{"id":595561,"date":"2026-04-09T11:42:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T11:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/595561\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T11:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T11:42:10","slug":"adf-chief-says-surveillance-data-not-contributing-to-war-effort-but-warship-could-if-asked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/595561\/","title":{"rendered":"ADF chief says surveillance data not contributing to war effort but warship could if asked"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia’s chief of defence says Australia could “absolutely” deploy a warship to the Strait of Hormuz if asked by the federal government.<\/p>\n

Admiral David Johnston has pushed back on suggestions that the navy would struggle to contribute a warship to efforts in the Strait, due to Australia’s aging surface combatant fleet.<\/p>\n

Some defence analysts and some in the Coalition have questioned whether the navy’s aging Anzac-class frigates would be capable of combating Iranian drone and missile attacks were they to be deployed to the strait<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The navy also has three newer and more capable Hobart-class air warfare destroyers.<\/p>\n

Iran war live updates<\/a>:\u00a0For the latest news on the Middle East crisis, read our blog<\/p>\n

Admiral Johnston said the question of deploying a warship was not one of capability, but of Australia’s strategic priorities.<\/p>\n

“I am very confident we could deploy a ship into that environment if the government was to make a decision to do so,” he said.<\/p>\n

“I have no hesitation in our ability to work in a Strait of Hormuz type role.”<\/p>\n

He said if the ADF was called upon, it could send a ship to help secure the strait.<\/p>\n

“The short answer is yes, we could absolutely deploy.”<\/p>\n

Admiral Johnston said a question that was at least as important was “where do our priorities lie?”<\/p>\n

“In the context of today, you would be aware that the United States has moved enormous military capacity into the Gulf region at the moment, including a lot of capacity out of the Indo-Pacific,” he said.<\/p>\n

“This is an important time for us to be present in the Indo-Pacific to maintain that regional environment that we seek to maintain.”<\/p>\n

‘Not about to speculate’<\/p>\n

Australia is part of a joint agreement with dozens of countries including the UK, France and Canada offering to provide support to keep the Strait of Hormuz open<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both military and diplomatic talks between those countries have been underway in recent weeks.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Richard Marles told 7.30 capacity to send a warship would not necessarily mean one would be deployed. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n

Speaking to the ABC’s 7.30, defence minister and acting prime minister Richard Marles said simply pointing out that Australia has a capability does not mean it will necessarily be deployed.<\/p>\n

“There’s a difference between saying what capabilities we have, and what we will do,” he said.<\/p>\n

“And I’m not about to speculate on what we may or may not do.<\/p>\n

“It’s a function of the conversations that we have with the UK, with France, with those countries that form part of that coalition.<\/p>\n

“It’s a function of when those conditions allow, and what those conditions are.”<\/p>\n

LoadingWedgetail intelligence not used ‘offensively’<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Admiral Johnston has insisted intelligence gathered by an Australian surveillance plane operating in the Middle East can be filtered so as not to aid offensive United States operations on Iran.<\/p>\n

An E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, along with 85 crew, has spent the past four weeks assisting the United Arab Emirates to defend against Iranian drones and missiles.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday morning the deployment had been extended beyond the initial four weeks planned.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The Australian E-7 Wedgetail is expected to remain in the Middle East throughout the ceasefire. (Supplied: Australian Government, Defence)<\/p>\n

The government has continually insisted that the Wedgetail has been sent to the region in a purely defensive capacity and is playing no role in offensive operations against Iran.<\/p>\n

Richard Marles said data collected by the Australian plane was, by necessity, fed back to a joint operations base managed by the United States.<\/p>\n

“The United States is part of the Combined Air Operations Centre. That’s where the data is going,” he told 7.30.<\/p>\n

“That’s how we use the data in a way which can coordinate in defending the United Arab Emirates and for that matter, the other countries of the Gulf.<\/p>\n

“That is the only way in which the E-7 Wedgetail can operate, but it is there to provide a defensive role, and that is what it is doing, and it is defending the UAE.”<\/p>\n

What is Australia sending to the Middle East conflict? <\/a><\/p>\n

One of Australia’s most sophisticated military surveillance planes will be deployed to the Middle East.<\/p>\n

In a briefing with media on Thursday, Admiral Johnston said keeping to the “defensive” nature of the mission was top of mind in deploying the Wedgetail.<\/p>\n

He said data could be filtered to ensure it could not used in an “offensive” capacity.<\/p>\n

“That was a really important consideration of the manner by which that aircraft was deployed and the functions it’s performing,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The capabilities of the aircraft are such that it is the operators of that platform who determine what information leaves the platform.<\/p>\n

“And we’re able to apply filters to it, draw judgements on the nature of what the aircraft is detecting through all of the means, from radar to electronic systems and then be very clear on what we are presenting out that is then picked up inside the air operation system.”<\/p>\n

He said the crew operating the aircraft knew what to pass on and what needed to be withheld.<\/p>\n

“We make sure that everything that has come off that aircraft is related to a defensive mission that we’re performing.”<\/p>\n

Current conflicts informing new strategy<\/p>\n

The ADF is preparing for the release next week of the 2026 National Defence Strategy (NDS), which will set out its strategic priorities for the two years ahead.<\/p>\n

Admiral Johnston said that document was being significantly influenced by the immediate lessons of current conflicts, including the US-Iran conflict.<\/p>\n

“We expect the government will make prudent adjustments to the 2026 NDS and [Integrated Investment Program] in response to the developments in our environment since 2024,” he said.<\/p>\n

“This includes regional and global developments, technological advancements and changes to the character of warfare.<\/p>\n

“The next NDS will be the beneficiary of our reflections and analysis, including from recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.”<\/p>\n

Those lessons include the significant role of drones and ballistic missiles in the current Iran conflict, and lessons around missile defence.<\/p>\n

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