Procurement and Politics: Strategies of Defence Acquisition in Canada and Australia [Hardcover]

This open access book compares the experiences of large-scale military procurement in Canada and Australia. Focusing on the recent frigate and jet-fighter programmes, it demonstrates how delays suffered in delivering weapons systems and platforms in these countries have been caused by misalignments between the strategic requirements set out by the armed forces and government defence policies. By bringing the insights of public management and administration to those of defence studies, the book presents policy options that will help improve the nature of future large-project military procurement. It will appeal to scholars and students of public administration, public management, and defence studies, as well as practitioners and policymakers.

1. Introduction: Procurement and Politics  The Defence Policy Consensus or Aligning Strategy and Policy is Necessary But Not Automatic.- 2. Procuring Advanced Weapon Systems and Platforms: Four Types of Procurement Considered.- 3. Failure Where Alignment is Lacking: Type 26 Frigate Procurement Processes in Australia Versus Canada, 19902022.- 4. The Significance of Politicization: The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Procurement Processes in Canada and Australia 2000-2022.- 5. Analysis: Military Platform Procurement Strategies and the Need for Political and Doctrinal Alignment in Type 4 Purchases.- 6. Conclusion: Lessons from Military Procurement for Procurement Studies.

Andrea Migone is Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. He has worked both in academia and the public service in the area of public policy, procurement and public administration.

Alexander Howlett is a Researcher at the Canadian War Studies Association. His research interests include military and naval history.

Michael Howlettl3,