Hi, Just to put my comments below in context, I am not interested in sub-contracting our defense , such contracts have too much potential to fail just when they are needed. Australia needs to develop its own , robust , system. And that should be based around direct defense of the country , and that doesn't mean prevention of an attack , it means making it difficult , or worthwhile , for anyone to attack , defeat and occupy us. At present we already operate a system where we subcontract our defense. The US gets ''paid'' to look out for us , the payment being that our forces are set up for overseas deployment where the US needs them . The force structure does not lend itself to defense of the Australian mainland.
Now Australia is not that easy to attack and defeat . We may think we are the centre of the universe , but in logistics terms , we are a long way away. Even for a super-power like China , the resources needed would be large. Our aim should be to make the cost as large as possible . To make it not worth their while. This doesn't work always , see Russia/Ukraine , but that conflict also demonstrates the power and cheapness of defense , as opposed to offense.
Any realistic long term war to be fought by , let's pick the Chinese , will need to supported by large naval forces. Submarines , land based surface to air and surface missiles , credible air forces , and air and surface surveillance for as far out as we can manage , are all needed to prevent a successful invasion. We want to make it as hard as possible for those naval assets to land and support significant land forces. Nuclear subs , with conventional weapons , are perfect for this kind of system. A mix of diesel and nuclear better .
Now , the statement about defending against icbm's , unrealistic , so pointless trying . Nuclear deterrent , ditto. If someone wishes to destroy the place rather than conquer us , there really isn't anything we can do about it. If some crazy maniac Russian wants to take us out for nonlogical reasons , we are stuffed. So be it . Plan for things we can do something about.
Note , what I am talking about does not involve Australian's swanning around in the Middle East or the South China sea.
What we should have had , right from the start ,was French , conventionally armed , nuke subs . Built in France with logistics and repairs set up in Australia. In fact , probably the best thing even now.
That , of course , suited, nor suits , anyone's agenda. Labor , Greens , Libs , South Australia . Irrelevant whether it would be the best solution of course.
