Aussies

I think that the Australian military isn't adequately covered here. In the past, Australia been involved in many conflicts in Asia.

As PRC's capabilities grow, her relations with Australia and its military will become even more important. I invite all to post their thoughts on current and future events/trends that we may witness. For the start:
1. Will/shall RAN operate an aircraft carrier again?
2. Will/shall Australia go nuclear?
3. will they continue to be very close US allies?

BLUEJACKET said:

1. Will/shall RAN operate an aircraft carrier again?
2. Will/shall Australia go nuclear?
3. will they continue to be very close US allies?

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In answert to your questions:

1. The RAN is already looking hard at a Sea Control type carrier. Word is they are leaning very hard towards the Ref

2. Very doubtful, in fact, highly unlikely in the forseeable future.

3. Most definitely.

The Aussie sea control ship is to be without any capability to carry fixed wing aircraft, the department of defence beleives that any operation that would require fixed wing combat support will be conducted as part of a US/Australian alliance and as such the 8-12 aircraft we would be able to contribute will be meaningless in the scheme of things.

In regards to nuclear weapons, we do not currently have them, we do though have the ability to produce them very quickly if need be and as well as that we would be covered by the US arsenal if things went upstream in a hurry. We are in the same boat as the Japanese in that situation.

chakos said:

The Aussie sea control ship is to be without any capability to carry fixed wing aircraft, the department of defence beleives that any operation that would require fixed wing combat support will be conducted as part of a US/Australian alliance and as such the 8-12 aircraft we would be able to contribute will be meaningless in the scheme of things.

In regards to nuclear weapons, we do not currently have them, we do though have the ability to produce them very quickly if need be and as well as that we would be covered by the US arsenal if things went upstream in a hurry. We are in the same boat as the Japanese in that situation.

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Producing nuclear bombs quickly is one thing. I believe that any nation in this world who have nuclear power station could do it. However means of delivering these weapons is the tricky part.

Australia had a nuclear power station (heard from my Aussie friend in Sydney), and so to build bombs is no problem, however I have no such confidence with Australia's missile technology.

American and Australian interests will continue to coincide and thus Australia will continue to add to American military ventures. In addition, I think that the US is interested in cultivating Australia as an ally much like Japan in order to counter China's rising military power. Just as the JSDF in essence adds to American military capability in the Far East, I think that the US is interested in helping the Australian military to become a true reigional military power in order to add to the American reigional miltiary alliance that includes Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Rhino,

If Australia was to want to weaponise nuclear weapons then the most likelly way to go about it would be to fit a nuclear warhead onto the popeye guided missiles that are used by the F111's. Dont forget that although the F111's are the C model that model is basically an FB-111A with a strengthened undercarriage. Noone knows for sure that the avionics to handle nuclear weapons where removed when the aircraft where purchased and guven the ultra close relationship between Aus/US then id tend to think that particular capability may not have been removed at all.

Any difficulties in actually developing and fitting a warhead onto the missile would be null and mute because if the reason for Australia having a nuke capability was legitimate enough the US would gladly give all the help required to achieve this.

Finn McCool said:

American and Australian interests will continue to coincide and thus Australia will continue to add to American military ventures. In addition, I think that the US is interested in cultivating Australia as an ally much like Japan in order to counter China's rising military power. Just as the JSDF in essence adds to American military capability in the Far East, I think that the US is interested in helping the Australian military to become a true reigional military power in order to add to the American reigional miltiary alliance that includes Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

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I agree completely with your post. The Australian and American interests coincide and therefore the US will strnegthen Australia as a buttress against any future Asian mainland threat.Australia was a major lynchpin in the Pacific in WW II...and remains strategically positioned, along with Japan now, to stay that way from the American and Australian perspective..

As to wether or not the Aussies should buy F-35Bs for their new LHDs, numerically they may not be able to make as much difference as any American contribution to a joint operation, but politically it would mean a great deal. How would the US feel if all it's allies took the view that because the US armed forces are big enough to do the job on their own, there is no need to contribute anything to the campaign? A single squadron of Aussie Lightnings flying alongside US forces will buy a lot of political Kudos in Washington far beyond any material gain by their presence, and Australia will otherwise be left out if the other regional powers aquire Carrierborne Naval Airpower and they do not. As has been posted before in other threads, carriers allow you to fight your next war on someone elses soil instead of your own.

Obi Wan Russell said:

As to wether or not the Aussies should buy F-35Bs for their new LHDs, numerically they may not be able to make as much difference as any American contribution to a joint operation, but politically it would mean a great deal. How would the US feel if all it's allies took the view that because the US armed forces are big enough to do the job on their own, there is no need to contribute anything to the campaign? A single squadron of Aussie Lightnings flying alongside US forces will buy a lot of political Kudos in Washington far beyond any material gain by their presence, and Australia will otherwise be left out if the other regional powers aquire Carrierborne Naval Airpower and they do not. As has been posted before in other threads, carriers allow you to fight your next war on someone elses soil instead of your own.

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The RAN wants to build LHD's similar to this Spanish design called the Navantia.


The project could possibly be funded as soon as next year. I don't think the Aussies would have more than 30 JSF's. Just my idea.

All the reports I've read talk of 20 F-35Bs as part of a total order of 100 F-35As for the RAAF, which would allow for one frontline sqn (about 12 aircraft), a few for the training sqn (mostly with A models, the B model would only be required for specific STOVL training so possibly only 4 aircraft) and the other 4 as attrition spares. More aircraft could be ordered later to add a second sqn, but the Aussie government is officially denying any requirement for the B model (probably listening to the RAAF who have always felt threatened by Naval Aviation). If the aircraft were ordered, there are rumours that they will be operated by the Air Force and not the Fleet Air Arm, which is currently an all Helicopter force. We can be sure the RAAF and it's supporters will do everything they can to prevent the Navy regaining strike aircraft, as that is what insecure landlubbers do.