Super costly submarines get govt nod

The federal government has eliminated the two cheapest options to deliver Australia's 12 new submarines, a project likely to be the biggest in Australia's history.

An off-the-shelf (MOTS) model of submarine similar to those operating overseas can't meet requirements for long range and endurance, even if fitted with Australia-specific systems.

So the government's now pursuing the final options - an all-new design or an evolution of the existing Collins-class submarines, according to the 2013 Defence White Paper.

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