Large Japanese delegation checking out ASC.
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Typical conspiracy theory reported to being put forward by the SA Government, and to be expected too, when you have a right wing Federal Government on one side and a left wing State Government (and Unions too) on the other side, typical political argy bargy!! The sky is falling, the sky is falling, well we will just all have to wait and see.
Ok, so here's my 'alternative' version of that conspiracy theory (for what it's worth):
The visit by the Japanese delegation was the prelude to an announcement to be made at the launch of the 2015 DWP that the Governments of Australia and Japan had reached agreement on the 'co-production' of the Soryu class submarines (or should I say by then it will be the 'Son' of Soryu) in both countries.
The Son of Soryu will also have input from Australia in it's design, ensuring that the boats will fully meet the needs and requirements of the RAN (and Japan too of course).
Japan has committed to maintaining a class of 20 boats and Australia has committed to maintaining a class of 10 boats, Japan will manufacture 2/3rds of each boat and Australia will manufacture 1/3rd of each boat built. Japan's two yards will alternate the assembly of a new boat every year and the ASC yard will assemble a new boat every two years.
Oh and by the way, ASC is also 'privatised' too, with Japan, US, UK and Australia all taking a share (which means each country provides financial and technical input into the ongoing development of the boats too).
Due to economies of scale, all 30 boats are delivered on time, and continue to come in under budget, a perfect model for co-production. In fact it eventually lead onto the co-production of new classes of DDG's, LHD's and other mutually beneficial classes of ships too!
The joint production becomes the envy of other navies of the world and export orders follow, most notably Canada who order some boats to be assembled in Australia and some in Canada, all will include Australian and Japanese made components too.
At the commissioning of the 10th Australian boat, and the simultaneous commissioning of Japan's 20th boat, it is announced by both Governments that cooperation and co-production will continue indefinitely, and that work continues on the 'Grandson' of Soryu (or will it be the Great Grandson of Soryu by then?).
At the end of the day, both the Governments of Japan and Australia, their respective navies and all the workers employed at the production and assembly yards, live happily every after!
The End!
Too fanciful? Ok, maybe a bit too fanciful and far fetched, but hey, if such a thing were to happen, wouldn't be a bad outcome after all would it??
Cheers,