1987 Labor government announces that six new submarines based on a Swedish design will be constructed in Adelaide.
1993 First new sub HMAS Collins launched. The project runs into technical problems with excessive noise, engines, combat system reliability and much more. 
1998 Sydney newpaper publishes ''Dud Subs'' story, outlining numerous problems with Collins subs.
1998 Defence and submarine builder ASC work to fix problems, which takes more than a decade.
2009 Labor defence white paper reveals plan for 12 advanced new submarines, a promise reaffirmed in the 2013 blueprint.
2014 New coalition government of Tony Abbott hedges on whether the new subs will be built in Adelaide. It appears Abbott favours Japanese-built Soryu submarines.
2015 Facing a political backlash, the government announces the competitive evaluation process to consider bids from Japan and from German firm TKMS and French firm DCNS.
  April 26, 2016 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces a win for DCNS and its Shortfin Barracuda design, with construction slated for Adelaide.