Melbourne: Australia need to further enhance its defence structure to allow it to "rip the arm off" any threatening Asian power including India and China, a study has said.

According to a study by an official expert, it could include 400 advanced combat aircraft, 30 submarines, missile defence and an ability to conduct cyber-attack.

The expert Ross Babbage revealed in his study that Australia would need to learn to walk among the giants - Indonesia, China and India - all with immensely larger populations, economies and military forces.

Some of the giants "may not be friendly", he said, according to Sydney Morning Herald report today.

One option would be a modernised version of the present force, capable of modest independent operations in partnership with the US. Professor Babbage said that made sense only if the strategic environment of 2025-2040 were similar to today's.

Professor Babbage said an alternative was the flexible deterrent option, the ability to deter and - if needed - cripple an Asian giant which sought to coerce or strike at vital Australian interests, the report said.

Source : PTI