This Month
Defence company boss ousted after tensions over big contracts
Ben Hudson is out as BAE Systems CEO after concerns he was not focused enough on AUKUS submarines.
- Andrew Tillett
August
Australia pressed to spend more climate dollars in Pacific
As he heads to the Pacific Islands Forum, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under pressure to boost Australia’s contribution to poorer nations’ fight against climate change.
- Andrew Tillett
Taxpayers to fund $850m for long-range missile factory in NSW
Missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometres will be manufactured in Newcastle, under government plans for guided weapons production in Australia.
- Andrew Tillett
June
As China’s premier leaves, Australia launches full court press in PNG
The Albanese government will help PNG with domestic security as it tries to ward off Chinese efforts to gain influence in Australia’s closest neighbour.
- Andrew Tillett
Tomahawk missiles plan for Collins-class submarines misfires
Australia’s ageing submarine fleet won’t be fitted with strike missiles following advice that modifying the boats would not be value for money.
- Andrew Tillett
May
Fears of second PNG landslide and disease outbreak
The blanket of debris has become more unstable after rain and streams trapped between the rubble.
- Rod McGuirk
Australia won’t raid Pacific militaries to plug defence gaps: Conroy
Plans to recruit Pacific Islanders to join the Australian Defence Force are focusing on attracting school leavers with the offer of learning a trade.
- Andrew Tillett
April
Navy, RAAF face cuts to pay for $330b in new weapons
While the government touts its $330 billion new weapons blueprint, concerns are being raised about programs that have been scrapped.
- Andrew Tillett
Trump flexible on AUKUS subs: Republicans
Republicans have signalled that Donald Trump is likely to back the AUKUS submarine sale deal with Australia if he is elected president in November.
- Matthew Cranston
February
Weapons plan to keep local ship, drone and ammo makers in business
Defence will become more interventionist in how it manages projects to help preserve local know-how in shipbuilding, production of munitions and development of autonomous systems.
- Andrew Tillett
Six years in a leaky boat: the plan to fix an ailing navy
Defence is betting that smaller ‘drone’ ships and plenty of missiles will be enough in a fast-changing world of remote-controlled warfare.
- Andrew Tillett
Europe v Asia in race for Australia’s new warships
Weaponry, diplomacy and speed of delivery will influence the government’s decision over who builds 11 new frigates for Australia’s navy.
- Andrew Tillett
Navy to shrink then get bigger, deadlier under $80b revamp
The Albanese government will slash its frigate order from nine to six but add ships bristling with missiles in a revamp that adds $11 billion to naval spending.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
- Analysis
- Defence
Navy shambles is now Labor’s to fix, or own
The new naval shipbuilding plan contains some sensible decisions. But there are still risks and failure will be on the Albanese government.
- Andrew Tillett
Navy needs more ships faster to meet China threat: review
The navy will get extra warships that are more lethal on a faster timetable after a major review found the fleet was the oldest it has ever been.
- Andrew Tillett
Security risk from Defence project delays
New weapons worth billions of dollars are running cumulatively 37 years late, a scathing audit finds.
- Andrew Tillett
Defence chief gagged over tensions as PM backs Marles
Richard Marles is a great defence minister, says Albanese, as the government moves to counter criticism that it is moving too slowly on drone capabilities.
- Andrew Tillett
- Exclusive
- Defence
The defence minister’s war with his department
Increasing tensions between Richard Marles and Defence are fuelled by bickering about new weapons and the government’s inability to deliver a funding boost.
- Andrew Tillett
January
US urges Pacific to keep Chinese tech out of undersea cables
America’s cybersecurity envoy said Pacific countries could be cut off from cables if they use “untrusted” suppliers, as Nauru offered assurances to Canberra over its China flip.
- Andrew Tillett and Mark Mulligan
- Exclusive
- Russia-Ukraine war
Unwanted Aussie choppers ’1000 times safer than Soviet rubbish’
A former Ukrainian pilot now living in Melbourne has criticised the Albanese government’s decision not to supply Taipan choppers to Kyiv.
- Andrew Tillett