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| France wins A$50bn Australia submarine contract | France wins A$50bn Australia submarine contract |
| (14 days later) | |
| France has won a A$50bn (€34bn; £27bn) contract to build 12 submarines for the Australian Navy, beating bids from Japan and Germany. | France has won a A$50bn (€34bn; £27bn) contract to build 12 submarines for the Australian Navy, beating bids from Japan and Germany. |
| The deal, announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, is Australia's largest-ever defence contract. | The deal, announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, is Australia's largest-ever defence contract. |
| The Shortfin Barracuda submarines will be built in Adelaide using Australian steel, creating 2,800 jobs, he said. | The Shortfin Barracuda submarines will be built in Adelaide using Australian steel, creating 2,800 jobs, he said. |
| Japan, which had been a frontrunner in the contest, said the decision was "deeply regrettable". | Japan, which had been a frontrunner in the contest, said the decision was "deeply regrettable". |
| Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said Japan would "ask Australia to explain why they didn't pick our design". | Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said Japan would "ask Australia to explain why they didn't pick our design". |
| Mr Turnbull said the decision, the result of a 15-month bidding process, was "securing the future of Australia's navy over decades to come". | Mr Turnbull said the decision, the result of a 15-month bidding process, was "securing the future of Australia's navy over decades to come". |
| "Australian workers will be building Australian submarines with Australian steel." | "Australian workers will be building Australian submarines with Australian steel." |
| Why does Australia want new submarines? | Why does Australia want new submarines? |
| The government says the existing Collins Class submarine fleet is ageing and in need of replacement. | The government says the existing Collins Class submarine fleet is ageing and in need of replacement. |
| A strong submarine capability is seen as vital for an island nation like Australia to conduct surveillance operations, counter growing military strength from countries like China and to support Australian allies. | A strong submarine capability is seen as vital for an island nation like Australia to conduct surveillance operations, counter growing military strength from countries like China and to support Australian allies. |
| What submarines will DCNS be building? | What submarines will DCNS be building? |
| The Shortfin Barracuda is a 4,500-tonne conventionally powered submarine. It is closely related to the nuclear-powered Barracuda which weighs 4,700 tonnes. | The Shortfin Barracuda is a 4,500-tonne conventionally powered submarine. It is closely related to the nuclear-powered Barracuda which weighs 4,700 tonnes. |
| DCNS has said the full details are confidential, but the vessel is know to be more than 90m long and to feature an advanced pump-jet propulsion system that is supposed to be quieter than propeller propulsion systems. | DCNS has said the full details are confidential, but the vessel is know to be more than 90m long and to feature an advanced pump-jet propulsion system that is supposed to be quieter than propeller propulsion systems. |
| Mr Turnbull said the French bid "represented the capabilities best able to meet Australia's unique needs". | Mr Turnbull said the French bid "represented the capabilities best able to meet Australia's unique needs". |
| What were the other bids | What were the other bids |
| The Japanese bid, with a consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, proposed a version of its 4,000-tonne Soryu-class submarine, lengthened by between 6-8m. | The Japanese bid, with a consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, proposed a version of its 4,000-tonne Soryu-class submarine, lengthened by between 6-8m. |
| Mitsubishi said it was "deeply regrettable that Japan's capabilities were not sufficiently conveyed". | Mitsubishi said it was "deeply regrettable that Japan's capabilities were not sufficiently conveyed". |
| The German bid, from company TKMS, offered a 4,000-tonne version of an existing 2,000-tonne Type 214 class submarine. | The German bid, from company TKMS, offered a 4,000-tonne version of an existing 2,000-tonne Type 214 class submarine. |
| Relationship with Japan | Relationship with Japan |
| The French bid received unanimous support from the various experts in the government's competitive evaluation process, Defence Minister Marise Payne said. | The French bid received unanimous support from the various experts in the government's competitive evaluation process, Defence Minister Marise Payne said. |
| Japan was an early frontrunner to win the contract, thanks to former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's close relationship with his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe. | Japan was an early frontrunner to win the contract, thanks to former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's close relationship with his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe. |
| But its bid is said to have foundered because of Japan's inexperience in building military equipment for export. | But its bid is said to have foundered because of Japan's inexperience in building military equipment for export. |
| The Japanese constitution was reinterpreted in 2014 to allow the export of military hardware. The lucrative submarine deal would have been its first such deal and a major victory for Mr Abe. | |
| The Japanese government was also reportedly keen to further deepen its military ties to Australia as a counter to China's rise. Shared military technology would increase interoperability between the Japanese and Australian fleets. | The Japanese government was also reportedly keen to further deepen its military ties to Australia as a counter to China's rise. Shared military technology would increase interoperability between the Japanese and Australian fleets. |
| The decision to reject the bid is seen as having ramifications for Australia-Japanese relations. | The decision to reject the bid is seen as having ramifications for Australia-Japanese relations. |
| Mr Turnbull said he had spoken to Mr Abe and they were both "thoroughly committed to the special strategic partnership between Australia and Japan which gets stronger all the time". | Mr Turnbull said he had spoken to Mr Abe and they were both "thoroughly committed to the special strategic partnership between Australia and Japan which gets stronger all the time". |