Australia on $52bn arms shopping splurge

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | January 15, 2006 | Frank Walker

[sukhoi-30mki]

Upgrade launches forces on a $52bn shopping splurge

By Frank Walker

January 15, 2006

AUSTRALIA'S Defence Force is about to embark on its biggest weapons buying spree since World War II, spending $52 billion on new planes, ships and tanks.

The massive expenditure will make Australia's navy, army and air force the most powerful and high-tech military in the region well into the 21st century.

The spending splurge comes not to combat the war on terror, but because much of the Defence Force's most costly equipment is 30 years old and has to be replaced.

Pressure from international arms firms to sell Australia the big ticket items is intense.

This month the new American destroyer USS Pinckney will sail into Sydney on a mission to persuade the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to splash out.

The US ship has the latest anti-air warfare Aegis system and is designed to protect fleets from air and missile attack.

The ADF plans to spend $6 billion buying three such ships and is looking at a future cut-down version of the Pinckney as well as the existing Spanish F100 destroyer.

The US Navy is pulling out big guns to win the contract and the ship will host Defence Minister Robert Hill and other ministers on board when it visits during the Navy's Sea Power Conference starting in Sydney on January 31.

The destroyers will be the most powerful warships in the navy, but not the biggest. Two new 22,000 tonne amphibious assault transport ships costing more than $1 billion each are to be decided on in 2007. ADF is looking at a French design that resembles a mini aircraft carrier.

The spending spree continues in the air force where the Government plans to lay out $16 billion on 100 American-built F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.

But the cost is likely to blow out beyond the current $160 million per plane as the US is cutting back its orders. The F-35 is still being tested and isn't due until 2012.

Defence insiders believe the Government will curtail its plans and announce next month that it will buy just 50 to 60 of the F-35s.

Big new transport planes are also on the RAAF wish list. The $200 million McDonnell Douglas built C-17 Globemaster can carry 120 troops or the heavy M1 Abrams tank, far more than the existing trusty Hercules.

New surveillance drones to help the Orion aircraft are also being considered. The US built Global Hawk unmanned drones, costing $45 million apiece, could be patrolling Australian northern waters in the next decade.

Big bucks have already been tied in by the army. In June the first of 59 second-hand American M1 Abrams tanks the ADF has bought from the US Army will arrive.

The Government has just announced there will be an extra $1.5 billion in May's budget to recruit another 1500 troops for the more mechanised army.

Another $3 billion is being spent on 7000 units of army field equipment such as helicopters, trucks, jeeps and trailers.

The big ticket items

NAVY: Three anti-aircraft and anti-missile destroyers costing $2 billion each; order to be finalised in 2008. Two large transport ships; estimated cost $1 billion each; type to be finalised in 2007.

AIR FORCE: 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters costing $160 million each; due by 2012; final decision on the order in 2008. Global Hawk unmanned surveillance drones costing $45 million each. Larger transport planes; the $200 million Globemaster could be chosen.

ARMY: 59 M1 Abrams tanks costing a total $530 million arrive in June. 7000 pieces of field equipment such as trucks, armoured personnel carriers and jeeps costing $3 billion.

Source: The Sun-Herald

[sukhoi-30mki]

USS Pinckney

[sukhoi-30mki]

Ping!!!!!!!!

[CarrotAndStick]

There's going to be a lot of action b/w Australia, Japan and India in the coming years, as China is a common threat to all three, which is dangerously potent and growing.

http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&slug=Japan+for+stronger+ties+with+India&id=83718



Japan for stronger ties with India

---

Sunday, January 15, 2006 (Tokyo):


Describing India as an "Asian power", Shinzo Abe, seen as the strongest candidate to be the next Prime Minister of Japan, strongly pitched for forging strategic relations between the two countries.

"We need not only to look at Japan-China relations but also to have a bird's-eye view of the whole of Asia or the world when we engage in diplomacy with Asian nations," said Abe.

Abe, who is also the chief cabinet secretary of Japan, was giving an interview to national broadcaster NHK.

"For example, there is another Asian power -- India, which has common values with Japan such as freedom, democracy, basic human rights and rule of law," he said.

Strategic relations

Shinzo said Japan should evolve a comprehensive diplomatic policy toward the Asian region. The policy would also be a central issue in September's election for the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

"Our relations with India have been relatively weak though it is a country very friendly to Japan. It is important to strengthen ties with this country a lot more and forge strategic relations," said Abe.

The LDP presidency goes hand in hand with Japan's premiership due to the majorities held by the LDP-led ruling coalition in both chambers of the Diet, the Japanese parliament. (PTI)

[Dutch Boy]

They must be preparing for the North Korean or Indonesian excrement to hit the fan.

[MARKUSPRIME]

The Aussies are a great ally. Load'em up mates!

[Candor7]

Bumpity! You hit the nail right on. FChina wants a misadventure in the Pacific Rim, so here we go again, WWII in the Pacific all over again BUT with China....over in 6 months....this time?

S.Korea and JApan MUST also go shopping and training their own forces.

Death from above.

[Grzegorz 246]

"The spending spree continues in the air force where the Government plans to lay out $16 billion on 100 American-built F-35 Joint Strike Fighters."

100 F-35 even with weapons, spare parts, ground equipment etc. rather shouldn't cost more than $12 billion.

[1rudeboy]

The U.S. Military-Industrial Complex
"When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best"

[CarrotAndStick]

Australian dollars.

[Grzegorz 246]

Yes. You are right.