Soryu submarine deal: Japanese insiders warn sub program will cost more, hurt Australian jobs

Former senior Japanese military personnel have spoken out for the first time against the submarine deal the Abbott Government hopes to conclude with Japan.

Australia is considering buying 10 state-of-the-art Soryu class submarines from Japan, at a reported price of more than $20 billion.

But Japanese military insiders have warned that it will cost much more.

They told the ABC there was great reluctance within the Japanese military to share their expertise, and said it would take Australia decades to perfect the submarines' top secret technology.

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