three are scheduled to be completed by 2022. Construction of an SSN (SN-BR) is expected to begin in 2017, with completion in 2023 and entry into service around 2025 after testing and trials.

In February 2015 sections 1 and 2 of the first S-BR are scheduled for completion, including fitting of all embedded equipment such as electrical, electronic, and hydraulic systems. Sections 3 and 4 were built in France and have already been transported to Itaguaí. After the installation of the internal components in the four sections, the first S-BR will be welded together.

The PROSUB industrial complex represents a tangible increase in shipbuilding activity, generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs with involvement from hundreds of domestic defence industry suppliers.

The building of the first SSN will signal a major technological leap forward for Brazil, placing it in a select group of five countries - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States - that dominate the world's building of nuclear-powered submarines.

In all, the PROSUB programme has received investments totalling BRL34 billion (USD12.5 billion).

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