Australian Procurement Changes: DCP 2006-2106

Australian Minister of Defence Brendan Nelson recently released the public version of Australia’s Defence Capability Plan (DCP) 2006-16. outlining more than $51 billion of major capital equipment proposals. The DCP 2006-16 is a major document produced periodically from an ongoing review of capability requirements. “Australia’s National Security – A Defence Update 2005” fed into this review process, and heavily influenced the DCP. The new document also comes on the heels of an additional $2.4 billion invested over fiscal years 2011-12 to 2015-16, and can be set into the context of the currrent government’s commitment to increase annual defence spending by 3% per year over the next decade. Key features of the DCP 2006-2016 include: * Modified helicopter plans aimed at reducing the number of aircraft types and to create a common joint training and management system. More than A$ 3.7 billion of project funding has been set aside for these purposes. Australia’s A$ 2 billion order of an additional 34 NH90 helicopters for naval and troop transport roles appears to be their first step in this direction. * $500 million to enhance the recently-built ANZAC frigates, with a focus on improved air defense and undersea warfare detection. * A 40% […]