Non-Subscriber Extract
Australia outlines five-year procurement plan
By Jon Grevatt
02 July 2009
The Australian government released its Defence Capability Plan (DCP) 2009 on 1 July, which outlines 110 procurement projects over the next five years with a total value of more than AUD60 billion (USD48 billion).
Announced at a defence industry conference in Adelaide by Defence Minister John Faulkner, the DCP contains a detailed account of major capital equipment proposals that are planned for government consideration from 2009 until 2013.
Major projects highlighted include AIR 6000, the five-phase acquisition of three squadrons of Joint Strike Fighters (100 aircraft); and SEA 1000, a three-phase acquisition of 12 submarines.
In addition, the plan includes AIR 9000, the acquisition of at least 24 naval combat helicopters; SEA 1180 to procure replacements for the existing Armidale patrol boats, mine-hunters and hydrographic survey fleet; and AIR 7000, the acquisition of a maritime patrol aircraft to replace the AP-3C Orion.
The future frigate SEA 5000 project and AIR 7000 are two of several programmes that the government said will be included in subsequent DCPs "to meet the capability goals" of the defence White Paper published in May.