Part 7/9:
While the transcript does not explicitly confirm Canada’s plans to develop its own Virginia-class submarines, the discussion hints at the possibility that Australia could consider similar measures. Building or co-developing indigenous submarines could enhance Australia’s strategic independence in the Indo-Pacific, where regional tensions demand a robust and flexible underwater presence.
However, the complexities of such an undertaking are immense. The technological, logistical, and financial requirements for constructing a submarine comparable to the Virginia class are formidable, making the political decision to pursue domestic submarine production a critical factor.