This is a big gamble given the government has repeatedly said that the nation faces its most dangerous strategic circumstances since World War II. Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed the People’s Liberation Army to be capable of capturing the self-governing island of Taiwan by 2027,a move that would probably draw China into a war with Australia’s most important ally:the United States.
Fewer Anzac-class frigates mean Australia will be less able to participate in freedom-of-navigation and other training exercises in the region in coming years despite China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
If things turn ugly in the mid-2040s,though,the government promises that the navy will have a fleet brimming with missile-laden ships equipped to defend the continent and promote stability in the region.
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By that time,according to the government,the navy will have added three new types of warships to its arsenal:six Hunter-class frigates,up to 11 general purpose frigates and six “optionally crewed” vessels.
One doesn’t have to be a cynic to wonder whether such grand dreams will ever become a reality. Major defence projects have had a long tendency to run over budget,behind schedule and be overtaken by technological developments and changed strategic circumstances.