Senator Jacqui Lambie

Senator LAMBIE: So let me get this right. You won't be purchasing any that were built with a substandard steel, because they are full of rust. That was between 1985 and 2017. That will give you Block IV, wouldn't it? That would only leave you Block IV and above to purchase. Is that correct? Vice Adm. Mead : As I mentioned before, we haven't decided on which actual submarines. Certainly, the intent is to get the best submarines we can with US as part of the transfer. Three weeks ago, I was in the Newport shipyard where there was a submarine in maintenance, in dock. We did a tour. I spoke to the commanding officer. I spoke to the crew. I spoke to the staff at the shipyard. They were all very satisfied that the submarine was going to be delivered out on time and with all of its defects in place. The US has got a vast commitment on its nuclear-powered submarine program, both in production and sustainment. We are working with them to transfer two of their best submarines to Australia.