Australia and Sweden have achieved a "significant milestone agreement"
relating to Intellectual Property rights for submarine design and technology,
Defence Minister Stephen Smith said in a statement on Thursday. According
to the joint statement with Sweden's Minister for Defence Karin Enstrom,
this followed extensive negotiations between Australia's Defence Materiel
Organisation and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. |
|
"This
agreement gives effect to Australia's rights to use and disclose Swedish
Intellectual Property rights for complex submarine design and technology,"
Minister Smith said Thursday.
"Defence materiel cooperation has been a key feature of the Sweden-Australia
relationship, most notably in the area of submarine technology where
our collaboration over the construction and support of the Collins submarines
has spanned two decades, and more recently, with the vital 'sense and
warn' capability provided to protect our troops in Afghanistan,"
he added.
In 1987, Australia ordered six submarines of the Collins Class designed
by Swedish firm Kockums AB. The submarines were built in Adelaide and
will be in service for another 20 years.
Australia is now planning for their replacement with 12 new boats with
the recent 2013 Defence White Paper settling on two options - an evolution
of Collins or a completely new design.
Smith said the government announced last year it would engage Kockums
to undertake initial design studies for the evolved Collins. But before
that could occur, Australia needed to reach an agreement with Sweden
on use of Collins and other Swedish technology for the Future Submarine
Program. |
