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Avoiding the capability gap through international partnerships (Source- Aspi Strategist, Author- Michael Ward)

German Type-212 Submarine ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons/ Author) Source- Aspi Strategist Author- Michael Ward There has been considerable public debate about Australia’s future submarine program with much of the focus being centred on whether submarines should be produced locally or procured offshore. But surprisingly little of the debate has touched on the imperative to avoid a capability gap once the Collins-class submarines begin to be retired from service in the latter half of the next decade, nor on how Australia might best utilise existing sovereign submarine capabilities to achieve that. Given the unique nature of the Australian requirement, it seems highly unlikely the solution for Australia’s future submarine would be either an ‘off-the-shelf’ purchase from an offshore supplier or an onshore design-and-build activity. Notwithstanding the fact that Australia doesn’t have the design capabilities to go it alone on the future submarine program, any existing