Search This Blog

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Australia: Largest Defence spending spree since WWII

C-17 Globemaster
THE Federal Government is poised for the largest expenditure on the nation’s armed forces since World War Two.

The $52 billion dollar investment plan will encompass new planes, ships and tanks, bringing the Australian Defence Force the capability of 21st century technology and firepower.

Defence officials will examine a wide range of options with defence companies across the globe frantically bidding for a range of lucrative contracts.

The RAAF will benefit from this bounty with a planned purchase of 100, F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) at an estimated $160 million each, to replace the aging fleet of F/A-18’s.

The JSF aircraft are still undergoing testing and some believe the Government may cut their order to around 60 of the aircraft due to cost blow outs.

The loyal C-130 Hercules may possibly get a bigger brother with the massive C-17 Globemaster a favourite on the RAAF’s wishlist. The $200 million transport plane with a wing span of over 51 metres can carry 102 troops plus equipment and also has the lift capability to transport the Army’s new M1 Abrams tanks which will be introduced into service in June.

Read more
om

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner.

The material is being made available in an effort to advance understanding arms trade activities, for non-profit research and educational purposes only.

I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

This is a completely non-commercial site for private personal use. No fee is charged, and no money is made off of the operation of this site.