Australia set to upgrade defence force

IAF SG

CANBERRA -- Australia's military has outlined a 10-year plan to buy new tanks, ships and helicopters to defend against terror threats, the government said on Friday.

A strategic review in February recommended making the military more mobile and able to operate in South-east Asia and the South Pacific in response to new worries about terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

The new equipment will ensure the military can 'defend Australia and Australian interests in an uncertain and complex environment,' said Defence Minister Robert Hill.

He would not reveal the expected cost of the purchases, planned over 10 years.

Mr Hill said the army will replace its ageing Leopard tanks, and was considering three options: the American M1 Abrams tank, the British Challenger 2, or the latest German Leopard.

The army will also get more helicopters for ship-based land attacks.

The navy will get three new destroyers and new missile systems for its frigates. It will also replace its main troop carrier and a helicopter troop-lift ship with larger vessels.

The air force will start retiring its 40-year-old F-111 fighter jets in 2010, five years earlier than planned. It will also replace it AP-3C Orion maritime patrol planes with more modern aircraft. -- AP

IAF SG

CANBERRA -- Australia's military has outlined a 10-year plan to buy new tanks, ships and helicopters to defend against terror threats, the government said on Friday.

sounds like an oxymoron in this day and age...do politicians really believe that big ticket conventional weapons can defeat terrorists? Rolling Eyes sounds more like a job for covert operators

Mr Hill said the army will replace its ageing Leopard tanks, and was considering three options: the American M1 Abrams tank, the British Challenger 2, or the latest German Leopard.

aha!

The air force will start retiring its 40-year-old F-111 fighter jets in 2010, five years earlier than planned. It will also replace it AP-3C Orion maritime patrol planes with more modern aircraft.

2010? Those vietnam-era warbirds are sure providing sterling service...just like the beloved skyhawk

laser51088 SG

Stuff like tanks and destroyers won't exactly help you much against terrorists. Which dumb terrorist would let himself get caught by a tank? And 3 destroyers can only be in three places at once at anytime, not very helpful considering Australia's coastline and the expectation that terrorists can and will strike anywhere.

I thought that the best way to counter terrorism is alway to improve ability of local agencies to detect plausible threats and bring to bear the the small and controlled amount of fire power needed to bring down the terrorists. How often will the terrorists have a nice cave complex away from population centres such that u can have the opportunity to use your land attack missiles on them?

What the Aussie govt was looking for was prob a reason to justify such high-profile searches, terrorism is a very convienient reason since they dun have to elaborate on that terrorist threat due to the high amount of publicity accorded to anything related to terrorist.

my two cents

addition:

forgot to ask when i first posted: Will the Americans and British be willing to sell their Abrams and Challenger? How do the Aussies know they'll sell if the Americans and British haven't such tanks to other countries previously?

gary1910 SG

I think you r wrong in this expect, Challenger 2 was sold to Oman.
M1A1 was sold to Egypt, and M1A2 was sold to Saudi & Kuwait.
Both US & UK r willing to sell to Middle East for the extra foreign currency. Since Australia is an ally , they will certainly sell their tanks to them.

IAF SG

i think egypt and kuwait have m-1 tanks. anyway i'm sure the makers of merkava are aggressively pitching their product too.

laser51088 SG

Embarassed ooops

sorry. . . my mistake . . .