The construction of the Collins class submarines was Australia's largest, most expensive and most controversial military purchase. The project had its origins in the late 1970s and the last submarine was delivered to the navy in 2003. During that period it was subjected to an unprecedented level of media scrutiny and criticism, became highly politicised and on several occasions faced the prospect of being abandoned.

The general public perception of the submarine project is that it was a hugely expensive failure and that the submarines are noisy ‘dud subs’. These views are not shared by those who were involved in designing, building or operating the submarines, or by the navy leadership and military analysts who see the project as an extraordinary industrial achievement and the submarines as potent weapons and among the best of conventional submarines.

There is much that is unique about the Collins submarine project. It was the first class of major warship designed specifically for Australian requirements – earlier classes were either bought from overseas or built to plans developed for other navies. Australian industry was more heavily involved than with any other modern military purchase. It was the largest electronics systems integration project ever undertaken in Australia. The lengthy list has led advocates for the project to compare it with the Snowy Mountains Scheme for its ‘nation-building’ significance.