So as you all know, defence will not be getting its 3% budget increase this year. And... as such The Australian has gone on with its usual load of crap. Blaming the government and ADF. (no offence intended, I try to keep an open mind and read right and left newspapers)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/commentary/defence-cuts-cripple-the-nations-options/story-e6frgd0x-1226057808643
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budgets/plane-truth-is-our-force-2030-is-missing-in-inaction/story-fn8gf1nz-1226053596400
Pretty much they're saying that because of one missed increase the future submarine project other defence acquisitions are going to fail. (they themselves not realising that money not spent now will mean bigger increases in the future, as the Defence min has indicated)Anyway to the point, pretty much it is like their usual rant of "We need more guns, planes, subs, etc..." (which is getting old),only allowing comments on a story that sides with them and saying that we will not be able to get 12 of the future subs in time... etc
What I wanted to know was, in a way it is a big project and 12 subs is going to cost a lot of money. What alternatives would there be? I mean for deterrence, lets say we go with 8 future subs instead like they wanted/were thinking of doing with the Oberons and Collins IIRC (possible nukes). What would be able to fill the gap for deterrence, as the F-111 with its incredible range is gone... what have we got now? Or what could we get? (using the money saved on not buying as many subs.. this can also open the door to getting a 4th AWD)
TL;DR version:
Options for Australia's future deterrence. |