KEVIN Rudd (Australia PM) reveals multi-billion-dollar defence plan

[Metallic]

25 April 2009

KEVIN Rudd is set to announce Australia's biggest military build-up since World War II, led by a multi-billion-dollar investment in maritime defence, including 100 new F-35 fighters, a doubling of the submarine fleet, and powerful new surface warships.

The Prime Minister's announcement, led by a multi-billion-dollar investment in maritime defence, will include 100 new F-35 fighters, a doubling of the submarine fleet, and powerful new surface warships.

The new defence white paper will outline plans for a fundamental shake-up of Australia's defence organisation to ensure that the nation can meet what the Prime Minister sees as a far more challenging and uncertain security outlook in Asia over the next two decades.

China's steadily growing military might and the prospect of sharper strategic competition among Asia's great powers are driving the maritime build-up, which will see new-generation submarines and warships equipped with cruise missiles, and a big new investment in anti-submarine warfare and electronic warfare platforms, including new naval helicopters.

The white paper will consider the emerging non-traditional threats to Australia, including cyber security, climate change and its associated risk of large uncontrolled people movements.

Senior government sources say Mr Rudd has insisted that defence spending remain largely insulated from the Government's budget difficulties, but the Defence Department will still have to find at least $15 billion of internal savings over the next decade to help pay for the $100 billion-plus long-term equipment plan.

Mr Rudd said yesterday the delivery of the white paper was proving "acutely challenging as we work to defend ourselves from the global economic storm".

"It is the most difficult environment to frame the Australian budget in modern economic history. It is also the most difficult environment to frame our long-term defence planning in modern economic history as well," he told the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce. "Nevertheless the Government will not resile even in the difficult times from the requirement for long-term coherence of our defence planning for the long-term security of our nation. This is core business for government. That is why we have forged ahead in our preparation of the defence white paper because national security needs do not disappear because of the global recession. If anything, those needs become more acute."

Funding pressures will mean the navy will not get a fourth air warfare destroyer, and the delivery of the first batch of the RAAF's F-35 joint strike fighters will slip by at least one year to 2014-15.

The huge cost of paying for the next-generation defence force, due to be detailed in the white paper and the forthcoming 10-year defence capability plan, will have little impact on the defence budget over the the next four years.

Apart from the air warfare destroyers and the F-35 fighters, most of the planned defence purchases will not have to be paid for until well into the next decade and beyond.

Mr Rudd and Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon are expected to release the long-awaited white paper as early as next week, with the more detailed 10-year defence capability plan due to be published by mid-year.

The naval build-up will be led by a planned 12-strong submarine fleet expected to replace the Collins-class boats from 2025. It will enable the RAN to deploy up to seven boats to protect Australia's northern approaches, including key maritime straits running through the Indonesian archipelago, at times of high threat.

The white paper will outline the requirement for a new class of eight 7000-tonne warships equipped with ballistic missile defence systems similar to the three air warfare destroyers already on order that will eventually replace the Anzac frigates.

A new class of 1500-tonne corvette-size patrol boats able to take a helicopter is slated to replace the Armidale-class vessels from the mid-2020s.

The more robust maritime force will also mean the RAAF's veteran AP-3 Orion fleet being replaced with a mix of at least eight P-8 Poseidon long-range surveillance aircraft, together with up to seven unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles, possibly the US-made Global Hawk, operating out of an expanded Edinburgh air base in South Australia.

The navy is also expected to acquire up to 27 anti-submarine helicopters.

Mr Rudd has foreshadowed the maritime build-up as pointing to the need for Australia to accommodate "huge increases in military spending here in our own region".

"If we are going to defend our sea-lines of communication to the rest of the world, we have got to make sure that we have got the naval capability to underpin that. And Australia must therefore have necessary maritime power in the future in order to give that effect," Mr Rudd said late last year.

As well as re-equipping with up to 100 F-35 fighters, the air force is expected to get up to six extra C-130J Hercules transport aircraft and a replacement for the Vietnam war-era Caribou light transport, expected to be the C-27J.

The $10 billion long-term expansion and "hardening and networking" of the army will continue with the regular army growing to about 30,000, including eight infantry battalions.

The army's Chinook helicopter fleet is expected to expand from six to 10 aircraft and the land force is expected to be re-equipped with self-propelled and towed artillery in the next decade.

