The federal government will spend $1.7 billion to acquire a new fleet of Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles, signing a contract with Anduril Australia for delivery, maintenance and continued development over the next five years. According to a statement from defence minister Richard Marles and defence industry minister Pat Conroy on Wednesday, the fleet…
The federal government has made two contract announcements, totalling $190 million and involving James Fisher Defence (JFD) Australia, covering diving and hyperbaric equipment, and submarine escape and rescue services. According to a statement from defence industry minister Pat Conroy on Wednesday, $100 million was awarded to JFD for a five-year contract extension as Category Integrator…
Defence contractor Kongsberg has announced that its first Australian manufactured launcher for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) capability has successfully completed a Blast Test Vehicle (BTV) firing in Port Wakefield, South Australia. This activity has been performed as part of deliveries under Project SEA 1300 Phase 1 – Navy Guided Weapons. This BTV firing was…
By Peter Roberts Shipbuilder Austal has again shown at its annual general meeting the folly of Australia’s apparent unconcern should the company fall under foreign ownership. In September Korea’s Hanwha gave up on a takeover of Austal, a deal that was waved through by Defence Minister Richard Marles as of no concern to the government.…
A total of 12 Australians have graduated from the United States Navy Nuclear Power School including the first seven Royal Australian Navy (RAN) enlisted sailors who joined RAN officers also graduating. The 12 are the pioneers towards Australia acquiring and ultimately constructing a sovereign conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) fleet in the early 2030s, according…
The CEO of ASC — the government-owned company tasked with sustaining Australia’s current submarine fleet and building the upcoming SSN‑AUKUS submarine fleet with BAE Systems — will leave the role when his contract expires in January 2026. In a statement from the company on Friday, ASC said that Stuart Whiley’s time at the shipbuilder and…
Royal Australian Navy and Australian industry staff are set to begin maintenance work on the first US nuclear powered submarine to be docked in Perth as part of the AUKUS partnership. They will work on US Virginia class submarine USS Hawaii alongside US counterparts in a Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (STMP) at HMAS Stirling in…
The federal government has delivered on its promise of more rapid defence decision making, accelerating the manufacture of the Ghost Shark underwater autonomous vehicle for undersea surveillance, reconnaissance and strike at a new factory to be built in Australia. The government has already spent $90 million along with Anduril Industries developing the very large autonomous…
The Royal Australian Navy has selected a new light landing craft for use by the in-service Pacific Support Vessel ADV Reliant. Under a contract with Sydney-based The Whiskey Project Group (TWPG), Navy will receive two all aluminium Landing Craft Light (LCL), that will be faster and more capable than legacy in service craft. Delivery is…
A successful firing of the Naval Strike Missile, made by Kongsberg Defence Australia under Project SEA 1300 Phase 1 – Navy Guided Weapons, took place during Exercise RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) 2024 off the Hawaiian islands. According to a statement from Defence on Monday, it represents a major milestone by the Royal Australian Navy…