Australia’s Defence Capabilities: Asianised Orientation

Dr. Pankaj Jha

Associate Fellow, IDSA

pankajidsa@gmail.com

Australia’s Defence Capability Plan released in July 2009 and Defence White Paper
released in May 2009 highlight the major changes which are on the cards for Australian Defence
Forces due to overstretching of US global commitments as well as rise of China which is
perceived as threatening by Australian Defence Forces (ADF) and few strategic thinkers alike.
Australia is trying to enhance its self defence capabilities and project its strategic clout in Indian
Ocean region. As part of its alliance commitments with US under Australia, New Zealand,
United States Security (ANZUS) Treaty, Australia is trying to reconfigure its role in Afghanistan
and for that its defence minister has sought to confirm the logistics as well as facilities available
to the Australian troops stationed in Afghanistan. During the same time Australia has made it
clear that it would induct Arabians, Africans and Asians in its armed forces. This shows that
Australia is gearing up for structural reforms in armed forces and relinquishing its ‘only whites’
orientation. Not only that, Australia also prepared a blueprint for charting out its larger geo
political and geo strategic role in Asia. Australian Defence White paper which was released in
May 2009 clearly deciphers the role that the Australian armed forces has to play in order to keep
the air and seas reaches of Australia devoid of any adversary’s intrusions as well as secure its
immediate and extended neighbourhood. It clearly stipulates that in order to defend Australia
in the New Asia Pacific century with a vision of Force 2030, its armed forces particularly navy
has to play a more positive role. In the forwarding remarks in the paper the then Minister of
Defence Joel Fitzgibbon had highlighted that apart from traditional threats, cyber warfare has
become a major security issue while piracy has become a major concern for maritime security.
Within the White paper it has been argued that maintenance of a credible defence capability
would deter any adversary from using force and also would imbibe a sense of security among
the Australian citizens. In the paper, it has been stated that Australia wants to extend its
strategic influence beyond its immediate neighbourhood and in that it has clearly deciphered
the area of strategic interest for Australia stretching from North Asia to Eastern Indian Ocean.
This clearly shows that Australia wants to get out of the oceanic/ south west pacific cocoon and
look for greater role play in the Asian region. Thus three main policy prescriptions listed for
Australia are; act independently, pilot military coalitions and make provisional contributions
for military alliance obligations. Though it talks about forming alliances and partnerships with
a likeminded countries but it also tries to get out of the US shadow to a certain extent.

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Time and again Australia has been accused as the deputy sheriff of US in South Pacific. In the
white paper it has been argued that surface combatants, underwater capabilities, maritime
surveillance aircraft, air combat are necessary components of protecting see stretches as well as
monitoring coastal access. Though provisions have been made for Air Force and Army
modernization also but the stress has been more on maritime capabilities. It has been envisaged
that the government will have to phase out the Collins class submarine which are six in number
and double the size of submarine force to 12. This means more fund allocation for gaining such
capability and take carefully scrutinized procurement process so that the phasing out could be
done without any interregnum deficit in capabilities.

Also provisions have been made with regard to replacing the current ANZAC class frigate with
the more capable Future frigates programme which would be accustomed to anti-submarine
warfare. This would enhance the capability with regard to offshore maritime warfare, coastal
monitoring and mine countermeasures. Although plans are mooted for Air Warfare Destroyer
(AWD) but clear cut timelines are not drawn in this regard. The first such AWD is likely to be
integrated into the naval command by 2015. This clearly indicates that Australia is aiming for
blue water capability with enhanced intelligence and surveillance capabilities through a dozen
submarines. The submarines would be latest in its class and would be able to sustain at the
time of crisis. The submarine assets mean that Australia’s defence forces assets would be
protected even at a considerable distance from the shores. But this would also propel other
major powers to procure more stealth frigates and submarines. In fact it has been discussed in
the paper that Australia would have to maintain both strategic and defence superiority over its
adversaries( though no particular country has been listed) because of its prolonged off shore
deployments as well as protecting Australia from non-state actors capable of procuring
Weapons of Mass Destruction(WMD).

In chapter nine of the defence white paper it has been envisaged that the future submarine
would be more competent with regard to multiple tasks like anti-ship and anti-submarine
warfare as well as greater capability with regard to surveillance, intelligence, the logistical
support and mine detection. The submarines will have remarkably low signatures and long
endurance at sea. The nuclear propulsion aspect has been denied during the manufacturing
stage of the submarines. Apart from these lofty planning apprehensions has been raised with
regard to the complicated assignment of design, structure and timelines but the Australian
government has planned for a project office for this intricate task. Even otherwise the training of
personnel, spares and life cycle costs need to be taken into account while planning for huge
procurement in terms of submarines and maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters. Australia
under Kevin Rudd is trying to forge very good relations with China as it is the second largest
trade partner (US$ 54 billion trade in 2008) but the augmentation of naval and maritime
capabilities show that in the hindsight rising China has been seen as a threat for the future.
Within Australia there has been a rather vociferous dissent among academics for such huge
financial outlay for defence when there are job cuts and global economic crisis. But the issue is

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to shift away from US assurance and build national deterrence capability and the move was also
meant to secure the domestic defence industry.

The Australian Defence Capability Plan which was released after White paper clearly stipulates
the time lines for procuring capabilities. In the 2009-2011 phases the stress is more on enhancing
combat capability and augmenting repair and upgrades of the weapon systems. The second
cycle from (2011-2012) stresses on enhancing communication and defence capabilities. The third
phase (2012-2013) discusses the importance of training and management of defence assets. The
fourth phase (2013 and beyond) emphasizes on large acquisitions, complex communication
systems, information warfare and encryption and the enhancement of strike capability. These
plans are also to assist Australian Defence industry in preparing for the demand and look for
possible technological cooperation for high technology intensive weapon systems.

Australia is also planning to upgrade its naval facilities in Darwin(which is in the Indian Ocean)
and Cairns(northern Australia) in order to cater to the exigencies in East Timor, Papua and also
protect its sparsely populated northern coastal reaches. The defence white paper though a
sketchy one but its shows that Australia is planning for the future and maritime capabilities as
well as creating deterrence capability for any armed or WMD attack by both state and non-state
actors. The projection for future as well as sustaining procurement has showed that Australia
wants to knock at the Asian geo strategic scene and its Asian Orientation shows rather subtle
signs eroding of US hegemony in Asia and so the preparedness of its allies in promoting their
self defence capabilities.

These initiatives which are listed in Defence White Paper and Defence Capability Plan shows
that Australia is gearing for playing a greater role in Asia and the plausible reason that has been
cited in this regard is the rise of China and reconfiguration of the global order due to increasing
role of non state actors and the looming threat of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and
Nuclear Weapons(CBRN).It is sure that Australia which was oblivious of its strategic role in
southeast Asia and larger Asia, is gearing up for more strategic footprints apart from those
involving treaty obligations and assisting southeast Asian nations in countering terrorism.