Australia, France Sign $50 Billion Attack-class Submarines Agreement

Australia today signed a ‘Strategic Partnering Agreement’ with the French contractor Naval Group for Attack-class submarines, the Australian defense ministry announced Monday.

The $50 billion Attack class program will see 12 regionally superior submarines designed and built in Australia for the Navy. 

“The submarines will help protect Australia’s security and prosperity for decades to come and also deepen the defence relationship between Australia and France. Work on the submarines has taken place under the Design and Mobilisation Contract and this will continue uninterrupted under this Agreement,” the release said.

The agreement between the two partners for the Attack class Submarine Program will also see 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. 

The first Attack class submarine, to be named HMAS Attack, will be delivered to the Navy in the early 2030s.