Japan Offers to Build Australian Subs
Australia has reportedly welcomed a Japanese offer to jointly-build a fleet of new submarines, with a possible deal by the end of the year, according to a report on http://zeenews.india.com.
Japan is proposing jointly building Australia`s new submarines, instead of exporting a new fleet, an AFP report said on Monday quoting a Japanese daily, after concerns in Canberra over the effect on the domestic ship-building industry.
Under the proposal, Japan`s defence ministry is to cooperate with Australia in developing special steel and other materials for its new submarines, while Tokyo will be in charge of assembling them, the Mainichi Shimbun said.
The Australian side has taken "a positive stance" on the proposal, the daily said, adding that the two countries may strike a deal by the end of 2015.
Australia needs to replace its fleet of diesel and electric-powered subs, which date from the 1990s, and Japan's high-tech ship-building industry is thought to be well-placed to win the contract.
