APDR Article Library: All Articles

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Proposals invited for CTD Program Round 18

The Defence Department is seeking industry proposals for Round 18 of the Capability & Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program.

14th May 2013 | Read more

Collins Class upgrades a mixed scorecard

As the Future Submarine Project - SEA 1000 - continues to move forward at what appears to be a slow pace, Defence will have no choice but to expend even more funds on keeping the Collins Class in service until a viable replacement appears.

7th May 2013 | Read more

LAND 400 PHASE 2 – LAND COMBAT VEHICLE SYSTEM

Networked Army is the future and LCVS has a key part to play in it, both delivering feedback from its own sensors and also receiving situational awareness and commands while in the mounted close combat role with an enemy in difficult terrain.

7th May 2013 | Read more

Landing Helicopter Docks Big ships taking shape

he two massive LHDs that are under construction at Williamstown in Melbourne and Ferrol in Spain are now entering an advanced stage of the project. Being built by Navantia, the hull of Ship 02 - which will become HMAS Adelaide - is 85% complete and will begin the journey to Australia for the final stage of assembly in December this year. Ship 01 – or in the jargon of naval shipbuilding NUSHIP CANBERRA - is on track to begin trials next year, with prime contractor BAE Systems confident of being able to deliver her to the Navy on schedule in 2014.

7th May 2013 | Read more

Defence White Paper 2013

Given Australia’s strategic and budgetary circumstances, the 2013 White Paper seems reasonably well balanced. Or to put it another way, it could have been a lot worse. In foreshadowing a modest increase in spending in the short term and an aspiration target of 2% of GDP, the Government has sought to maintain its credentials in the national security domain.

3rd May 2013 | Read more

SEA 1000 CREW SIZE UNDER PRESSURE

n 2008 the Defence Department commissioned a review into submarine workforce sustainability which, when completed in 2009, made a number of recommendations to ensure Australia could deal with the pressures facing its submarine workforce and “to develop the required level of capability from the Submarine Force”.

9th Apr 2013 | Read more

LAND 400 PHASE 2 – LAND COMBAT VEHICLE SYSTEM (LCVS) – Part 1

At the 13 February 2013 hearing of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, Senator Fawcett asked Lieutenant General David Morrison “Chief of Army, to conclude our discussion.

9th Apr 2013 | Read more

Wedgetail

One of the more complex and fraught Defence acquisitions of recent times has been the purchase of six ‘Wedgetail’ airborne early warning & control (AEW&C) aircraft from Boeing.

8th Apr 2013 | Read more

DMMA

The competition to find a contractor for the Domestic Munitions Manufacturing agreement reached an important milestone on March 25 with four bids being submitted. This date was a slight delay over the original schedule.

8th Apr 2013 | Read more

Avalon 2013

Two years ago the amount of interaction was disappointingly low, but the situation this time was greatly improved – after a quiet first day. All of the major aerospace companies active in Australia were present, with the exception of Raytheon - which like many companies is in a cost-saving mode.

8th Apr 2013 | Read more

Pacific 2013 EXHIBITOR DIRECTORY AND CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Ventura Media is the offical supplier of the Pacific 2013 Directory and Conference Programme. BOOK your space NOW.

20th Mar 2013 | Read more

NEW RNZAF HELICOPTERS SLOWLY SPOOL UP

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) began receiving Bell 47G Sioux helicopters in 1965, along with Bell UH-1 Iroquois a year later at the height of the Vietnam War.

28th Feb 2013 | Read more

RAAF Stand-off Missiles – Fire and Forget?

Warfare in or from the air has changed dramatically in the last 100 years. The images of World War One devil-may-care pilots in helmet and goggles, scarves waving in the slipstream,

28th Feb 2013 | Read more

BUILDING SUBMARINES IN AUSTRALIA

Last month’s SEA 1000 article explored and found a ‘grand plan’ bespoke submarine design program costing up to $36 illion couldn’t be justified on ‘nation building’ grounds.

28th Feb 2013 | Read more

Anti-Ship Missile Defence impressive progress

The project to give the Navy’s eight Anzac frigatesThe ability to defend against saturation attacks

27th Feb 2013 | Read more

HF MOD delivering capability

Australia has a long history of expertise in high frequency (HF) radio communication, going back to the early 1930s.

27th Feb 2013 | Read more

Joint Strike Fighter F-35 update – don’t believe everything you read

Most people are aware that bad news sells newspapers far better than good news. That’s human nature - try it for yourself. Describe to your friends the wonderful holiday you have just experienced and even the politest of them will tune out after a few minutes of boredom.

28th Jan 2013 | Read more

ADF Pilot Training – a very slow take off

Human piloted aircraft, both fixed and rotary wing, will continue to be the ADF’s most important aerial assets for the foreseeable future. Although the ISR requirements of Australia’s huge EEZ, the third largest maritime jurisdiction in the world

28th Jan 2013 | Read more

Australia’s recapitalized fleet

As a consequence of a number of decisions taken during the last two years, the structure of the RAAF’s airlift fleet looks to be set in stone for some time to come.

28th Jan 2013 | Read more

SEA 1000 and “Nation Building” - The Industrial Tail Wagging the Capability Dog?

“Defence heavyweights Peter Cosgrove and Angus Houston say an Australian-built submarine fleet is essential for the nation's strategic interests, urging the government to resist cheaper options for replacing the ailing Collins Class boats”

28th Jan 2013 | Read more

NEWEST HAWKEI PROTOTYPE DELIVERED

31st Oct 2012 | Read more

Australia’s strategic circumstances

At a time of Defence budget reductions it is worth considering Australia’s strategic circumstances for a moment. Officially these are being examined as part of the forthcoming 2013 Defence White Paper and also Ken Henry’s forthcoming ‘Australia in the Asian century’ report.

