abc123 wrote: ↑25 Nov 2023, 13:23
What exactly is the problem with Arafura class?
I don’t think there is any specific problem with Arafura.
IMO it’s the fleet balance that looks suspect.
Nobody appears to be able to explain the rationale behind the chosen fleet balance apart from blaming politicians for making bad decisions.
AUKUS has changed the landscape somewhat but cancelling programs appears to becoming a bit of a habit which will ultimately just lead to more instability and more bad decisions based around knee jerk reactions.
Given the scale of the Australian EEZ the Arafura procurement makes sense but the proposed Frigate/Destroyer numbers looks totally inadequate to provide sufficient presence over the vast area that is strategically significant.
Therefore does it make to continue with the full Arafura class procurement or would it make sense to cap the class at 8 and then build another 6 or 8 more capable OPVs with a greater range/endurance/helo etc to push out further into the Indo Pacific and relieve some of the pressure from the escorts.
It may be a sticking plaster solution but it would effectively double the RANs presence in the crucial areas.