Preface. -- 1. The launch. -- 2. The plan. -- 3. The first decisions. -- 4. The shipbuilders. -- 5. The next decisions. -- 6. The AWD alliance. -- 7. The build. -- 8. The unforeseen. -- 9. The Senate grilling. -- 10. The acrimony. -- 11. The review. -- 12. The final fix. -- 13. The culture. -- 14. The ships. -- 15. The future. -- Notes. -- Acronyms and abbreviations
Summary
Robert Macklin explains in this case study why the production of the 'muscular trio' of air warfare destroyers (AWDs) presented some of the most challenging procurement dilemmas ever faced by the Australian Government and the Defence organisation: The AWD procurement was like none other. It involved the reluctant departure from o ice of two defence ministers; it fell into almost every organisational pitfall imaginable; it ran wildly over budget and schedule; yet it laid the foundation for a continuous naval shipbuilding industry for the first time in Australian history. Robert's monograph brings out the human drama and dilemmas of decision-making in what is a multi-billion-dollar, high-stakes business to equip the Australian Defence Force
