BAE Systems Australia is completing Australia's two Canberra class Landing Helicopter Docks
on time, on budget at Williamstown dockyard, Victoria, Australia.
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An article by several Reutersreporters indicates "Exclusive: Japan eyes British help to sink German bid for Australian submarine"http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/23/us-japan-australia-submarine-exclusive-idUSKCN0PX1FG20150723. The article indicates the Japanese government is in talks with at least two British firms (Babcock International Group and BAE Systems) to help a Japanese consortium win the Australian future submarine competitive evaluation process. Babcock does maintenance work on the Collins and BAE Systems employs 4,500 people in Australia.
The Japanese consortium includes MHI and KHI and the German competitor they wish to beat is TKMS. Japan may wish to boost Australian industrial participation in the project. Japan may also want cooperation from Sweden’s Saab in the Japanese sales campaign. France’s DCNS is also competing.
The Reuters article further reports “According to a company document seen by Reuters, the German bidder TKMS will train local contractors using advanced German manufacturing and production technology and help establish Australia as a naval shipbuilding and repair hub in the Asia-Pacific region.”
“…Australia's Abbot has described Japan as his country's "closest friend in Asia". With the United States also keen to spur friendlier ties between its two key allies in Asia, Tokyo has Washington's backing for made-in-Japan submarines packed with American surveillance, radar and weapons equipment, sources familiar with Washington's thinking told Reutersearlier...” See FULL REUTERS ARTICLE.
Pete