31st Oct 2012 | Read more

Ninox: all-seeing hunter of the night

Members of the owl family like the Powerful Owl Ninox strenua, Rufous Owl Ninox rufa, Barking Owl Ninox connivens, etc., are common in some coastal fringes of Australia. These are relatively large birds which possess acute night vision through huge eyes which can barely move in their sockets.

31st Oct 2012 | Read more

JP 2097 Phase 1B

The troops of Australia’s Special Operations Command (SOCMD) having been doing a lot of ‘heavy lifting’ in recent years, particularly with continuous rotations to Iraq and Afghanistan, suffering numerous fatalities and serious injuries in the process.

31st Oct 2012 | Read more

JAPANESE FLAVOURED SUBMARINES FOR SEA 1000

Japan has a solid conventional submarine build program producing high quality and capable evolved MOTS products. At 4000 to 4200 tonnes they are of a size that many seem to think is important for Australia’s future submarine program.

31st Oct 2012 | Read more

Meeting Australia’s – and the Region’s – Defence Needs: The Role of Autonomous Systems

It is beyond debate that global trends are converging to make the 21st Century the Asia-Pacific Century. Just as certainly, for myriad reasons, the nations of the region – Australia chief among them – have moved forward proactively to enhance their defence posture.

15th Oct 2012 | Read more

Establishment of Rheinmetall Simulation Australia Pty Ltd

Establishment of Rheinmetall Simulation Australia Pty Ltd signals strengthened commitment “Down Under” - Adrian Smith appointed Managing Director

12th Oct 2012 | Read more

Another player joins the field of maritime communications

The Defence tender evaluation process often throws up seemingly inconsistent decisions and the one that currently has the maritime world in a buzz is SEA 1442 Phase 4.

4th Oct 2012 | Read more

Funding Approval given for Army mortar replacements

13th Jul 2012 | Read more

Joint Strike Fighter - Long term prospects for Australian companies.

12th Jun 2012 | Read more

New Zealand considering purchase of Seasprites.

New Zealand Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman has confirmed that he is considering purchasing 11 Seasprite helicopters

16th May 2012 | Read more

L-3 Selected as Prime Contractor to Provide C-27J for Australian Battlefield Airlifter Program

L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that it has been selected by the Commonwealth of Australia to provide the C-27J Spartan for the country’s Battlefield Airlifter program.

12th May 2012 | Read more

AIRBUS MILITARY EXPRESSES SURPRISE AT CARIBOU REPLACEMENT DECISION

In a press conference immediately following the announcement, the Minister clearly stated that there had been a competition between the C27J and the Airbus Military C295 airlifter. Airbus Military is obliged to place on the public record our disappointment at the Minister’s choice of words, because there was no tender process and certainly no competition.

12th May 2012 | Read more

New Battlefield aircraft for the Air Force

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Government had agreed to purchase 10 Alenia C-27J Spartan Battlefield Airlift aircraft at a cost of $1.4 billion.

10th May 2012 | Read more

Reflections of a Collins Submarine Captain

The Maritime Patrol Aircraft was still out there – an Australian AP3C with the formidable ELM2022 radar, entirely unforgiving to submarines in most circumstances but for some reason not today.

4th May 2012 | Read more

AIR 9000 Phase 7 May 2012

The competition is really fierce for the billion dollar Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) contract, where six teams of experienced suppliers and integrators of aircrew training systems have been attracted by the opportunity.

4th May 2012 | Read more

JP 2065 Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS)

JP 2065 (IBS) and a parallel project, JP2089 Tactical Information Exchange (TIE), are intrinsic components of a Defence global communications architecture that will facilitate the use of the now rapidly evolving “ Everything Over the Internet Protocol” (EOIP) capability for real-time video, voice, digital data – contributing to the effectiveness of Network Centric Warfare (NCW).

4th May 2012 | Read more

Air Warfare Destroyer

As Australians intimately know, the oceans––not the land––define this region, and those oceans and the global maritime commons are critically important to Australia’s security and prosperity. Australia is among the most proactive nations in ensuring the rule of law on the global maritime commons, and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) plays a prominent role in stabilizing the global maritime commons by teaming with regional and global partners.

4th May 2012 | Read more

COLLINS CLASS – LIFE EXTEND OR EUTHENASE?

At February’s Senate Estimate hearings, Defence acknowledged for the first time that a submarine capability gap is a real possibility. Subsequent analysis by ASPI reveals that, if the life of Collins cannot be extended or a MOTS submarine is not procured, it is not a question of whether there will be a gap, simply how large it will be.

4th May 2012 | Read more

Important developments for Defence

What a busy few weeks it has been, from the announcement that Australia will be winding down operations in Afghanistan sooner than anticipated, through to the announcement of an accelerated White Paper process and decisions on a number of acquisition matters.

4th May 2012 | Read more

Minister for Defence Materiel – More than $12 million investment in priority industry capabilities

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced more than $12 million in matched funding is being offered to nine Australian companies to commercialise new defence technologies that will contribute to Australia’s Priority Industry Capabilities in the defence sector. “This is an investment in cutting edge defence technologies developed here in Australia,” Mr Clare said.

30th Apr 2012 | Read more

A curious approach to SEA 1442 Phase 4

Moving naval communications into the internet era is a high priority for the ADF and one of the more important projects is the multi-phase SEA 1442. The Defence Capability Plan says it: “…..aims to upgrade and modernise maritime communications systems on RAN ships to allow networked communications between selected major surface vessels within a task group.”

