Australia to respond to surface fleet review in 2024
The delay in publishing Ausralia's surface fleet review indicates there is a struggle going on at the top of the Ministry of Defence about how to best proceed (Photo: Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Twitter/X)
The Australian government will receive the much-anticipated independent Royal Australian Navy surface fleet review today, but will not publish the document or its response until next year.
Responding to questions in a TV interview with ABC on 28 September 2023, the Australian deputy prime minister and minister of defence, Richard Marles, stated: ‘The Government will work through its processes in pretty short shrift to provide a response to that over the next few months… in the early part of next year.’
By taking an extended period of time into 2024 to make a decision about the review it is clear that the government has difficult decisions to make. However, taking extra time to deliver a response goes against the clear need for urgency - as indicated in
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Critical infrastructure protection fuels growth in maritime counter-drone market]()
Critical infrastructure protection fuels growth in maritime counter-drone market
Operational lessons are pushing navies towards counter-uncrewed aerial systems at sea, creating a fast-emerging industrial opportunity for radar and effector makers.
-
![Canada’s selection of TKMS for its new patrol submarines reflects rising Arctic competition]()
Canada’s selection of TKMS for its new patrol submarines reflects rising Arctic competition
The decision points to deepening NATO cooperation and mounting competition in the Arctic and North Atlantic, as Canada opts for a European-designed solution despite interest from South Korea.
-
![UK Royal Navy shifts focus from warships to system-led warfare]()
UK Royal Navy shifts focus from warships to system-led warfare
With a revised Defence Investment Plan on the way ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit on 7-8 July, the UK government has begun to reveal more details of how its future naval fleet could look.
