Australian Defence 07/08 Budget

[RubiconNZ]

For all those interested the Budget Documentation and releases for the ADF:

http://www.defence.gov.au/budget/07-08/pbs/

Nothing suprising really, however the budget never really tend to make the massive announcement in terms of defense, not recently at least.

 

[icelord]

well we are about to spend $10 Billion on the navy soon, is that a big enough announcment for you?
The $6.6 for the super hornets was of no surprise...wow, just saw the extensiveness of recruitment schemes.
enhancing financial assistance for home ownership, through a more attractive subsidy for interest payments, the value of which increases with the length of service ($863.8 million);

reforming the ‘other ranks’ pay scales by introducing restructuring similar to that already implemented for officers ($585.4 million);

increasing funding for marketing and branding activities ($227.8 million);

introducing a new transition service to help manage the separation process of those personnel considering leaving the Services, and providing independent financial advice for personnel to better enable them to make informed decisions ($124.6 million);

expanding the number of cadets and cadet units and improving their experience through a youth development programme conducted in a military environment ($100.0 million);

building on the existing Royal Australian Navy Sea Change programme by enhancing fleet support for ships whilst in port and improving remuneration for personnel on submarines ($86.5 million);

identifying potential students for direct entry into ADF technical trade training and sponsoring younger students to commence technical trade training before ADF entry ($71.0 million); and

delivering professional development opportunities to ADF medical officers, comparable to those in the civilian health workforce ($12.1 million).

I like the cadet expansion, someone paid attention to the Commander in chief(thats the governor general for those who don't know....Maj. gen. Mike Jeffery!....hes Ex SAS....does all the other stuff the PM doesn't atten...ahh forget it)

The Government will provide $97.0 million over four years to enhance the cost-effective delivery of equipment and support to the Australian Defence Force. This will include higher levels of support for research and development by Australian defence companies, defence industry exports, and a broadening of the Skilling Australia’s Defence Industry programme.
In other words its a part of paying for over budgetted platforms, meh seems a little low don't you think.

arrangements to protect personnel, infrastructure and other Defence assets at Defence bases ($135.4‑million over four years).
The spooks got left out of this years budget by looks of things, the ADF at least gets an increase in funds for protection of bases

While it doesn't seem grand for projects, last years purchases are still being decided and funds for future projects may be left for next year budget, who ever delievers it.

 

[Tasman]

The budget papers do include some info about a number of minor projects in the attachments. I thought the details of the rapid acquisition program for the 25mm Typhoon and 12.7mm Mini Typhoon for the three amphibious ships was interesting. Apologies to those who already knew this.

SEA 1779 Ph 1 — Ships Self Defence Capability – Rapid Acquisition

Prime Contractor: Alliant Techsystems Inc. for the supply of 25mm Bushmaster
Naval Variant Cannons, and Rafael Armament Development Authority (Israel)
for the supply and integration of the Toplite, Mini-Typhoon and Typhoon
systems.

Phase 1 of the project will provide a dual level ship self defence capability for
HMA Ships Kanimbla, Manoora and Tobruk. This capability will provide better
defence against watercraft, land targets, helicopters and floating mines. The
capability will consist of an integrated fire control system comprising the Rafael
Typhoon and Mini-Typhoon weapon systems, and Toplite electro-optical
director system. The 25mm Bushmaster naval variant cannons are to be
integrated to provide the cannon for the Typhoon system.

To meet urgent operational deployment needs, an interim solution comprising
Toplite and Mini-Typhoon for two ships was provided in November 2006. This,
and additional hardware, including Typhoon, will be used in the final
installations on all three ships. Additional hardware is scheduled to be available
in late 2008.

The ship modification design package is scheduled for delivery in May 2007.
Contracts will then be placed for the modification of the ships to meet those
designs with a planned completion date of February 2008. Operational release of
the first ship is scheduled for August 2008, with project completion in
February 2009.

http://www.defence.gov.au/budget/07-08/pbs/2007-2008_Defence_PBS_09_s2.pdf (P282)

Cheers

 

[Aussie Digger]

I thought this little snippet interesting:

The upgrade of 350 legacy M113A1s to an improved M113AS3/4 standard by Tenix Aerospace & Defence has been delayed again from an expected in-service target date of November 2007, to the second half of 2008. Brake and other technical issues are said in the Budget papers to have lead to an unrecoverable delay of six months, though some crew training has commenced and the first maintenance course, for the new Tenix turret, is scheduled for mid 2007.

(courtesy: DIAR.com)

What a wonderful project it is. Delayed ANOTHER 6 months....

 

[Ozzy Blizzard]

What a wonderful project it is. Delayed ANOTHER 6 months....

What is it with the ADF's new projects??? Where are the wedgetails for one thing????? I heard 2013 thrown arround as an in service date?? You wonder why they bother with upgrading old platforms like the M113 or Seasprite, a little bit of extra cash and we could have a real IFV in service (maybe not in those numbers) and they bought Seahawk instead. Hopefully some lessons have been learned about stand alone projects that rely on old platforms. Although to be fair the HUG programe seems to be going pretty well.

 

[Aussie Digger]

What is it with the ADF's new projects??? Where are the wedgetails for one thing????? I heard 2013 thrown arround as an in service date?? You wonder why they bother with upgrading old platforms like the M113 or Seasprite, a little bit of extra cash and we could have a real IFV in service (maybe not in those numbers) and they bought Seahawk instead. Hopefully some lessons have been learned about stand alone projects that rely on old platforms. Although to be fair the HUG programe seems to be going pretty well.

True. I don't understand the problems either. Wedgetail is possibly fair enough. It's a massively complex program and we are the lead customer for it. I've read that under the "remediation program" we should receive the first aircraft in 2009, around 2 years late.

Late still, but probably not as bad (yet) as the M113 project, which is already 3 years late (original in-service date was 2005). Assuming nothing else goes wrong the M113AS3/4 should begin delivery in 2008 according to the budget papers, with full capability in 2009/10.

Someone mentioned SM-2 earlier is only going to be introduced 4 years, prior to the AWD, at least it can be used in the AWD if necessary. The M113 is due for replacement under LAND 400 starting in 2013/14...

And it's ALREADY obsolete...

 

[icelord]

Mark June in as the month for big announcements. AWD, LHD, seasprite and pehaps a decision on M113, we all know Nelson is a big fan of over due projects, and odds on the Chiefs are getting little anxious about them, hell at least the new battalions will get to start using them....perhaps.
I thought there were problems with the HUG, or is that the other RAAF upgrade?

 

[Aussie Digger]

Mark June in as the month for big announcements. AWD, LHD, seasprite and pehaps a decision on M113, we all know Nelson is a big fan of over due projects, and odds on the Chiefs are getting little anxious about them, hell at least the new battalions will get to start using them....perhaps.
I thought there were problems with the HUG, or is that the other RAAF upgrade?

The HUG seems to be proceeding fairly smoothly. The first 2 phases and 3.1 phase at least. CBR might cause some problems, but so far there hasn't been too many problems admitted publicly, unlike other upgrade programs one could (and has) mentioned...