4th Apr 2012 | Read more

Electronic Warfare

16th Jan 2012 | Read more

Anti-Submarine Warfare

In a time of intense political turmoil for the European Union, on 8 December 2011 in Brittany, at the Lanvéoc-Poulmic Naval Air Station, the French Navy commissioned its first naval air squadron of brand-new NH90 naval frigate helicopters (NFH) . This is in the form of the revived Flottille 33F, an Aéronavale squadron previously flying the veteran Sud-Aviation SA321G Super Frelon, today no longer in service in France.

16th Jan 2012 | Read more

AUSTRALIA’S SHIPBUILDING SECTOR

Big ticket shipbuilding programmes such as the Air Warfare Destroyer and amphibious warfare vessels have revitalised the local industry, which had contracted following completion of the Anzac frigate, Armidale patrol boat and Collins submarine programmes. However vital skills have been lost to other industries, in particular the mining sector, which has enjoyed sustained and massive growth for several years.

16th Jan 2012 | Read more

Flying Tigers in Afghanistan

Kym Bergmann reports from Kabul: Even as France starts a slow drawdown of troop numbers prior to a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014, combat units have recently completed one of their most intense fighting seasons since 2001. Most of the 4,000 troops are deployed in two provinces – Kabul (especially the district of Surobi) and Kapisa - which have seen some of the heaviest fighting of the war. While the capital city of Kabul is considered relatively secure by the standards of Afghanistan, the same cannot be said of the surrounding countryside. French responsibilities. Kabul itself sits on a piece of flat land surrounded by mountains but the geography of the Surobi district and all of Kapisa is inhospitable – high barren ridges, bleak terrain, steep sided gorges with small green pockets of agriculture found on scattered and isolated river flats. The city sits at 1,800 meters above sea level with nearby peaks rising to 3,000 metres. Kapisa in general and the Tagab valley in particular are considered insurgent strongholds, with a mixture of suicide bomb cells, tribal militias, members of the Haqqani network, fighters belonging to Hezb-i-Islami and so on. The picture is very complex and even sorting out the motives of the various anti-Government groups is not easy, with a senior French officer telling APDR, “the more we find out, the more unclear it becomes.”

22nd Dec 2011 | Read more

RN AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS

While the UK waits impatiently for its new aircraft carriers and F-35Cs, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines are now taking the lead in providing Britain with a global intervention capability, as APDR’s Richard Gardner reports from HMS Bulwark.

14th Dec 2011 | Read more

RAN Mine Countermeasures Capability – Where to Now ?

It has been over 20 years since an Australian Government Senate inquiry sparked an investment in Mine CounterMeasures (MCM) of nearly $1.5 billion. This investment culminated in the building of a modern MCM HQ at HMAS WATERHEN in Sydney and the delivery of 6 Huon Class Minehunters during the period 1999-2004. This article sets out what has been achieved and makes suggestions as to what is the required future focus for this vital maritime warfare capability. A Short History - Towards the end of the 1990s, the revitalisation of the RAN’s Mine Warfare (MW) capability was well underway. The new class of 6 MHCs were about to commence delivery, a project to procure a new range of mines was still underway (although it was not to last long), HMAS WATERHEN, the RANs MCMHQ was being rebuilt as a purpose built MCM support base and the plans were afoot to take the Clearance Diving capability to 90 metres with a new diving set. In all, this $1.5bn had been committed to ramp up the RANs MCM and MW capability – with potentially more to come with the acquisition of sea mines. Why all the expense on MCM? The answer was in the Government’s 1987 White Paper, which emphasised the need for capabilities to insure the Defence of Australia, its strategic maritime approaches and in the context of MW, its priority ports. These were ports that then and even more so now were seen as vital for Australia’s economic prosperity.

12th Dec 2011 | Read more

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY – “THE BEST SMALL-NATION NAVY IN THE WORLD”?

Because of New Zealand’s geographic isolation and friendly neighbours, successive governments have maintained the nation’s armed forces at “minimum credible” levels of manpower and equipment. The 2010-11 Defence budget saw spending rise modestly to NZ$2.85 billion, a figure representing approximately 1.2% of GDP. NZ is heavily dependent on international trade, with 24% of its national output exported, mostly by sea. The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) thus plays a crucial role in defending the realm, which, thanks to far-flung islands and dependencies such as the Cook Islands, possesses the world’s sixth-largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The EEZ encompasses an area of 6.68 million km². The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has three objectives: to defend the nation against threats; to contribute to regional security; and to participate in global security efforts. The importance of the RNZN’s role has been reflected in recent defence budgets. This year the navy’s share expanded to NZ$673 million, although it is being forced, along with each service of the NZDF, to find areas of savings within its overall budget.

12th Dec 2011 | Read more

Battlespace Communications

The development and applications of military digital battlespace communications systems can be clearly shown to have been adapted from commercial enterprises that fashioned a network-centric style of operation, to optimise the command and control of them, advance their growth and profitability. Such enterprises have sponsored the development of seamless, open architecture, high data rate digital communications that use a plethora of techniques to achieve the objectives of the scheme. These systems are always on and use a range of data security designs.

2nd Nov 2011 | Read more

A TOTAL SUBMARINE CAPABILITY PACKAGE

Year 2028; Deep Inside Enemy Territorial Seas … DTG 290040H FEB 28. Despite it being very early morning, the command team members were alert. Twenty minutes earlier the submarine had been brought to action stations after sonar had classified contacts 34 and 35 as two enemy destroyers. Commander Saunders had used the energy in her submarine’s lithium ion batteries to quickly close within visual range, then slowed and returned the boat to periscope depth. After conducting a target setup using the optronics mast’s fifth generation night vision capabilities and being satisfied with the updated fire control solution she returned the boat back below the layer, increased speed and set course for the intended firing position.

