And there is also the danger that even after spending billions of dollars on weapons and platforms, it still won’t be enough to keep the technology from becoming obsolete. An auditor-general’s report, revealed by The Australian Financial Review this week, contained a warning that the $45 billion future frigates were at risk of being outgunned before the first one even hits the water about 2030. The warships may have “insufficient capability to counter current and emerging threats”. Chief of Navy Mark Hammond acknowledged before Senate estimates this week that “we are looking at options to increase the lethality of its...