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| CGI of the DCNS Shortfin Barracuda submarine for Australia |
By: Pierre Tran
Paris – DCNS expects to sign the next Australian contract on the AU $50 billion (US $36 billion) Future Submarine Program in fall 2017, covering further design work on the planned attack boats, the French naval shipbuilder said Tuesday.
“The next contract between DCNS and the Australian government should be signed next autumn,” the company said in statement. “It will deal with complete studies and conceptual designs of the future submarines.” Several more contracts are expected between the company and Canberra.
Building the first of the 12 diesel-electric boats is due to start around 2020, with the final timetable depending on building infrastructure and “preparation” of the Australian team, the company said. A first delivery is due in 2020.
A DCNS facility in Adelaide, South Australia, will become operational early next year, and will support French technology transfer, development of Australian suppliers and design of a new Adelaide shipyard, the company said.
“This facility, and our local Adelaide workforce starting with 50 people in 2017, marks the beginning of our relationship as part of the community,” Hervé Guillou, DCNS chairman and chief executive, said at a “founding” ceremony of the facility in Adelaide.
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