John Wineera: Retired Lieutenant Colonel and defence expert on the new planes, helicopters, defence spend

Our defence aircraft could soon be playing cat-and-mouse with submarines following a multibillion-dollar investment. 

The Governments putting $2.7 billion towards two new Airbus A321 planes to replace older planes. 

Five Seahawk helicopters are also being bought, equipped with anti-submarine torpedo systems.  

Retired Lieutenant Colonel and defence expert Josh Wineera told Ryan Bridge the helicopters will bring military combat to the next level. 

He says they're essentially a submarine-hunting aircraft, but can also carry out other tasks. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Govenment's gone shopping for some new planes and choppers two
point seven billion dollars. It'll set us back. Our old
seven five seven is going to be replaced by two
new Airbus planes A three twenty one's, and we're buying
five new Seahawk helicopters equipped with anti submarine torpedo systems
with Judith Collins loves to talk about Joshua Needa is
a retired lieutenant colonel and security expert with me this morning.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good morning, Good morning Ryan.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
What the choppers, the Seahawk helicopters, what exactly do we
use some for? Will we use them for?

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Well, they will be part of the capability initially for
the frigates we have, and I guess the next platform
that the Defense Force buis. But essentially they are a
submarine hunting aircraft, but they also can do a number
of other tasks, and I think in the Pacific most
of the use for our aircraft and the Pacific search
and rescue and also humanitarian assistance, disaster relief. But essentially

(00:55):
they are a military combat.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Aircraft and so they go hunt submarine and then they
can fire at them too.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yes, well, I mean that's part of the armed Forces
REMIT is actually having offensive and defensive capabilities.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
So yes, do the submarines know where they are and
can they fire at them?

Speaker 2 (01:16):
That's probably a question for sub mariners, but I mean
it is a cat and mouse game. I mean, you've
got aircraft, they're above the water. They do have a
number of sonar capabilities which they can dip into the water.
Of course, most submarines would rather remain stealthy and not
be found.

Speaker 1 (01:33):
A lot of people yesterday were asking why aren't we
buying drones that humanitarian aspect of it, you know, the
fact that we need to accommodate for that as well.
Would that be a reason why.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, if we look at the Defense Capability Plan that
is yet to come, there are drones which are assigned
for the Air Force in the coming iteration of the
Defense Capability Plan. What I would hope to see though,
is that aircraft these days are starting to be teams,
which means they fly alongside or with other unmanned systems.

(02:06):
So that should be something that we see in the future.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
How important is it that we are now better aligned
with the aussi's and other forces, But.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
This is critical. Australia is our only ally, and I
have to say this is you. This amount of money
represents nearly one quarter of the twelve billion dollars that
was announced earlier this year. So this is a significant
amount of money for a significant investment important to be
interoperable with Australia. They have these particular helicopters, as do

(02:37):
the US and other allies. But I think that buying
our own equipment for our own purposes has to be
the central point here. If it aligns with other countries,
that's great.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
What about the US foreign military sales program rather than
going to a wider attender we're jumping on that list?
Is that significant.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
Those who put together I think the user requirements would
have taken that into consideration. Because it is the US
system where we have to go through a foreign military
sales process. It's the same for everyone the Australias go
through this in any other country. So there will be
a time period before we actually acquire them. What will

(03:17):
be important is the systems that we have here. We
have now the old sea sprites, that they are maintained
and can still be operated.

Speaker 1 (03:25):
Josh, appreciate your time this morning. Thanks for coming on
the show. That's josh Unedda. He's a retired lieutenant colonel
and security expert.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
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