By David Dunlop, 16 September 2021
Australia has now done an about-face and scrapped the 12 boat French DCNS Barracuda Block 1A submarine deal. The French/Naval Group naturally are livid but a deal among the US, UK and Australia has just been announced to transfer nuclear technology to Australia. Up to 8 nuclear attack submarines are to be built. Whether it be Astute-class or Virginia-class boats is not clear as yet. Will this give Canada new momentum to make a deal with the US to also transfer its nuclear technology to Canada? Australia's deal with the US & UK does not involve any nuclear weapons. More to follow. See the following articles,
https://maritime-executive.com/article/u-s-uk-agree-to-transfer-nuclear-sub-technology-to-australia
One thought on “Changes to Australia’s Submarine Plans”
In my opinion, this decision by Australia had been simmering in the background for if not months, then ever since the contract was signed in 2016 between the Australian government and DCNS France for 12 French Barracuda Block 1A diesel submarines. Little by little DCNS seemed to be pulling back on the agreement WRT technology transfers, enormous cost increases and other demands by DCNS and the French government. The Australian government had enough and made the decision to cancel the project altogether. To be fair though, Australia obviously had been in secret negotiations with both the United States and United Kingdom for this nuclear technology transfer many months ago and the Pact was then finally solidified and published. 8 nuclear attack submarines are to be built for Australia in Australia. Whether it be Astute-class or Virginia-class boats is not yet clear. The French are naturally very upset by this seemingly surprising decision and caught other non-allied states off-guard. Will this give Canada new momentum to make a deal with the US to also transfer its nuclear technology to Canada? Remember 1987 when Canada tried to buy Trafalgar-class SSNs from the UK? If the US and UK were willing to share their nuclear technology with Australia to create a triad pact of three nuclear powers, then perhaps it is time for Canada to re-visit the nuclear submarine option as well, and barter a deal for this technology for a 5 eyes pact. If this could be done, perhaps a better deal could be reached between the United States and/or the United Kingdom for an 8-10 Virginia/Astute-class Canadian submarine fleet. These subs would be SSN only attack boats with no nuclear weapons capabilities and would give Canada a great option for Arctic surveillance and ISR capabilities well into the 21st century. Something to consider for the RCN Submarine Project just announced.