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| Australian Collins class Submarine (File Photo) |
By PAUL KALLENDER-UMEZU and NIGEL PITTAWAY
TOKYO AND MELBOURNE — Last week’s agreement between Japan and Australia to jointly develop stealth submarine technology represents a major, perhaps even breakthrough, step for Japan as it seeks to normalize its defense posture, forging ever closer ties with Australia as both countries seek to balance Chinese expansionism.
The question now is how, or how far, can Japan capitalize on the intriguing potential the deal poses.
The June 11 agreement, following extensive talks between Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and their Australian counterparts, Julie Bishop and David Johnston, will see the two countries jointly develop a range of submarine technologies based mainly on Japan’s highly advanced air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems.
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| Japanese Soryu class Submarine (File Photo) |
In a joint press conference, Onodera stressed that the deal would be applicable to more than submarines and said he had “high expectations for successful results.”
The reality is that Australia will probably deploy some form of AIP technology that Japan uses in its Soryu-class submarines as the Royal Australian Navy, in a March 2015 review, embarks on an AUS $35 billion (US $33 billion) program to replace its six aging, maintenance-heavy Collins-class diesel-electric submarines.
The goal is to replace them with a new fleet of larger boats better able to protect vital shipping routes around disputed waters in the South and East China seas. The new subs could feature submarine-launched cruise missiles and be capable of deploying special operations forces and represent a major regional enhancement of Australia’s capabilities.
Read the full story at DefenseNews