2nd Nov 2011 | Read more

Micronesia and its Law Enforcement Problems (Part II).

As described in the previous part of this small series (July / August APDR), Micronesia is an enormous, remote, thinly populated region containing two independent microstates (Kiribati and Nauru), three states in ‘Free Association’ with the USA (Republic of the Marshall Islands or RMI, Federated States of Micronesia or FSM, and Palau), and two US territories (Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or CNMI). Micronesia straddles the equator and is composed of atolls, islands and reefs scattered across the open ocean from the Philippines to Hawaii. The total population is about 500,000 people on about 2,000 square kilometers of land dispersed across millions of square kilometres of sea. Of this population, about 400,000 are US citizens or residents, or have unfettered access to the USA due to Compacts of Free Association with that country.

2nd Nov 2011 | Read more

The problem with Defence (Part II)

This is the second article based on a speech to a Rockwell Collins ‘Connected, aware, responsive technology’ Symposium. Having defined the problem with Defence as I see it, it is now time to examine solutions. What I am proposing is a tool that could be used now to improve even a sub-optimal Defence process. It is a tool or methodology that would indicate ministerial leadership and a healthy ministerial interest in real outputs and not only inputs. It is a tool that applies discipline both across the organisation and from top to bottom, as well as a tool that could be understood by a much larger proportion of the population than can currently understand Defence. And what might work against the acceptance of the methodology itself, it is something that creates a highly visible means of assessing the impact of government actions on the effectiveness of the defence force of this nation. But finally, it is a tool that can be used by a minister to truly increase accountability.

28th Oct 2011 | Read more

AUSTRALIA’S UNMANNED SYSTEMS INDUSTRY BASE

Although Australian industry is arguably not a major player in the global Unmanned Aerial Systems marketplace, it nevertheless plays an important role in technology development and support of local programmes. The UAS industry has also been assisted by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) through the government/industry Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) programme, leading to several innovative developments which have commercial potential.

7th Oct 2011 | Read more

LAND 17 - Patchy progress on firepower

Arguably Army’s most important indirect firepower project – LAND 17 – seems to be making patchy progress. As an essential part of Hardening & Networking the Army, having a capability that can be used in combat operations seems to be some way from fruition.

7th Oct 2011 | Read more

SEA 1000 - COMBAT SYSTEMS SELECTION FOR SEA 1000

A submarine is something that keeps water off the combat system and carries it to the battle”. At least that’s how we combat systems artificers used to view the situation. Putting an old submariner’s saying aside, however, the combat system is a very important component of a submarine’s capability and it deserves some attention in this series on SEA 1000.

7th Oct 2011 | Read more

Another budget hand back?

Only three months into the financial year and already there is some muttering within Defence of another looming hand back of unspent funds – although the problem can always be mitigated by measures such as the purchase of a sixth C-17 announced on September 23 and the decision to lease another support ship nine days earlier. The reasons for such pessimism – shared by industry – are not hard to find. There are around 130 projects listed in the Defence Capability Plan, yet the Department is able to commit to making a decision during 2011 / 12 on seven of them.

7th Oct 2011 | Read more

LAND 53 NINOX.

The original version of this project was to improve dismounted soldiers’ day and night vision capabilities when operating under adverse conditions - such as in jungle and open conditions – and to detect hostile forces by using a range of complementary and mainly electro-optical equipment. The products adopted for NINOX included soldier-carried Image Intensified devices, thermal imagers and microwave radars, the latter two tripod or vehicle mounted. NINOX also included unmanned perimeter surveillance equipment.

3rd Oct 2011 | Read more

AUSTRALIA’S MILITARY VEHICLE INDUSTRY BASE

Writing an overview of Australia’s military vehicle industry base is fraught with difficulty, due in no small part to the twists and turns of various phases of the overarching and ambitious Project Overlander vehicle replacement programme. Analysis of any future industry base is therefore very much dependent on the outcome of several phases.

3rd Oct 2011 | Read more

Pilot training

A clear blue sky, an azure swimming pool, gym, the gentle buzz of light aircraft arriving and departing, everything neat and clean, attentive smiling staff. Could APDR have been transported to a resort for the ultra-rich in the Seychelles or perhaps near Bora Bora? In our dreams. In fact the location is the Tamworth Flying School - operated by BAE Systems – and while it is not actually a tropical paradise it is in fact very pleasant.

3rd Oct 2011 | Read more

The problem with Defence (Part 1)

(This is the first of two articles based on a speech given on September 19 to a Rockwell Collins “Connected, Aware, Responsive Technology” symposium) One of my favourite books is Barbara Tuchman’s “March of Folly”. In this classic work she examines four instances of folly, which she defines as acts which are clearly contrary to the self-interest of the organization pursuing them; conducted over a period of time, not just in a single burst of irrational behaviour; conducted by a number of individuals, not just one deranged maniac; and, importantly, there have to be people alive at the time who pointed out correctly why the act in question was folly. The acts of folly she chose were the Trojan Wars, the loss of the American colonies by Britain, the Renaissance Popes failures resulting in the Reformation, and the conflict in Vietnam.

