Australia’s new Defence White Paper provides for a massive increase in defence spending, largely to acquire new maritime capabilities, but questions surround whether this plan will be achievable and whether the paper’s long term strategic outlook is valid.

Australia’s New Defence White Paper sets out a comprehensive long term plan for Australia’s defence. It is underpinned by a fully-costed Force Structure Review and a Defence Industry Policy Statement acknowledging the fundamental contribution that industry provides to defence capability.

The Navy is the big winner from the plan with a commitment to acquire twelve long-range submarines, nine new frigates and twelve offshore patrol vessels, As well as the existing commitment to acquire 72 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, Air Force capabilities will be boosted by fifteen P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, twelve EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft and seven Triton surveillance drones. The Army will get new armoured fighting vehicles, a riverine capability, and new armed reconnaissance helicopters. Personnel numbers in the Defence Force will be increased by 5,000.

… Sam Bateman is an adviser to the Maritime Security Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He is a former Australian naval commodore who has worked in strategic policy areas of the Department of Defence in Canberra.