Category: Defence Forces

March 14, 2019

Modernising the RAAF’s F-35 fleet

In December 2018, the first two of Australia’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighters arrived at their new home base at RAAF Base Williamtown near Newcastle NSW. This represented the culmination of considerable effort, Australia having...

Air Power / Defence Forces / Featured

March 14, 2019

Congested.. Contested.. Dynamic.. Battlespace

Fighting in the Electromagnetic Spectrum with the EA-18G ‘Growler The increasing acknowledgement of the Electromagnetic Spectrum as a warfighting domain, similar to Air, Land, Sea or Space, points the way to the future of...

Air Power / Defence Forces / Featured

March 14, 2019

New Japanese Air Force emerges

The Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) lives in a tough neighbourhood. In the south, China is trying to gain control of the Senkaku Islands using gray zone tactics, flying long-range bombers, sailing aircraft...

Air Power / Australian Army / Defence Forces

March 14, 2019

Tactical transport with C-27J ‘Spartan’

The past year has been an important period in the developing capabilities of the Royal Australian Air Force’s C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter. The tenth and final aircraft was delivered to Australia in April 2018...

Air Power / Defence Forces / Maritime Power

March 14, 2019

Maritime transition – AP-3C to P-8A

At the end of 2018, Australia’s maritime surveillance community witnessed a changing of the guard. In December, the Royal Australian Air Force’s AP-3C Orion force was retired – at least from the anti-submarine and...

Air Power / Australian Defence Force / Defence Forces / Defence Today / Military Magazine / Uncategorized

October 7, 2015

SEA 1180: Modernisation and Modularity

Recent announcements by Government have once again focused attention on major naval shipbuilding projects to be started over the next decade but there has been a subtle shift in policy regarding SEA1180, the $3-5...

Air Power / Australian Defence Force / Defence Forces / Defence Today / Military Magazine

October 7, 2015

MH-60R Seahawk operational

In late August, the Australian Navy received its 14th MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ naval combat helicopters. At time of publication Initial Operational Capability (IOC) milestone has probably been declared. Furthermore, the final helicopter of the...

Air Power / Australian Defence Force / Defence Forces / Defence Today / Military Magazine

October 7, 2015

Chinese Sea Power and force projection

In May, China publicly released its ninth Defence White Paper. While continuing with many earlier themes, this latest white paper revealed China will focus its force development efforts in four specific domains: space, cyberspace,...

Air Power / Australian Defence Force / Defence Forces / Defence Today / Military Magazine

October 7, 2015

Future Frigate – Age of the disposable warship?

Even before a design has been selected, much less the first steel cut on the Navy’s Future Frigate, political influence has come to the fore. In August, then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Defence Minister...

Air Power / Australian Defence Force / Defence Forces / Defence Today / Military Magazine

October 7, 2015

EA-18G Growler – Australia’s emerging AEA capability

Standing up a new and complex capability for the first time is no easy task, but in the case of the EA-18G Growler’s Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) capability now being introduced into RAAF service,...

Australian industry to benefit from $900 million Attack Class work packages October 18, 2020
Australian industry will benefit from hundreds of millions of dollars in work packages for the Morrison Government’s Future Submarine Program, supporting hundreds of Australian jobs and creating new opportunities for Australian businesses. The Morrison Government and Naval Group today launched a new campaign seeking Expressions of Interest from Australian industry to become Australian Capability Partners […]
Support for Sri Lanka Navy in COVID-19 testing October 18, 2020
Australia is providing four polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines to support the Sri Lanka Navy in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The gift from the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Defence will support increased medical testing capabilities for Sri Lanka at sea. Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC […]
Army Halts Apache Deliveries After Boeing Finds Improper Record-Keeping At Helicopter Factory October 18, 2020
The U.S. Army has stopped accepting Apache helicopters from Boeing after the company found that an employee kept “improper” records concerning parts installed on the aircraft. It’s the latest quality-control issue to bedevil America’s largest planemaker, which is trying to shift its company’s culture and repair its public image after two deadly airliner crashes and […]
Soldiers to evaluate new light tank prototypes October 18, 2020
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army is preparing a soldier vehicle assessment of two different light tank prototypes for infantry brigade combat teams that will start in January 2021 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The assessment will run through June 2021, according to the service. BAE Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems were chosen in December […]
SAAB signs contract with US Army for M3E1 man-portable shoulder-fired weapon October 18, 2020
According to a press release published on October 15, 2020, Swedish Company Saab has signed a multi-year framework contract with the U.S. Army for the latest version of the Carl-Gustaf multi-role, man-portable shoulder-fired weapon, known as the M3E1 in U.S. Army service and M4 globally. Saab has been awarded an $87 million MUSD (approximately 770 […]
Australian manufacturers invited aboard submarine project October 18, 2020
The French defence firm tasked with building a new fleet of submarines in Adelaide has invited Australian manufacturers to bid to produce specialised parts in a package it says will generate hundreds of jobs and cost up to $900m. Naval Group Australia announced the local manufacturing package as it today opened a new base at […]
Underlining Australia's commitment to the Indo-Pacific October 18, 2020
On Sunday I will travel to Japan, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines to advance bilateral defence engagement and discuss regional security challenges. As outlined in the 2020 Defence Strategic Update, our region is in the midst of the most consequential strategic realignment since World War II. I will use my visit to deepen bilateral engagement […]
Israeli aerospace giant partners with Australian firm to build autonomous mining fleet October 18, 2020
Self-driving hauling trucks are on the agenda as Israel Aerospace Industries forms a joint venture with Australian logistics company Bis Industries. In the near future, fleets of autonomous trucks and bulldozers will work at mining sites in Australia, communicating with one another and with control stations as they move raw materials and conduct heavy earth […]
Hunter Class Frigate Program engagement with Australian industry grows October 15, 2020
The public Australian Industry Capability Plan for the first phase of the Morrison Government’s Hunter Class Frigate Program has been released, detailing how AIC will be maximised in the initial design and production phase of the program. Minister for Defence, Linda Reynolds CSC said the release of the AIC Plan demonstrates the Morrison Government’s commitment […]