US may join Japan, Oz in Tripartite New Gen SSK Development

(Yomiuri)

From the Yomiuri Shimbun:

The Australian government apparently wants to introduce a Japanese-made submarine hull and adopt U.S.-made systems and weaponry. If the joint development by the three countries is realized, their cooperative relationships in the military field, which have been limited so far to joint exercises, will enter a new stage. 

The sources said Japan, the United States and Australia will likely hold trilateral summit talks for the first time in seven years on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit to be held in Australia next month. Officials of the three governments are coordinating views so that their leaders can exchange opinions on the joint development of the submarine while discussing military cooperation, they said.

Japan and Australia agreed to start discussions on the joint development of the submarine when their defense ministers met on Oct. 16. 

Australia's Collins-class submarines use a battle system created by Raytheon Co. of the United States. 

The Australian government plans to renew six Collins-class submarines from around 2030 to broaden their range. 

Although Australia plans to adopt Soryu-class submarines — the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s most advanced submarines — it wants to adopt U.S. systems and communication equipment for the battle system to maintain interoperability with the U.S. military, the sources said. 

The U.S. government would obviously welcome such a move as the Australians apparently want to equip the new submarine with U.S. cruise missiles.

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Also: What to expect from the new US–Japan Defense Guidelines @ East Asia Forum