cam . # .

I am not sure what you would call what: I am arguing for, patrol-carriers? Super-frigates? I am not arguing for a bigger navy, but a smarter one. I dont see the ships I am describing being anywhere as near as large as the old HMAS Melbourne, definately not the huge LHDs the Navy wants.

These Super-patrol-carrier-frigates will replace the AWDs, LHDs and Frigates in the Navy. Since they are autonomous, they dont need a protective fleet around them. Because they have Helicopter, UAV and maybe even JSF capability, they can maintain a sustained air presence on the fringes of the Air Forces capability. It will also help in search-seizure-patrol style missions. The JSFs can be flown in as needed (and the extra UAVs flown out as needed).

The Defence White Paper describes the ADFs main role as being able to defeat a credible attack on Australia, so any platform must be able to have that capability. Defence systems have such long lead in times that it would be short-sighted not to ensure that capability exists.

I believe that agile ships with UAV and helicopter capability will give the right mix of projection and utility to work in a regional environment which has to meet the challenges of non-state actors as well as nation-state deterrent.

cam