The army will also acquire a new generation of armoured fighting vehicles from 2020.

The new white paper says Australia's defence force should be capable of taking the lead security role in Australia's neighbourhood, particularly the South Pacific, as well as having the ability to deploy military forces further afield.

Senior government sources say this year's white paper is a more broad-ranging and ambitious document than the 2000 white paper. It aims to give Australia more strategic weight and the Government more options when it comes to deploying military forces in the neighbourhood or further afield.

The white paper has moved defence doctrine back to a more regionally-focused approach firmly founded on the defence of Australia. It rejects the notion that terrorism and unconventional intrastate conflict should be a primary driver of the defence force structure.

The Rudd Government's focus on expensive war-fighting equipment underlines the Prime Minister's view that Australia must face up to a much broader range of contingencies, including the strategic consequences of inter-state conflict in Asia.

For the first time the white paper will address in detail electronic warfare trends, particularly the growing cyber security threat to Australia's national security network.

The Government is already investing millions of dollars to bolster Australia's cyber defence capability, led by the Defence Signals Directorate, and will invest even more heavily in the years ahead to protect critical infrastructure from cyber attacks already being mounted by a number of countries led by China and Russia. The Government is also moving quietly to bolster Australia's ability to mount offensive cyber operations.

The threat posed by ballistic missile proliferation in the Asia-Pacific will also be carefully monitored by Defence but the Government has ruled out any early development of a dedicated ballistic missile defence system for Australia. The biggest challenge to the blueprint remains the global economic crisis.


Source: Herald and Weekly Times

 

[Metallic]

Kevin Rudd's push for missile supremacy
Australia - 2 May 2009

THE navy will acquire a formidable arsenal of long-range cruise missiles for its new submarines, destroyers and frigates, able to strike at targets thousands of kilometres from Australia's shores.

The new-generation submarines and major surface warships will be fitted with land-attack cruise missiles with ranges of up to 2500km as Australia becomes the first regional defence force to have the potent weapons system.

The cruise missiles will give the Government "options to conduct long-range, precision-strike operations against hardened, defended and difficult-to-access targets, while minimising the exposure of ADF platforms and personnel to attack by enemy forces", the defence white paper says.

Reflecting the Government's consciousness that the planned maritime defence build-up could provoke criticism from regional neighbours, the white paper asserts that acquisition of land-attack cruise missiles is "fully consistent with Australian treaty obligations and customary international law".

The core of the Government's thinking about the far more potent next-generation defence force is that the risk of a major conventional war in the Asia-Pacific region cannot be ruled out.

"It would be premature to judge that war among states, including the major powers, has been eliminated as a feature of the international system," the white paper says.

"Shows of force by rising powers are likely to become more common as their military capabilities expand. Growing economic interdependence will not preclude inter-state conflicts or tensions short of war, especially over resources or political differences."

The Defence Department, with a current annual budget of $22billion, has been charged with the massive task of finding up to $20 billion in savings and efficiency gains over the next decade to pay for more than $100 billion worth of hi-tech equipment.

The Rudd Government has also decided it will produce a new defence white paper every five years to update national security risk assessments and keep abreast of the rapidly changing strategic dynamics in the Asian region.

"Force 2030 ... will be a more potent force in certain areas, particularly in undersea warfare and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) surface maritime warfare, air superiority, strategic strike, special forces, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and cyber warfare," the white paper says.

"It is conceivable that, over the long period covered by this white paper, we might have to contend with major power adversaries operating in our approaches - in the most drastic circumstance, as a consequence of a wider conflict in the Asia-Pacific region."

The white paper embodies Kevin Rudd's pledge to maintain an annual real increase of 3 per cent in the Defence budget until 2018 and 2.2 per cent beyond that to 2030.

The Royal Australian Navy has emerged as the biggest winner from the new defence blueprint, to be launched in Sydney today by the Prime Minister, with both its surface and submarine fleets set for dramatic expansion from 2020.

As previously detailed in The Weekend Australian, the new white paper, titled Force 2030, will double the number of submarines to 12 and replace the Anzac-class frigates with eight larger ships equipped with helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and sophisticated anti-submarine sonars.

