June 28 (Reuters) - Britain's BAE Systems PLC has won a A$35 billion ($25.7 billion) contest to deliver anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Australian navy, the Australian government said on Thursday. The nine ships, to be designed by BAE and built by government-owned ASC Shipbuilding in Australia are expected to underpin the country's maritime combat capability for … [Read more...]
Australian Navy Underway To Help Evacuate 11,000 From Vanuatu Volcano
By Garfield Clinton Reynolds (Bloomberg) Australia is sending a naval vessel to help Vanuatu in its efforts to evacuate 11,000 residents from Ambae Island as a volcano there threatens to erupt. The HMAS Choules left Australia on Saturday morning and is expected to arrive in the middle of next week, the Australian government said in an emailed statement. The Choules is … [Read more...]
Australia Wants Exports With $68 Billion Naval Investment
By Jason Scott (Bloomberg) Australia wants more from its $68 billion investment in new ships and submarines than just a more capable navy. With final bids due this month on a A$35 billion ($27 billion) contract for nine Royal Australian Navy anti-submarine frigates, Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said Australia is seeking a bigger role in naval … [Read more...]
Propulsion Problems Put Australia’s Largest Warships Out of Action
By Harry Pearl SYDNEY, May 20 (Reuters) - Australia is investigating if problems in the propulsion systems of two $1.5 billion warships built by manufacturers from Spain, Germany and Britain are the result of design flaws. Naval engineers are trying to figure out exactly what is causing the problems onboard the HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra, the largest ships ever … [Read more...]
How France Beat Out Japan to Clinch $40 Billion Submarine Deal
By Tim Kelly, Cyril Altmeyer and Colin Packham TOKYO/PARIS/SYDNEY, April 29 (Reuters) - In 2014, a blossoming friendship between Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe looked to have all but sewn up a $40 billion submarine deal. Then French naval contractor DCNS hatched a bold and seemingly hopeless plan to gatecrash the … [Read more...]