Indo Pacific

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane sails past commercial vessels during Exercise Noble Caribou in the South China Sea. *** Local Caption *** Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane has participated with ships from the United States, Royal Canadian and Royal New Zealand Navies as well as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force on Exercise Noble Caribou in the South China Sea. HMAS Brisbane, USS Rafael Peralta, HMCS Ottawa, HMNZS Te Mana and JS Akebono tested underwater warfare capabilities, maritime maneuverers, small boat operations and helicopter flight deck training, improving interoperability between allies and partners in support of a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. HMAS Brisbane is conducting regional presence deployment in Southeast and Northeast Asia, conducting training, exercises, and other engagements with Australia’s regional partners.

Strength at sea is vital to security

Nation’s access to the sea is an existential issue, says maritime defence chief.

Brendan Nicholson

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

TOPSHOT - US President Joe Biden and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrive to hold a joint press conference at the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 25, 2023. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Alliance thriving in new frontiers, but lagging at defence core

Anthony Albanese’s visit to America had mixed results, which is disturbing given military co-operation is the core of the Australia-US alliance and key to collective security in the Indo Pacific.

Michael Shoebridge

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

View of the crowd at the INDO PAC preview

Expo entices maritime visitors from 46 countries

This week Sydney’s International Convention Centre will host what organisers believe is the largest maritime-related industry exposition in Australia’s history.

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

The Indian Ocean Defence & Security conference and exhibition has evolved to become a leading specialist forum on the subject.

Indian Ocean conference to focus on AUKUS and the Quad

In July next year, the Indian Ocean Defence & Security 2024 (IODS 2024) conference and exhibition will unpack the real-world issues and impacts of AUKUS and the Quad.

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

The MARTAC T38 Devil Ray unmanned vessel conducts speed and handling exercises with safety personnel on-board during Exercise Autonomous Warrior 2022 in the waters of Jervis Bay Territory. *** Local Caption *** Autonomous Warrior 22 (AW22) is a Navy-led Operational Experimentation (OPEX) activity conducted over the period 16-27 May 2022 in the vicinity of Jervis Bay and from several remote sites in Australia and overseas. Conducted against an overarching theme of Remote and Autonomous Systems and Artificial Intelligence (RAS-AI), Autonomous Warrior is the largest unmanned systems OPEX conducted in Australia. In 2022 it provided Australian and international military and industry partners opportunities to demonstrate innovations in autonomous and uncrewed systems and related technologies for use in the maritime and littoral domains, including operations in complex, congested and contested environments.

Despite AUKUS, Navy’s strategic risk grows

We are facing the strategic risk of both of the Navy’s core combat fleets ageing out before replacements arrive.

MARCUS HELLYER

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft departs RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Diamond Storm 2022. *** Local Caption *** Exercise Diamond Storm 2022 is being conducted at RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal, and in the skies over the “Top End” of the Northern Territory, from 30 May until 24 June 2022. Exercise Diamond Storm 22 is part of a series of exercises that form the Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC). AWIC encompasses a range of academic activities and practical exercises that expose the candidates to complex scenarios, broadening and improving their skills; graduating humble, knowledgeable, approachable and expert instructors. AWIC22 integrates warfighting functions across a range of specialisations to develop expert air warfare instructors who will represent the next generation of tactical and integrated warfare experts across the air combat spectrum.

Ambitious target for Wedgetail paid off

The Wedgetail E-7A has surprised many by performing seamlessly with half as many crew as an E-3 and a much smaller airframe.

Brendan Nicholson

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

HMAS Toowoomba’s embarked MH-60R helicopter “Valkyrie” conducts a personnel transfer exercise on the forecastle during regional presence deployment. *** Local Caption *** The Royal Australian Navy is undertaking a regional presence deployment in Southeast and Northeast Asia. During the deployment, HMA Ships Brisbane, Stalwart, and Toowoomba will conduct training, exercises, and other engagements with Australia’s regional partners. Regional presence deployments demonstrate Australia’s commitment to, and engagement with, the region. The deployments play a vital role in Australia’s long-term security and prosperity by protecting Australia’s interests, preserving a rules-based order, enhancing cooperation and relationships with regional partners and allies, and developing capability and interoperability.

Romeos replace unloved Taipans

The Australian government is buying 12 more Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk naval combat helicopters to boost the Royal Australian Navy’s capability at sea.

Nigel Pittaway

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

Babcock Australiasia supports engineering, design, system integration and platform managment

Industry partners vital for national security

Tri-lateral industry partnerships are vital to support the delivery of the nation’s once-in-a-generation AUKUS agenda.

Andrew Cridland

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

NETIVOT, ISRAEL - OCTOBER 30: Mobile artillery prepares to fire towards the Gaza strip on October 30, 2023 in Netivot, Israel. As Israel's response to Hamas's Oct 7 attacks entered its fourth week, the Israeli PM said the current war would be a long one and would amount to a

After Gaza, no acceptance means no peace

The US will find itself sucked further into the Israeli-Hamas war for uncertain gain. However, it will remain the country with the clearest capacity to shape both Israeli and Palestinian behaviour.

PETER RODGERS

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

Evolve class for Qld govet sponsored content page

Industry excellence will support plans in north

The Defence Strategic Review (DSR) highlighted risks to regional security arising from the impacts of climate change.

