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Subject: Forces must be up-to-date, says PM
Enterpriser    9/9/2008 10:17:20 AM
By Adam Gartrell September 09, 2008 10:09pm Article from: AAPFont size: + - Send this article: Print Email AUSTRALIA'S armed forced must be better equipped to deal with new security threats associated with Asia's booming economies and expanding militaries, says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Addressing the RSL National Congress tonight, Mr Rudd said Asia could be home to the largest and most dynamic economies in the world by 2020, posing new strategic risks for Australia. "In short, we have a rapidly changing region, but one still characterised by a number of unresolved flashpoints arising from unsettled territorial disputes," Mr Rudd said. "As nations grow and become more affluent, they also update their military forces. "We need to be aware of the changes taking place. "And we must make sure that we have the right mix of capabilities to deal with any contingencies that might arise in the future." The modernisation of Asia's military forces was characterised by significant improvements in air combat and naval capabilities, Mr Rudd said. Australia had to be at the forefront of military technology development and acquisition, he said. "Our armed forces must be equipped to deal with the emerging security environment," he said. "We need a first rate and flexible land force - one capable of taking on challenges from contributing to high-end military engagements through to delivering post-conflict reconstruction support. "We need an enhanced naval capability that can protect our sea lanes of communication and support our land forces as they deploy. "And we need an air force that can fill support and combat roles and can deter, defeat and provide assistance to land and maritime forces." The government will soon release Australia's first National Security Statement, which will set out how the country will approach national security challenges in the coming decades. A Defence White Paper is also due later this year. During his speech, Mr Rudd announced Australian Electoral Commissioner Ian Campbell had been appointed secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Tried showing this to Dad......thought it might have been a good sign. Dad laughed at me and said that it was violently at varience with the fiscal picture and the textbook definition of cognitive dissonance. Brett.
 
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Enterpriser       9/11/2008 10:27:22 AM




Talk is pretty cheap.



 



I'll be amazed if the Navy is ANY stronger because of the new White Paper. I hold little less hope for the rest of ADF. 



 



So far they've announced one single platform capability enhancement that I can recall, the AP-3C CAP1 upgrade and even this was programmed under the previous DCP.






 



The only thing they HAVE done is cancel plenty of extent ADF capability...



 



















Absolutely. Stories abound. :(

 

With any luck I am going to see the C-17s up close and personal tomorrow and was planing to ask some quiet questions about the opinions in the Squadron on the A/C and on getting more. I think I know the answer both accounts already though.

 

Brett.


I saw them. I saw them. I saw them. I saw them. I saw them. And they were/are coooooool! :)
(all shiny and new - particularly the fanblades)
My compliments to 36Sqn for the guided tour. And for the opportunity to wander all through them and the cockpit.
 
Brett. 
 
The squadron doesn't appear to be holding its breath for more though.
 
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gf0012-aust       9/11/2008 5:47:35 PM



I saw them. I saw them. I saw them. I saw them. I saw them. And they were/are coooooool! :)

(all shiny and new - particularly the fanblades)

My compliments to 36Sqn for the guided tour. And for the opportunity to wander all through them and the cockpit.
 
Brett. 

The squadron doesn't appear to be holding its breath for more though.



did you get to have a look inside?
 
they are the ducks guts and there are some very nice engineering bits to fit and finish. 
 
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Enterpriser       9/11/2008 6:53:49 PM







I saw them. I saw them. I saw them. I saw them. I saw them. And they were/are coooooool! :)



(all shiny and new - particularly the fanblades)




My compliments to 36Sqn for the guided tour. And for the opportunity to wander all through them and the cockpit.

 


Brett. 



The squadron doesn't appear to be holding its breath for more though.









did you get to have a look inside?


 

they are the ducks guts and there are some very nice engineering bits to fit and finish. 





Yes, I did. Sat in the pilot's chair too.... :P (all looked very schmick)
 
The Lears were up there for an AIM-9 shoot so it was easy to arrange the look ;). There were three C-17s on the flightline at the time (one was said to be in a hanger at the time). I was inside two of them. The third was offered, but there didn't seem much point - seemed the same as the other two, cept without the centreline seats fitted. The seats are carried onboard most of the time in the back of the aircraft and put in place as necessary. One was getting ready to take some cadets down to Canberra before resetting the interior for a trip out west.
 
