We are entering a new era, the threats to Australia’s sovereignty are real. As a nation, we once planned for a ten year build-up period. I believe we are now in this ten year lead-in time frame. Ok, so the defence of the Australian mainland is real, we need a genuine deterrence, the air force is the primary defensive mechanism protecting Australia.

Yes, Australia is a trading nation so the defence of our sea lanes is imperative. The air force is required to provide air support of naval assets. The F-35 will be the primary defensive weapon to support the defence of Australia. Yes, this is deterrence, an invading force will need to determine if it is worth the losses to invade the Australian mainland, we need to ensure it isn’t.

The Japanese swept down through South East Asia in the 1940s, they were stopped in New Guinea, now the air force will prevent any incursion on Australian sovereignty. We saw the Japanese build up in the 1930s, their treatment of Korea and China should be a stark warning to us all. Now Japan is a leading member of our alliance. Prior to that, the Chinese were on our side. This is an ironic turn of events, the geopolitical forces that shape our region are concerning.

The forward operating bases are Australia’s first line of defence. The army is the largest force in terms of manpower, but really the weakest by terms of weaponry. We have limited artillery, armoured vehicles, main battle tanks and our missile defence is rudimentary. We have a limited army, if our shores were invaded, the army is the last line of defence. That capability is not all that capable, really, the army needs to be controlling the missile defence systems.

So the air force, working in tandem with the navy is the main defensive structure protecting the Australian mainland. The air force will seek to destroy enemy shipping approaching Australia, the stealth and networking capabilities of the F-35 should first seek to destroy enemy shipping approaching Australian shores. Any attacking force would be airborne initially with naval support, that would include armour, artillery and mobile missile vehicles.

Australia has a vast interior, the potential to house long range missile defences far from the coast is vital to the Australian defensive structure. Sure, medium range missile defences need to be stationed closer to the coast, long range artillery to protect the major cities is not out of the question. Really, for an island such as Australia means main battle tanks as a defensive mechanism means the mainland has been invaded by ground forces.

The F-35 is the primary air defence aircraft, Australia has no strategic bombers, so fighter aircraft are the primary means of defence. The P-8 Poseidon is the primary maritime reconnaissance aircraft to identify naval assets The F/A-18F is the non-stealth aircraft, this fighter attack aircraft has been the main fighter aircraft in the air force for decades, supported by the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.

There are three northern air force bases, there is RAAF Base Scherger at the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland, RAAF Base Curtin in the Kimberly region of Western Australia protecting the two forward flanks with RAAF Base Learmonth protecting the north west cape. These are base bases, they have minimal facilities, although RAAF Base Curtin is set for an upgrade without becoming a full time base with air defences stationed at the base.

There are a number of approaches, an invading force would likely be naval with air support and could come through the Indonesian island archipelago, there are a number of passages with the likely route between Indonesia and Papua Guinea. With the Solomon Islands supporting Chinese ##, a route through the Solomon Islands is a real threat for the eastern approach and the western approach could be down through the South China Sea, between the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java.

Whilst there is a small population in the north of Western Australia, there is oil and gas infrastructure and mining infrastructure including mines, rail networks and port facilities. Losing this capability will seriously damage the exports of the country, these revenue earning assets need to be protected and there are no real military assets to protect such important national infrastructure.

The main air base is located is RAAF Base Tindal with the newly acquired F-35 stealth aircraft based there, US B-52 heavy bombers and at times US B-1 supersonic bombers. This makes sense for strategic bomber platforms that have an extended range and armed with anti-ship missiles, they do have the range to protect Australia’s northern approaches. If Australia is able to purchase the B-21 Raider as part of the AUKUS alliance then we will have a sovereign defence capability.