The ADF must move away from a ‘balanced’ force structure and towards a ‘focused’ force according to the findings of the Defence Strategic Review. While the ADF will retain capabilities to respond to lower-level contingencies, the bulk of the nation's force will be optimised to address Australia's “most significant” military risks.
Efforts to focus the force will be centred on six priority areas that require “immediate” action. These are:
- Continuing the process of acquiring nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines through AUKUS Pillar One.
- Developing the ADF’s ability to hit targets at long range with precision weapons and expanding Australian industries' ability to supply those munitions through the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise (GWEO).
- Expanding and improving the ADF’s ability to operate from its Northern Bases, in particular, the original ‘Bare Bases’ RAAF Scherger, Learmonth and Curtin.
- Growing and maintaining a highly skilled Defence workforce.
- Increasing the ADF’s ability to turn cutting-edge innovation and technology into capability including through AUKUS Pillar Two.
- Deepening Australia’s diplomatic and Defence relationships with the entire Indo-Pacific region through better resourcing of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and expanding the Defence Cooperation Program (DCP).
Reform of the ADFs force structure and capabilities in-line with the review will take place in three distinct phases commencing this year and lasting till the late 2030s.
Initial efforts at implementing the review's recommendations will run from 2023-2025 with the goal of achieving an “Enhanced Force-In-Being” focused on upgrading existing platforms and infrastructure. During this phase, the focus will be on developing Australia’s northern bases by enhancing survivability through hardening and dispersion. The ADF’s command and control systems will also be hardened and reinforced for contingencies as part of efforts to enhance the current force.
Details are fairly sparse about how capabilities will be enhanced in the short term, beyond an ‘agreed-in-principle’ commitment towards upgrading the F-35A fleet to Block IV standard and fitting them with both the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM). Efforts to grow the Navy’s capabilities during this period will likely be announced following the completion of the forthcoming surface combatant review in the third quarter of this year.
The government has also committed to accelerating the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise (GWEO) through the appointment of a single official to lead the program and additional investment to the tune of $2.5 billion. GWEO will present the government with costed pathways for the manufacture of long-range strike weapons, sea mines and 155mm ammunition by mid-2024. It will also examine ways to bring maintenance of air defence missiles onshore.
The Army is undoubtedly the biggest loser in the DSR, with close combat systems cut to pay for investments into GWEO and long-range strike. LAND 400 Phase 3 has been cut to 129 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) and a second regiment of AS9 Huntsmen self-propelled howitzers (SPH) canned. Army’s HiMARs purchase, meanwhile, has been expanded and the acquisition of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) accelerated. With the number of IFVs and SPHs being cut it’s not clear how the remainder will be distributed across Army. Language in the DSR suggests the creation of a single armoured combined-arms brigade integrating IFVs, Main Battle Tanks and SPHs. However, it is unclear if this would be in addition to one of the three multi-role combat brigades or if it would replace one.
“As a priority [Army] must be able to provide: close-combat capabilities, including a single armoured combined-arms brigade, able to meet the most demanding land challenges in our region.”
ADM has reached out to Defence for clarification on the above but hasn’t received a response by the time we closed for print. The DSR also recommends a wholesale review of the Army Reserve be completed before the end of 2025, including the question of re-establishing Ready Reserve forces which may help supplement the possible loss of a multi-role brigade.
In the medium term from 2026 through 2030 new acquisitions and capabilities will enter the ADF’s arsenal as part of its transformation into an “Objective Integrated Force”. This will include both investments currently contained in the Integrated Investment Plan (IIP) and new capabilities defined by the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
The force will achieve its desired end-state, termed “Future Integrated Force”, post 2030 with the delivery of major capabilities such as the first Virginia-class SSNs. The FIF is less of a specific set of capabilities and more of an “aim point” for all domains and areas of Defence to aspire towards in line with the Defence planning framework and prevailing strategic circumstances.