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| Japanese Soryu class Submarine (File Photo) |
By Clint Richards
Size, technology and stealth are proving too great a draw for Canberra.
In a deal that has gone back and forth for months now, Australia and Japan again appear to be inching closer to an agreement on the sale of Soryu-class submarines to Canberra, as the Japanese diesel-electric vessel meets the vast majority of Australia’s requirements, with the one significant caveat that it appears the subs must be built in Japan. Australia seems to be pursuing a pattern of unofficially announcing specification requirements or details that would favor a deal with Japan, and then publically backtracking when the political costs appear too high. It remains to be seen how effective this strategy will ultimately be, yet it has so far managed to keep the deal moving toward completion.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that one Australian and two Japanese officials told the media outlet that Australia wants a propulsion system that utilizes lithium-ion battery technology, a field the Japanese lead in, and something which the newest generation ofSoryu vessels will be equipped with. Tokyo claims the technology will be incorporated into its fleet by the end of the decade, which means Australia could reasonably expect to have lithium-ion propelled subs before its Collins-class submarines are due to be decommissioned by the mid-2030s.
Read the full story at The Diplomat