POTENT new electronic warfare aircraft that can freeze enemy missile defences over a huge area, the likelihood that the Navy's promised 12 new submarines will be a bigger evolved version of the Collins Class boats, and a more conciliatory approach to China, are key elements of the Gillard government's new defence white paper.
The document released today reveals that the RAAF will get 12 new Growler electronic attack aircraft instead of the original plan to refit 12 of its existing 24 Super Hornets as Growlers.
The government says that will not affect plans to buy around 100 fifth generation Joint Strike Fighters in the future.
Defence will get additional funding for the Growlers.
The number of options for replacing the Collins Class submarines has been cut from four or five to two - with the evolved Collins firming as the most likely but with an undertaking to include new technology that could well emerge overseas. The new submarines will be built in Australia.
The government will also bring forward replacement of the navy's Armidale Class patrol boats, which have been heavily used on border protection operations across Northern Australia.
That will be one of a number of key decisions designed to keep Australia's vital shipbuilding industry operating strongly and bridge the so-called “Valley of Death” expected when two giant landing ships now under construction are completed before the submarines are ready for construction.
Replacement supply ships may be built in Australia to replace HMAS Sirius and HMAS Success.
The white paper makes no commitment to acquiring advanced Hobart-class air warfare destroyers.
Neither does it make a firm decision on long-running proposals to acquire long-range surveillance drones to watch over Australia's northwest.
But Australia still plans to replace the RAAF's ageing AP-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft with Boeing P-8A aircraft and unmanned aircraft, with a final decision due later this decade.
The white paper is much more conciliatory towards China than the last strategy document released in 2009, which warned against China's growing military might in the Asia Pacific region.
It says Australia welcomes China's rise, which had brought positive economic benefits for Australia.
“The government does not believe that Australia must choose between its longstanding alliance with the United States and its expanding relationship with China, nor do the US and China believe we must make such a choice,” the paper says.
After being strongly criticised for cutting defence funding in the last budget to about 1.56 per cent of GDP, the government has undertaken to increase funding to 2 per cent of GDP when budgetary conditions allow.
The paper says the current national fiscal environment remains challenging, with lower revenue than expected, making it more difficult to return the budget to surplus.
“The government remains committed to a defence budget which ensure the ADF (Australian Defence Force) can meet the government's operational, force posture and preparedness requirements and deliver the core ADF capabilities the government requires to protect Australia's national security interests,” it says.
“And doing that with fiscal discipline and within the priority of improving the sustainability of the budget.”