28th Sep 2011 | Read more

AIR 9000 Phase 8 October 2011

It was at the poetically beautiful Boyd Education centre overlooking the Shoalhaven river 16 kiolmetres from Nowra that local companies had to swallow the bitter pill that there will be almost no work for them flowing from the decision to purchase 24 MH-60R ‘Romeo’ helicopters – at least not in the short term. During the tender evaluate phase ‘Team Romeo’ made considerable efforts to match the Australian Industry Content package of rival bidder Eurocopter and have signed up to obligations amounting to $1.5 billion, which sounds impressive. However, it is already becoming difficult to see how this substantial target will be met.

28th Sep 2011 | Read more

Boeing Delivers Royal Australian Air Force’s 5th C-17 Globemaster III

Boeing announced on September 14 that it has delivered Australia’s fifth C-17 Globemaster III airlifter to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during a ceremony at the C-17 program’s final assembly facility in Long Beach. A RAAF delegation led by Stephen Smith, Australia’s Minister for Defence, received the country’s latest C-17 at an event also attended by Chief of the Defence Force General David Hurley, Australian Secretary of Defence Duncan Lewis, and U.S. Ambassador to Australia the Honorable Jeffrey Bleich.

28th Sep 2011 | Read more

BAE SYSTEMS GETS BEHIND AUSTRALIAN SMES WITH NEW AGREEMENT

BAE Systems has reinforced its commitment to growing Australia’s defence industry capability through the creation of a supply chain agreement with the Federal Government.

28th Sep 2011 | Read more

Achieving an Equilibrium in the South China Sea: An Air and Space Perspective

Recent skirmishes between China, Vietnam and the Philippines have threatened to reignite the long-standing and protracted dispute in the South China Sea. The potentially resource-rich islands in the South China Sea remains a source of friction and instability between the claimant states of the Asia-Pacific region. A peaceful resolution to the South China Sea dispute is imperative for the stability and security of the region.

14th Sep 2011 | Read more

Changing the structure of Defence.

t is highly unlikely that scholars in the Middle Ages actually debated how many angels could stand simultaneously on the head of a pin – though Thomas Aquinas did postulate that more than one angel could occupy a place at the same time. However the aphorism is a useful metaphor for an inordinately pointless intellectual debate, which brings us to parts of the recently released Black Review, titled “Improving personal and institutional accountability in Defence.”

2nd Sep 2011 | Read more

Austal teams with Rhode & Schwarz for ANZAC frigate communications upgrade.

Leading Australian defence prime contractor, Austal, announced on 22 August that it has teamed with Rohde & Schwarz, internationally renowned supplier of integrated defence communications systems, to submit a proposal to the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) in response to the SEA 1442 Phase 4 request for tender. SEA 1442 is a maritime communications modernisation program for the eight ANZAC Class Frigates of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) that will provide a significant capability improvement to the existing communications environment between RAN assets in support of Network Centric Warfare.

2nd Sep 2011 | Read more

BAE Systems Ships first AWD block to ASC

BAE Systems announced on 19 August that it has shipped the first of its Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) blocks to the ASC facility at Osborne in South Australia. BAE Systems Director of Maritime, Harry Bradford, said the block left the Williamstown yard on 12 August and arrived at Osborne on 15 August. He said shipping of the first block by barge was a major milestone for the Williamstown yard.

2nd Sep 2011 | Read more

ANZAC ASMD MILESTONE

APDR understands that Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs has approved Initial Operational Release (IOR) for HMAS PERTH Stage 1 ANZAC Class ASMD Upgrade Capability. This has been done on the advice of the Surface Force Commander and the Fleet Commander.

2nd Sep 2011 | Read more

Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Materiel – Defence capability projects approved

The Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, and Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare announced on 30 August that the Government has approved four major Defence capability projects.

2nd Sep 2011 | Read more

JP2072 Phase 2B Raytheon Australia teams with General Dynamics

Raytheon Australia has formally announced the company’s teaming for their pursuit of JP 2072 Phase 2B. In a briefing to media at the company’s corporate headquarters on 1 August 2011 Raytheon Australia’s Managing Director, Michael Ward, revealed that Raytheon Australia intends to prime JP2072 Phase 2B with the strong support of Raytheon Company (Network Centric Systems) and General Dynamics C4 Systems.

2nd Sep 2011 | Read more

Future submarine torpedo options.

In ASPI’s well-respected 2011-2012 Defence Budget Brief a suggestion was made that Defence would mandate equipping Australia’s future submarines with US AN/BYG-1 combat systems and US Mk 48 Mod 7 CBASS torpedoes. In fact, the use of the Mk 48 was “a given”. The source of this claim was not provided. Neither was an explanation as to “why”.

31st Aug 2011 | Read more

JOINING THE FRAY” IN EXERCISE TALISMAN SABRE 2011

Major Leigh Perkins, commander of Charlie Company, conducted his morning briefing that outlined the scheme of operations for an upcoming attack. A three-dimensional terrain map had been created on the ground, and his platoon leaders were gathered around to hear how the impending assault was to proceed that afternoon and on through the night. Their dust-caked faces were daubed in camouflage cream, and although they had been sleep-deprived for several days because of ongoing operations against the enemy, they listened with careful attention.

30th Aug 2011 | Read more

AIR 9000 Phase 8

The new US Navy helicopter was selected by the RAN in June 2011 to replace ageing Seahawks following a competitive tender between the US Navy and NH Industries - offering the NFH-90 - to supply up to 24 complete aircraft and associated support services. The decision seems odd when 46 NH-90s, labelled the MRH-90 will support the RAN’s “transport” capability and means that the RAN will operate two different helicopters and by doing so will ignore the 80% commonality of the two NHI aircraft. This paper reviews the MH-60R.

