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Partly because the cost had inflated drastically, to the point that comparisons with France's own purchase of brand new nuclear subs - for a much lower cost - m

Partly because the cost had inflated drastically, to the point that comparisons with France's own purchase of brand new nuclear subs - for a much lower cost - made the deal look increasingly duff. Apparently this has been a background issue in Australian politics since at least the start of the year. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38790/australia-reportedly-looking-at-an-alternative-to-its-costly-new-french-designed-submarines https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38790/australia-report...

mytailorisrich 5y ago
Australia did not want nuclear subs so the design of the French subs had to be modified to accommodate classic propulsion, hence the extra complexity. Now Australia says it wants nuclear subs and is going for a new deal that's even more expensive. My opinion is that all this emphasis on cost and problems with the French deal is just a smoke screen. For the French the commercial aspect is not the most important aspect, actually. They have been much more seriously and deeply shafted and that will have a lasting impact.
- detritus 5y ago
  This seems to imply a subtler point in the distinction: "Canberra was reportedly particularly keen on the French bid because of the ability to switch the Barracudas from diesel to nuclear power — technology that was deemed political poison so recently after the Fukushima disaster in Japan, but that the government believed could become more palatable in time." https://www.politico.eu/article/why-australia-wanted-out-of-its-french-sub-deal/ https://www.politico.eu/article/why-australia-wanted-out-of-...
- jeeeb 5y ago
  It was no secret or last minute change that Australia wanted diesel electric subs. France submitted a competitive tender to provide a diesel electric sub at a particular price point, with much of the manufacturing being done in Australia, and was chosen over other bids on that basis. If France couldn’t provide that at the cost they bid then they shouldn’t have bid. There were other competitive bids from Japan and Germany both of which have proven diesel electric sub designs.
mySubSub 5y ago
Actually it was quite different - Australians wanted their own specifications, built on their own soil, where no local industry nor experience was present, and with US weapon system. The last point meant for that a full redesign was necessary, almost from scratch, and that they had to collaborate with a competitor who was given much more leeway for delays and great incentives to make the french contract go sour. This is what happened finally, the french have lost their contract, the US will now build those subs and the Australian taxpayers will have to foot the bill.

mytailorisrich 5y ago

Australia did not want nuclear subs so the design of the French subs had to be modified to accommodate classic propulsion, hence the extra complexity. Now Australia says it wants nuclear subs and is going for a new deal that's even more expensive. My opinion is that all this emphasis on cost and problems with the French deal is just a smoke screen. For the French the commercial aspect is not the most important aspect, actually. They have been much more seriously and deeply shafted and that will have a lasting impact.

detritus 5y ago
This seems to imply a subtler point in the distinction: "Canberra was reportedly particularly keen on the French bid because of the ability to switch the Barracudas from diesel to nuclear power — technology that was deemed political poison so recently after the Fukushima disaster in Japan, but that the government believed could become more palatable in time." https://www.politico.eu/article/why-australia-wanted-out-of-its-french-sub-deal/ https://www.politico.eu/article/why-australia-wanted-out-of-...
jeeeb 5y ago
It was no secret or last minute change that Australia wanted diesel electric subs. France submitted a competitive tender to provide a diesel electric sub at a particular price point, with much of the manufacturing being done in Australia, and was chosen over other bids on that basis. If France couldn’t provide that at the cost they bid then they shouldn’t have bid. There were other competitive bids from Japan and Germany both of which have proven diesel electric sub designs.

mySubSub 5y ago

Actually it was quite different - Australians wanted their own specifications, built on their own soil, where no local industry nor experience was present, and with US weapon system. The last point meant for that a full redesign was necessary, almost from scratch, and that they had to collaborate with a competitor who was given much more leeway for delays and great incentives to make the french contract go sour. This is what happened finally, the french have lost their contract, the US will now build those subs and the Australian taxpayers will have to foot the bill.