Defence

Blacktree’s roots are deep in space

WA company Blacktree Technology continues to enjoy significant success in the defence market, both in Australia and around the world.

Nigel Pittaway

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

Practical application of AIC must progress

Australian Industry Capability (AIC) is one of the most contested terms in the Defence community, but what many fail to see is that the policy in this area actually is changing.

Katherine Ziesing

Special reports

Blast off from Woomera for the HIFiRE4 Hypersonic test June 2017.

Why hypersonic weapons are part of nation’s future

Australians may have been surprised by the federal government’s announcement last year that as part of the nation’s Force Structure Plan it was committing up to $9.3bn in the development of high-speed weapons (HSWs).

Brad Yelland

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

Aerial photograph of HMAS Arunta coming alongside to berth next to HMAS Anzac at Fleet Base West in Western Australia. *** Local Caption *** HMAS Anzac is berthed alongside HMAS Arunta at Fleet Base West for the first time post ANZAC Mid-Life Capability Assurance Plan (AMCAP) upgrade. The ships are the first two to be upgraded under the program which involves significant work undertaken on the platform, communications and sensor systems.

Connecting WA know-how to army capability

Western Australia has a central role to play in the nation’s response to a new “contested and apprehensive” regional environment.

Paul Papalia

DEFENCE REPORTSpecial reports

Hunter frigate for defence special report

Hunter-class frigate weight increase within design margins

Rumours that the Hunter-class frigates are greatly increasing in size and weight because of Australian specific changes have been quashed.

Kym Bergmann

Special reports

(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 28, 2008, US Army soliders from 1-506 Infantry Division set out on a patrol in Paktika province, situated along the Afghan-Pakistan border. - The US military is proceeding with President Donald Trump's order to slash troops in Afghanistan to 2,500 by mid-January, the Pentagon's top general said on December 2, 2020, calling the situation on the ground a

It’s time for a strategic policy reset

The antics of the Trump administration delivered a serious hit to the authority, credibility and legitimacy of the US claim to leadership of the free world.

ALLAN BEHM

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

Future looks bright beyond the F-35

The evolving debate in the US about the future of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter may open up new opportunities for the RAAF to take a radically different direction in its future capability development.

Malcolm Davis

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

MQ-4C TRITON Australia Above Clouds/Ocean

Trump budget cut responsible for MQ-4C Triton arrival delay

The RAAF will continue to work towards a remotely piloted persistent maritime surveillance capability in the 2025-2026 time frame, despite a 12-month delay to the arrival of the first aircraft.

Nigel Pittaway

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

(front) Rheinmetall Defence Australia LYNX KF41 Infantry Fighting Vehicle at Russell Offices, Canberra. *** Local Caption *** The $18.1 - 27.1 billion LAND 400 Phase 3 Program will provide the Army with an advanced, cutting-edge Infantry Fighting Vehicle capability. Prototype test and evaluation vehicles have been delivered to Defence by the project’s two shortlisted tenderers – Hanwha Defense Australia delivered three prototypes of its Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle, and Rheinmetall Defence Australia delivered three prototypes of its Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Two prototype vehicles (one from each tenderer), will be displayed in Blamey Square, Defence Russell Offices, ACT, on Friday 12 March 2021. Senator Jim Molan and Head Armoured Vehicle Division, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Major-General David Coghlan announced the two shortlisted tenderers at Russell Offices, Canberra.

Army takes delivery of rival next gen tanks for testing

The competition to chose next generation heavily armoured infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) has entered its most critical phase. The two bidders have now handed over three vehicles each to the Army.

Kym Bergmann

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

Apache (AH-64D) Block III (U.S. Army photo)

There’s room for two army attack helicopters

In one of the more remarkable Defence procurement coups in living memory, the army has managed to gain approval to purchase 29 new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters worth $4bn, without a tender and no public debate.

Kym Bergmann

Special reports

An aerial view of HMAS Supply's commissioning ceremony at Fleet Base East in Sydney, New South Wales. *** Local Caption *** On 10 April 2021, the Royal Australian Navy welcomed into service HMAS Supply (II), the first of two new Supply Class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) ships. Supply and her sister ship NUSHIP Stalwart are part of the largest regeneration of the Royal Australian Navy since World War II. Their primary role is to provide logistics replenishment to naval combat units while underway at sea. Now commissioned, Supply will undergo her test and evaluation period where she will integrate into and begin supporting the fleet.

Navantia eyes expansion in Western Australia

Spanish naval giant Navantia has begun establishing a significant footprint in WA.