 It seems very easy to tell what infrastructure supports the C-17s cause all of the stuff seems to have the stallion logo on it. (was about 50 meters or so from the line of F-111s too :P)
 
The screens in the cockpit looked like touch screens cause of all the fingerprints though (I was assured that they were not). I wasn't going to say this to 36sqn but the aircraft seemed smaller in person........but then again I haven't looked at a herc next to them to compare just how much bigger they are visually.
 
Brett.
 
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Kevin Pork       9/11/2008 9:52:38 PM
Expect a poorly thought out web page as being the answer that the Govt runs with - "defence watch" or "defence choice" being likely contenders.
 
All spin and no delivery is the Rudd mantra, don't expect a white paper to change that.
 
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fall out       9/12/2008 1:42:56 AM

Expect a poorly thought out web page as being the answer that the Govt runs with - "defence watch" or "defence choice" being likely contenders.

 

All spin and no delivery is the Rudd mantra, don't expect a white paper to change that.



Yeah right, 'defence watch' hey! hahaha keep the comedy up kevin or try and say something constructive or preferably nothing.
 
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Kevin Pork       9/12/2008 6:01:46 AM




Expect a poorly thought out web page as being the answer that the Govt runs with - "defence watch" or "defence choice" being likely contenders.



 



All spin and no delivery is the Rudd mantra, don't expect a white paper to change that.








Yeah right, 'defence watch' hey! hahaha keep the comedy up kevin or try and say something constructive or preferably nothing.



I certainly bow to your expertise in saying nothing of value.
 
However, you could try pointing out something of use that Rudd has done, he is well into the timeframe where we can reasonably expect an achievement.
 
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fall out       9/12/2008 8:46:48 AM









Expect a poorly thought out web page as being the answer that the Govt runs with - "defence watch" or "defence choice" being likely contenders.







 







All spin and no delivery is the Rudd mantra, don't expect a white paper to change that.


















Yeah right, 'defence watch' hey! hahaha keep the comedy up kevin or try and say something constructive or preferably nothing.








I certainly bow to your expertise in saying nothing of value.

 

However, you could try pointing out something of use that Rudd has done, he is well into the timeframe where we can reasonably expect an achievement.



Defence acquisitions and planning are slightly longer than one year so you would expect at least some announcements around the white paper being released...what it is, who knows.
 
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gf0012-aust       9/12/2008 8:11:53 PM
Defence acquisitions and planning are slightly longer than one year so you would expect at least some announcements around the white paper being released...what it is, who knows.


there are a couple of navy announcements - but as for announcements on what has been promoted as critical - don't hold your breath.
 
the reality is that the committment to sustain capability will come up significantly short.
 
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Volkodav       9/12/2008 9:56:46 PM
the commitment to sustain capability will come up significantly short.
Doesn't always?
 
I know in my life time it has.
 
Each change of government has seen the cancellation or winding back of a considerable number of the previous governments programs, some times for the better, often for the worse.
 
At least this time around we haven't seen the knee jerk raft of cancellations that usually accompany the new broom (yet?).  In fact I think the cancellations we have seen fall into the domain of common sense, i.e. the Sprogs but even the UAV's and Medium trucks that were over taken by events (read operational experience) that dictated that a rethink and more relevant solutions were required.
 
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gf0012-aust       9/12/2008 10:16:11 PM

At least this time around we haven't seen the knee jerk raft of cancellations that usually accompany the new broom (yet?).  In fact I think the cancellations we have seen fall into the domain of common sense, i.e. the Sprogs but even the UAV's and Medium trucks that were over taken by events (read operational experience) that dictated that a rethink and more relevant solutions were required.


I'd have to disagree.  There are a whole raft of critical progs that have been put into a holding pattern and as a result are actually terminal.  No one wants to say anything as they value their jobs (this mob are more ruthless over whistleblowers than the prev lot - in spite of the spin to appear softer)
 
when progs get killed due to execs protecting their KPI's rather than on program merit - then a number of capabilities pay the price due to self preservation.
 
eg, the oft publicly promoted claim that defence has been embargoed to 3% is abolsute nonsense - there are areas that are way into double digit cuts.
 
eg DSTO's budget has been cut by 60% - they can't even afford travel for some projects.
 
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