The New Zealand Defence Force has finalised a sale of 22 New Zealand light armoured vehicles (NZLAVs) to the Chilean Navy for use by their Marine Corps.
Defence insists it is committed to buying submarines from the French but has confirmed it is looking at alternatives in case the $90 billion deal falls over.
PM intervenes in submarine debacle
Save
Share
Two senior naval officers have been tasked by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to examine options for Australiaâs submarine fleet, amid ongoing tensions with the French over the $90 billion future submarine program.
As Naval Groupâs global chief executive Pierre-Eric Pommelet arrives in Canberra on Wednesday for crunch talks with Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham over the project, sources say Mr Morrison is questioning the scope of the major shipbuilding programs as costs spiral by billions of dollars.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will meet with French submarine boss Pierre-Eric Pommelet.Â