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
A catamaran similar to those being built by AMD for use by the Chinese Navy
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.
Link to story
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/01/2151690.htm?section=australia