https://www.ga-asi.com/remotely-piloted-aircraft/mq-9b-seaguardianLegislation has now passed the US Congress putting in place a framework for AUKUS Pillar One. Does this mean that Australia will be acquiring second hand Virginia class submarines? No, it does not. In fact some of the wording is so vague that a future US President could cancel the deal on a personal whim.

Secondly, the industrial mobilisation problems are vast – and thirdly if anyone says AUKUS is safe from political changes because of bipartisan support in the US then they must be on drugs.

Currently, US military aid to both Israel and Ukraine is being held hostage to demands from Republicans to fund the wall with Mexico – and Australia is no different. Also a lot of nonsense has been spoken about Virginias – they are not the best SSNs in the world. There are at least two other designs that are better. Finally – helicopters. What a travesty that Australia will spend $11 billion on previous generation machinery, without scrutiny, just to keep a handful of Army officers happy.

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Kym Bergmann
Kym Bergmann is the editor for Asia Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR) and Defence Review Asia (DRA). He has more than 25 years of experience in journalism and the defence industry. After graduating with honours from the Australian National University, he joined Capital 7 television, holding several positions including foreign news editor and chief political correspondent. During that time he also wrote for Business Review Weekly, undertaking analysis of various defence matters.After two years on the staff of a federal minister, he moved to the defence industry and held senior positions in several companies, including Blohm+Voss, Thales, Celsius and Saab. In 1997 he was one of two Australians selected for the Thomson CSF 'Preparation for Senior Management' MBA course. He has also worked as a consultant for a number of companies including Raytheon, Tenix and others. He has served on the boards of Thomson Sintra Pacific and Saab Pacific.

7 COMMENTS

  1. The one glaring statement ,that everyone seems to have forgotten , that cast a dubious outlook for the AUKUS Submarine is the R.A.N. has repeatedly stated that it will never even consider have two different classes of Submarine in service at the same time. So if the R.A.N has its heart set on Virginia Class ,where does that leave the AUKUS boat. Also Australia will never (in this lifetime) have the resources or abilities to remove and store the Nuclear Waste from either boat, plus we will never have enough people to man them, that is ,unless the Surface Fleet is scrapped entirely . With so many statements saying contradictory things I don’t believe it will ever happen. I think the best thing (if the Powers that be are adamant about going Nuclear) is to approach the French and buy French built Barracudas or if the VLS tubes are what they want go with the South Korean KSS.Perhaps someone in the mix realises it will never happen and is playing Politics with the Admirals. Thanks for another informative Podcast and I wish you and all the staff at APDR a very Merry Xmas and Happy new Year.

  2. Which was the only Australian Army aircraft deployed to support ADF combat operations in Afghanistan ? which LHD depolyable Australian Army aircraft has best served the needs of the ADF during amphibious assault exercises ? which LHD deployable Australian Army aircraft would best support the island hopping nature of envisaged littoral HIMARS operations ? which LHD deployed Australian Army aircraft best met the needs of Tonga’s population following its devastating earth quake ? which Australian Army aircraft delivers the most versatile support to our vulnerable nation’s ever increasing climate driven disasters ? The CH-47 Chinook. We should be following Germany’s example, not with the NH-90, but by purchasing Block 2 air refuelable CH-47s (Germany has ordered 60). Adding 20 to our current fleet of 14F models would more than compensate the loss of 40 NH-90 or Blackhawks. Anyone who has cited Chinook’s operating costs to justify the NH-90 or Blackhawk’s reduced capacity (speed, range & payload ) to defend our massive continent, has yet to grasp that such short sightedness will end up costing us infinitely more as the intensity & frequency of Australia’s cyclones-floods & fires increases.
    As for the alleged imminent threat of high intensity conflict with China, the glaring hypocrisy of selective reporting in Australia surpassed itself this year. While many bark endlessly about reckless cutting of Infantry Fighting Vehicles, of the 12 F-35s Lockheed Martin promised the RAAF by years end (the equivalent of a squadron) NOT ONE has been delivered, and NOBODY has said a word about it, or the continuing gap left in our front line of defence.
    Thanks for your efforts this year Kym, Merry X-Mas to you & the APDR team

    • Thanks Mike – that’s an interesting thought about the Chinooks. Having said that – as you will be aware – I’m a fan of Taipan. I wonder if Richard Marles will apologise to all of those flood affected people in Queensland for their unnecessary retirement?

      Regarding the final 12 F:35s, I have asked Defence when they now expect to receive them. To date there has been no reply.

      Have a good Christmas.

      • Yes, recouping value for money from Taipan/Tiger while purchasing extra Chinooks with the funding found for obsolete Blackhawk/Apaches would be ideal, but clearly what serves Australia best, impinges on profits to be made by a corrupt handfull in and around defence procurement. I include the submarine travesty in this treasonous state of affairs.

    • Sure. There’s quite a bit of public domain information available about Seawolf; slightly less so for Barracuda. I might elaborate – to the extent that I can – in a future podcast. As mentioned, I also suspect – but am less certain – that Astute might also have better signatures than the Virginia class. This is not to disparage the Virginias, which are fine submarines apart from their current horrendous maintenance burden. What does cause me more concern about Virginias is the US is now trying to churn them out at a rate of more than two per year – that’s really throwing them together as fast as possible, which is the opposite of the extreme care usually required to build very stealthy SSNs.

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