The RAAF will get about 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters starting with three squadrons of up to 72 planes as well as eight new long-range surveillance aircraft, expected to be the P-8 Poseidon, to replace the ageing AP-3C Orion fleet. In addition, the air force will also get seven high-altitude long-range unmanned platforms, possibly the US-made Global Hawk.

The army's regular infantry forces will evolve into 10 battalion-sized "battlegroups" and will get a new fleet of 1000 protected vehicles to replace the current generation of armoured personnel carriers and the special forces will also get a range of new equipment including vehicles.
In addition to the 30 MRH-90 battlefield helicopters the army is also getting seven new CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters to replace its existing D models.

The new submarines will be larger than the existing Collins-class boats, with greater range and capabilities including strategic strike, intelligence collection and to carry uninhabited underwater vehicles for surveillance and reconnaissance.

The submarines are expected to be about 4000 tonnes in size and will be able to stay longer on patrol but the Rudd Government has ruled out nuclear propulsion for the new boats.

They will be built in Adelaide in what is set to become Australia's largest-ever defence industry project, lasting 30 years.

The three new air warfare destroyers, already on order, will be equipped with SM-6 long-range anti-aircraft missiles with a range of 400km.

The RAN will also get about 20 "offshore combatant vessels" of up to 2000 tonnes which will replace the existing range of Armidale-class patrol boats, mine counter-measures, hydrographic and other specialised smaller vessels.

"The future Offshore Combatant Vessel will be able to undertake offshore and littoral warfighting roles, border protection tasks, long-range counter-terrorism and counter-piracy operations, support to special forces, and missions in support of security and stability in the immediate neighbourhood," the white paper proposes.

The navy will also get a fleet of at least 24 new naval combat helicopters equipped with advanced anti-submarine warfare equipment including dunking sonars and air-launched torpedoes. The white paper places far greater emphasis on anti-submarine warfare given the anticipated rapid expansion of submarine fleets in regional navies, led by China, over the next generation.

The permanent defence force will grow to about 58,000 personnel from its current size of 53,000. Defence's existing formula to compensate for annual inflation indexation to its cost base will now be fixed at 2.5 per cent out to 2030, which will also help fund the new capital equipment program.

"The Government has committed to sustainable funding arrangements for the Defence budget in future years to provide funding certainty for planning and real funding growth to meet the growing cost of the military equipment we will need in an increasingly demanding world," the white paper says.


Source: The Australian

 

[Ratus Ratus]

All great stuff!

Should keep the region fully in check.

Don't mess with us ..

 

[fatman17]

ASIA PACIFIC
Date Posted: 16-Apr-2009

Jane's Defence Weekly


Report calls for 'focused force' to meet Australia's growing regional challenges

Julian Kerr JDW Correspondent-Sydney

Key Points
A new report on Australia's future defence priorities has warned that the country faces growing threats from competing Asian powers

Defence spending will need to rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP to fund the 'focused force' Australia will require, the report argues


Just weeks before the expected release of a new Australian defence white paper, a study published on 15 April by leading foreign policy think-tank the Lowy Institute has said Australia needs an 18-submarine navy, a larger army and as many as 200 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) to secure its future interests.

Entitled 'A focused force: Australia's defence priorities in the Asian century', the study by Hugh White, a former deputy secretary of defence for strategy and intelligence who is now professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University, comes amid reports - which well-informed sources have confirmed to Jane's - of a rift between Australian intelligence agencies and hawkish defence officials over the threat posed by China.

However, White, the author of Australia's previous defence white paper in 2000, saw the biggest threat to Australia as coming not directly from China but from the erosion of US power unleashing strategic competition among Asia's strongest states.

"This in turn increases the risk that Australia could face a number of military threats to its interests or even its territorial security," he said.

White described Australia's army as too small for the stabilisation operations it was expected to undertake in the immediate neighbourhood and the country's air and naval forces as too small and insufficiently advanced.

A 'focused force' capable of sustaining the kind of role envisaged for Australia by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would mean increasing the number of active, full-time army battalions beyond the eight now authorised to a minimum of 12, he added.

High-level amphibious operations were not a priority and the two 27,000-tonne Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious ships now on order should be replaced by a larger number of smaller ships more suitable for lower-level operations, according to White.