GREGOR FERGUSON

DEFENCE REPORTSpecial reports

The United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV rocket launches with a Wideband Global SATCOM WGS-10 satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., March 15, 2019. The satellite brings enhanced communication capability for command and control of U.S. military forces on the battlefield. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Defence takes a low-risk approach to sovereign satellite capability

Communication satellites provide secure, high bandwidth capacity but there are a few problems associated with current arrangements, most notably that the C-1 satellite is running out of life and will be decommissioned later this decade

Kym Bergmann

Special reports

Australian Army special forces soldiers from 2nd Commando Regiment conduct clearance of a Sydney ferry, as part of a Special Operations Command maritime counter-terrorism training activity on Sydney Harbour, on Wednesday, 24 June 2020. *** Local Caption *** Australian Army special forces soldiers from 2nd Commando Regiment conducted Exercise Mars Toothfish in Sydney, Wollongong and associated New South Wales coastal waters from late-June to early July 2020. Exercise Mars Toothfish is essential Australian Army training that ensures the Australian Defence Force is ready to defend Australia and its national interests. The training activity was conducted using strict COVID-19 protocols. The Mars series of counter-terrorism training activities are designed to build and maintain the skills of 2nd Commando Regiment's Tactical Assault Group - East (TAG-East), a short-notice counter-terrorist force, able to respond to a terrorist incident of national importance or in support of state and territory-based police. 2nd Commando Regiment is part of Special Forces Group, a brigade-level formation within the Australian Army's Special Operations Command. Special Operations Command's mission is to prepare and employ special operations forces to defend Australia and its national interests. Special Operations Command is a small, high-tempo and diverse multi-disciplinary team drawn from Navy, Army, Air Force, Australian Public Service and contractors, who continue the 78 years of Australian special operations experience and sacrifice since World War II.

Foreign partnerships grow with trust

The Defence Department has its sights on expanding international research collaboration further beyond the Anglophone partners and Europe and into the local region.

PATRICK LAWNHAM

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

Supersonic stealth fighter ready to strike

The Royal Australian Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II acquisition program has enjoyed a busy year despite the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nigel Pittaway

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA NewsWire Photos MAY, 11 2021: Peter Dutton during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House Canberra.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Minister must drive force posture review

The rise of Peter Dutton broke the short-held Western Australian ministerial dominance over the Defence portfolio.

Peter Dean

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

HMAS Rankin conducts helicopter transfers in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, as part of Rankin's training assessments to ensure the boat is ready to deploy. *** Local Caption *** HMAS Rankin and her crew conducted workups and training assessments in the Western Australian Exercise Area to ensure the Collins Class Submarine is ready to safely deploy later in the year. Part of her assessment is helicopter transfers which ensures the crew are able to winch personnel on or off in the case of an emergency.

Funding threat hangs over future sub

A contentious funding issue has become the latest problem to bedevil the RAN’s $90bn Attack-class Future Submarine program.

JULIAN KERR

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

Battle Group Lion's M1A1 Abrams tanks en route to conduct a live fire Warfighter activity at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, QLD. *** Local Caption *** Battle Group Lion’s four-week Warfighter exercise has culminated with an impressive display of live-fire action at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, 1 June to 3 July 2019. Led by the 1st Armoured Regiment, the Warfighter involved more than 900 personnel from across Australia including, cavalry, infantry, engineers, artillery, advanced medical and logistics support. The exercise incorporated dry and blank firing at the Combat Team level before working up to the three-day live fire activity, culminating in a combined arms Battle Group attack on the Lemon Tree Complex. The activity confirmed the Battle Group’s ability to provide agile Combat Teams in support of the 1st Brigade as it prepares to assume responsibility as Army’s READY brigade from 1 October 2019. Battle Group Lion’s four-week Warfighter exercise has culminated with an impressive display of live fire action at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, 1 June to 3 July 2019.

Are we buying the right equipment?

Defence spending is on track, but the more fundamental question is whether this year’s budget is the right plan in the first place.

Marcus Hellyer

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

Collins Class Submarines, HMAS Collins, HMAS Farncomb, HMAS Dechaineux and HMAS Sheean in formation while transiting through Cockburn Sound, Western Australia. *** Local Caption *** Royal Australian Navy Collins Class Submarines, HMAS Collins, HMAS Farncomb, HMAS Dechaineux and HMAS Sheean sail in formation while transiting through Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, in February 2019.

WA business, VEEM, behind vital naval tech

Perth-based VEEM, a world leader in designing and manufacturing hi-tech marine propulsion and stabilisation systems, is supplying components to Australia’s Collins-class submarines.

Kym Bergmann

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports

B-21 raider in the skies bu northrop grumman

The case for the B-21s

There’s a big gap between where we are today and where we need to be, and the shopping list crosses that gap slowly. In the vast reaches of the Indo-Pacific, range is crucial and the ADF’s long-range strike cupboard is bare.

Marcus Hellyer

DEFENCE SPECIAL REPORTSpecial reports