Australia awards US $ 26 billion new-generation warship contract to British BAE



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Sydney (AFP) – Australia on Friday won a $ 26 billion deal for the construction of a new generation of warships at British defense giant BAE Systems, while the nation Pacific is embarking on an ambitious naval program. The lucrative transaction, worth AUD 22.4 billion (AUD 35 billion), is a major asset for BAE, listed in London, which has suffered in recent years from reduced defense budgets of the government and the slowing demand of Eurofighter Typhoon. Combat Ship, officially known as Hunter, is ahead of the Italian company Fincantieri and the Spanish Navantia SA and will be supplied to the Royal Australian Navy under a 30-year contract.

The nine new frigates are the "world's most advanced anti-submarine warship" and support the country's security for decades to come, said Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

– Lethality and deterrence –

will provide the Australian Defense Force with the highest lethality and deterrence levels that our major surface combatants need in times of global uncertainty, "he said.

"They will have the ability to conduct various missions independently. a working group with sufficient scope and endurance to operate effectively throughout the region. "

A key element of the contract was that a high level of construction was to take place in Australia, as part of an offer from Canberra The Shipbuilding Industry

The Nine Hunter Type 26 underwater vessels will be designed by BAE and built in Australian steel by the ASC Shipbuilding Public Enterprise in Adelaide, with the creation of 4,000 jobs

. BAE Systems "during the construction of" s & # Ensure that BAE Systems is fully responsible and responsible for delivering the frigates ", before returning to the property.

Britain said that the £ 20 billion deal was "a" the magnitude and nature of this contract place the UK at the forefront of design and development. maritime engineering and demonstrate what British Prime Minister Theresa May has said.

"We have always been clear: when we leave the EU, we have the opportunity to build our close relations with our allies, such as Australia, and this transaction is a perfect example of the government doing just that."

– Increased Risks –

The ships will replace the current nine ANZAC class frigates in Australia, the new ships being equipped with a long-range, advanced missile and are expected to enter service at the end of the year. 2020 as the backbone of the Australian Navy fleet, part of the country's largest peacetime naval investment, which also includes 12 new submarines and 12 new submarines. that Beijing is making its own weapons in the region thanks to an increase in military manpower in the disputed South China Sea, and that countries keep a watchful eye on Pyongya ng, a country with nuclear weapons

. "We are in a world with increased risks," Turnbull said. "We must have the ability to defend Australia regardless of what can happen."

Charles Woodburn, Managing Director of BAE Systems, said, "strengthens our leadership position in the design and construction of complex marine platforms."

The agreement follows Canberra this week announcing a $ 5.2 billion investment to develop and buy high-tech US drones for joint military operations. South China Sea

The French naval builder DCNS was selected to design and build the new Australian submarines in Adelaide, for a total of 50 billion Australian dollars, thus beating competition from Japan and the United States. Germany

. the use of the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, developed with Finmeccanica and Airbus in a European consortium.

In the late morning, the BAE price jumped 2.69% to 649p, outperforming London's globally rising stock. market.

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