The report also said that abandoning the goal of sea control for one of sea denial would mean a decisive shift away from surface warships and increasing the number of submarines from the present six to 12 and eventually to 18.

White also argued that the 100 JSFs the government currently plans to buy was an arbitrary amount that was almost certainly too low and that the government should foreshadow long-term defence funding sufficient to buy twice that number.

Current defence spending of about 2 per cent of GDP was well below historical levels, he said, and spending at the rate of 2.5 per cent - sufficient to fund the increased capabilities suggested - would not undermine Australia's long-term economic prospects.

"The combination of declining relative economic weight and increasing strategic risk present an inescapable choice between spending more money and accepting more risk," White commented.

 

[fatman17]

All great stuff!

Should keep the region fully in check.

Don't mess with us ..

u guys live too far! dont have enough gas to get to you guys!

 

[Ratus Ratus]

I looked at the white paper and some “release material” and in general some items are under stated in terms of actual needed numbers. The JSF is one case. The Canberra class ships will be needed what ever, something White missed.
Discussion in closed circles also point to some issues but nothing insurmountable yet.
Also the number of heavy lift helicopters is a low number considering the need.

There are many things that will change over time as this gets slowly re evaluated and realisation of actual vs predicted changes.

The end result will be interesting. The big problem is relying in experts comments that have been truncated by the media whoever that media is.

 

[Ratus Ratus]

u guys live too far! dont have enough gas to get to you guys!

See the whole things has an effect before any money has been spent..

White paper is highly effective. I wonder what would happen with say gold or red paper instead?

 

[fatman17]

See the whole things has an effect before any money has been spent..

White paper is highly effective. I wonder what would happen with say gold or red paper instead?

exactly my point - save your money!

 

[Ratus Ratus]

exactly my point - save your money!

Well I made little paper boats and soem apper planes out of my copy of the 'White Paper', does that count for a navy and air force?

Hope you get my drift re the whole thing..

 

[Metallic]

Australian defense minister says defense plan affordable
2 May 2009

Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said on Saturday that the proposed spending on defense weapons, as mentioned in the Defense White Paper just released in Sydney by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, will not place any additional burden on the budget.

"(We) have re-affirmed in the white paper our commitment to continue to grow defense funding by three percent for the decade...Indeed, this will be the first time a government has given an assurance on funding for the whole period of the white paper, out 20 years," Fitzgibbon told ABC Radio.

He said the government would give the details of the spending on budget night in a week's time but "this is very affordable."

Talking about the White Paper, Fitzgibbon said it acknowledged "the US dominance will be a constant right throughout the period of this white paper, for the next 20 years," and it also acknowledged that "we have the emergence of new powers, including the re-emergence of Russia, and that will, of course, lead to some strategic competition across the globe."

And, again, "it's very prudent for the government to ensure against the rift that might flow from that increased strategic competition and, of course, it's very prudent for us to recommit to that doctrine of self-reliance," he added.

"In other words, we need to be able to defend our country without necessarily relying on the assistance of other nation states," the defense minister stressed.

Commissioned by the Australian government early last year, the 140-page white paper "Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030" detailed defense and strategic planning and signals what it calls a major new direction aimed at building a "heavier" naval, air combat and logistics capability in the Asia Pacific.

According to the white paper, the government will buy new submarines, new naval helicopters, new destroyers and frigates, protected vehicles for the army, and about 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters with supporting systems and weapons.

Source: Xinhua

 

[Metallic]

Australia to boost military might: government
2 May 2009

SYDNEY (AFP) – Australia will spend more than 70 billion US dollars boosting its defences over the next 20 years in response to a regional military build-up and global shifts in power, the government said.

A long-term strategic blueprint for the future of Australia's armed forces warned that war could be possible in the Asia-Pacific region in the next two decades, as emerging powers such as China flexed their military might.

The United States would continue its military dominance and be an "indispensable" ally for Australia, the defence white paper said.

But as emerging or resurgent powers such as China, India and Russia tested US primacy, the paper said there was "a small but still concerning possibility of growing confrontation between some of these powers."

"China will be the strongest Asian military power, by a considerable margin," the paper said. "A major power of China's stature can be expected to develop a globally significant military capability befitting its size.

