Australia is increasing its military capabilities

Spanish shipbuilders from Navantia launched the Canberra helicopter landing ship dock, Defense Aerospace reports. It will be the largest ship of the Royal fleet Australia.

Under the current ship construction schedule, the Canberra will be towed to the shipyard in Williamstown, Australia, where the helicopter carrier assembly will be completed. According to Defense News, the helicopter carrier will be adopted by the Australian Navy in 2014. Currently, Ferrol is building a second Canberra-class helicopter carrier, the Adelaide, which will become part of the Australian Navy in 2015. The Royal Australian Navy already has X-NUMX helicopters of the Kanimbla type. They are of American origin, built 2-1969, bought by Canberra in the year 1971.

This contract is part of a larger “Military Capacity Plan” promulgated by the military in 2006. The document implies the renewal of the military equipment park and the modernization of information exchange networks. As part of the plan, Australia intends to increase its military budget annually by at least 3 percent to 2015-2016.

TTH landing helicopter carrier ship-dock type "Juan Carlos I"

Displacement - 27079 tons;
Length - 230,8 m;
Width - 32 m;
Draught - 7,1 m;
The power plant - combined;
Travel speed - 21 node;
Cruising range - 9000 miles;
Crew - 243 person;
Armament:
Rocket launcher ESSM or RAM - 1;
Artillery installations «Oerlikon» 20 mm - 4;
Automatic machine guns 12,7 mm - 4;
Airborne capacity:
Marines - 902 man;
Tanks type "Leopard-2" - 46 units;
Wheeled vehicles - 77 units;
The composition of the wing:
Flight and technical staff - 172 person;
Aircraft AV-88 "Matador" - 18 units;
Helicopters type NH-90, SH-3D "Sea King", CH-47 "Chinook" - 12 units

New frigates for Australia

The future core of the Royal Australian Navy helicopter carriers of the Canberra type need cover, so Australia in 2007, Spain, from Navantia, ordered Hobart-class air defense frigates from Spain. Hobart frigates are slightly modified designs of Spanish F-100 frigates. Initially, the series will build 3 ship: "Hobart" (Hobart), "Brisbane" (Brisbane) and "Sydney" (Sydney). Head Hobart should be commissioned no later than 2013 of the year. The basis of their weapons: air defense system of the American project "Aegis".

Basic TTX frigates type "Hobart"

Displacement - 5800 t .;
Length - 146,7 m;
Width - 18,6 m;
Draft - 9,8 m;
Crew - 202 man and in addition the ship can take on board the 48 marines;
Armament: in addition to air defense missiles, ships will be equipped with harpoon anti-ship missiles. A medium-caliber cannon, roughly 76 mm, is located on the nose of the ship; the ship is also equipped with 2 small-caliber universal artillery systems, approximately 20 mm. To combat submarines, the frigate has 2-VA double-barrel torpedo tubes;

Power plant: consists of a combination of diesel engines and gas turbines. 2-ve gas turbines of the CODAG system develop power of 34,8 MW, and 2-VA diesel - 9 MW;
Maximum speed - 28,5 nodes;
Cruising range - 4500 miles at speed 18 nodes.

Modernization

Australia upgrades electronic systems 8 frigates type "Anzac", entered into service with 1994 on 2004 years. Within the framework of the fourth stage of modernization, frigates will be able to detect, classify and locate more surface and air targets, including new types of anti-ship missiles. Earlier, Australian frigates mounted torpedo tubes MU90 Impact caliber 324 millimeter and new machine guns M2HB caliber 12,7 millimeter. The frigates will receive CEAFAR and CEAMOUNT radars with a phased array, the Vampire NG infrared search and tracking system, the Sharpeye navigation radar system. The 2-vest launchers on the 4 RGM-84 "Harpoon" 32-missile, the 162 launchers of the RIM-2010 ESSM anti-aircraft missiles, the false targets of the Nulka missiles and a mine detection and circumvention system are put into service The first upgrade will be the Perth frigate, work on which began in January XNUMX. After completing the tests of the improved ship, all other frigates will pass through the modernization program.

The plans include the expansion of the information network of the armed forces, as well as the modernization of communication systems and military equipment of special forces. 330 additional access points and sites will be open throughout the country, each of which will be able to serve up to one hundred thousand people, both domestically and abroad. Thanks to modernization, the Ministry of Defense intends to increase the speed of information exchange between troops. The government will decide on the start of the program in 2011-2012, and the work is planned to be completed by 2020.

As part of the program of updating special-purpose equipment: I plan to completely change the military equipment, in the first phase 31 will be purchased by an English Supacat armored vehicle. At the second stage, more equipment will be purchased, and special forces communication capabilities will be expanded.

For these three programs I plan to spend up to from 500 million to billion Australian dollars (499-999 million dollars).

Royal Australian Air Force

Canberra purchased the Boeing F / A-24 Super Hornet fighter from the US 18. The first squadron of the 12 New American Fighter Jets was formed in December 2010. At the same time, the Australian Air Force wrote off all long-range strike aircraft F-111. F-18 steel for Canberra intermediate aircraft, with 2020, Canberra plans to put into operation before the 100 Fighter 5-generation F-35.

Shopping

In addition, the aircraft will enhance 16 reconnaissance UAVs RQ-7B Shadow 200 and 4-I UAV ground control stations. RQ-7B Shadow 200 is designed for reconnaissance in radius up to 125 kilometers from the control point. The onboard equipment includes optical and infrared sensors. The drone is capable of speeds up to 230 kilometers per hour and conduct patrols for six hours.

Australian Department of Defense has announced a tender for the supply of 24 anti-submarine helicopters for the Navy. The military is interested in anti-submarine versions of the MH-60R helicopters, manufactured by US companies Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin, and the NH90 NFH. The winner of the tender will be named in 2011 year. Canberra plans to replace the outdated SH-60 Seahawk with new cars.

The Australian Army Logistics Organization and Boeing signed a contract for the supply of CH-7F Chinook military transport helicopters to 47, Defense Aerospace reports. In addition to the helicopters themselves, Australia will also receive two training simulators CH-47 and spare parts.

Reasons for increasing military capabilities

- The growing threat of international terrorism.

- Unstable situation and tension in a number of countries of Southeast Asia. Currently, the Armed Forces of Australia are participating in peacekeeping missions in East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

- A sharp increase in the power of the PRC, including the naval component.