Defence giants Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Babcock have formed a new joint venture H&B Defence to develop sovereign capability for the AUKUS conventional armed, nuclear-powered submarine programme. H&B Defence combines nuclear submarine and shipbuilding experience from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to support the nuclear-powered submarine programme unforlding under AUKUS. HII…
US nuclear submarine constructor Huntington Ingalls Industries has announced the appointment of Tim Brown as vice president of operations and Terry Nichols as the managing director for two HII business areas in Australia. Brown and Nichols will work from HII’s Canberra office, and both will report directly to Michael Lempke, president of Mission Technologies’ Nuclear…
The federal government has announced the go ahead for the life-of-type extension programme for the Collins class submarine fleet, extending their life until the arrival of Virginia class nuclear powered submarines. HMAS Farncomb will be the first of the Collins class submarines to undergo sustainment and capability enhancement at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide…
The federal government has announced Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) and an AECOM and Aurecon Joint Venture as the concept design partners for South Australia’s new nuclear-powered submarine construction yard (NPSCY). KBR has extensive experience in supporting design and project management for defence infrastructure facilities and will design the area of the NPSCY that will…
By Peter Roberts Relations between workers and management at submarine builder ASC have sunk even lower with members of the trade unions on the site unanimously issuing a vote of no confidence in the CEO’s leadership. Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) SA Assistant State Secretary Stuart Gordon said around 300 members across the AMWU, AWU…
DroneShield in new US defence order Drone countermeasure manufacturer DroneShield has received a repeat order of $5.7 million from a U.S. Government customer for a number of its C-UxS (Counter-UxS, pictured) systems. C-UxS refers to counterdrone systems targeting multi-domain aerial, ground and maritime surface drones. The delivery, involving multiple DroneShield product lines, is expected to…
Linda Dobe appointed D-D of Queensland Manufacturing department The Queensland government has announced the appointment of three new Directors-General, each with a wealth of experience, to lead key departments. The appointments include: Linda Dobe as Director-General for the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (DRDMW), Peter McKay as Director-General of the Department of Employment,…
By Ian Lowe, Griffith University For decades, Australia has exported uranium – but not used it, other than in the Lucas Heights research reactor. But change is coming. We now face a rapidly deepening commitment to the nuclear industry, through nuclear submarines (bipartisan support) or nuclear reactors (Coalition support). The Albanese government was quick to accept…
Silentium doubles down on US market entry with senior appointment Passive radar systems manufacturer Silentium Defence has announced further commitment to the US market, posting co-founder and Chief Experience Officer, Simon Palumbo to Virginia. Palumbo will assume the role, Executive Vice President, Silentium Defense Corporation, and be responsible for in-country customer support, business development, talent…
Today in our editorial series – Towards 3% R&D – Turbocharging Australia’s Innovation Effort – Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy explains how the government has built new structures to link defence innovation with commercial outcomes, building the defence industrial base in the process. A strong and sovereign innovation, science and technology sector is critical to…