"But the pace, scope and structure of China's military modernisation have the potential to give its neighbours cause for concern if not carefully explained, and if China does not reach out to others to build confidence regarding its military plans," it said.

If it did not take these steps, the paper said, there would be "a question in the minds of regional states about the long-term strategic purpose of its force development plans, particularly as the modernisation appears potentially to be beyond the scope of what would be required for a conflict over Taiwan.

"China will have even more interest in convincing regional countries that its rise will not diminish their sovereignty," the paper said.

Greater engagement with Beijing was essential for encouraging transparency about Chinese military capabilities and intentions, and securing greater cooperation in areas of shared interest, the paper said.

China's Premier Wen Jiabao in March vowed to modernise his nation's military across the board, asking legislators for a 15.3 percent increase in defence spending for 2009 to 472.9 billion yuan (69 billion dollars) -- double 2006 funding levels.

The global financial crisis was likely to accelerate a shift of power to the Asia-Pacific, and regional security would pivot on how strategic dynamics were managed between the US, China and Japan, the blueprint said.

A major conflict on the Korean peninsula remained a possibility, and the paper said the collapse of North Korea could not be ruled out, while Myanmar remained a "serious challenge."

An escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan was also of "significant concern," and the paper said Islamist extremism would pose a direct threat to Australia and its interests.

The paper reiterated Canberra's commitment to the conflict in Afghanistan, which it said could endure another decade or longer.

Canberra will acquire long-range cruise missiles, double its submarine fleet to 12 and buy 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets and eight new warships under the plan, titled "Force 2030."

"Force 2030 will mean the best fighter jets, the most versatile armoured vehicles and the most sophisticated submarines available to defend Australia?s national security," said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the report's Sydney launch.

The Sino-focused strategy, which was widely leaked to the press, was met with unease in Beijing, where it was reportedly perceived by some as Australia aligning itself with the United States against China.

"China definitely will not accept Australia adopting the so-called 'China threat' thesis," Beijing professor Shi Yinhong told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Friday.

"(China) will have to publicly criticise (the paper)," added Yinhong, international relations specialist from the People's University.

Source: AFP

 

[Metallic]

Royal Australian Army - Defending Australia In the Asia Pacific Century
Australia - 2 MAY 2009

The 2009 Defence White Paper will deliver an Army for the 21st century equipped with the world class technology that it needs and deserves. It will provide significant funding to increase the combat power and survivability of the Army as well as enhancing its ability to operate as a modern networked, mobile and highly adaptable force.

This funding will be used to improve and enhance a number of elements of the Australian Army, including:

- A new Combat Vehicle System which will provide around 1100 vehicles with greatly improved firepower, protection and mobility. The System will be equipped with the Army's integrated battle management systems from inception;

- Around 7000 support vehicles to completely replace the various fleets of wheeled transport and logistic support vehicles and trucks;

- Greatly improved communications and command and control systems for land forces;

- improved mobility through the acquisition of seven new CH47F (Chinook) medium lift helicopters;

- enhanced firepower through new artillery, both self-propelled and towed, as well as replacement mortars and a new direct fire antiarmour weapon; and

- continued investment in increasing the effectiveness and protection offered to individual soldiers in dismounted close combat.

Over the next 20 years, the Army force structure will include land combat and combat support forces (infantry, armoured, artillery, combat engineers, and aviation) that are able to operate as combined-arms teams. They will be supported by enabling combat support elements (intelligence, signals and construction engineers) and combat service support systems (logistics and health).

"Land forces must be capable of conducting joint land combat in a complex operational environment and be able to defeat incursions onto the Australian mainland, territories and offshore installations," said the Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP."

To do this they must also be highly mobile and adaptable within the physical and social environments they find themselves. Together with the other elements of the Australian Defence Force they must be capable of assuming leadership role for a coalition combat, stabilisation or reconstruction operation."

"Our conventional land forces will continue to be based on three combat brigades (of around 4000 troops) consisting of multiple battalion-sized units. The growth of the two additional infantry battalions established under the Enhanced Land Force initiative will continue."

The Army will be able to combine its combat and combat support units to generate 10 battalion-sized 'battlegroups' tailored for a wide range of operations.

