Cutting Edge: The Collins experience
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) has today released its report, Cutting Edge: The Collins experience.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has today released a new Strategic Insight publication examining the Collins Class submarine project – the most ambitious and controversial defence project ever undertaken in Australia.
Authored by Patrick Walters, National Security Editor, The Australian, and titled ‘Cutting Edge: The Collins experience’, this Insight provides a broad overview of the Collins Class project. It examines the industry, capability and strategic impact of this complex defence project and finds that the Commonwealth’s $5 billion investment has not only provided Australia with a key strategic asset but also greatly boosted the skill base of our naval construction industry.
‘The Collins submarines are very quiet and have performed exceptionally well on long deployment and in regular exercises with the United States Navy. One of Australia’s most vital front-line defence assets they are now widely regarded as the finest conventional submarines in the world.’ Walters writes.
‘The strategic importance of this local industry capacity is underlined by the fact that no future off-the-shelf submarine is likely to come close to Australia’s unique requirements.’
The paper finds that not all the original industry goals for the Collins class were achieved. The Australian build did not produce the export program envisaged by government and industry in the 1990s. Strategic, political and commercial considerations have meant that this unique marriage of European, US and Australian technologies has not produced an export version of the Collins.
The government will have to make a decision early next decade whether to go ahead with an Australian build of a new generation submarine, which would require another bold commitment from government and close collaboration between the Defence Organisation and local industry.
A crucial test for ASC and Australian industry will be the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project which is scheduled to deliver its first warship in 2013. Successfully meeting this challenge and lifting Australia’s industry skills base should give future governments the confidence to progress the construction of Australia’s next generation submarine.
‘The all-round experience gained from the Collins class augurs well for the future.’ Patrick concludes.