Future Submarines bidder, the French owned DCNS has launched a series of industry innovation seminars starting in Melbourne today. The series of seminars is an opportunity for local industry to engage and collaborate with DCNS ahead to the Federal Government’s planned announcement for the SEA 1000 Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP) later this year.

The Government's competitive evaluation process for Australia's next fleet of future submarines is entering a critical phase over the next couple of months. Will a change in Prime Minister rock the boat? Some say yes. Others are looking to the change of leadership to increase the chances of a local build. Here's what some commentators had to say.

If you are a Victorian based business with Submarine relevant capabilities this is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss. Register now to be featured in the soon to be released print edition of the Victorian Defence Alliance (VDA) Submarines Capability Directory.

All your questions answered about the Collins Class submarine. Defence News Portal has gathered all the key links to information you'll need to research Collins Class and it replacements under SEA 1000.

Whilst the Collins class submarine may be approaching retirement it will remain formidable weapon. Watch this short documentary of the HMAS Rankin Collins Class submarine as it avoids detection by a determined group of US Navy ships before successfully taking a mock torpedo kill against one of them.

SEA 1000 is the Collins Class submarine replacement program managed by the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). The SEA 1000 program will find replacements for the six Collins Class submarines currently in service. The Collins Class submarines are due to retire from service from 2025 onwards.

The Collins Class replacement submarine will likely displace around 4,500 tonnes. It will be capable of a range of missions including land missile attack, anti-ship, surveillance. The submarine will also play an important role in special operations by inserting and extracting commandos and other covert operators.

Australia's Defence Force chief (CDF) has weighed into the debate surrounding the Australian Navy's Collins Class submarine replacement stating that there is no strategic need to build the submarine locally. Air Chief Marshal Binskin said on Tuesday that it was more important to the nation that the new submarines be maintained by local industry and that this didn't mean the subs had to be built in Australia.

The Collins class submarines have been designed specifically for its defence and two-ocean surveillance role in the Royal Australian Navy. Designed to be as quiet as advanced technology can achieve, The Collins Submarine has been developed from five generations of submarines designed and built by the Swedish Navy.

The Defence Minister Kevin Andrew visited Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) yesterday amid a wave of controversy surrounding the proposed "competitive evaluation process" the Government will use to choose the prime contractor.

Mr Andrews reinforced statements made by the Treasurer and Prime Minister in relation to the how suppliers will be selected for the $20-40 billion SEA 1000 project (Collins Class Submarine Replacement).

Various Australian Government ministers today clarified their positions after the surprise announcement of an "Open Tender" process for the Collins Class Replacement by South Australian Senator Sean Edwards. Mr Edwards claimed on Monday that Prime Minister Tony Abbot has promised an open tender in return for his vote in the leadership spill. That promise, if it ever occurred, now seems in doubt.