{"id":209605,"date":"2020-07-01T05:13:07","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T05:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=209605"},"modified":"2020-07-03T06:57:53","modified_gmt":"2020-07-03T06:57:53","slug":"australia-unveils-plans-to-massively-increase-defence-spending","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=209605","title":{"rendered":"Australia Unveils Plans to Massively Increase Defence Spending"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">ScoMo&#8217;s show of strength to China: PM launches $270billion beef-up of defence forces with new 370km-range missiles, drones, artillery systems and 800 extra troops as tensions with the communist superpower escalate<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\"><strong>Scott Morrison will announce a major shift in defence policy to the Indo-Pacific\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\"><strong>The government will spend $270billion beefing defence over the next ten years\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\"><strong>The main aim of the beef-up is to deter aggression against Australia and its allies<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\"><strong>More than half of $270bn will be spent on Australia&#8217;s air and maritime forces\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Charlie Moore \u2013 Daily Mail Australia June 30, 2020<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id=\"attachment_209607\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-209607\" class=\"wp-image-209607\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Loyal-wingman.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Loyal-wingman.jpg 634w, https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Loyal-wingman-300x165.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-209607\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In May Australia unveiled The Loyal Wingman unmanned drone (pictured). Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The federal government will spend $270billion over the next ten years on beefing up the Australian Defence Force with state-of-the-art equipment including long-range missiles and new artillery systems amid strategic and political tensions with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"color: #ccffff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/china\/index.html\"><strong>China<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">In a speech to ADF cadets in Canberra on Wednesday morning, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"color: #ccffff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/scott-morrison\/index.html\"><strong>Scott Morrison<\/strong><\/a> <\/span>will announce a major shift in defence policy to focus on projecting Australian power into the Indo-Pacific.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">It comes as the region faces growing instability after a brutal border dispute between <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a style=\"color: #ccffff; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/india\/index.html\"><strong>India<\/strong><\/a> <\/span>and China in the Himalayan mountains that killed at least 20 soldiers and with ongoing Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The main aim of the beef-up, which will include hiring 800 extra soldiers, is to deter aggression against Australia and its allies &#8211; but the Prime Minister also wants to prepare the defence force for war in case tensions escalate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Beijing and Canberra have been at loggerheads in recent weeks after Australia led global calls for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19, which first surfaced in Wuhan late last year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">China retaliated by slapping an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley, suspending beef imports and telling students and tourists not to travel Down Under in an apparent attempt to damage the Australian economy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">More than half of $270billion will be spent on improving Australia&#8217;s air and maritime forces, including buying new AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles from the US.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The missiles, which were designed in America in 2014, cost around $5million each and can\u00a0hit a target 370km away, giving Australia significant new range.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">They will be\u00a0attached to F\/A-18F Super Hornet planes and can also be paired with other defence aircraft. Troops will be trained how to use the weapon next year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The government is also considering buying a range of other weapons and defence systems including the\u00a0surface-to-air Missile, the High Mobility Rocket Artillery System and the\u00a0MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">In addition, between $5billion and $7billion will be spent on undersea surveillance systems, and up to $17billion will go towards buying more fighter aircraft.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Up to $11billion will be spent on remotely-piloted and autonomous combat aircraft, including air teaming vehicles.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_118847\" style=\"width: 380px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/australian_soldiers_move_to_higher_ground_during_ampibious_assault_in_exercise_talisman_sabre_2015.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-118847\" class=\"wp-image-118847\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/australian_soldiers_move_to_higher_ground_during_ampibious_assault_in_exercise_talisman_sabre_2015.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"370\" height=\"230\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-118847\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Australian soldiers move to higher ground_during_amphibious assault in exercise Talisman Sabre 2015<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">And between $8 and $11.5 billion will buy long range rocket fires and artillery systems including two regiments of self-propelled howitzers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">In May\u00a0Australia unveiled The Loyal Wingman unmanned drone, its first military aircraft to be built on home soil in 50 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The drone will fly alongside fighter jets including\u00a0Strike Fighters, Super Hornets and Growlers to provide support and intelligence and\u00a0can hold several systems including a radar, an\u00a0infrared search and track system and a defensive laser system.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Billions will also be spent on space capabilities and cyber security as Australia faces ongoing attacks on institutions and companies from a &#8216;state actor&#8217; which intelligence sources believe is China.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">The shift in focus on the Indo-Pacific comes as Australia pulls out of the Middle East with the training mission at the Taji Military Complex in <a style=\"color: #ccffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/iraq\/index.html\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Iraq<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0concluded.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;\">Missiles, drones and artillery systems: How will Australia spend $270billion over next ten years?<\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Maritime ($75 billion)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Expanded maritime force to provide greater capability for anti-submarine warfare, sealift, border security, maritime patrol, aerial warfare, area denial and undersea warfare.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $168 and $183 billion for the acquisition or upgrade of Navy and Army maritime vessels out to the 2050s. Between $5 to $7 billion in undersea surveillance systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $400 to $500 million in long range maritime strike missiles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Air ($65 billion)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Expanded air combat and mobility and new long range weapons and remotely piloted and autonomous systems will be introduced.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $10 and $17 billion investment in fighter aircraft. Between $700 million to $1 billion for Operational Radar Network expansion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $3.4 billion and $5.2 billion to improve air launched strike capability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $6.2\u00a0and $9.3 billion in research and development in high speed long range strike, including hypersonic research to inform future investments<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $7.4 and $11 billion for remotely-piloted and autonomous combat aircraft, including air teaming vehicles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Land ($55 billion)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Investment to ensure land forces have more combat power, are better connected, protected and integrated with each other and with our partners. Between $7.4\u00a0and $11.1 billion on future autonomous vehicles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $7.7\u00a0and $11.5 billion for long range rocket fires and artillery systems including two regiments of self-propelled howitzers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $1.4\u00a0and $2.1 billion for Army watercraft including up to 12 riverine patrol craft and several amphibious vessels of up to 2,000 tonnes to enhance ADF amphibious lift capacity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Defence Enterprise ($50 billion)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">\u00a0Investment key infrastructure, ICT, innovation and Science and Technology programs critical to the generation of Defence capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $6.8 and $10.2 billion in undersea warfare facilities and infrastructure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $4.3\u00a0and $6.5 billion to enhance Air Force&#8217;s operational effectiveness and capacity in the Northern Territory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $900 million\u00a0and $1.3 billion to upgrade key ports and infrastructure to support Australia&#8217;s larger fleet of amphibious vessels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $20.3\u00a0and $30 billion to increase the supply of munitions and between $1 and $1.5 billion to explore expanding industry capacity for domestic guided weapons and explosive ordnance production capability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Information and cyber ($15 billion)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Bolster offensive and defensive cyber capabilities, enhance electronic warfare and command and control systems and improve intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Space ($7 billion)<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Investment to improve resilience and self-reliance of Defence&#8217;s space capabilities, including to assure access to capabilities, enable situational awareness and deliver real-time communications and position, navigation and timing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $4.6\u00a0and $6.9 billion in upgrades and future satellite communications systems, including communications satellites and ground control stations under sovereign Australian control.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"color: #ccffff;\">Between $1.3\u00a0and $2 billion to build our Space Situational Awareness capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-8473969\/Prime-Minister-spends-270billion-beef-defence-forces.html\">Continues \u2026<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Australia to spend $270 billion over the next ten years to counter what many see as a looming threat from China\u2019s expansion<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39262,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[78,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-209605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-china","category-Current_Affairs"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/39262"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=209605"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":209610,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/209605\/revisions\/209610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=209605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=209605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=209605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}