The Navy Vol_64_Part2 2002 - Navy League of Australia

S I \ I I Ml \ I ol I'OI.IOThe strategic background to Australia's security haschanged in recent decades and in some respects becomemore uncertain. The League believes it is essential thaiAustralia develops capability to defend itself, payingparticular attention to maritime defence. Australia is. ofgeographical necessity, a maritime nation whose prosperitystrength and safety depend to a great extent on the securityof the surrounding ocean and island areas, and on seabornetrade.The Navy league:• Believes Australia can be defended against attackby other than a super or major maritime power andthat the prime requirement of our defence is anevident ability to control the sea and air spacearound us and to contribute to defending essentiallines of sea and air communication to our allies.• Supports the ANZUS Treaty and the futurereintegration of New Zealand as a full partner.• Urges a close relationship with the nearer ASEANcountries. PNG and the Island States of the SouthPacific.• Advocates a defence capability which isknowledge-based with a prime consideration givento intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.• Advocates the acquisition of the most modemarmaments and sensors to ensure that the ADFmaintains some technological advantages overforces in our general area.• Believes there must be a significant deterrentelement in the Australian Defence Force (ADF)capable of powerful retaliation at considerabledistances from Australia.• Believes the ADF must have the capability toprotect essential shipping at considerable distancesfrom Australia, as well as in coastal waters.• Supports the concept of a strong modern Air Forceand highly mobile Army, capable of island andjungle warfare as well as the defence of NorthernAustralia.• Supports the development of amphibious forces toensure the security of our offshore territories and toenable assistance to be provided by sea as well as byair lo friendly island states in our area.• Endorses the transfer of responsibility for the coordinationof Coastal Surveillance to the defenceforce and the development of the capability forpatrol and surveillance of the ocean areas all aroundthe Australian coast and island territories, includingthe Southern Ocean.• Advocates measures to foster a build-up ofAustralian-owned shipping to ensure the carriage ofessential cargoes in war.• Advocates the development of a dcfence industrysupported by strong research and designorganisations capable of constructing all neededtypes of warships and support vessels and ofproviding systems and sensor integration withthrough-life support.As to the RAN. the League:• Supports the concept of a Navy capable of effectiveaction off both East and West coasts simultaneouslyand advocates a gradual build up of the Fleet toensure that, in conjunction with the RAAF. this canbe achieved against any force which could bedeployed in our general area• Is concerned that the offensive and defensivecapability of the RAN has decreased markedly inrecent decades and that with the paying-off of theDDGs. the Fleet will lack air defence and have areduced capability for support of ground forces.• Advocates the very early acquisition of the newdestroyers as foreshadowed in the Defence WhilePaper 2.• Advocates the acquisition of long-range precisionweapons to increase the present limited powerprojection, support and deterrent capability of theRAN.• Advocates the acquisition of the GLOBAL HAWKunmanned surveillance aircraft primarily foroffshore surveillance.• Advocates the acquisition of sufficient Australianbuiltafloat support ships to support two naval taskforces with such ships having design flexibility andcommonality of build.• Advocates the acquisition at an early date ofintegrated air power in the fleet to ensure that ADFdeployments can be fully defended and supportedfrom the sea.• Advocates that all Australian warships should beequipped with some form of defence againstmissiles.• Advocates that in any future submarineconstruction program all forms of propulsion beexamined with a view lo selecting the mostadvantageous operationally.• Advocates the acquisition of an additional 2 or 3updated Collins class submarines.• Supports the maintenance and continuingdevelopment of the minc-countcrmeasures forceand a modern hydrographic/oceanographiccapability.• Supports the maintenance of an enlarged, flexiblepatrol boat fleet capable of operating in severe seastates.• Advocates the retention in a Reserve Fleet of Navalvessels of potential value in defence emergency.• Supports the maintenance of a strong NavalReserve to help crew vessels and aircraft in reserve,or taken up for service, and for specialised tasks intime of defence emergency.• Supports the maintenance of a strong AustralianNavy Cadets organisation.The League:Calls for a bipartisan political approach to nationaldefence with a commitment to a steady long-term build-upin our national defence capability including the requiredindustrial infrastructure.While recognising current economic problems andbudgetary constraints, believes that, given leadership bysuccessive governments. Australia can defend itself in thelonger term within acceptable financial, economic andmanpower parameters.VOL. 64 NO 3THKNAVY