Simon Cullen

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

BAE Systems Austrlaian guided missille frigate

Hunter frigate is a ‘proverbial maritime Swiss Army Knife’

The inability to predict the character of future warfare goes to the heart of why a balanced force – that can operate across multiple domains and the full spectrum of conflict – remains vital.

Ben Hudson

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

HMA Ships Hobart, Brisbane and Sydney sail in formation for the first time through the Eastern Australian Exercise Area off the coast of New South Wales, Australia. *** Local Caption *** Hobart Class Destroyers, HMA Ships Hobart, Brisbane and Sydney, work together at sea for the first time off the east coast of Australia, setting the standard for Australian blue water combat capability in the region. Showcasing their capability as a state-of-the-art maritime force, the DDGs conducted joint tests, trials and exercises to demonstrate and further develop their air and surface warfare capabilities, and solidify their value to maintaining a stable Indo-Pacific region.

Funds and action crucial for ADF lethality

The Defence Strategic Review (DSR) asserts that the force structure of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) no longer meets our needs and requires fundamental change. It has to become more lethal. This has major implications for the Navy.

DAVID SHACKLETON

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

Nic Maan, vice president Govt solutions Asia-Pacific, KBR

AUKUS to help build our global defence enterprises

There was a lot of expectation around Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to the US last month and rightly so.

Nic Maan

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

Rhys Centin of Thornton Tomasetti for Defence supp

Award night shows we are a nation of innovators

The conventional wisdom is that Australia doesn’t innovate and can’t manufacture anything high quality, complex, or affordable. The AMDA Foundation Innovation Awards, now in their 10th year, continue to disprove that conventional wisdom.

GREGOR FERGUSON

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

Future Hunter class frigate (BAE Systems image)

Hunt is on to see how many new frigates we’ll get

How many Hunter-class frigates will be purchased? It is almost certain that it will be less than the original nine, but anything beyond that is pure speculation.

Kym Bergmann

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

The Royal Australian Navy Hobart Class guided missile destroyer (DDG) HMAS Sydney became the first Hobart class DDG to strike a land target with a Harpoon surface to surface missile during Exercise Pacific Vanguard 22. *** Local Caption *** Five Royal Australian Navy ships across two task groups have been conducting regional presence deployments throughout the Indo-Pacific region. During their deployments the ships and their embarked ADF units will undertake joint exercises and other engagements with Australia’s regional partners. Regional Presence Deployments demonstrate Australia’s commitment and engagement with the region. These deployments play a vital role in Australia’s long term security and prosperity by protecting Australia’s interests, preserving a rules based order, enhancing cooperation and relationships with regional partners and allies and developing capability and interoperability.

Plans to improve performance of Air Warfare Destroyer combat systems well advanced

While the RAN’s three 7000-tonne Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs) are still relatively young – launched between 2015 and 2018 – their combat systems are in need of a refresh.

Kym Bergmann

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

The crew of HMAS Sydney 'cheer ship' inside Jervis Bay, NSW following the ship's commissioning ceremony at sea. *** Local Caption *** The Royal Australian Navy has welcomed its newest Air Warfare Destroyer into the fleet with the first ever commissioning of an Australian warship at sea, since World War II, off the coast of New South Wales. The ceremony marked the moment the 147-metre long Air Warfare Destroyer HMAS Sydney (V) became one of Her Majesty’s Australian Ships. Sydney is the last of three Hobart Class vessels built for Navy at Osborne in South Australia and is based on the Navantia F100 frigate design. She is equipped with advanced combat systems, providing the ship with layered offensive and defensive capabilities to counter conventional and asymmetric threats. Sydney will now undergo her test and evaluation period where she will integrate into the fleet and Navy personnel will develop their proficiencies with her cutting-edge Aegis combat system. Sydney and her sister ships, Hobart and Brisbane, are based at Garden Island in Sydney.

Anti-ballistic missile capability planned

The Navy’s three Hobart-class destroyers are set to receive a key capability upgrade which, among other enhancements, will enable Australia’s first anti-ballistic missile capability.

Nigel Pittaway

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

Maritime precision strike weapons program renewed

Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile (NSM) has been selected to replace the the Navy’s Harpoon weapons aboard its ANZAC-class frigates and Hobart-class destroyers.

Nigel Pittaway

INDO PACIFIC 2023 REPORTSpecial reports

Digital shipyard for RAN shipbuilding skills story

Shipbuilding goal: recruit, train, retain

To meet the needs for a continuous naval shipbuilding enterprise, these skills – and more – have to be recreated, relearned and the workforce adequately motivated to remain in the industry.

Nigel Pittaway

INDO PACIFIC 2023 PREVIEWSpecial reports

Collins Class Submarine at Henderson Marine Complex, Western Australia. *** Local Caption *** A range of naval shipbuilding and sustainment is conducted at Osborne Naval Shipyard, South Australia; Henderson, Western Australia; and Garden Island, New South Wales. A variety of vessels are built and maintained at these crucial locations, ensuring Navy has the capability to fight and win at sea.

Collins’ life extension uncertain

For years the RAN and ASC have been insisting that the forthcoming Life of Type Extension (LOTE) of Collins-class submarines will be routine – but now they are not so sure.

Kym Bergmann

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/special-reports/indo-pacific