Australia has selected France-based naval defense company DCNS to provide design services for the former country’s estimated $38.7 billion SEA 1000 Future Submarine Program.
DCNS said Tuesday it will help the Australian navy design 12 submarines to replace the service branch’s fleet of Collins-class submarines.
“France and Australia have been allies for more than 100 years and we look forward to further strengthening this time honored relationship and honoring the trust the Australian Commonwealth Government is placing in us for this ground breaking project,” noted Herve Guillou, DCNS chairman and CEO.
Work on Australia’s Future Submarines is scheduled to commence this year.
Australia’s government chose DCNS’ proposal for the project based on criteria such as sensor and stealth performance, range and endurance, program execution, cost and schedule, lifecycle support and domestic industrial base involvement, the Australian defense department said in a release published Tuesday.