The generation of operationally-ready land forces will be enhanced by the formation of Forces Command, located in Sydney, which will be responsible for all individual and group training. Forces Command will also take charge of the deployable logistics organisations supporting this process, along with a helicopter brigade comprising three battalion-sized units of reconnaissance, lift, and utility helicopters. Headquarters 1st Division, located in Brisbane, will re-roled to be able to provide troops with final, mission specific, preparation for operations. Headquarters Special Operations Command, located at Bungendore, will continue to provide the majority of individual, group and mission specific training for Special Forces personnel. The Army also generates our Special Forces capability. Special Forces provide unique capabilities due to their specialised selection, training and equipment.

"Australia's Special Forces will continue to receive the best equipment and training we can provide with incremental improvements planned and funded over the coming decade," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"Our Special Forces must be capable of undertaking strategic surveillance and reconnaissance, offensive action, strategic strike missions, high-end counter-terrorism and counter-Weapons of Mass Destruction operations, hostage recovery, special protection duties in high-threat environments, and other specialised roles, some of which are classified in their entirety."

The Government is determined to further enhance the reforms currently being undertaken by Army under the 'Adaptive Army' initiative. The Government has directed Defence to develop a detailed implementation plan by the end of 2009, ensuring that the Army's internal balance and mix of full-time and parttime land force elements can meet these objectives. This plan will be developed within the strategic guidance and funding parameters contained in the 2009 White Paper.

Source : MoD Australia

 

[Metallic]

Royal Australian Air Force - Defending Australia In the Asia Pacific Century
Australia - 2 MAY 2009

21st century that will be better equipped, fully networked and better prepared to meet Australia's air power requirements.

"A potent and flexible air combat capability is a cornerstone of Australia's defence posture. Control of the air over our territory and maritime approaches is critical to all other operations in the defence of Australia," said the Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP.

"The White Paper will ensure Air Force maintains its regional air superiority through the acquisition of around 100 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, along with the Super Hornets as a part of the bridging air combat capability.
These aircraft will significantly enhance Australia's deterrence, and provide a robust offensive capability should circumstances necessitate," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Through the combination of highly skilled people, multirole combat fighters and assets such as Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, advanced weapons, air-to-air refuelling aircraft and command, control and surveillance capabilities, the Air Force will continue to offer the Government air superiority, maritime strike, long-range strategic strike, offensive air support and close air support capability options.

Australia's future Air Force will include a balance of conventional and uninhabited aerial platforms that will enhance the future anti-submarine warfare capability of Air Force and significantly enhance Australia's maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage. The White Paper also strengthens and rebalances the Air Force's strategic (inter-theatre) and operational (intra-theatre) air-lift capability through the acquisition of new aircraft.

The 2009 Defence White Paper outlines the following key capability priorities for the Air Force:

- Around 100 fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and associated weapons systems;

- Half of Australia's F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet fleet will be configured on the production line to enable them to be converted to the EA-18G 'Growler' electronic attack variant should later strategic circumstances dictate;

- Delivery of five KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport for air-to-air refuelling, that will increase the range and endurance of combat and surveillance aircraft;

- Six new Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft to provide surveillance, command and control functions to other networked Australian Defence Force platforms;

- Eight new Maritime Patrol Aircraft, which will provide advanced antisubmarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities as well as sophisticated maritime search capabilities;

- Approximately seven new high-altitude, long-endurance Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), to compliment the new Maritime Patrol Aircraft and replace the current AP-3C Orion fleet with a more comprehensive and advanced maritime surveillance capability;

- Enhanced air transport capability options through the acquisition of a further two additional C-130J Hercules to bring the total fleet number to 14 aircraft;

- Up to 10 new tactical battlefield airlifters with a significantly greater range, speed, payload and protection measures that the retiring Caribou;

- New and upgraded systems to collect and fuse air surveillance information from multiple sources, in order to create a Recognised Air Picture of the Australian Defence Forces' primary operational environment;

- Improved military air traffic control, navigation and communications systems that will permit closer alignment of the national systems for both military and civilian air traffic management;

- The use of modern technology to deliver improved training outcomes through the application of high fidelity simulation and mission rehearsal systems.

"The Royal Australian Air Force is entering a period of significant change. The Air Force is actively positioning and preparing its workforce to address these demands through organisational restructuring and modest growth in key capability areas," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"The end result will be a far for more versatile and far more capable Air Force, with a wider range of advanced surveillance, transport and air combat options that ever before in our nation's history'" Mr Fitzgibbon added.

