:
More details have become available on the Australian plan for massive defense expenditures.
The Army will get:
@ 20-24 armed recon helicopters
@ Another squadron of 12 tactical lift helicopters
@ Continuing the program to upgrade 350 tracked M113 armored personnel carriers.
@ A new medium-range air-defense missile to replace Rapier.
@ A new shoulder-fired guided weapon to destroy bunkers and tanks.
@ A fleet of 20 self-propelled 120mm mortars on 8x8 wheeled carriers.
@ A new thermal surveillance system.
@ New tactical unmanned recon drones.
@ Improved body armor, night vision gear, radios, and infantry weapons.
@ Replacing the truck fleet starting in 2008.
@ Establishing Australia's own version of the Fort Irwin national training center.
The Royal Australian Air Force will get:
@ 100 new tactical combat aircraft, starting in 2012, to replace the F-18 and F-111.
@ Four AWACS planes (with options to buy three more).
@ Five aerial tankers to enter service in 2006.
@ Replacing the ancient DHC-6 Caribou tactical transports starting in 2010.
@ Refurbishing the existing fleet of C-130H transport planes.
@ Improved electronic warfare self-protection for transports and helicopters.
@ Electro-optical sensors for the P-3C Orion maritime patrol planes, which are to be refurbished or replaced starting in 2007.
@ A new lightweight torpedo to be carried by aircraft starting in 2002.
The Royal Australian Navy will get:
@ Three new anti-aircraft destroyers, the first to enter service in 2013.
@ Replacing the heavy transport HMAS Tobruk in 2010 and the two underway replenishment ships by 2009.
@ Replacing the two amphibious assault ships in 2015.
@ Replacing the Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft and the LCM8 landing craft.
@ Upgrade the defenses of most ships against anti-ship missiles.
@ A new fleet of patrol boats are to start entering service in 2004.
@ All six of the Collins-class submarines will get new advanced combat management systems.
@ A new heavy torpedo to enter service in 2006.
@ A major mid-life upgrade for the S70 SeaHawk helicopter fleet. -Stephen V Cole