{"id":57128,"date":"2020-07-01T10:59:06","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T00:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=57128"},"modified":"2020-07-02T09:07:37","modified_gmt":"2020-07-01T23:07:37","slug":"strategic-update-shows-shift-in-australias-defence-outlook-in-uncertain-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/strategic-update-shows-shift-in-australias-defence-outlook-in-uncertain-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Strategic update shows shift in Australia\u2019s defence outlook in uncertain times"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/figure>\n

In this interview, ASPI\u2019s executive director Peter Jennings talks to The Strategist\u2019s<\/em> Brendan Nicholson about Australia\u2019s 2020 defence strategic update and new force structure plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

They discuss the extent to which the nation\u2019s strategic situation has deteriorated in the four years since the 2016 defence white paper, the acceptance that Australia must abandon its long-held expectation that it will have 10 years to prepare for a major conflict, and the decision to provide the Australian Defence Force with a much more potent strike capability to deter an attacker.<\/p>\n

The update warns that Australia must be ready to deal with \u2018grey zone\u2019 aggression that falls short of actual warfare.<\/p>\n

Preparation and improved intelligence-gathering capabilities will be crucial to providing early warning of threats. The Australian-designed Jindalee over-the-horizon radar network will be extended to look out over the Pacific.<\/p>\n

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of supply chains and there\u2019s a big lesson there for Defence. Crucial to Australia\u2019s ability to defend itself will be ensuring a secure supply of locally produced munitions to avoid relying on equipment coming from abroad. The same applies to vital fuel supplies.<\/p>\n

The update and the force structure plan map out a path that will give Australia a much greater ability to defend itself in uncertain times.<\/p>\n