The 2011 Public Defence Capability Plan (the DCP) has been released, providing information for the defence industry on Defence’s planned capital equipment acquisitions.

 

The 2011 DCP update includes adjustments to the DCP since the update in December last year, and which were publicly advised on 29 June 2011 with the release of a DCP supplement, including the approval of 18 projects comprising:

 

  • Second Pass approval for nine projects at an estimated total cost of around $4 billion including the acquisition of 24 new naval combat helicopters.
  • First Pass approval for nine projects, with funding approved of around $100 million to fund capability development activities. 

 

Three new projects have been introduced to the DCP and approved since the December 2010 update: an additional C-17 heavy lift aircraft, the LargsBayamphibious ship (to be commissioned as HMAS Choules) and 101 additional Bushmaster vehicles.

 

The adjustments also include the cancellation of the project to acquire additional C-130J aircraft following the Government’s acquisition of the additional C-17 heavy lift aircraft.

 

The on-line update includes a small number of additional changes from the December 2010 update which were not included in the June supplement.  Further adjustments reflect the ongoing refinement of the information in the DCP, in particular variations to schedule and cost.

 

Under the government’s plans to improve the quality of pre-first pass information provided to industry, the new Associate Secretary (Capability) in Defence will be responsible for reviewing capability proposals before they are considered for inclusion in the Defence Capability Plan, to ensure they reflect the Government’s strategic requirements and that all risks are well understood.

 

A small number of projects are not included in the Public DCP due to their national security classification.

 

The Public DCP is available at: http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/id/dcp/dcp.cfm