Budget breakdown of $60 billion spent on defence

ABOUT $240 million of taxpayer dollars in 2014-15 was spent buying strike fighters for the defence force.

Report shows cost of 25 major items - ships, planes and electronic warfare in $60b budget. Picture: CPL Veronica McKenna

ABOUT $240 million of taxpayer dollars in 2014-15 was spent buying strike fighters for the defence force.

The navy spent $763 million towards three air warfare destroyers and $100 million will help buy five planes to refuel aircraft in the air.

A report released on Friday detailed spending in the 2014-15 financial year on the defence force's 25 major projects that will eventually cost a combined $60 billion.

One of the major projects was the introduction of 72 new F-35A joint strike fighters defence hopes will meet air combat needs to 2030.

The jets will replace the Hornets and have been budgeted for a total $15 billion, the report stated.

A total $684 million has been spent on the project already; about $237 million was spent in the 2014-15 financial year.

At least two aircraft were already with the defence force - the first two were delivered in 2014 from the US.

A further $100 million was spent in 2014-15 as part of a $1.8 billion project for five multi-role tanker aircraft to refuel aircraft in the air.

Last financial year about $734.2 million was spent on a major project to buy three air warfare destroyer ships; a project that has been marked as a "project of concern" in the report.

Projects of concern are those with "significant issues" that are beyond the normal capacity of a project team to manager, and may require government input.

The first ship in the project, which has been budgeted for a total $7 billion, is due to be delivered in March.

The report also said $516 million was spent last financial year towards the $3.9 billion project to buy eight P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

A further $299 million was spent towards a $3.7 billion project for 46 new helicopters.

Australian Auditor-General Grant Hehir completed a review of the defence force's report and said it had been completed within the guidelines.