I get the `balanced force' argument of 3 brigades, 10 ships, 6 subs etc.
But M1 Abrams - really - to protect expeditionary infantry embarked overseas?
What are we thinking - that there'll be a ground war in our backyard big enough to worry us but too small for the Yanks to care?
And big surface ships?
The environment seems to have changed to one where projecting force at a distance in denied areas seems paramount.
So under that scenario wouldn't you:
Cut back on land force spending.
Cut back on surface fleet spending.
In the short term, invest heavily in anti missile defence - particularly around airbases and other key installations.
Go all out on medium and large underwater drones (armed) to fill the capability gap before the SSNs arrive.
Medium term - under AUKUS:
- Install a modern SOSUS around northern Australia (if there isn't one there already
) to compliment Jindalee and the South East China sea `hook'.
- lobby the Yanks to buy the B-21
- look at a land based, mobile, long range strategic missile capability (5000kms +) conventionally armed.
Sure - a fever dream born out of my own ignorance - but Australia is dangerously complacent.