Australia is continuing its militarisation with the presentation on Tuesday 20 February of a plan to significantly beef up its navy, Ednews informs citing The Sydney Morning Herald.

Canberra plans to receive an $11 billion boost over the next decade to expand its fleet of warships from 11 to 26 vessels under a radical overhaul designed to prepare the defence force for possible conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

"This is the largest fleet we will have since the end of the Second World War," said Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles. "The Royal Australian Navy must be able to ensure the safety and security of our maritime routes (...) as they are essential to our way of life and prosperity," he added.

Under the plan, the navy will acquire up to 11 new general-purpose frigates – to replace the deteriorating Anzac-class ships – and a new fleet of drone-like vessels that can operate without sailors on board.

But there is already a dire workforce shortage in the Australian navy, as it currently struggles to crew its smaller fleet of warships.