Military experts say Australian Defence bases ‘extraordinarily vulnerable'
Civilian spectators gathered at RAAF Williamtown in NSW on Thursday to watch Australia's $100 million F-35 Stealth Fighters take off.
But the sight of our most lethal fighter jets being put through their paces in front of an audience has some, like leading strategic analyst Michael Shoebridge, worried.
'Australia's military bases all around the country are extraordinarily vulnerable,' Shoebridge told 7NEWS.
Ukraine showed why in June when it blew up dozens of Russian aircraft using a barrage of drones launched from trucks parked close by air bases.
'We need a heightened sense of security and vigilance,' Shoebridge said.
He said Canberra is not listening.
'The shift of spending needs to be to protect these bases and the multibillion-dollar assets on them,' Shoebridge said.
Williamtown recently underwent a major upgrade — better ground lighting, drainage and reinforced services — to accommodate larger aircraft.
'Security of bases, ports and barracks is, and will remain, a focus for Defence resources,' a Defence spokesperson told 7NEWS.
It comes after concerns were raised earlier this year when a Chinese naval taskforce circumnavigated Australia.
Canberra is also under growing pressure from Washington to lift Defence spending.
'I've said very clearly we will invest in the capability that Australia needs,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Australian companies including DroneShield sell their products to Europe and Ukraine, but Australia is not a customer.
Shoebridge said this 'is very strange' because 'they're much cheaper than air and missile defence systems' used by other countries, including the US.
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