The defence minister’s rhetoric isn’t matched by reality with five key projects behind schedule, not fit for purpose, axed or facing other problems

But how does this rhetoric about preparing for war match reality? Five significant defence projects are either well behind schedule or have had 'Major problems'.

Submarines all at sea:

This is the most high-profile defence acquisition debacle. In the process, two close partners of Australia – Japan and France – have been burnt.

Tony Abbott formed a close working relationship with the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, and was known to be keen on Japan building Australia’s future submarine fleet.

In February 2015, however, the then PM Tony Abbott fought off a leadership spill motion in part by promising a “competitive evaluation process” to shore up support from South Australian colleagues worried about shipbuilding jobs in that state.

Fast forward to September 2021, when Scott Morrison pulled the pin on the $89bn French conventional submarines project in favour of the Aukus deal, under which Australia now seeks at least eight nuclear-propelled submarines at unspecified cost.

Frigates up ship creek:

The government is facing growing scrutiny about its $45bn future frigates program.

The Coalition wants nine Hunter class frigates, optimised for anti-submarine warfare, to replace the current Anzac class frigates. They are meant to provide the Royal Australian Navy with “the critical capability required to defend Australia well into the future”.

In February, the Australian newspaper reported the Hunter class frigates could be “substantially” slower than comparable RAN surface combatants, have a shorter range than originally intended, and be vulnerable to detection by enemy vessels, based on a Defence engineering team assessment.

Surveillance plans up in the air:

A much-trumpeted $1.1bn upgrade to the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (Jorn) is running “several years” behind schedule.

That is despite the announcement by the Morrison government in 2020 that it was expanding the Jorn site at Longreach in Queensland “to provide wide area surveillance of Australia’s eastern approaches and enhance Australia’s strategic situational awareness”.

Armed drones on the backburner:

This is a near-term capability that Australia won’t have for budget reasons. Officials revealed in a Senate committee hearing earlier this month the government had quietly dumped the $1.3bn armed drones program to partly offset the cost of a cybersecurity package dubbed Redspice.

Helicopters facing the chop:

The acquisition of MRH90 Taipan helicopters can be put in the “long-troubled” box.

Australia bought 47 Taipans as a replacement for the Black Hawk and Sea King helicopter fleets, but the multibillion-dollar Howard government-era acquisition has been listed as a “Project of concern” since 2011.

The helicopters are used by the army – including to provide support to special operations – while the navy also relies on them for maritime support.

All up - a bit of a worry.