Defence, unlike most other government departments, appears certain to escape the budget without battle scars.
That's because the coalition is sticking by its election promise to exempt Defence from further spending cuts on the way to an aspirational funding target of two per cent of gross domestic product.
The government's national audit of commission appears to be on side as well.
Beyond some structural changes, such as reducing numbers at Defence's top-heavy Canberra headquarters, the commission has made no major recommendations about the department's budget.
Treasurer Joe Hockey is on the record as saying the government will stick by its commitment to lift defence spending over time.
But there are reports that a generous military superannuation scheme could be on the chopping block.
As it stands now, Defence has a budget of $25.4 billion, the most it's ever had.
But its share of GDP stands at 1.59 per cent, the lowest portion of national wealth since the eve of World War II.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, when talking about Defence spending, including $12 billion for a new jet fighters, likes to remind Australians that you never know what's around the corner.
"We have to be ready for a wide range of contingencies in all sorts of different parts of the world," he says.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute analyst Mark Thomson expects defence will get away without any cuts to its budget.
That's because the government can't leave it too long to provide Defence with extra funding to achieve the two per cent of GDP target.
But Dr Thomson warns the government faces a difficult job repairing the wider budget while also spending more on defence.
Achieving both would require some combination of increased revenues and reduced spending in other areas.
"Reduced spending and increased revenues are not popular," he said.
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