This Month
Trump won’t torpedo AUKUS subs deal, says Marles
Despite fears the president-elect will cool on the pact as the US struggles to produce enough submarines, the Australian defence minister says he will back the deal.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
Collins-class submarines listed as ‘product of concern’
The government has promised to fix maintenance issues with the navy’s submarine fleet amid concerns they can’t go to sea as much.
- Andrew Tillett
- Exclusive
- Big four consultants
What Defence spent on consultants could run submarine fleet for a year
What would Defence’s $811 million in spending on the big five consulting firms in 2022-23 buy? Turns out the answer is quite a lot.
- Ronald Mizen
November
Defence considers recruiting from PNG to see off China’s influence
In the jockeying for influence, the South Pacific’s largest nation has emerged as a key target given its proximity to Australia and rich natural resources.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
Taiwan considers big US defence purchases to please Trump
The deliberations come as countries consider how to avoid becoming a target of the new administration, given the Republican’s call for allies to spend more.
- Demetri Sevastopulo and Kathrin Hille
- Exclusive
- Defence
$10b warship decision months away despite China fears
The government has whittled down to two contenders for a lucrative navy project, but there are questions why a final decision won’t be made until mid-year.
- Andrew Tillett
- Exclusive
- Defence
Navy’s $10b warship contest down to Germans, Japanese
The Albanese government will make a final decision next year on the winning designer for a contract to build 11 new light frigates for the navy.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
- Opinion
- Defence
AUKUS problems go beyond Trump
While people fret about US ties under a Trump presidency, US ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy has highlighted some issues go beyond personnel.
- Andrew Tillett
October
Missile factory too late, too slow for China threat: experts
The factory will be established as the centrepiece of the government’s plans to build up a domestic stockpile of rockets and missiles.
- Andrew Tillett
‘Greatest arms race in our region’: Australia buys $7b of US missiles
The government will buy hundreds of specialised long-range missiles in a deal approved by the US Congress.
- Updated
- Matthew Cranston
‘Ramped up’ defence industry deals on the cards with NATO
As Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy sat down at the top NATO table in Brussels, the talk turned to commercial deals that might ramp up output.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Sunk cost: how the AUKUS bill keeps rising for taxpayers
The government is preparing to unveil plans for an expansion worth up to $20 billion for Perth’s shipyard - one of Canberra’s biggest ever infrastructure projects.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
- Opinion
- Opinion
How a sunken ship underlines our hollow defence preparedness
The loss of a New Zealand naval vessel reflects the same decline of niche maritime capability that Australia suffers from.
- Jennifer Parker
September
China stimulus should stabilise iron ore price, says resources minister
Resources Minister Madeleine King says China’s latest stimulus package was unlikely to push prices higher, but it should help arrest the one-third fall seen since the start of 2024.
- Ronald Mizen
- Updated
- AUKUS
‘Utterly untrue’: Keating berates Marles over AUKUS defence
Paul Keating launched fresh criticism of the $368 billion agreement, part of internal Labor squabbling over the pact, which has not gone unnoticed in the UK and US.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen and Matthew Cranston
New AUKUS pact to keep nuclear subs deal on track
Australia and the UK are thrashing out a formal treaty to allay concerns about getting the SSN-AUKUS submarines built on time and under budget.
- Hans van Leeuwen and Matthew Cranston
Defence slammed over cyber failures, lack of munitions
Two reports have highlighted major cybersecurity gaps and procurement problems for Australia’s military.
- Andrew Tillett
- Exclusive
- Defence
Faulty $1.2b navy ships out of action until 2025
Engineers are still trying to determine root causes of engine and drivetrain issues that have stopped the navy from being able to refuel warships at sea.
- Andrew Tillett
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
AUKUS chiefs torpedo submarine sales fears
AUKUS is a strategic imperative for all three navies, a top US Navy commander says, although there are challenges ahead.
- Andrew Tillett