I want to add to the thread from the outset that attention to the cover letters is important and was considered before posting this to share. There is, by inference, a classified side of this sale and report. This is the unclassified and legally required side of the report for the public to see. It's fascinating in itself as a few pages go into individual systems, their use and classification level for detailed information beyond what this carries.

Who says ATS never sees anything special posted?

Are'nt Super Hornets getting kinda old these days?
I thought we were getting the joint fighter thingys

If you read "In Fear of Security" by Professor Anthony Burke (Adelaide University) , its been pointed out Australia has a historical fear of being invaded by China, and with the current provocations in NK, maybe they are even more fearful of world war 3 breaking out, being somewhat isolated and their main foe being China. I don't know if anyone remebers the rhetoric during the Bush era of Australia being the Sheriff of the Asia pacific, but i would argue they still maintain that ideology.

What you say makes sense and I think you're right. It's the same reason China is no real threat to the United States unless the US is foolish enough to commit military in China's own neighborhood and backyard. They just don't have the ability to project and keep logistics going around the world. Not for many years, at least.

China and the US are too deeply embedded in each other's financials to ever get into an outright war. I think if we saw something like that it would resemble Vietnam, with the major players pulling the strings at the behest of a smaller nation. Neither China or the US would be directly involved. What we're seeing is a shift away from Europe as the common theatre of war towards Asia, and of course Australia is the western hub of Asia, so it makes sense the US would have a presence nearby. The thing I don't understand is with all the presence already in Korea, Japan and eastern Asia by the US forces, having another presence in mainland Australia is just for show.

Is Indonesia really that serious a threat outside chaotic illegal immigration I've heard people talk about? It was just a few months ago that the balloon was being floated for home porting at least one U.S. Aircraft Carrier in Australia. That didn't float far, as I recall, but it sure got put out there.

Indonesia has nearly ten times the population of Australia, in a space about a quarter of the size. Being a part of monarchial Britain still, the UK would have to step in if one of it's colonies was invaded, and of course the US would surely follow suit. I would suspect that's why to date the whole Republic Australia idea has been quashed, because it would leave Australia too vulnerable from attack from Asian forces.

About our main saving grace is any invading force would have to cross miles of rough desert and harsh terrain to get anywhere near the major centres. Australia is not very friendly to any invading force.

On the Australian Aircraft Carrier comment... right now in the williamstown shipyards in victoria is a massive by aussie standards naval chopper carrier being fitted out.
You can see quite clearly as you drive to work over the west gate bridge that it has a take off ramp on the prow which I'd assumed was for the JSF's we had ordered because they are a jump jet yes?
I can't see choppers taking a run up and taking off via a ramp? and maybe other planes maybe could be catapulted up the ramp but there wouldn't be anywhere for a standard plane to land?
So I'd say we are still getting the jsf's soonish unless as per usual the governments spent money on something we don't need!!
We are getting two of them...The Canberra and the Adelaide
Both are bigger than our last Aircraft Carrier The Melbourne