Source : MoD Australia

 

[Metallic]

Royal Australian Navy - Defending Australia In the Asia Pacific Century
Australia - 2 MAY 2009

The 2009 Defence White Paper sets out a new capability direction with a significant focus on enhancing our maritime capabilities for the 21st century, the Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP announced today.

Over the next 20 years, the Navy force structure will include new major destroyers and frigates, submarines, amphibious ships, offshore combatant vessels, naval combat helicopters and other advanced enabling capabilities.

"This force will operate closely with air combat and maritime surveillance and response aircraft to establish sea control, and project force across our vast maritime environment," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"The ability to establish local sea control is essential to maintaining freedom of navigation in our immediate region, protecting the ships that carry the life blood of our economy, preventing attacks on Australia or its offshore territories and resources, and supporting land forces. "The White Paper lays out a clear pathway towards the development of a larger and more potent maritime force with improvements across all capabilities," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

Key capability decisions relevant to this enhanced maritime force include:

- A fleet of 12 new Submarines to replace the current six Collins Class;

- Enhancements to the weapons systems of the three new Air Warfare Destroyers, with consideration of acquiring a fourth vessel in the future;

- A fleet of eight new larger frigates, with an emphasis on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) to replace the current ANZAC Class frigates;

- Continuation of acquisition of two new Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships that will invigorate the Australian Defence Force's amphibious capability;

- A new Strategic Sealift ship based on a proven design to strengthen the Navy's amphibious and transport capability; A fleet of at least 24 new naval combat helicopters, equipped with dipping sonars to detect submarines at greater ranges;

- Six new MRH-90 helicopters that will replace the general utility service previously provided by the Sea King fleet;

- 20 new Offshore Combatant Vessels equipped with modular mission systems that will incorporate the capabilities presently provided by the separate patrol boat, hydrographic and mine hunter fleets;

- Six new ocean-going heavy landing craft with greater range and speed than the aging Balikpapan class Landing Craft Heavy; and

- Replacement of the Navy's oldest supply ship, HMAS Success, with a new replenishment and logistic support ship which will enter service at the end of the next decade.

The Government will also provide additional funding for 700 positions within Navy's workforce structure. This initiative will address the significant workforce challenges presently being experienced by Navy and will meet future requirements associated with the significant capability upgrades foreshadowed by the 2009 Defence White Paper.

Navy has already announced its plan to increase the size of the submarine workforce through a new approach as part of the New Generation Navy strategy. By providing targeted incentives for submariners that include training, adjusting crew numbers and formations, conditions of service, seatime and other initiatives, Defence will ensure that the current shortfalls are addressed, and that a robust submarine workforce is built for the future.

Combined with a range of recruitment and retention initiatives and strategies, this new approach will provide the basis for a larger and more sustainable submarine force.

The New Generation Navy project, which seeks to address these workforce pressures, is the basis for improvement in the retention of Navy personnel through improved leadership, more effective organisational structures, streamlined training procedures and better sharing of the workload across Navy.

These changes will enable Navy in the longer term to reliably and consistently meet its operational commitments and deliver a world-class maritime capability for the nation's security.

Source : MoD Australia

 

[duhastmish]

310 billion$ for 20 yrs.....

Its not a very big spending on defence , it will spent in 20 yrs. here Australia is one of the most peace loving country, they need to have a strong defence. this money was long due , since howard time defence budget was getting only promises, but this seem liek a sound concrete step.

Most of this money will be going to uncle sam's account - lol.
united states has always been there for aus. but Australian politicians need to understand only country which can defend Australia is Australia it self.
The problem is - where do aus get all the troops for these equipments?
for all those buggers who oppose this in aus : i know people must be opposing this -i lived there for long enough to know people- they want to spend money on global warming- defence of a country is must to keep it in peace.
although it may not be quite enough for the future, although there may be more to come. Even the Libs didn't commit this kind of money to upgrading the military. I think govt. need to spend even more but realistically it wouldn't be possible, hopefully this is the first installment of many to come.
just for the perks - it will also give a job boost to Australians.


-- but what does that famous aussie saying goes- Make love not war -ay ?lol