29th Aug 2011 | Read more

AIR 8000 Phase 2- Battlefield airlifter – the missing ingredient.

Airborne tactical transport. One of the principles of modern warfare is that a country can never have too much airlift capacity. With this in mind, Defence hopes to have another slow motion crack at plugging an annoying gap in capability caused by the retirement of the long-serving Caribou battlefield airlifters last year. Known as project AIR 8000 Phase 2, this is likely to be a re-run of a competition a decade ago that had exactly the same aim, but was cancelled for reasons that are the subject of speculation and rumour, which will be put to rest later in this story.

29th Aug 2011 | Read more

Major Defence reforms unveiled.

This afternoon Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced the Government's response to the Black Review into Departmental lines of accountability. These are largely in line with expectations and the main features are: * the establishment of two Associate Secretary positions to strengthen Defence’s capacity to implement the Black Review; * the strengthening of capability development and acquisition; * increasing rigour and contestability within capability development, including the establishment of a new process for the inclusion of projects into the Defence Capability Plan;

9th Aug 2011 | Read more

INSTALLATION COMPLETE ON LHD LAND-BASED TEST SITE

The Land-Based Test Site (LBTS) at BAE Systems in Williamstown for the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) project is now complete. BAE Systems, Saab and L-3 Communications (L-3) completed the installation in July 2011 as a key milestone in the development of the integrated combat and communications systems.

Established in 1958 as a family owned South Australian business, Static Engineering provide exciting design solutions for challenging projects for their commercial and Defence clients. In 2007, Static Engineering became part of the Broens Group, led by Broens Industries together with Calbic Precision Engineers based in South Australia. Broens Industries, based in Sydney, have offices in Adelaide, Melbourne, as well as international offices in Europe, Asia and the US. The Broens Group is a one-stop-engineering-shop, providing concept design, product development, specification, manufacture and after sales service.

22nd Jul 2011 | Read more

Defence & Industry 2011 Conference - Official optimism and Industry gloom.

It was almost as if people from two different planets were intermingling at the Adelaide Defence & Industry conference, held in the last week of June. Listening to a series of Departmental presentations all appeared to be well with the world of defence procurement, with statistics apparently proving repeatedly that the outlook was healthy with billions of dollars to be spent. However, most of the talk from industry representatives was about the tangible slow down in the number of First and Second Pass approvals being granted and the negative impact this is having on a number of companies.

21st Jul 2011 | Read more

AIDN - Australian success stories.

AIDN National President Article for the APDR July / August Edition Global Supply Chain feature. I thank Mr Kym Bergmann the editor of APDR for the opportunity to contribute to the magazine’s feature on Australia’s defence industry small medium enterprises (SMEs) experience in marketing and selling their equipment and services in the global supply chains of Australian based Prime and overseas defence industry companies. AIDN represents over 800 Australian defence industry SMEs and while our organisation works with Government to promote our members’ interest in the development of defence industry policy, skills development and capacity building, our main aim is to maximise the business opportunities for members, both in the domestic market and those overseas. Our members’ participation in global supply chain of large international Prime defence industry companies and their major suppliers is one strand in achieving this aim.

21st Jul 2011 | Read more

PROJECT SEA 1654 – MARITIME OPERATIONAL SUPPORT CAPABILITY

The RAN’s quest to overhaul its maritime operational support capability, SEA 1654, was originally conceived in four phases, which would replace the existing fleet oiler and underway replenishment vessels.

21st Jul 2011 | Read more

Border security Transnational Crime in Micronesia (Part 1)

Micronesia is an enormous, remote, thinly populated region containing two independent microstates (Kiribati and Nauru), three states in ‘Free Association’ with the USA (Republic of the Marshall Islands or RMI, Federated States of Micronesia or FSM, and Palau), and two US territories (Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or CNMI). Micronesia straddles the equator and is laid out in a light dusting of atolls, islands and reefs scattered across a truly enormous expanse of open ocean from the Philippines to Hawaii. The total population is about 500,000 people on about 2,000 square kilometers of land dispersed across millions of square kilometres of sea. Of this population, about 400,000 are US citizens or residents, or have unfettered access to the USA due to Compacts of Free Association with that country.

21st Jul 2011 | Read more

US orders more JHSVs from Austal

6th Jun 2011 | Read more

Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems to Supply an Asian Country with Electro-Optical Payloads for Maritime Patrol Aircraft Under Contract Valued at Approximately $20 Million On May 18, Elbit announced that it was awarded a contract to supply an unnamed Asian country with dozens of CoMPASS™ (Compact Multi Purpose Advanced Stabilized System) payloads for maritime patrol aircraft. The Asian country, which operates one of the largest maritime patrol fleets in the world, has selected the CoMPASS™ payload as a solution to protect its coastlines. The contract, valued at approximately $20 million, is scheduled to be completed within two years.

6th Jun 2011 | Read more

SEA 1000 - A RANGE OF SUBMARINE OPTIONS

ast month the generic roles and functions of a submarine were mapped into the Australian context and some analysis was carried out to identify any aspects of the Australian requirement that stood out as unique. One requirement that warranted further discussion was that of submarine “endurance” and “range”. It was acknowledged, and is largely undisputed in military circles, that the Area of Operations (AO) for Australia’s future submarines will be both large and distant. Are the Australian range and endurance requirement unique, or perhaps just unusual? Can the Australian requirement be met by a Military Off The Shelf (MOTS) submarine, and if not, by how much does a MOTS submarine miss the mark? Finally, if the MOTS submarine does miss the mark, how can the requirement gap be met economically by alternative solutions? There is little point in procuring a future submarine that cannot meet ADF peace and wartime endurance and range needs. However, noting the high cost that would be borne by the taxpayer for the procurement of a unique submarine design and the national consequences if any of the significant own design project risks are realised, all options with respect to meeting endurance and range requirements must be considered.

