Powerful message

PROJECTION: CN VADM Russ Shalders during the opening of the Sea Power Conference in Sydney. Photo: ABPH Paul Berry

By Michael Brooke


A range of hot topics including future threats to regional maritime security were discussed by the Chief of Navy VADM Russ Shalders, AO, CSC, RAN, at the RAN’s Sea Power Conference recently.

Apart from many RAN members, another 28 navies were represented at senior level among the 800-strong list of delegates.

The conference was organised by the RAN Sea Power Centre at Sydney’s Darling Harbour from January 31 to February 2 and was held as part of the Pacific 2006 International Maritime Exposition that also involved Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), and Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO).

The conference explored the theme of “challenges old and new”, which provided the participants with a forum to discuss a range of issues including the challenges confronting future maritime coalition operations.

VADM Shalders said the RAN, like many of its coalition partners, faced a range of future challenges including the changing maritime environment, future force structure, absorbing new technologies for network centric warfare (NCW) and maritime coalition interoperability.

CN said these new opportunities and security challenges would require new skills and therefore our sailors must be able to operate and fight in a range of different environments.

“I fully subscribe to the belief that the greatest single strength of any Navy is the calibre of its officers and sailors - and our people are definitely first rate,” he said.

“A Navy is so much more than just a fleet of ships. And so to the people issue ... possibly our greatest challenge but equally the greatest opportunity. We must provide incentives and support to engage and motivate our people, enabling them to do their job well so they can remain happy working in the organisation.”

VADM Shalders said the people challenge, whether characterised as recruiting, retention, or both, was not insurmountable, but it would prove difficult.

The key speakers included the US Pacific Fleet Commander ADM Gary Roughead and former CDF ADML Chris Barrie (Rtd), who discussed challenges and responses to regional and global security, military planning and strategy, and interoperability.

ADML Barrie’s “reflections on the future” focused on Australia’s maritime positioning in the current climate of substantial change.

ADM Roughead discussed the issue of “challenges and responses of the US Navy”, which would have an impact on Australian and other treaty allies in the region.

ADM Roughead told Navy News that “for the US there is no better ally in this region than Australia”.
“We recognise that the US-Australian relationship is as important to each of us, as it is to regional and international security,” he said.

ADM Roughead said the greatest opportunity for the US Navy in the Asia Pacific region was to work with maritime coalition partners to enhance interoperability through the development of cooperative frameworks for maritime security.

The US Pacific Fleet Commander said the US Navy’s greatest area of concern was not any particular country’s intent, but the emergence of capabilities specifically relating to the proliferation of submarines, ballistic missiles, and transnational threats.

The conference also provided the Navy with an opportunity to showcase one of its newest platforms, HMAS Armidale, which joined HMA Ships Hawkesbury and Townsville berthed in Darling Harbour.

Nearly 5,000 VIPs and military personnel attended the conference and the exhibition.

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