After the escalating threat of cyberattack, particularly on the possible hacking attempts of spies targeting the highly confidential information on Australia's $20-billion project to build future submarines, foreign submarine bidders have expressed their concerns.
Three bidders in Germany, France and Japan said their extensive plans on the project, billed Sea 1000 Future Submarine program, have been continuously receiving hacking attacks by unnamed countries.
Manfred Klein, Australian campaign manager for German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), told The Australian that the company's IT team, which is based in Kiel, Germany, has been reporting that it receives 40 hacking attempts every night.
Although the identity of hackers has yet to be confirmed, the bidders are pointing their fingers to Chinese and Russian spies as primary suspects. However, a possibility that the three bidders may spy on each other also exists.
Amidst threats of cyberattacks, the three bidders — TKMS, France's Direction des Constructions Navales Services (DCNS) and the Japanese government — have reportedly resorted to relying on hand-delivered messages, incorporating highly sensitive information concerning their plans on the project.
Each of the bidders has been furnished with technical and performance requirements of the submarines. The bidders shall defend each of their plans by Nov. 30.
It is anticipated that the government may pick the winner or may trim down the bidders into two not later than the first half of 2016.
Stephen Johnson, previously U.S. submarine commander, has been designated as the general manager of Australian Navy's new submarine fleet. He will likewise be obligated to pick out the new submarines.
In the meantime, John White, chairman of the German bid team at TKMS , said he was not thunderstruck to receive reports of hacking attempts, considering the team is dealing with a very important project.
"You just assume it is happening. Everybody is in that game," said White. "We don't suspect anyone, we suspect everybody."
White further said the market for similar submarines Australia is trying to develop is becoming more attractive to customers. TKMS is targeting Canada as one of its possible clients.
In October, it was reported that the U.S. Navy is going old school, reintroducing brief lessons on celestial navigating this year, amidst increasing threats of cyberattacks.
Midshipmen initially received lessons on this aged method in maritime travel in the past summer school at the Naval Academy.
