The Australian government and French shipbuilder Naval Group have signed the first phase of a submarine design contract that will continue the work on the AUD50 billion (USD35 billion) future Attack-class submarine programme through to 2021, Defence Minister Christopher Pyne announced on 5 March. Pyne said detailed architecture for the hull, including the placement of main systems, would be developed under the first phase of the contract, which is worth AUD605 million. The contract will be the first to be fully executed under the Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA) signed on 11 February that set out the principles of co-operation between Australia and Naval Group.
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