SHAH ALAM: Australia signs deal for 12 submarines. After three years of negotiations, Australia and Naval Group finally signed the Strategic Partnering Agreement for the country’s Future Submarine Programme. With the agreement, the construction of 12 conventional submarines, to be known as the Attack class will begin soon.
What is this got to do with Malaysia then? As the Future Submarine Programme was among the highlights of the 2016 Australian Defence White Paper, it is a timely reminder of the importance of such document, lest our white paper got sidetrack of course.
Attack class submarine developments. Naval Group
Release from Naval Group:
Naval Group signs the Strategic Partnering Agreement
A significant milestone has been achieved today with the signing of the Future Submarine
Program Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA) by the Commonwealth of Australia (CoA) and
Naval Group.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, The Hon. Christopher
Pyne, Minister for Defence and Florence Parly, French Minister for the Armed Forces.
The agreement sets out the principles of cooperation between the two partners for the Attack class
Submarine Program which will see:
the delivery of 12 regionally superior submarines to Australia with leading edge capabilities;
the delivery of new technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities to Australia,
introducing the next phase of Australian sovereignty as a submarine nation;
the creation of thousands of direct and indirect Australian jobs which will positively impact many
generations of Australians; and
opportunities and long-term planning certainty for industry, allowing Australian companies
involved in the submarine program to invest in the capabilities needed to support their
involvement in construction and sustainment activities.
“Naval Group is known for building world-leading, technologically advanced submarines and has built
100 of them for nine different countries,” said Herve Guillou, Chairman and CEO, Naval Group.
“This agreement with Australia will see Naval Group transfer the “know-how” and “know-why” to
Australia to become an sovereign submarine nation.
“We are very excited about the opportunities that lay ahead of us and are committed to delivering the
Future Submarine Program for Australia.
“We are grateful to the teams from the Commonwealth of Australia and Naval Group who have
worked hard to achieve this agreement,” said Mr Guillou.
Since being selected as Australia’s partner for the Attack class Submarine Program in April 2016, a
lot has been achieved.
Anyhow I was told that a delegation from Australia came to Jalan Padang Tembak last week to brief the ministry on their own document and hopefully gave our own planners some pointers and best practises for such things.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (34)
basically we have indonesia cornered whenever they try to pull a fast one on us.
With CAP55, I'd like to see our infantry o be transformed into a completely light infantry which can be deployed near instantly to the frontline instead of turtling near the border ala south korea/pakistan
In the long run, we should admit that alone, we are not going to achieve economies of scale if we continue a defense project on our own. Granted projects like the LCS and NGPV may have created local jobs but whether the cost associated with it is justifiable. For example, if the Gempita has been bought out right off the shelf, we may have save USD500 million (being the reported technology transfer cost) of RM2 billion of the overall project cost of RM9 billion for 257 hull. Some may argue that RM2 billion has a good impact on local economy due to local job creation/investment, whether the job creation is sustainable post the 7 years program schedule is questionable should there is no follow up orders or significant export orders beyond that.
Interesting about the Australian submarine program, i believe it is something that we should look at for our future submarine program in the next 10-15 years. If we could join in with the Australian (maybe taking 2 hulls by 2030 or later), we could benefit from reduced project risk and potentially a more sustainable operating cost?
Oh those dumb aussies, now everyone is gonna get asw gear, how can they publicise such super sensitive information. Bravo! - @joe
Yep, Australia is in the process of a military buildup because of our fear of an increasingly aggressive and dangerous China. Boxer armoured vehicles plus replacement for the old M113, not to mention 2 new LHD, 3 AWD and 8 type 26 as replacement for Anzac class. 75 new F35. Wow. Recently received Growlers and Wedgetail for the RAAF not to mention Poseidon MPA. We have a proud history of being a regional power, so defence spending is seen as a boost to jobs and security, not like in M’sia where it’s seen as a waste. Different mindset.
Oh, forgot to mention NASAM/ESSM for the Army and Tritons to supplement the Poseidon too.
What? The Aussies came to brief the guys in Pdg Tembak? Perhaps some here should offer Pdg Tembak assistance on how to write a good proposal, White Paper included. 😉
on our own defence white paper
We need to have a clear
1. Defence Interests
What do we want? We want a peaceful Malaysia, peaceful south east asia, stable relationships with neighbouring countries.
2. Defence Objectives
Able to deter, deny and defeat attacks to East and West Malaysia. Protect the economic activities of Malaysian entities in our EEZ. To be able to monitor hostile threats in the air, sea and on land. Contribute to the security of the region and the world through UN peacekeeping forces. Able to help during natural disasters.
3. Plans from the services to meet our Defence Interests and Defence Objectives
4. Commitment from the government to fund the services needs and requirements.
On the submarines.
I believe that we need to have at least 6 submarines, and this actually can be had with the current level of funding commitment the government gives to the navy. IMO if there is any serious escalation in South China Sea, the most survivable platform for us to strike back at hostile warships would be the Subs, and our Su-30MKMs
Alex "With CAP55, I’d like to see our infantry o be transformed into a completely light infantry which can be deployed near instantly to the frontline instead of turtling near the border ala south korea/pakistan."
Sounds glamorous but "light infantry" cannot survive against heavier forces and have their own mobility challenges once on the ground.
If you want to send them to a distant battlefield, you have to worry about how to keep them supplied and how to reinforce or extricate them if the enemy comes at them with heavier opposition on their home ground.
For any reasonably motorized units, advanced elements can go by air but the bulk of a unit's equipment and logistics must go by ship.
"Interesting about the Australian submarine program, i believe it is something that we should look at for our future submarine program in the next 10-15 years. "
Those are essentially nuclear boats with conventional power substituted. They are are too large for us.
@ alex
CAP55 is TUDM specific plan. The plan for the army is ARMY 4NextG. What is it all about? The plan is basically to empower the army to fight on 2 fronts at the same time (basically fighting 2 simultaneous conflicts on both east and west malaysia).
@ kamal
The attack class is huge. It is designed to play in other peoples neighbourhood. We on the other hand needs a sub to defend our own backyard.
@ tomtom
The white paper is needed, to show the politicians and the rakyat that spending for defence is very important in maintaining our current way of life. Something like the Lahad Dato attack or Marawi needs to be highlighted as something we need to make sure not to happen again in the future.
Oh another thing.
Could we be frank to ourselves and list China as one of our security threats in our Defence White Paper?
Reply
Unlikely I was told...