Australia's $50 billion decision to acquire 12 French Shortfin Barracuda submarines has underlined the need to judge major defence acquisitions primarily by strategic consequences rather than by political motives.

There is no reason to doubt that the advanced new submarines – the nation's largest defence purchase – will greatly boost the nation's military power projection capabilities at a time of rising tension in the Indo-Pacific region. That is a fundamentally important and desirable strategic consequence for Australia.