Collins class submarine sustainment has been listed as a Product of Concern following a recommendation from the Department of Defence, enabling enhanced ministerial oversight of the key capability. With the submarines required to operate beyond their original design life, it is essential that increased sustainment requirements are met to ensure the Collins class remains an…
The federal government has moved to equip the Australian Army with land-based, long-range fires to protect Australia’s northern approaches. In line with the priorities of the 2024 National Defence Strategy, the Government will select from two options: The Precision Strike Missile fired from the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher vehicle The Naval Strike…
The federal government has awarded several contracts under a qualification process that paves the way for the Australian businesses to enter UK and US submarine supply chains as part of the AUKUS pact. The Defence Industry Vendor Qualification (DIVQ) Program aims to enable Australian businesses to supply their products and services into the AUKUS trilateral…
The federal government is ‘cleaning up the mess’ left by the previous government of defence projects that have fallen behind schedule or going over budget, according to the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy. Conroy held a Projects of Concern Summit in Canberra yesterday to discuss the Civil Military Air Traffic Management…
The federal government has continued a run of announcements of major defence acquisitions, selecting a design by Damen Shipyards Group as the preferred option for the Australian Defence Force’s Landing Craft Heavy vessel (pictured). The announcement is a step in the establishment of a littoral fleet which is expected to create 1,100 direct jobs and…
The federal government has invested $60 million in quantum and counter disinformation technologies critical to defence and to a future made in Australia. The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) programme has signed 21 contracts with Australian universities and industry partners. The investment was made under the National Defence Strategy and…
The federal government has begun the industrial campaign which will ultimately see Australia construct SSN-AUKUS nuclear powered submarines at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide. In March it was announced that the submarines, to follow on from the arrival of interim US nuclear powered vessels for service in the 2040s, are to be constructed by…
The federal government is inviting submissions for the 2025 Australian Defence Export Catalogue, which it says is the nation’s flagship publication for promoting the defence industry and export-ready products is now in its eighth year. In a statement on Friday, it advised that submissions can be lodged via the Australian Defence Export Catalogue Portal up…
By Peter Roberts It has been a long while coming, but after 29 months in office the federal government has released a Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan. A recommendation of the Defence Strategic Review, the government has been meanwhile buying new weapons overseas and supporting local manufacture of some missiles and munitions. It has…
The federal government today committed to two new Australian defence factories – one to manufacture Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS, pictured), and the second a new 155mm artillery ammunition forging plant. The government did not reveal the cost of the new plants, except to say they were part of the Guided Weapons and Explosive…