French schools join Australia's Future Submarine program

Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Four French graduate engineering schools plan to join Flinders University to conduct research in support of Australia's Future Submarine Program.

A Memorandum of Understanding is scheduled to be signed by academic officials at French shipbuilder DCNS's headquarters in Paris. Under the agreement, the partners will conduct joint research projects related to the new submarine's development.

"This MoU signed with our new French academic partner institutions, recognizes the high regard in which Flinders' capability in the areas of defense and maritime research," Flinders University's Professor Robert Saint said in a press release. "The agreement will enhance our defense related endeavors and contribute to South Australia and Australia's economic transformation."

Consortium members went on to add the agreement will foster an exchange of knowledge between Australia and France.

The new partnership follows an earlier signing by the French and Australian governments in December, which established a framework for project's development. The singing allowed France to transfer skills and technology to support Australia's Future Submarine Program.

The program, known in Australia as SEA1000, is the largest defense procurement effort in the country's history. Australia plans to manufacture 12 new submarines scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s.