Future Submarine (Attack-class) project

Future Submarine (Attack-class) project
Name	Attack-class submarine (Future Submarine)
Service	Planned
Builder	Naval Group, ASC Pty Ltd, BAE Systems (partnerships)
Origin	Australia–France–Japan program (proposal phase)
Type	Diesel-electric attack submarine
Displacement	~4,000–5,000 tonnes (planned)
Length	~97 m (planned)
Armament	Torpedoes, cruise missiles (planned)
Propulsion	Air-independent propulsion (AIP) proposed

Future Submarine (Attack-class) project The Future Submarine (Attack-class) project is Australia’s program to replace Collins-class submarine boats with a new conventional attack submarine fleet. Initially shaped by agreements and negotiations involving Department of Defence (Australia), Commonwealth of Australia, Naval Group of France, and industrial partners such as ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems, the program has intersected with broader strategic dialogues among United States, Japan, and regional partners. The programme’s trajectory has been influenced by events including the AUKUS announcement and prior procurement decisions.

Background and Development

The project traces origins to strategic reviews conducted after the 2009 Defence White Paper (Australia), continuing through the 2013 Defence White Paper (Australia) and the 2016 Defence White Paper (Australia), with procurement planning managed by the Department of Defence (Australia), advised by the Defence Materiel Organisation and later Defence Science and Technology Group. Initial competitive phases involved proposals from Naval Group (France), German Industry consortia including ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, and consortiums linked to BAE Systems and Fincantieri (shipbuilding); key stakeholders included the Australian Submarine Corporation and the federal ministries led by Prime Ministers Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull. The 2016 selection of Naval Group triggered contract negotiations with the Commonwealth of Australia and long-term industrial cooperation agreements with the state government of South Australia and the Australian Naval Infrastructure plan.

Design and Specifications

Design work for the Attack-class built upon concepts from the Barracuda-class submarine design by Naval Group and iterative feedback from the Royal Australian Navy. Planned specifications cited a displacement in the range of 4,000–5,000 tonnes, a length near 97 metres, and a hull form optimized for acoustics based on research at the CSIRO and advice from the Defence Science and Technology Group. Proposed systems included an air-independent propulsion variant, advanced combat management suites interoperable with systems used by United States Navy assets, integrated sonar arrays comparable to technology demonstrated by Type 212 submarine and Soryu-class submarine programs, and weapons capacity for heavyweight torpedoes and land-attack cruise missiles used in conjunction with platforms like Mark 48 torpedo and Tomahawk (missile). Sensors and command elements were planned to interface with allied networks including links to Joint Strike Fighter program information-sharing structures and Maritime Domain Awareness initiatives.

Construction and Procurement

Procurement arrangements initially centered on a sovereign-build approach with hull construction and systems integration in facilities in Osborne, South Australia operated by ASC Pty Ltd and technical contribution from Naval Group’s French yards. Contracts envisaged phased design, detailed design, construction, and through-life support managed under life-of-type-support frameworks involving the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and capabilities of workforce development programs linked to TAFE and university partnerships including University of Adelaide engineering faculties. Industrial involvement extended to suppliers such as Rolls-Royce (subsystems), Thales Group (electronics), and Australian SMEs engaged through the Defence Industry Policy and the Australian Industry Capability provisions. Timelines projected sequential construction of 12 vessels to replace the Collins-class submarine fleet.

Capability and Role

The Attack-class was conceived to provide the Royal Australian Navy with sustained undersea surveillance, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and strike options in littoral and blue-water environments across areas including the Indo-Pacific region and approaches to Australian mainland. Emphasis was placed on stealth, endurance, sensor fusion, and interoperability with partner navies such as the United States Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and navies of United Kingdom. Strategic roles encompassed deterrence, sea control, intelligence collection, and support for task groups like those envisioned in combined operations with forces tied to ANZUS Treaty partners and multilayered exercises such as RIMPAC and Talisman Sabre.

Operational History and Deployment

As a programme in development, the Attack-class did not enter operational service; planned deployments were to follow delivery schedules coordinated with the Royal Australian Navy’s submarine force transition plans and crew training pipelines run through the Submarine Force School and allied exchange programs including postings with the Royal Navy and United States Navy submarine commands. Concepts of operation considered basing at HMAS Stirling and support from infrastructure at HMAS Cerberus alongside logistics chains managed through ports like Port Adelaide. Exercises and interoperability trials were projected with forces from New Zealand, France, and Singapore.

Controversies and Criticism

The program attracted scrutiny over cost escalations, schedule risk, and industrial capacity, drawing commentary from political figures including Scott Morrison and commentators citing reports by the Parliament of Australia’s defence committee and analyses from think tanks such as the Grattan Institute and Lowy Institute. Critics raised procurement governance concerns referencing the Commonwealth Audit Office practices, sovereign capability debates involving Australian Industry Group, and strategic implications debated amid diplomatic tensions with France after renegotiations and the later AUKUS security pact announcement. Technical criticisms referenced submarine affordability and comparisons with alternative platforms like models from Germany and Japan.

Future Prospects and Upgrades

Following geopolitical and policy shifts, future trajectories involve integration of advanced propulsion, unmanned underwater vehicles analogous to systems trialed by DARPA and DEFTECH programs, sensor upgrades paralleling developments in Sonar 2087-class research, and lifecycle sustainment approaches influenced by allied lessons from Virginia-class submarine and Soryu-class submarine sustainment models. Potential future enhancements contemplated modular payloads for strike and intelligence roles, propulsion options influenced by AIP research at CSIRO and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation collaborations, and multinational industrial partnerships potentially extending to Japan and United Kingdom firms under shared security frameworks.

Category:Submarine classes of Australia