Australian Army Discussions and Updates

[Sandson41]

In the SHORAD space Germany going big on Skyranger on Boxer hulls with 500-600 stems to be ordered. Germany To Bet Big On Skyranger Gun System To Address Growing Drone Threat

I've been wondering if any of these are to be constructed in the Australian facility. I'd have thought we'd have heard if they were...

I'm also wondering if the same solution might suit the ADF...

 

[Bluey 006]

The harsh reality is that Western-compatible missiles are scarce as hens teeth - and if you didn't place orders in 2014-2018-ish then you won't have them for the next 8 - 10 years. Remember too, we are adding more VLS to the fleet - they have to be filled as well, placing more demands on the limited ADF inventory.

With workforce and effectors having low feasibility of delivery, delivering just kit now would not be sensible.

So, based on this, if we order effectors by, say, 2027–2028, we won’t have them until 2038–2039.

Given that effectors are so scarce, shouldn’t we decide on a system and join the queue now? Place munitions orders and secure production slots immediately (even if delivery is delayed), this locks in access to the most constrained resource: missiles. Or even better, develop our own capability to manufacture them. Even a framework agreement or co-production MoU could reserve slots.

Then phase in the rest of the system in sequence and in parallel - radars, C2, launchers, and trained personnel in tranches, so that complete deployable systems can come online together. I appreciate the building blocks approach but if each phase is delayed or de-coupled, the overall effect is a capability gap when we need readiness.

The longer we wait to join the line, the longer the line gets—and the longer we’ll wait. New threats are emerging every month, and more countries are joining the queue. If we don't have our position in the queue others will secure our missiles.

You don’t turn up at the takeaway shop at 5:30 pm and then wait until the 7:00 pm rush to place your dinner order.

Doesn’t the fact that more missiles have been fired in the last 18 months than have since 1945 further reinforce the urgency?

Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) coverage is build gradually, not overnight. We will never protect the whole country, but it’s not about that. It’s about defending critical nodes.

The solution is to plan, pipeline, and train. Then enhance and scale , not delay. How long is the training for "technical types" to bring SAM systems to Initial Operational Capability (IOC) ? A six months to a year - maybe double that to be fully proficient. How long is the wait for effectors? 10+ years. So which should we be sorting out first? It's absolutely true that SAM usage outpaces production. But that supports the argument for early action, not inaction.

We don’t pause shipbuilding because engineers are stretched. We plan for the workforce, invest in skills, and get on with the job. Might be slower than we'd like but its moving forward. The same approach must apply to air and missile defence.

 

[John Fedup]

Will likely suit many nations along with lower cost systems as per the article. Expect a wide selection of high and low cost options in the next year or so.