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| HMAS Canberra departs Sydney for sea trials (File Photo) |
By Franz-Stefan Gady
A new study by a leading Australian think tank urges reforms
As the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is preparing to commission its second Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) HMAS Adelaide — at 27,800 tons, the RAN’s largest-ever ship class — by the end of 2015, a new study [PDF] by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) finds critical gaps in Australia’s amphibious warfare capabilities.
“Australia’s position in the world makes the effort a strategic imperative, but the ADF still has a long way to go and many critical decisions ahead if it’s to develop an amphibious warfare capability that’s ready for future challenges,” the paper notes.
The first ship of the new class, the HMAS Canberra, was commissioned nine months ago. The ship can carry up to 1,046 troops and their equipment, around 110 vehicles and between eight to 18 helicopters that can airlift 220 soldiers at a time.
Read the full story at The Diplomat