Australian, New Zealand and Oceania Military, Economic Discussion Thread

[Aepsilons]

Let this thread be for the discussion of military, and economic developments of Australia, New Zealand and Greater Oceania.

May I ask the participation of Sirs @jhungary , @AUSTERLITZ , @mike2000 , @SvenSvensonov , @AMDR , @F-22Raptor , @TruthSeeker , @gambit , @Horus , @Ravi Nair , @tonyget et al inthe genesis of relevant information.

Thanks Mate!

 

[Aepsilons]

Australia commits to a military spending spree while Canada dithers

CANBERRA — Tony Abbott’s government has embarked on an unprecedented peacetime military spending spree that is stunning when compared to how little Canada is spending on its army, air force and navy.

Australia will allocate more than $30-billion to its armed forces next year. Canada will likely spend less than $20-billion in 2015.

Australia already expends 1.7% of gross domestic product on its armed forces, with a NATO-like goal of 2% by 2023. Canada’s military spending will likely dip just below 1% of GDP next year.

The extra $10-billion Australia is forking out buys a fighting and logistics capability Canadian generals and admirals can only dream of.

Matthew Fisher: Australia commits to a military spending spree while Canada dithers | National Post

 

[Fsjal]

Nice thread Nihonjin. I think this should be a sticky thread.

Australian military helicopter engines get support from Turbomeca - UPI.com

NOWRA, Australia, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- French engine manufacturer Turbomeca is to provide support services for its engines used on training helicopters of the Australian Defense Force, the company reports.
The services are for 15 Arrius 2B2 engines that power EC135 T2 helicopters and will be provided by the company's Australian subsidiary, Turbomeca Australsia, under a contract issued by Boeing Defense Australia.

Australia's new EC135 T2 helicopters will train crews for the new generation of advanced combat helicopters, such as ARH Tiger, CH-47F Chinook and MRH-90.

The helicopters were procured under the government's Helicopter Aircrew Training System, the seventh stage of an Australian Defense Force acquisition program called JP 9000 for a large fleet of multi-role helicopters.

"The HATS program will expand the training capability and provide rotary wing training outcomes for the Australian Army and Navy," the company said. "Turbomeca Australasia is delighted to be a partner in this commercial-off-the-shelf solution.

"The signing of this contract with Boeing Defense Australia supplements services already provided by TAA in support of the Tiger and MRH propulsion systems and cements TAA as the leading provider of gas turbine engines to the ADF Helicopter Fleet."

The contract is a support-by-the-hour arrangement but its financial terms were not disclosed.

 

[Aepsilons]

SYDNEY – Australia will not hold an open tender to replace its aging Collins-class submarines, government officials said Tuesday, a decision that bolsters Japan’s position as the likely builder of the new multibillion-dollar fleet.

Reuters reported in September that Australia was leaning toward buying as many as 12 off-the-shelf stealth submarines from Japan despite fierce domestic opposition to buying the vessels abroad instead of building them at home.

Australia does not have time for an open bidding process, Treasurer Joe Hockey said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“We need to make decisions now and we don’t have time to go through a speculation process. We do not have time for people to suggest that they can build something that hasn’t been built,” he said.

“No, we don’t have time for that because Labor failed to make decisions,” he said, referring to the previous government, now in opposition.

A spokesman for Defense Minister David Johnston said no manufacturer had yet been chosen but confirmed that an open tender was off the table.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott had previously pledged the submarines would be built in the state of South Australia, where unemployment exceeds the national average, but his government began backpedaling in July, signaling cost and schedule were paramount. Since then, pressure has mounted on Abbott from regional officials, labor unions and members of his own party to have a competitive tender.

Sources have said Australia is strongly considering a replacement for the Collins based on the 4,000-ton Soryu-class ships built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Such a deal would mark Japan’s re-entry into the global arms market, just months after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ended a ban on weapons exports as part of his efforts to steer the country away from decades of pacifism.

But strong interest from European manufacturers willing to build submarines in Australia had recently emerged.

Swedish defense firm Saab, France’s state-controlled naval contractor DCNS and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems have all expressed interest.

Last week, Johnston apologized after saying he would not trust government-owned submarine firm ASC “to build a canoe,” comments that fueled expectations that most work on the 40 billion Australian dollar (¥4 trillion) program would go offshore.

Japan gains traction as builder of new Australia subs | The Japan Times

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New Zealand troops preparing to go to Iraq


New Zealand troops are preparing to go to Iraq in the fight against the Islamic State.

The Defence Minister, Gerry Brownlee, has been forced to admit it and the Opposition is not happy about it.

That contrasts with agreement National has achieved with Labour over intercepting potential terrorist threats.


Journalists struck a nerve when asking about reports the Army is getting ready to go to Iraq.


"Well an Army source is bound to know more than the Minister of Defence," said Mr Brownlee, before walking away from reporters at Parliament.


However, a grumpy Defence Minister has now confirmed a group of Kiwi forces have started training for a possible deployment to Iraq.


Labour leader Andrew Little says it's not a good look for Prime Minister John Key. "He's got to be open about this stuff."


But Mr Key says he's not aware of any troop preparations and Mr Little is getting ahead of himself.


"We are not going to get to a point where every single thing we think about or half maybe explore we're going to talk about until we get to the point that we make decisions," Mr Key told reporters.


If National does send non-combat forces, it wants Labour's support. But if it thinks Labour would support a possible ANZAC deployment, it's mistaken.


"I think that's very cynical. And it doesn't stop me being and Labour being opposed to the sending of New Zealand troops into that zone," Mr Little said.


Mr Key said if the Government was to send troops, "it would be in part to try and pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the ANZAC forces that lost their lives in Gallipoli".