The Royal Australian Navy is looking to replace its fleet of submarines currently consisting of 6 Collins-class submarines. The Collins-class is an enlarged version of Swedish shipbuilder Kockums’ Västergötland-class, built in Australia between 1990 and 2003 with design and assistance by Kockums. The fleet has been plagued by problems and at times only two submarines have been in active service concurrently.
The Collins-class submarines are due to exit service around 2025 and Australia are looking to buy up to 12 replacement ships according to a 2009 defence report. The Australian government has ruled out nuclear propulsion and have short-listed a number of conventional European off-the-shelf options. In the running are Spanish S-80 class, the French-Spanish designed Scorpène class, the German-designed Type 214, and Japan’s Sōryū class. A decision on the design should be taken before 2013 with construction to start in 2016.
One of six Collins-class submarines currently in service
Scando-Germanic Influence in the Asia Pacific 