Australia needs a Defence Force focused on maritime and amphibious missions and armed with long-range strike weapons, the biggest review of the country’s defence strategy in 35 years has found.
issues a blunt waning that “the threat of the use of military force or coercion against Australia does not require invasion”.
The government has identified six priority areas for immediate action: acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines; developing the Defence Force’s ability to strike targets at long-range and manufacture munitions locally; bolstering the network of northern bases; growing the defence workforce; introduce disruptive new technologies; and deepen defence and diplomatic partnerships in the region.
The review was scathing of Defence’s procurement processes and recommended buying more military equipment off-the-shelf and with less focus on building locally.The defence budget is now $48 billion a year. The recommendations adopted by the government will cost $19 billion over four years. Potential changes to navy programs are in limbo while a review is carried out of the fleet mix, which is due by September.But the review hints that the troubled Hunter-class future frigate could be cut back from nine vessels in favour corvette-style warships, saying the trend was towards to “larger numbers of smaller warships”.
While the army has lost armoured vehicles, the review says it should be transformed and optimised for littoral manoeuvre operations by sea, land and air from Australia, with enhanced long-range fires. A missile czar will be appointed after the review found there had been “little material gain after its two years of establishment”.Defence procurements will be overhauled, with the review finding project managers had too much latitude to make design changes, tinker with capabilities and “indulge in the quest for perfectionism”.
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