Yes I agree, the ARH wasn't a good example. The C-17 was a good buy. It was put into service and rolled out in a very good time frame. We seem to want to have a new capability that we have never had like say the Boeing 737 AEW&C and go overboard with what we want it to do. Delay after delay and costing way more than it should of and what have got to show for it? Nice static displays at an air show. Now we want more ships and subs! Maybe we could sell joy ride tickets between the time we get the ship/subs and when we can actually use them on operations.
Yes I agree, the ARH wasn't a good example. The C-17 was a good buy. It was put into service and rolled out in a very good time frame. We seem to want to have a new capability that we have never had like say the Boeing 737 AEW&C and go overboard with what we want it to do. Delay after delay and costing way more than it should of and what have got to show for it? Nice static displays at an air show. Now we want more ships and subs! Maybe we could sell joy ride tickets between the time we get the ship/subs and when we can actually use them on operations.
From memory, we actually got our C17s right off the production line, pushed in ahead of the USMIL, to the detriment of their units and the benefit of ours. We should be thankful of that great rational decision.
I dont want a political debate, but I just want one PM to say to the chief of the ADF, "give me your list and I will make it happen". Of course there will be arguments between branches of the ADF, cant help them, but if we never have a "wish list" we can never plan long term, whatever long term is nowdays.
If I was PM, Id get grunts to talk to me, tell me the truth. No point discussing hardware with braid that is 5 rungs removed from the field.
We should be aiming for the entire army to be trained to the highest standard possible without infringing on the elite status of the SAS. Navy to have enough ships to able to offer at sea positions to ALL the sailors and have the paperwork done by Civvies. Airforce should have exactly what it wants and when it wants it.
If Kev told the Australian population "10% of your taxes are going to go directly to the ADF", no one would mind. The Indos etc would look at the sums and laugh, but with us, you get a lot of bang for your buck.
Reading the WP today, it seems as though we have forgotten our historical links to the Chinese. They are no threat to us, they actually like us. They dont need our land or resources, they have their own.
Unfortunately the yanks dont think the same way, thus we are always going to be a pawn, not a king.
IMO our priorities should be RAAF attack capability, RAN surveillance, Army defense of homeland.
Lets face it, we dont have the numbers, even when considering the SAS 1500/1 kill ratio. Lets go hi tech and low numbers.
Does any plan exist to defend Aust that is not 50 years old? I doubt it. About 10-15 years ago from memory, we moved almost everything north and kept electronics south, but thats about it.
If anyone wanted to invade us they could, it would be short lived but effective in ruining morale. Any attack on our soil would be a calamity atm. We have to stop thinking of how our northern neighbours might react to any serious military build up and just do it.
Im sick of living in a country that always worries about what others think. We are a Sovereign Nation but havent acted like one since 1901.
Christ, cant even have a slug gun anymore. or a slingshot.
Whilst I like subs, I dont see any mention of how to raise 6 additional crews, nor how to reward them with $$$ to ensure we keep them without upsetting the RAAF and ARMY applecarts.
