Australia plans big boost to defence budget

Australia will increase defence spending by nearly A$30 billion ($21.6 billion) over the next 10 years, amid concerns over increasing military expansion in the Asia-Pacific region

Construction of 12

Three

Submarines:

Surface ships:

“regionally superior” vessels from

2018-2057, at cost of more than

A$50bn – Australia’s largest

ever defence procurement

-class destroyers

Hobart

already scheduled to enter

service in early 2020s.

Navy also planning to build

nine new anti-submarine

warfare frigates and 12

patrol vessels

Total

spend

2% of GDP

by 2021

Land combat

and amphibious

warfare

Strike and

air combat

Air and

sea lift

17%

18%

Ten-year

division of

investment

to FY 2025-26

ISR*, electronic

warfare, space

and cyber

security

Increase

Personnel:

of around 2,500 to total

of 62,400

Purchase

Land forces:

of armed surveillance

drones, new armoured

vehicles for troop transport,

long-range rocket system

and light helicopters for

special forces operations

25%

Maritime and

anti-submarine

warfare

25%

Key enablers (including infrastructure,

technology, logistics and health services)

Two fleets of drones, plus

Air force:

existing plans to buy 72

stealth

F-35

jets and 12

electronic warfare

Growler

aircraft. More aerial refuelling planes

Increased to include

Airlift capability:

eight

heavy-lifters,

C-17 Globemaster

12 upgraded

transport planes

Hercules

and 10

helicopters

Chinook

*Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

Sources: Australian Government, wire agencies

Pictures: AP, Kockums AB

Australia plans big boost to defence budget

Australia will increase defence spending by nearly A$30 billion ($21.6 billion) over the next 10 years, amid concerns over increasing military expansion in the Asia-Pacific region

Construction of 12 “regionally superior”

Submarines:

vessels from 2018-2057, at cost of more than A$50bn –

Australia’s largest ever defence procurement

Total

spend

2% of GDP

by 2021

Three destroyers scheduled to enter

Surface ships:

service in early 2020s. Navy also planning to build nine

new anti-submarine warfare frigates and 12 patrol vessels

Air and

sea lift

Land combat

and amphibious

warfare

Strike and air combat

17%

ISR*,

electronic

warfare,

space

and cyber

security

18%

Ten-year

division of

investment

to FY 2025-26

Key enablers

(including

infrastructure,

technology,

logistics and

health services)

25%

Maritime

and anti-

submarine

warfare

25%

*Intelligence, surveillance

and reconnaissance

Two fleets of

Air force:

drones, plus existing plans

Increase

Personnel:

to buy 72

stealth jets

F-35

of around 2,500 to total

of 62,400

and 12

warfare aircraft. More aerial

refuelling planes

electronic

Growler

Purchase

Land forces:

of armed surveillance

drones, new armoured

vehicles for troop transport,

long-range rocket system

and light helicopters for

special forces operations

Airlift capability

Increased to include eight

heavy-

C-17 Globemaster

lifters, 12 upgraded

transport planes

Hercules

and 10

helicopters

Chinook

Sources: Australian Government,

wire agencies

Pictures: AP, Kockums AB

Australia plans big boost to defence budget

Australia will increase defence spending by nearly A$30 billion ($21.6 billion) over the next 10 years, amid concerns over increasing military expansion in the Asia-Pacific region

Total

spend

2% of GDP

by 2021

Construction of 12

Submarines:

“regionally superior” vessels from

2018-2057, at cost of more than

A$50bn – Australia’s largest ever

defence procurement

Three destroyers

Surface ships:

scheduled to enter service in early

2020s. Navy also planning to build

nine new anti-submarine warfare

frigates and 12 patrol vessels

Land combat

and amphibious

warfare

Strike and

air combat

Air and

sea lift

17%

18%

Ten-year

division of

investment

to FY 2025-26

25%

ISR*,

electronic

warfare,

space

and cyber

security

Key enablers

(including

infrastructure,

technology,

logistics and

heath services)

Maritime

and anti-

submarine

warfare

*Intelligence,

surveillance and reconnaissance

Increase of around

Personnel:

2,500 to total of 62,400

Purchase of armed

Land forces:

drones, new armoured vehicles for

troop transport, long-range rocket

system and light helicopters for

special forces operations

Two fleets of drones,

Air force:

plus existing plans to buy 72

F-35

stealth jets and 12

Growler

electronic warfare aircraft. More

aerial refuelling planes

Increased to

Airlift capability:

include eight

C-17 Globemaster

heavy-lifters, 12 upgraded

Hercules

transport planes and 10

Chinook

helicopters

Sources:

Australian Government,

wire agencies

Pictures: AP,

Kockums AB