Report: BAE, Babcock, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi Eye Partnership for Australian Submarine Program

BAE Systems and Babcock International want to join a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries–Kawasaki Heavy Industries alliance in pursuit of a $50 billion contract to build submarines for the Australian military, Defense World reported Friday.

The two British defense contractors maintain operations in Australia.

Defense World quoted a Japanese defense official as saying Mitsubishi seeks information on potential Australian partners in the submarine development competition.

French shipbuilder DCNS and German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems are also pursuing the program, the report said.