Why don’t our top defence officials understand what submarines are on offer?

IT took little more than Wikipedia for Senator Nick Xenophon to outsmart Australia’s top Navy brass on the topic of our costly new fleet of submarines.

AUSTRALIA’S top Navy brass in charge of spending billions on the nation’s next fleet of submarines has been embarrassed by a Senator armed with little more than Wikipedia.

During Senate Estimates in Canberra yesterday, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon questioned a Navy report that details what submarines from where are being considered for Australia’s future fleet.

Senator Xenophon’s question — given with advance notice — seemed simple.

Are the Japanese, French and German submarine designs being assessed for their suitability as Australia’s next submarine fleet capable of operating US weapons?

Wikipedia ... the skeptical senator’s best friend, at least when it comes to Nick Xenophon and the debate surrounding our future submarine force. Source: Supplied

It’s an important capability as it allows the torpedoes and missiles already carried by our existing submarines to continue to be used, as well support the ongoing “interoperability” with US forces so central to our future defence force structure.

The implications have multi-billion-dollar consequences: Submarines that are incompatibile will automatically be rejected.

The written answer to Senator Xenophon’s question: “Defence is not aware of any German design submarines that carry US weapons”.

But something didn’t sound right. Especially as there is considerable controversy over suggestions that the Japanese submarine has already quietly been chosen and a formal tender process bypassed in order to “fast track” the process.

“There’s a thing called Wikipedia,” Senator Xenaphon said, “I looked at it … The German type(s) have US weapon systems.”

So he delved deeper into official US Department of Defence reports. Not the Australian ones.

Navigation error ... Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett was unable to determine if a statement about submarine capability in his official report to the Senate was correct or not. Source: Gary Ramage

When Senator Xenophon asked Navy Chief Vice Admiral Tim Barrett if his report was accurate, the Vice Admiral was unable to answer.

That’s odd considering Australia’s forces exercised alongside these vessels during recent international war games. Not knowing what they were up against could have been embarrassing.

German submarines are being widely purchased throughout South East Asia as part of a massive rearmament race as tensions in the region continue to rise.

“I’m just trying to understand that answer on such a critical issue managed to find its way — as a formal answer — given the significance …” Senator Xenaphon stated.

“I can’t answer you Senator, I don’t know …” the Chief of Navy replied.

The Director of the Defence Materiel Organisation — the body responsible for big-ticket Defence force purchases — also expressed a lack of understanding about the range of options he was choosing from.

“I’m concerned that such a fundamental error … could influence the choice of submarine,” Senator Xenaphon put to him.

“We need to confirm the accuracy of the statements … I don’t have an answer,” was his reply.