Shaky Japanese submarine pitch puts Australian industry offside

A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces diesel-electric submarine Soryu is seen in this undated file handout photo released by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces, and obtained by Reuters on September 1, 2014. REUTERS/Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force/Handout via Reuters/Files

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A Japanese consortium eyeing a A$50 billion ($35.68 billion) contract to build submarines for Australia irked local suppliers by failing to share key information about its proposal or discuss specific collaboration possibilities during a visit last week, executives at Australian firms said.

The apparent missteps underscore Japan's inexperience in bidding for global defence deals after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ended a decades-old ban on weapons exports last year as part of his more muscular security agenda.