February
Australia locks out China from PNG ports as military tensions flare
Australia’s $4 billion taxpayer-funded Pacific bank has signed a deal to upgrade one of Papua New Guinea’s major ports and keep Beijing out.
December 2024
Cruises diverted as aid is rushed to quake-struck Vanuatu
At least 14 people were killed and hundreds injured in two earthquakes in the South Pacific nation, and Australian rescue crews and medical teams are being urgently deployed.
August 2024
Talks sanction more US bombers, fighter jets, spy planes in Australia
Annual defence and foreign affairs talks will see Australia deepen its role as the US’s “unsinkable aircraft carrier” in a potential conflict with China.
Top Gun games pull the trigger on deterrence
Exercise Pitch Black has pulled together air forces from 20 nations for practice missions over northern Australia as concern rises about collaboration between China and Russia.
July 2024
Air force officials rebuff concerns over slow pace of missile defence
Military experts have warned Australia is not moving quickly enough to be able to defend itself against missile strikes amid lessons from Ukraine and Israel.
June 2024
Hanwha tussles with Austal board over ‘unfair’ diligence conditions
Austal’s would-be acquirer reckons that its third indicative bid was at least 15 per cent higher than that of Cerberus Capital Management.
May 2024
First Aussies home from riot-hit New Caledonia after RAAF rescue
French authorities have given permission for evacuation flights to take off and land in Noumea.
April 2024
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.
February 2024
Labor must face up to the reality of defence costs
The war in the corridors of Canberra has echoes around the world as Western politicians are forced to take defence seriously for the first time in years.
January 2024
Ukraine to Australia: ‘We don’t want your flying trash’
During two years of war, Australia and Ukraine have struggled to get beyond mutual incomprehension.
December 2023
Cracks ground RAAF planes as bushfire season looms
Fissures have been found where the tail fins join fuselages on some C-27J Spartan aircraft operated around the world.
November 2023
Can US weapons makers adapt to 21st century warfare?
Traditional suppliers are facing competition as big tech muscles in on the action and targets defence and security as promising markets.
September 2023
Triton drone purchase to boost northern defences
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has announced $1.5 billion in new spending to boost maritime and air protections.
‘Living inside a bubble’: Australia edges towards missile shield
Amid rising tensions with China, the Albanese government has with little fanfare bought the “brains” for an integrated missile and air defence system.
August 2023
Medibank, Optus hacks hurt, but Aussies still at risk
The country’s cybersecurity coordinator Darren Goldie says protecting against hacks needs to become integral to people’s lives and the way businesses operate.
June 2023
This is no time to become gun-shy about backing Kyiv
Ukraine has become a real-world experiment in protecting vulnerable democracies. But defence bureaucrats everywhere have made haste too slowly.
RAAF Hornet jets ‘better in a war zone than a museum’
Canberra did not dismiss the prospect of transferring retired fighter jets to Ukraine, as military experts say they could be useful amid signs of a counter-offensive.
Into the Hornets’ nest: why these old jets make sense for Ukraine
The RAAF’s retired fleet of F/A-18s may be old but the classic Hornet can be used for both dogfighting and launching air strikes.
Retired RAAF fighter jets could be sent to Ukraine
Australia, the US and Ukraine are discussing sending 41 Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornets to Kyiv, rather than sending them to the scrapheap as planned.
April 2023
Defence rejig costs budget $19b and rising
More than 30 projects will be cut to save $7.8 billion and help fund a $19 billion increase in defence spending over the next four years.