AUKUS: Anthony Albanese gives Collins submarines tomahawk missile review

The Albanese government has asked for a review into military acquisitions with fears of a capability gap in our defences.

The Albanese government has had an early win with the Australian Navy’s ageing Collins class fleet likely to be armed with tomahawk land attack cruise missiles.

Defence is conducting a feasibility study into better arming the up to 30-year-old submarines, set to be upgraded as part of life extension program with recognition Navy is unlikely to have a more modern submarine in the water before 2040.

Under the AUKUS security pact with the US and UK, Australia is to acquire new nuclear-powered subs and other state-of-the-art war fighting hardware but there is scepticism when this is practical or likely, some in Defence even suggesting if at all.

HMAS DECHAINEUX a Collins Class Submarine in Osborne, South Australia in April this month. Picture Emma Brasier

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had pledged to fill the capability gap with the Collins class and earlier this year specifically touted the Tomahawk as one option, Navy has heard and has now confirmed it is scoping it.

The missiles would likely have to be a torpedo tube launched variant since the Collins lacked a vertical launch system but would allow the submarine a land attack capability.

But a Tomahawk feasibility study will not be the end of it with the Labor Government ordering a broader sweeping review of Australia’s defence force posture including all multi-billion dollar acquisitions pledged under the Morrison government.

There has been growing recognition the former Coalition government’s much-touted 2020 Defence Strategic Update, which warned Australia could be dragged into conflict with less than 10 years notice, no longer sat well with the 2020 Force Structure plan which is re-equipping the ADF but unlikely for decades.

The war between Ukraine and Russia has also since flagged the devastating effect cheap off-the-shelf drones being used by the Ukrainian military is hammering Russian forces and their large legacy war tools including the now sunk Moskova battle cruiser.

A tomahawk land attack cruise missile.

How broad that Defence review is not clear, with strong rumours there has been discreet scoping of what would happen if AUKUS did not produce a nuclear sub in the next two decades and whether a “son of Collins” modern submarine currently being developed by Sweden for the Dutch navy would suit.

“What I hope they do is sort of have a no-options-off-the-table look to see if they are either satisfied with the current plan or if there is something else that needs to be put in place,” former Defence Department deputy secretary and executive director of Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior Peter Jennings said.

HMAS Rankin conducts helicopter transfer drills in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia. Picture: Supplied

He said Defence has long been fixated around the “large, highly expensive, exquisitely complicated platforms” when cheaper options were available particularly with drones.

“From a risk management point of view I think it is worth spending a bit of money to see if there might be a ‘Plan C’ that may be drawn on if the AUKUS thing turns out to be too expensive or too slow. There is a lot of risk associated with that and the only way is to approach it with a no plan too silly to consider.”

He said Labor and Defence needed to think what could happen in the next 15 years not post 2035-2050s when new acquisitions were expected to come online.

Newly appointed Defence Minister Richard Marles could not be reached for comment.

Originally published as AUKUS: Anthony Albanese gives Collins submarines tomahawk missile review