Australia wants to avoid weapon supply-intellectual property worries - from subs down to infantry weapons. On the latter a Vietnam veteran recalls “The 84mm Carl Gustaf Anti-Tank weapon [above] Manufactured in Sweden, we were unable to use them because the Swedes would not provide ammunition, as they did not support the war in Vietnam. That must have been a good contract.”
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“Australia must learn from an intellectual property disaster before work starts on a French-designed submarine fleet, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.
An uncertain political landscape in France could pose a risk to Australia's French-designed submarine fleet project.
The [Australian] federal joint [Senate-House] treaties committee is examining the submarine cooperation agreement between France and Australia at a hearing in Canberra on [March 14, 2017].
Government-owned French shipbuilder DCNS won the contract to design Australia's 12 new submarines, which will be built in Adelaide.
The treaty has an out clause of two years notice if France or Australia decide to withdraw, the hearing was told...” See the WHOLE AAP via SBS ARTICLE now updated as at 12.46pm.
The committee heard witness views from ASPI's Andrew Davies - here is his opening address.
The committee heard witness views from ASPI's Andrew Davies - here is his opening address.
Pete