1. The Future for Aerospace Forces.
- Author
-
Blackburn, John
- Subjects
MILITARY spending ,MILITARY policy ,F-35 (Military aircraft) ,MIDDLE powers - Abstract
The Defence White Paper 2013 is the latest in a long series of Australian Government Defence White Papers outlining defence policy, projected defence funding, structural reform proposals and expected savings plans, but lacking a budget sufficient to implement the plan. The impact of the decisions taken in the Defence White Paper 2013 for aerospace forces is at first glance positive, but in reality damaging. The government has committed billions of dollars to the Super Hornet acquisition to address an undefined transition risk at the end of this decade, while deferring the purchase of the full Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) capability promised in the 2009 Defence White Paper to around 2030. As a result of operating a mixed fleet of Super Hornets and JSFs in the mid to late 2020s, Australia will have many fewer than the '100' JSFs originally planned for, and will therefore have a reduced fifth generation fighter capability to address an uncertain future security environment. The mixed fleet will also result in increased operating overhead costs that will compound existing concerns regarding budget pressures and associated force capability risks. Australia's security depends on having realistic goals matched by achievable funding commitments. Merely aspiring to be a middle power will not make it so. If one accepts that the strategic risk analysis contained in the 2009 Defence White Paper was valid for Australia's role as a middle power, then the ADF should be resourced accordingly. If not, then government must recalibrate its aspirations, accept that Australia's future is not as a middle power in the region, and redesign strategy, concepts and force structure accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013