Investing in multiple defences

The decision to install the sophisticated and proven Aegis combat management system across navy vessels is a crucial strategic choice that will underpin the nation’s defence capabilities for the best part of 50 years. Developed by US firm Lockheed Martin and employed by the US Navy as well as Japan, Spain, South Korea and Norway, the Aegis system can guide weapons — such as Tomahawk cruise missiles — to land and maritime targets. Critically, the decision announced by Malcolm Turnbull yesterday commits the Aegis system to the nation’s fleet of nine future frigates as well as to air warfare destroyers, patrol vessels and Canberra-class landing helicopter docks. In the past, weapons systems have been tendered out platform by platform, so this cross-platform arrangement will ensure greater interoperability and streamline training, development and maintenance demands across the fleet.

A complementary locally designed “tactical interface” will be developed by Saab Australia to integrate non-Aegis systems including our own missile decoy and radar systems. Saab, Lockheed Martin and Australia’s CAE Technologies will make significant ongoing investments on the back of this billion-dollar decision, which will guarantee development, installation, maintenance and upgrade work for decades to come. Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne has trumpeted the strategy as part of the government’s defence procurement strategy, which includes the construction of 54 vessels across at least two decades creating up to 10,000 jobs, with the navy work spread mainly between Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. The Australian remains highly sceptical about the overarching politics of defence projects; industry assistance imperatives and political boondoggling seem to have driven selections as much as defence requirements and value for money. This is a great pity and risks placing unnecessary extra burdens on taxpayers for generations, as well as lumbering us with less-than-optimal platforms for the life of these projects. In this context the Aegis decision is one that will require intensive and diligent management. But the fundamental rationale, for interoperability across our own navy and with our allies, makes a good deal of sense. “We are equipping our navy to meet the threats of the future, and to do it with the best technology in the world,” the Prime Minister declared.

Potentially, this system will support technology that will be able to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles of the type tested by North Korea. Mr Turnbull seized on this remote but newsworthy threat to underpin the importance of this investment. “This decision will maximise the future frigates’ air warfare capabilities, enabling those ships to engage threat missiles at long range,” he said. “A number of states, notably, of course, North Korea, are developing missiles with advanced range and speed. We must have the capability to meet and defeat them.” In reality, our hardware for intercepting and destroying missiles of all kinds will be designed with other, more powerful and ubiquitous national forces in mind. Nonetheless, such investments are a vital part of our multifaceted defence preparedness.

Non-state actors are also likely to remain an ongoing security threat for decades to come and that is where our intelligence co-operation in the region has paid dividends. As Simon Benson exclusively has reported, our agencies have been involved in foiling six terror plots in Southeast Asia in the past year. This type of success tends to fly under the radar but is at least as important as making the right investment in defence equipment. Especially with the emergence of Islamic State in the troubled southern Philippines island of Mindanao, regional co-operation against Islamist terrorism remains a top priority. Our Australian Federal Police, intelligence officers and equipment are vital frontline weapons in our national security arsenal. In an age of global, regional and domestic national security threats the costs of inaction and under-investment would far outweigh the high price of eternal vigilance.