12th May 2011 | Read more

Helicopter support

Three phases of Project AIR 9000, the Australian Defence Force’s helicopter roadmap for the future, are due to progress to either type selection or contract over the next year or two, realising a reduction in the number of platforms flown.

12th May 2011 | Read more

Air 9000 Phase 7

14th Mar 2011 | Read more

Thales TopOwl deployed with French and US Forces in Afghanistan

1st Sep 2010 | Read more

The importance of defence reform

Whoever becomes Australia’s next Defence Minister will need to continue to focus on the importance of defence reform

1st Sep 2010 | Read more

Lockheed Martin completes second live tracking exercise for ballistic missile defense

Lockheed Martin has announced that on August 15 it successfully identified and tracked four live targets during a test of its Multi-Mission Signal Processor (MMSP) being fielded as part of the Aegis next-generation Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability.

1st Sep 2010 | Read more

Boeing Hornet Contract

Boeing Australia Component Repairs

1st Sep 2010 | Read more

FIRST AIRBUS MILITARY A330 MRTT FOR ROYAL AIR FORCE LEAVES HANGAR

A330 MRTT Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

1st Sep 2010 | Read more

Thales Australia and the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) are boosting soldier safety

Thales Australia boosts soldier safety with Bullet Trap Blank Firing AttachmentsThales Australia boosts soldier safety with Bullet Trap Blank Firing Attachments

1st Sep 2010 | Read more

Babcock

1st Aug 2010 | Read more

The Federal Election

At the time of writing, the Australian Federal election looks to be a close contest with the odds slightly in favor of the Government being returned

The demand for laser-based defense systems is growing for a number of reasons, primarily due to the very high level of accuracy resulting in point target hits and minimal collateral damage.

1st Aug 2010 | Read more

QANTAS DEFENCE SERVICES SIGNS $136M C130H CONTRACT EXTENSION

The contract, initially awarded to Qantas in 1999, includes renewal options.

1st Aug 2010 | Read more

SIMTECT 2010

Simulation

1st Aug 2010 | Read more

Defence Budget 2010 - 2011

DEFENCE BUDGET KEEPS GROWING

1st Jun 2010 | Read more

SEA 1000

COMBAT SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT

1st Jun 2010 | Read more

Afghanistan

TRAINING THE NEXT AFGHAN GENERATION

16th Apr 2010 | Read more

Kim Beazley

In one of his last interviews before his departure to take up his position as Australia’s Ambassador to the US, former Defence Minister Kim Beazley talks to APDR’s Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe about the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean to Australia’s

16th Apr 2010 | Read more

Electronic Warfare: Australia's mixed record

As far as the author is aware there is no official history of Australia’s endeavours in indigenous Electronic Warfare (EW) projects in Australia, but if there was then the Defence Research Laboratories at Salisbury in South Australia would undoubtedly be the principle player, with some support from Australian Industry.

10th Mar 2010 | Read more

Land 121 Phase 3 Shortlist

The next stage of LAND 121 Phase 3 has commenced with the down select of three vehicle types now remaining for further trials.

10th Mar 2010 | Read more

Singapore Airshow 2010 Wrap Up

The official statistics indicating that the air show grew strongly from its beginnings 2 years ago tells only part of the story.

10th Mar 2010 | Read more

Super Hornets: Industry Support for the RAAF's Rhinos

The Commonwealth has allocated AS$2.5 billion over a period of 10 years to provide support and sustainment for the introduction of 24 F/A-18F Block II+ Super Hornets with the Royal Australian Air Force.

10th Feb 2010 | Read more

Air 7000 & JP129

Australia is making substantial investments in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

10th Feb 2010 | Read more

Wedgetail. Another saga of naïve contracting?

It boggles and saddens the mind that Defence, the launch customer for the supply of an airborne early warning and control capability for Australia, and the supplier Boeing, have failed to perform satisfactorily on this critically important program for the defence of Australia.

3rd Feb 2010 | Read more

Afghanistan analysis: Uzbeks’ Role in Afghan Fighting

Some of the most determined Taliban fighters faced by Australian and allied troops are ethnic Uzbeks, who have gained a reputation for determination and fanaticism.

2nd Feb 2010 | Read more

MRH-90 Performs Well in Maritime Trials

New platforms don’t always receive positive reports from pre-entry into service trials, but the new Eurocopter MRH-90 multi-role helicopter appears to have performed well so far.

14th Jan 2010 | Read more

AWD Ship Construction Underway

Air Warfare Destroyer : Ship construction underway - the sparks start to fly

8th Jan 2010 | Read more

From Sea 1441 to Sea 1000

The ink is hardly dry on the decision to adopt a US Navy combat system for the Type 471 Collins class SSK submarine; availability, serviceability and crewing remain problems to be solved; their half-life update is not too many years into the future; and the Government has said it will not abandon the Collins.

2nd Jan 2010 | Read more

Land 121 Phase 3 Update

As a project LAND 121, is nowhere near as appealing to most as Air Warfare Destroyers, Stealth fighters or Self Propelled Artillery systems.

2nd Nov 2009 | Read more

Land 17 Moves in Stages

Army’s artillery replacement project – valued at just shy of $500 million – has taken a step forward with the announcement of the intention to purchase 155mm M777 towed howitzers from BAE Systems.

