Aussie firm helps build China's new missile catamarans
By National Security correspondent Leigh Sales
Posted Fri Feb 1, 2008 6:16am AEDT
Updated Fri Feb 1, 2008 9:53am AEDT
Deal: A Chinese catamaran similar to those in the AMD deal (
www.lowyinterpreter.org)
The Chinese Navy is using Australian technology to upgrade its warships, a move which experts warn may be detrimental to Australia's national security.
Through a joint venture company based in China, an Australian business, AMD, has sold designs for the hull and propulsion system of high-speed catamarans to the Peoples' Liberation forces.
The Chinese military has built vessels based on those designs and then armed them with weapons systems including anti-shipping missiles.
A former senior Australian intelligence official is warning that although the situation is legal under Australian law, it is not an ideal situation for Australia's national interest.
But the company involved believes there is no way to stop China applying civilian technology to its military.
AMD Marine Consulting is a very successful catamaran design business, with a joint venture company called Sea Bus International based in China.
Full story
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...tion=australia 
February 3rd, 2008
Deal: A Chinese catamaran similar to those in the AMD deal (www.lowyinterpreter.org)
