{"id":68632,"date":"2024-04-18T12:15:42","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T12:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2024\/04\/18\/australia-targets-major-spending-boost-for-asia-pacific-defense\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:05:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:05:17","slug":"australia-targets-major-spending-boost-for-asia-pacific-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/asia-pacific\/2024\/04\/18\/australia-targets-major-spending-boost-for-asia-pacific-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia targets major spending boost for Asia-Pacific defense"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand \u2014 Australia simultaneously unveiled two pivotal documents on April 17 \u2014 its inaugural \u201cNational Defence Strategy\u201d and the 2024 \u201cIntegrated Investment Program\u2033 \u2014 with a promise that defense spending will reach AU$765 billion (U.S. $491 billion) over the next decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In line with that trajectory, the government projected the 2033-2034 annual defense budget would surpass AU$100 billion, equating to 2.4% of gross domestic product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defense strategy is meant to provide the overarching rationale for Australia\u2019s \u201cintegrated, focused force,\u201d while the investment plan spells out ways to pay for specific objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe inaugural National Defence Strategy sets out a clear and priority-driven approach to protecting against threats to Australia and our interests,\u201d Defence Minister Richard Marles said at the document launch event in Canberra. China was notably prominent among those threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Australian defense expert warned there \u201ccannot be anymore lag\u201d in implementing the strategy\u2019s pointers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe actually need to be putting them [the documents] into service now. We can\u2019t wait another two or three years for that,\u201d Bec Shrimpton, director of the defense strategy and national security program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute think tank, told Defense News.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shrimpton found the strategy document \u201cslightly underwhelming\u201d in its articulation of concepts already described in previous policy papers. \u201cI\u2019m not seeing a lot added,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marles said Australia\u2019s activity should focus \u201cunambiguously\u201d on the Asia-Pacific region, especially to protect trade routes. \u201cWe simply have to make the difficult decision to keep the vast bulk of our effort in our region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared with the broad-brush goals of the defense strategy, the accompanying investment plan provides more meat, according to Shrimpton. \u201cIt actually starts to fill in a genuine picture of what the future force is going to look like and what it\u2019s going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the government plans to steer 38% of funds to maritime capabilities, 22% to enterprise and enabling programs \u2014 including infrastructure and information technology \u2014 16% to land, 14% to air, 7% to cyberspace and 3% to space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About AU$76 billion will go to undersea warfare by 2034, including AU$53 billion to AU$63 billion focused on nuclear-powered submarines<\/a> and associated infrastructure. Some of those investments are already appearing on the books, as Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced April 18 that the Navy would adopt Anduril\u2019s Ghost Shark long-range autonomous underwater vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Up to AU$69 billion will be spent on surface ships<\/a> over the next decade, eventually giving the service 26. However, hull numbers will dip to a nadir of nine in a few years\u2019 time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an influx of AU$44 billion over 10 years, the Australian Army will continue transforming to a littoral and expeditionary force akin to the U.S. Marine Corps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approximately AU$18 billion will go to integrated air and missile defense, but there is no investment pegged in long-range, ground-based air defense systems like the Patriot or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems to defend against ballistic missiles. Counter-drone systems are also listed, an area in which the Australian Defence Force lacks capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force will receive AU$33 billion over the coming decade. It will keep investing in MQ-28A Ghost Bat drones, but its original plan to obtain 100 F-35A fighter jets is capped at 72.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, Conroy said<\/a>, \u201cwe\u2019ve decided to keep the [F\/A-18] Super Hornets in service for two reasons. One, they\u2019re doing great work. Secondly, the Joint Strike Fighter is even more capable than we initially thought. So we can delay the replacement of the Super Hornet which frees up funding to invest in more long\u2011range missiles, for example.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding space, Australia will continue developing a satellite communications network and spend funds on the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability<\/a>. The plan mentions \u201cmeasures to enhance [the Department of] Defence\u2019s space control capability to deny attempts to interfere with, or attack Australia\u2019s use of the space domain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could prove critical in the face of China\u2019s counter-space capabilities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marles vowed that defense spending, compared to earlier allocations, would increase by AU$50.3 billion in the next decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Shrimpton pointed out that 11% of this amount will be allocated in the coming four years. In other words, approximately 90% of the spending increase will not come to fruition until the late 2020s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo we\u2019re accepting an element of risk,\u201d the analyst said, adding that the quick fielding of promising technology should play a more prominent role as a hedge against near-term underfunding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many commentators see the period from now till the end of this decade as carrying the highest risk of Chinese aggression, but where the Australian Defence Force has significant weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are we cutting, canceling, divesting and re-scoping? A lot of the story of this investment plan and this strategy is going to sit in what we\u2019re not doing,\u201d Shrimpton said. \u201cThat picture is not fully clear yet.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Budget plans foresee the most significant ramp-up only at the end of the decade, leaving Australia vulnerable to Chinese aggression in the 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