Kawasaki or Mitsubishi: More Than a Local Competition?

All stop. Earlier this morning I mentioned Japans "always impressive submarine program" but apparently I am out of touch with some recent changes. I had not heard about this change, nor do I have a record of seeing it at the time. Interesting development over in Japan.

It is increasingly likely that in fiscal 2010, defense contractors will have to compete to build a Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) submarine for the first time ever.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corp. are the only two companies in Japan able to build military submarines, and a possible clash between the two companies over the fiscal 2010 submarine contract is attracting widespread industry attention.

This was the system I was thinking of, an amazing system of efficient modernization.

According to the Defense Ministry and other sources, under the 1976 National Defense Program Outline, the MSDF retires the oldest of its 16 submarines every year and replaces it with a new one -- with Mitsubishi and Kawasaki taking the order for the new sub in alternating years from fiscal 1977 on.

In fiscal 2009, however, the Defense Ministry declared that no submarine would be retired that year and no new vessel would be needed. This left Kawasaki without an order that year and an empty dry dock -- where more than a year of the four-year building time takes place -- in fiscal 2010, opening the door for competition with Mitsubishi for the 2010 contract.

New submarines cost about $600 million in Japan, but they are also considered by the submarine experts I trust the most to be the best conventionally powered submarines in the world (yes, better than U-212s). The Soryu class submarine (or 16SS) is not just a AIP submarine, all Japanese submarines are larger conventional fleet submarines. The Soryu class is the only conventionally powered fleet submarine known to have an AIP engine, but note the large size of the Yuan class - which is also believed to have AIP.

This is an interesting development in my opinion, because the Australians are always very interested in what Japan is doing with submarines. Given the choice of partnering with the Americans or the Japanese in development of a Collins class submarine replacement, it is not an obvious choice as many assume - indeed the winner of this competition in Japan may become the front runner as Australia's industry partner for production.

HatTip: SubReport