Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Imports & Exports, Modernization, and Counterterrorism Boost Australian Defense Expenditure


With Australia’s defense imports and exports being bolstered by its Australian Industry Capability (AIC) plan and Defense Export Unit (DEU), a significant modernization and procurement initiative on the part of the Australian DOD, coupled with a rising counterterrorism spend, new research released by Strategic Defense Intelligence claims that Australia’s defense expenditure is set to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% for the next four years, reaching a peak of USD 35.2 billion by 2018.

In 2009, Australia introduced the Australian Industry Capability (AIC) plan that imposes offsets designed to give domestic companies access to external global supply chains and foreign firms’ technology. Coupled with the government’s Defense Export Unit (DEU), which assists domestic companies in gaining access to export markets and increase their customer base, this has precipitated significant steady growth in the country’s defense imports and exports.

Moreover, this trend is set to continue: 65% of all procurements are forecasted to be made from foreign companies between 2014 and 2018, while the AIC and DEU – which have successfully pulled out USD 550 million by imposing offsets on foreign firms, such as global supply chain deeds and the transfer of training programs and technology aimed at improving domestic defense capabilities – are likely to attract more foreign investment during the same period.

The Australian DOD is expected to increase its capital expenditure from USD 5.9 billion in 2013 to USD 9.5 billion in 2018, as part of a concerted modernization initiative. Revenue expenditure is also expected to increase, from USD 20.4 billion in 2013 to USD 25.7 billion in 2018, which can be attributed to the additional recruitment, training, and development programs for military personnel that are to be undertaken over the next four years. This significant procurement of training, equipment and weaponry is expected to enhance the Australian defense expenditure, thereby supporting the market’s expansion.

While Australia has historically been sheltered from terrorism, its increasingly close relationship with the US, coupled with the occurrence of several terrorist attacks on domestic soil – such as the Sydney Hilton bombing in 1978, the Turkish Consulate bombing in 1986, and the Bali bombings in 2002 – has prompted the Australian government to increase its precautionary counterterrorism measures.

In 2011, the Australian government announced that it will invest AUD 1.2 billion to bolster Australia’s border security, with a range of measures including eight new border patrol vessels and strengthened aviation security. In addition to national security issues, the country plays a crucial role in the ongoing operations in Afghanistan, which is something that continues to drive its defense expenditure directed towards counterterrorism.

For further insights, Australian Defense Industry

About Research on Australia

Research on Australia is a leading source for market research on various sectors globally offering premium research content from worldwide publishers of market research reports.

To know more about our services, connect with us: support@researchonaustralia.com

No comments:

Post a Comment