What is apparent is that there's a truckload of work to be done even to see what's possible. The TAAATS/Project 5186 (which became ADATS) divide is a classic example of left hand/right hand approaches.
It is a fact that by virtue of having common systems, even without combining workforces, there are substantial savings to be had. Obviously there's spares/maintenance saving. There's training commonality and there's interoperability efficiencies. Even if different systems, if at least they could talk to each other electronically there'd be substantial savings. TAAATS does automatic coordination with NZ meaning we mostly don't have to talk to the kiwis but everything is full voice coord with RAAF wholly enclosed within a civil sector. TAAATS has to be replaced (it's 15 years old and done its time). ADATS was due for replacement when it was implemented. And for the record Pearce approach is the only military in TAAATS. Richmond approach is done by Sydney Approach controllers (civil) from Sydney in TAAATS. No military base has TAAATS on site.
Airspace management is where the single biggest saving can be made but as as been alluded to above this ain't gunna happen until the squadrons are accountable for the airspace utilisation. Use it all you like fellas - fill your boots, but when you're finished or not going to use it let ATC know so airspace can be deactivated or released. How many times to we see transit corridors active for up to an hour before the first aircraft uses it? How many times do we activate exercise airspace for a couple of hours before being told that it won't be used today? This isn't a case of military ATC sitting on NOTAMs. They're as much in the dark as the rest of us until someone in the squadron deigns to tell the rest of the world.
The philosophy of holding airspace in readiness for someone to strap an FA18/HAWK/F111/PC9 etc. to their @rse and fire off without mission time constraints or realistic notification requirements is gone in the modern world. These days a modern air force has to plan the type of activity, airspace limitations for the purpose of the exercise, timings for fuelling etc. Actual airspace usage AND NOTIFICATION should be in the list.
If we're going to have an air force then it should be equipped and trained to fulfil the roles the nation deems necessary. What shouldn't happen is holding the rest of the country to ransom when it simply isn't necessary.
DNC