Professor Des Ball
Professor in Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, ANU
- Defence planners continue to try to satisfy too wide a range of objectives.
- The nature of defence expenditure is such that a) most planning has to be long term, b) the anticipated cost of specific defence purchases turns out to be a fraction of the final cost and c) many major purchases (such as the Abrams tank) generate unplanned equipment needs with large financial implications.
- Are we spending on the right things? Or are we just pouring it down the drain, leaving us vulnerable?
- Increases in weapons purchases are taking place all over the Asian region. In North East Asia, the acquisitions are becoming competitive and we are seeing the beginnings of a genuine arms race.