The Australian government and France's Naval Group have signed a design contract for the Royal Australian Navy's new Attack-class submarines.
The contract signing comes less than a month after the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) and just days after the signing of the framework agreement between Naval Group Australia and ASC.
The signing of the contract between the Commonwealth and Naval Group is the first contract inked under the SPA, Australian Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne said.
The Minister for Defence Industry, Senator Linda Reynolds, said the submarine design contract is worth A$605 million (US$425 million) and will see design work progress through to 2021.
