Modern wars can't be based on obsolete battle plans

Deploying force beyond our immediate neighbourhood is perfectly consistent with the defence of Australia's vital interests and should not be construed as fighting someone else's war. But a force designed for state-on-state conflict will struggle to manage the multifarious security challenges posed by neo-nationalist guerilla movements, terrorists, new-age mercenaries, pirates, people-smugglers and global crime syndicates.

Transformation is not a prescription for radical change. Neither does it mandate increased defence spending. Significant transformation can be achieved through a modest reordering of priorities and adjustments to existing programs within the existing budgetary framework.

Transformation means that the ADF must acquire more high-value, niche capabilities and additional land forces equipped for a wide range of contingencies across the threat spectrum that can be dispatched rapidly, with adequate protection, sustainment and command and control. The ADF must be trained and configured for multifaceted tasks. And although advanced technology is essential, it must be usable and appropriate for the new wars as well as the old.

Unfortunately, some of our existing systems fail this crucial test.