For a faster solution to nearby maritime threats, look to the Australian Army

In a recent article for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), titled For a faster solution to nearby maritime threats, look to the Australian Army, Security & Defence PLuS Executive Director, Dr Ian Langford, examines Australia’s ability to respond to maritime threats in light of China’s recent attempt at ‘gunboat diplomacy’ off the east coast.

While many have seized this opportunity to criticise the Australian naval shipbuilding program, Langford highlights a more immediate challenge:

“what if the Chinese navy did sortie into our waters, or worse still, decided to interfere with our air and maritime movements by declaring, for instance, an air defence identification zone, similar to what occurs in the waters off Taiwan every time the Taiwanese disturb the Chinese Communist Party? Could we take any action?”

Langford uses the ‘ends, ways, and means’ model to analyse the issue. He acknowledges that while the 2024 National Defence Strategy sets clear deterrence objectives and outlines operational concepts to safeguard home waters, the means are not scheduled to be fully realised until the early 2030s.

“While the National Defence Strategy outlines ends, ways and means for the early 2030s, there is some risk in generating the tools for military strategy in the interim.”

He argues that one potential solution is to leverage the Australian Army’s land-based maritime strike capabilities. This approach could provide an immediate deterrent, mirroring how the Ukrainian Army has used land-based systems to push back the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

“With the rapid acquisition of an army system to complement developments in the navy and the air force, Australia could calibrate its ends, ways and means both now and beyond 2030 as major projects are delivered.”

Read the full article: For a faster solution to nearby maritime threats, look to the Australian Army