Deployed troops will be better protected with an increase in investments made to major defence operations overseas.
The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, announced that the government would allocate a further $1.1 billion to safeguard Australian personnel, bringing the total commitment to $1.4 billion
Over the period 2009-10 to 2012-13, the Australian Government will invest $1.1 billion for enhanced force protection capabilities in Afghanistan. This initiative includes $487.1 million of expenditure in 2010-11.
The most significant component of the package of force protection capabilities is the acquisition of a Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar sense and warn capability. This capability will be deployed to help provide our troops in Afghanistan with longer advance warning of indirect fire attacks.
This new investment will be funded in part from Defence’s existing capital investment programs with the Government to provide Defence with an additional $221.6 million in 2010-11.
Senator Faulkner said, “Australian forces in Afghanistan currently face a very high risk from both insurgent operations and improvised explosive devices, and a high risk from indirect fire”.
The Government’s investment in force protection capabilities includes a range of measures to provide direct protection for Australian Defence Force members from small-arms, improvised explosive devices and indirect fire.
Additional measures include:
- improved route clearance capabilities;
- enhanced protection and firepower for Protected Mobility Vehicles;
- new night fighting equipment;
- improved body armour;
- a new weapons system for the Special Operations Task Group;
- new biometrics capabilities;
- additional military working dogs; and
- a suite of improved intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities.
“Enhancing force protection levels will reduce the risks to Australian Defence Force personnel and damage to their vehicles and equipment in Afghanistan as a result of enemy action.”
“It is the Government’s responsibility to provide the highest level of protection possible to our deployed forces on operations and that is what this investment is intended to do,” he said.
