Dawn raids, international intrigue lie beneath Australia's submarine strategy

It is not often that we witness strategic design in action, for the benefit of national security and economic growth. The challenges of translating good ideas into meaningful acts can be too great and the courage required to run the gauntlet of media reaction and public opinion can be lacking. In the case of Australia's future submarine program, the increasing evidence can be interpreted in such a way to suggest that the Coalition and the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) may have performed a well-executed feat of strategic manoeuvre. It was always known that Australia would need a design partner to support the construction and maintenance of its next fleet of submarines. The experience acquired through the Collins Class program - and the lessons learned - put Australian industry in a leading position to take on a manufacturing and sustainment role, but a design partner was always necessary.