The nation's $270 billion, decade-long defence spend may not include enough money to maintain and support Australia's new military equipment, a new report says. A defence think tank has raised questions about the cost of sustaining the expanded force revealed in the federal government's strategic update in July.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute said in a report released on Wednesday that nearly one-third of the decade's $180 billion budget for maintaining military equipment would be devoted to the additional cost of supporting new acquisitions.
Australia's submarines could triple in cost to sustain as the nation acquires the new Attack-class model, while frigates would likely double in expense and air combat costs could triple, the report said....MORE
