To avoid a capability gap and retain an effective undersea warfare capability the future submarine must commence sea trials in 2022.

Planning and initiation of long lead activities such as R&D are now on the critical path to inform decisions to be taken in 2010 on technologies likely to be available when the contract is let in 2016.

To mitigate development risk, the Collins combat and ship control systems need to be developed, evolved and migrated into the future SM. The design, development and construction of the future underwater warfare capability will be a uniquely Australian enterprise, a developmental project based on the Collins pedigree, with strong support from the USN and European submarine designers.