2nd Nov 2009 | Read more

Maritime Counter-Terrorism and the Sri Lanka Navy

The recent and spectacular successes of the Sri Lanka Navy [SLN] in countering the maritime wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam [LTTE], the Sea Tigers, serves as an interesting example of maritime counter-insurgency.

2nd Nov 2009 | Read more

Tiger Helicopters

And well might it be said as the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter [ARH], now beginning to enter into service in the Australian Army, is demonstrating that it is an outstanding example of European commercial and technological aviation expertise that is stealing the march on a heretofore entrenched market for United States helicopters in Australia and also in other nations.

2nd Nov 2009 | Read more

Current Australian Military Communication Projects

The concept of Revolution in Military Affairs [RMA] has become a key driver behind technological change and the requirement for achieving the knowledge edge, as essential elements of successful waging of modern warfare.

5th Oct 2009 | Read more

NCW – the way ahead

Announced with no fanfare in early October – not even a media release – the NCW Roadmap 2009 is a 70 page document providing an outline of how the ADF needs to achieve key objectives in the next decade and beyond.

5th Oct 2009 | Read more

The Utility of Tactical Data Links

In the mid-1990s, with the end of the Cold War all major military powers studied a different role and structure of military capabilities.

5th Oct 2009 | Read more

Australia and New Zealand Twenty-First Century ANZACS

Australia and New Zealand’s deep and common heritage, a lasting - if gruff - kinship, and similar social values all underscore the merits of a standing trans-Tasman force, ready to meet shared national security challenges. Peter Greener and Nick Floyd review the challenges that the notion itself presents.

5th Oct 2009 | Read more

Air 8000

The search for a successor to Australia’s geriatric de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou fleet, which started way back in the 1970s, has stalled a number of times in recent years but with annual support costs for the fleet now reaching A$35 million continuing operation of the type is no longer feasible.

1st Sep 2009 | Read more

InFlight Connectivity Comes of Age

In-flight connectivity is finally taking off after years of false starts. Emma Kelly examines today’s technology and its prospects for success this time around.

1st Sep 2009 | Read more

How Sri Lanka Won the Unwinnable War

Considered to be one of Asia’s longest running conflicts, the Sri Lankan civil war officially ended on 19 May 2009, with the Sri Lankan military recapturing all LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) controlled territory and killing its leadership.

1st Sep 2009 | Read more

Uninhabited Systems: Multi-Autonomous Ground-robotic International Challenge

In his announcement on 13 July 2009, the Hon. Greg. Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science announced an “International Challenge to Develop Military Robots” through a competition known as the Multi-Autonomous Ground-robotic International Challenge (MAGIC).

1st Sep 2009 | Read more

Anti-Ship Missile Defence

When the history of the ANZAC ships is written, it is highly likely that the success and utility of the Commonwealth’s original approach since the frigates have required minor and major upgrades to enhance their anti-submarine warfare [ASW] and anti-surface warfare [ASuW] capabilities, but not their capability to prosecute an attack.

1st Jul 2009 | Read more

Indonesian Election

The overwhelming Presidential victory of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has enormous positive implications not only for Australia, but for the region in general.

1st Jul 2009 | Read more

Boeing's Poseidon reaches another milestone

The Boeing Company and the United States Navy (USN) have formally unveiled the service's newest maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, during a ceremony near Seattle on 30 July.The Boeing Company and the United States Navy (USN) have formally unveiled the service's newest maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, during a ceremony near Seattle on 30 July.

1st Jul 2009 | Read more

RAAFs First Super Hornet

Speaking at the rollout of the first RAAF Super Hornet, RAAF Chief Air Marshal Mark Binskin said that he personally is in favor of the future conversion of some of the aircraft to the Electronic Warfare ‘Grizzly’ variant. Previously known as the Growler, the EW variants have been rechristened to avoid confusion with their predecessor the Prowler.

1st Jul 2009 | Read more

Funding to ADF Operations increases by 40%

The Rudd Government has clearly signaled its operational priorities in the 2009-2010 budget released last month.

30th Jun 2009 | Read more

J-XX The PLAAF’s Plans for a Stealthy Fifth Generation Fighter

There is very little information available about the J-XX. The existence of the program was first disclosed by US Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) in 1997 when J-XX was described as a 4th generation fighter to enter the service around 2015.

30th Jun 2009 | Read more

Rebalancing – with more change on the way

There are good and bad things in this US DoD’s Fiscal 2010 budget proposals. President Obama and the US DoD recognise – unlike Prime Minister Rudd – that there are limits to the size of the country’s coffers for military expenditure, despite the fact that the war in Afghanistan is rapidly replacing the one in Iraq and is escalating very rapidly.

30th Jun 2009 | Read more

Having to do more with less

This is particularly so for navies in the South-East Asian region As we approach the first decade of the 21st Century, it is clear that the maritime environment will continue to play an important role for not only nations but also people of the world, a large proportion who depend on maritime trade and activities.

6th May 2009 | Read more

Navy The Big Winner - But When?

The Government’s long awaited White Paper – Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 has been greeted with consistently mixed reviews.

6th May 2009 | Read more

Supporting the ADF's Helicopter Fleet

The goal of the Australian Defence Force’s [ADFs] Project AIR 9000 is to plan a ‘rotary wing roadmap’ for the future and as such, aims to replace legacy Army and Navy fleets to satisfy projected operational requirements.

6th May 2009 | Read more

Two Grand Old Ladies

We are, of course, referring to the Army’s venerable Blackhawks and the Navy’s Seahawks, which are twins from the one parent – the United States manufacturer, Sikorsky.

6th May 2009 | Read more