Direct Translation via Google Translate. edited.
Commentary via Telegram page of @milinfolive.
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin is in italics.
Link to the Australian defense department is a series of pdf files.
[ColonelCassad] An independent analysis of the state of the fleet was carried out by a government advisory group, taking into account the updated National Defense Strategy. The new fleet modernization and expansion plan calls for $7.32 billion in addition to the planned $35.6 billion for fleet renewal.
As part of the plan, the advisory group proposes:
– the acquisition of nine “Tier 1” warships, including three existing Hobart-class destroyers with Aegis Baseline 9 CIS and six Hunter-class frigates;
– acquisition of six large surface ships with additional crew (LOSV) with 32 vertical launch systems and Aegis Baseline 9 control system;
– acquisition of seven (optimally eleven) “tier 2” ships to replace eight ANZAC class frigates.
In connection with the fleet renewal plan, a number of questions arise, in particular financing - most of the expected funds remain unallocated.
Another question is whether the current government will be able to avoid the pitfalls of timely budget releases, as was the case with past programs. Examples include the Collins class submarines, Hobart class destroyers and Arafura patrol ships, which had various problems during production and after delivery to the fleet. With a limited number of shipbuilding personnel, the threat of missed delivery deadlines can hang over every ship.
The first-in-class ANZAC frigate is scheduled to be decommissioned this year, while the second-in-class frigate Arunta will not join the fleet until 2026. In addition, the Type 26 frigates selected by the government in June 2018 are years behind schedule and suffering from excessive costs. The first ship was initially planned to be delivered between 2027 and 2030; The earliest date currently expected is 2032.
Another challenge is recruiting, training and retaining enough fleet personnel to man the growing number of ships.
Of course, all these events are anti-Chinese in nature as part of the US strategy to use Australia and AUKUS to put pressure on China.Previously, as part of this strategy, the project to build nuclear submarines for the Australian Navy was pushed through.
Increasing the capabilities of the navies of Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines is, among other things, a way to compensate for the US lagging behind China in the number of ships of the main classes and the pace of implementation of shipbuilding programs.
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