Destroyers given a big tick

Federal Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade has supported the Navy’s acquisition of three Air Warfare Destroyers.

However, it wants the Defence Department to explain how adequate air protection will be provided to land naval forces before the destroyers are delivered in about 2013.

The committee’s recommendation is contained in its new report on Australia’s maritime strategy tabled in Parliament late last month.

The committee said its inquiry into maritime strategy gave an opportunity to examine the relevance and effectiveness of Australia’s overall defence objectives and strategies.

Maritime strategies are significant in military planning because they provide the means to apply power flexibly over a range of contingencies and areas.

Modern meritime strategy involves air, sea and land forces operating jointly to influence events in the littoral, together with traditional blue water maritime concepts of sea denial and sea control.

The inquiry found there was a need for a comprehensive national security strategy which would articulate all the elements the ADF has at its disposal to address national security.

A national security strategy would address more than just defence, to include key interests such as economic, business, diplomatic, trade and the environment.

Defence objectives and strategy must reflect the need to defend Australia and its approaches together with a greater focus on, and acquisition of, capabilities to operate in the region and globally in defence of non-territorial interests.

The national security strategy should indicate where our maritime strategy fits within this “grand strategy”.

The committee also recommended that the Government develop a new Defence White Paper for issue during 2005-06 to take into account the need for flexible joint forces capable of littoral manoeuvre.

A new Defence White Paper should be developed every four years, it said.

The proposed new White Paper should ensure the ADF could implement the key features of a modern maritime strategy, including sea denial, sea control and power projection ashore for peacekeeping and regional assistance missions.

The role and influence of maritime strategies are therefore a significant feature of credible military strategies. Chairman Bruce Scott MP said the committee was convinced an effective maritime strategy will be the foundation of Australia’s military strategy.

The committee recommended that the Department of Defence review the number of air-to-air refuelling aircraft that it will need to mount effective operations, believing the Air Force may require more than the five on order.

It says the Department should continue to examine air combat capabilities in the region and the cost of ongoing upgrades to the F/A- 18A versus its fatigue and ageing.

If the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will not be available by 2012, the Government should give cost details of prolonging the F/A-18A.

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