http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/24/2500218.htm
The replacement for the Collins class submarines is set to become Australia's biggest-ever military purchase, blowing the Joint Strike Fighter out of its expensive position of first place.
In an exclusive, the ABC has learnt that the Defence White Paper due in April will confirm more than $25 billion, and possibly up to $35 billion, will be spent on the project.
That is likely to allow the current fleet of six Collins submarines to be doubled.
The first of the submarines is due in the water sometime after 2020, so they are in service when the Collins fleet is retired in 2025.
Former submarine commander Peter Clarke says the expanded fleet will put Australia in the race in a region that is investing heavily in submarines.
"Twelve is many, many times better than six because of the greater flexibility it gives you," he said.
European-designed hulls will house US combat systems in the new submarines, which will be capable of running for weeks without surfacing.
The Navy will be the biggest winner of the multi-billion-dollar Defence shopping list to be released with the White Paper, which reflects the priority the Prime Minister gave to sea power last year.
The Minister has appointed Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt to ensure sonar, combat and design secrets make it to Adelaide where American technology and European hulls will again be combined at the Australian Submarine Corporation shipyard.
Flawed history
The original fleet of Collins Class submarines was part of an ambitious plan to take Australia's Navy well into the 21st Century, replacing the Oberon class submarines.
However, the Collins Class have not been without their problems, with the project experiencing significant design and construction delays.
Although originally a fixed-cost contract, because of later upgrade specifications, the submarines' total cost snowballed to over $6 billion as of 2000, compared to the $3.9 billion stated in June 1987 by then prime minister Bob Hawke's government
Initially, the Collins Class leaked more than 300 litres per hour. This was eventually corrected to 3 litres.
The metal that was used in the propeller had not been thoroughly tested and was brittle and inadequate.
And the vessel's sound signature was not correct; it was noisy and could not adequately avoid detection.
The first of the submarines, HMAS Collins, was commissioned on July 27 1996, with HMAS Dechaineux, HMAS Farncomb, HMAS Rankin, HMAS Sheean and HMAS Waller all following in the years after.
The replacement for the Collins class submarines is set to become Australia's biggest-ever military purchase, blowing the Joint Strike Fighter out of its expensive position of first place.
In an exclusive, the ABC has learnt that the Defence White Paper due in April will confirm more than $25 billion, and possibly up to $35 billion, will be spent on the project.
That is likely to allow the current fleet of six Collins submarines to be doubled.
The first of the submarines is due in the water sometime after 2020, so they are in service when the Collins fleet is retired in 2025.
Former submarine commander Peter Clarke says the expanded fleet will put Australia in the race in a region that is investing heavily in submarines.
"Twelve is many, many times better than six because of the greater flexibility it gives you," he said.
European-designed hulls will house US combat systems in the new submarines, which will be capable of running for weeks without surfacing.
The Navy will be the biggest winner of the multi-billion-dollar Defence shopping list to be released with the White Paper, which reflects the priority the Prime Minister gave to sea power last year.
The Minister has appointed Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt to ensure sonar, combat and design secrets make it to Adelaide where American technology and European hulls will again be combined at the Australian Submarine Corporation shipyard.
Flawed history
The original fleet of Collins Class submarines was part of an ambitious plan to take Australia's Navy well into the 21st Century, replacing the Oberon class submarines.
However, the Collins Class have not been without their problems, with the project experiencing significant design and construction delays.
Although originally a fixed-cost contract, because of later upgrade specifications, the submarines' total cost snowballed to over $6 billion as of 2000, compared to the $3.9 billion stated in June 1987 by then prime minister Bob Hawke's government
Initially, the Collins Class leaked more than 300 litres per hour. This was eventually corrected to 3 litres.
The metal that was used in the propeller had not been thoroughly tested and was brittle and inadequate.
And the vessel's sound signature was not correct; it was noisy and could not adequately avoid detection.
The first of the submarines, HMAS Collins, was commissioned on July 27 1996, with HMAS Dechaineux, HMAS Farncomb, HMAS Rankin, HMAS Sheean and HMAS Waller all following in the years after.
