The Royal Australian Navy today commissioned HMAS RANKIN – the sixth and final Collins Class submarine - in a ceremony held in Western Australia.

Commissioning of HMAS RANKIN marks a significant milestone in what arguably has been Australia’s most technologically complex industrial undertaking.

Attorney-General Daryl Williams represented Defence Minister Robert Hill at the ceremony, held at HMAS Stirling, home of the Collins Class.

Australian-built Collins Class Submarines are now competing with the world’s best – they have performed superbly against US nuclear submarines in recent exercises, and in operational work over the last year they have been exceptionally capable.

The project has had its challenges – the track record of other submarine-building nations shows that these challenges have not been unusual.

Today we have submarines exercising with the US – a country which has been building submarines for a century, and regards the Collins as a very formidable adversary. It is often understated what the Australian workforce and Navy submariners have achieved here.

It is submarine performance that is the true measure.

The Australian Submarine Corporation was established from a green-field site in 1989. Australia’s first Collins Class submarine was launched in 1993 and six world class submarines were delivered in a decade.

Recently the Government has announced several initiatives aimed at addressing the remaining challenges with the submarine fleet, and guaranteeing their future capability advantage.

Last week, the Government announced that the submarines will be equipped with the most capable torpedo of its type – the Mk 48 Mod 7 advanced capability torpedo. This will lead to a significant capability upgrade when they enter service from 2006.

Earlier the Government announced its intention to purchase a Replacement Combat System for the Collins Class. Enhancements to the tactical command and control component, and the sonar processing elements of the combat system, represent a significant capability enhancement over the existing system, which was identified in 1999 as the principal technical challenge for the Collins Class.

Last year, the Government announced that it would sign a capability agreement with Electric Boat Corporation, under which Electric Boat will provide technical and commercial support to Australian Submarine Corporation as the company transitions from being a builder of submarines to one that maintains them.

HMAS COLLINS Launched Aug 93 Commissioned Jul 96

HMAS FARNCOMB Launched Dec 95 Commissioned Jan 98

HMAS WALLER Launched Mar 97 Commissioned Feb 01

HMAS DECHAINEUX Launched Mar 98 Commissioned Feb 01

HMAS SHEEAN Launched May 99 Commissioned Nov 00

HMAS RANKIN Launched Nov 01 Commissioned Mar 03

$5.115B (December 2002 price basis)

Phase 1 Project Definition Studies 1984 – 1986

Phase 2 Project Development 1985 – 1988

Phase 3 Construction 1987 – 2003

Contract Signature with ASC 3 June 1987