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31 Oct 2016	The ‘Silver Bullet’ conundrum: naval losses in a world of small fleets In the post-Cold War era, western navies have continued to seek the highest levels of technology and capability in an environment of declining defence budgets. This has caused a reduction in overall fleet sizes as unit costs increase, and the creation of ‘silver bullets’ in fleets that rely on a smaller number of more capable platforms. At the same time naval vessels face increasingly lethal and numerous anti-surface weapons. So the costs of losing even one vessel may be more significant than we imagine. More.....
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28 Oct 2016	Australian Navy’s new replenishment ships to feature Saab’s combat systems Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has contracted Swedish defense contractor Saab to deliver an integrated combat system for the two new Royal Australian Navy replenishment ships. According to Saab, the contract is worth SEK 226 million (approx US$25 milion). More.....
28 Oct 2016	Australian minehunter finds US fighter jet 44 meters below surface The crew of the Australian minehunter HMAS Huon has found a missing American World War II plane during a mine clearance operation in the Solomon Islands. At the request of the United States Department of Defense, Huon began the search for the Grumman F4F Wildcat downed in the waters off the islands. The plane was found resting at the bottom of the ocean in 44 meters of water. More.....
27 Oct 2016	HMAS Sydney I – SMS Emden Engagement 102nd Anniversay Memorial Service – Bradley’s Head 11.00am Sunday 6 November 2016 On Sunday 6 November 2016 the HMAS SYDNEY Association Inc. will hold a Memorial Service to remember the 102nd Anniversary of the engagement and subsequent sinking of the German cruiser SMS EMDEN by HMAS SYDNEY I near the Cocos and Keeling Islands. The Memorial Service will take place at Bradley’s Head Reserve commencing at 1100. Full details and transport options.....
26 Oct 2016	Chief of the Defence Force hosts top level Indonesian military contingent The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, and senior Australian Defence Force officers hosted their Indonesian counterparts during a high level military engagement in Canberra yesterday. More.....
26 Oct 2016	Australia and France to strengthen Defence relationship The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and her French counterpart, Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, today agreed to strengthen the Australia-France defence relationship by establishing formal annual Australia-France Defence Ministers meetings. Minister Payne said Australia and France have a close and long-standing Defence relationship, based on shared interests in contributing to the rules-based global order and strong cooperation in the Pacific. More.....
24 Oct 2016	Navy League of Australia(Vic-Tas Div) October newsletter is now available to download.....
24 Oct 2016	Minister announces Anzac Day Schools�� Awards winners A Primary School from the ACT and two High Schools from Victoria are the national winners of this year’s Anzac Day Schools’ Awards. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan today announced that Kaleen Primary School in Kaleen, ACT, was the National and ACT Primary School Winner and St Joseph’s College and Clonard College in Geelong, Victoria, shared the National and Victorian Secondary School prize. The Anzac Day Schools' Awards promote initiative and creativity in the way schools commemorate Anzac Day. More.....
24 Oct 2016	Capability on Show at HMAS Cerberus HMAS Cerberus opened the gates at on 23 October for their biennial open day, offering visitors an insight into initial training, naval tradition, new capabilities and life in the ‘blue suit’. Cerberus, often referred to as the ‘Cradle of the Navy’ due being home of Recruit training, actually provides training for Navy, Army and Air Force personnel. With training offered for all three services it was a great opportunity for Army and Air Force to also put on a show for the crowds. More.....
23 Oct 2016	Droning on about innovation The launch of drones from the air and from the sea heralded the start of an innovative series of demonstrations at Fleet Base East in Sydney. The lunchtime displays are the brainchild of the naval engineering community. Marketed as a ‘launch pad’, the displays provide opportunity to challenge and innovate through a series of cutting edge demonstrations where industry and innovators can showcase their technologies and ideas. More.....
21 Oct 2016	Veterans' Health Week 2016 – Social Connection The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan has encouraged serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and members of the ex-service community to take part in Veterans' Health Week between 22 and 30 October. Mr Tehan said the theme for this year’s Veterans' Health Week was social connection through activities across Australia that promote a healthy lifestyle. More.....
21 Oct 2016	Austal CEO: We don’t do what everybody else does With an order book of over $3 billion, Austal is the only Australian company to make it into the top 100 defence companies in the world. Operating shipyards in Australia, U.S. and the Philippines, the company constructs ships for both the defence and commercial sector. Defence is at the company’s core, however, with over 80 percent of revenue in 2015 coming from naval vessels. More.....
21 Oct 2016	UK’s first Successor submarine to be named HMS Dreadnought Her Majesty The Queen has given her consent for the first of the next-generation nuclear-missile-armed submarines to carry the name Dreadnought. One of the most symbolic names in Royal Navy history is thereby being resurrected after more than 35 years. It’s a warship title which goes back to the reign of Elizabeth I, more than 450 years, but was most famously borne by two British warships in the 20th Century. More.....
21 Oct 2016	Unmanned Warrior 2016 concludes The Royal Navy-hosted review of unmanned technologies which took place on the West Coast of Scotland concluded on October 20. The skies above the island of Benbecula, a remote Scottish outpost in the Outer Hebrides, have been clear and calm in October allowing several dozens of the world’s experts to showcase their technologies during the two-week exercise. More.....
21 Oct 2016	OSI to deliver integrated bridge systems for new Australian replenishment oilers Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has contracted Canadian OSI Maritime Systems to supply two integrated bridge systems (IBS) to the Royal Australian Navy for the AOR (auxiliary oiler replenishment) program. The IBS is based on OSI’s warship INTS (integrated navigation & tactical system) design which OSI said would be custom engineered and built to the RAN’s standards and requirements. More.....
21 Oct 2016	Bradley's Head holds historical highlights Many officers and sailors from navies all over the world have come to attention as their ships sailed past Bradley's Head on Sydney Harbour, but how many of them knew of the significance of the headland? Five members of the ship's company of amphibious giant, HMAS Canberra, including Commanding Officer Captain Chris Smith, visited the site to learn about one of the most important naval memorials in Australia. Naval historian Bob Auston was on hand to broaden their education. More.....
21 Oct 2016	From Concern to Exemplar – Collins Class Submarine Sustainment Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne, the Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and the Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann have congratulated the Collins Class Submarine Sustainment Program at ASC, following an independent follow-up review on the progress made in addressing the findings of the original 2012 Coles Review. Minister Payne said the follow-up review, Beyond Benchmark, completed by Mr John Coles found a remarkable improvement in the capability to successfully manage the sustainment of the Collins Class submarines.
20 Oct 2016	Maritime Operations in the Littoral – The Minister’s Perspective – ADFA, Canberra Let me begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet here this morning and pay my respects to their elders, past and present. To Rear Admiral James Goldrick, to Australian Naval Institute President, Vice Admiral Peter Jones and the very many distinguished guests who are here, to Michael Frater, Tom Frame and my old distinguished friend Andrew Blyth up there who has armed himself with a camera! It’s a great opportunity to be here this morning and believe me ladies and gentlemen, if I am to choose between Senate Estimates and a speech to the Australian Naval Institute, it won’t take you too long to guess who wins. More.....
19 Oct 2016	US Navy speeds up production of APKWSTM laser-guided rockets The U.S. Navy has contracted BAE Systems to manufacture Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWSTM) laser-guided rockets. With an initial award of more than $130 million, the three-year, indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity contract is potentially worth $600 million. It is supposed to help speed the delivery of these precision guidance rockets to meet the needs of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force, as well as a number of allied nations. More.....
19 Oct 2016	German WWI ‘mystery’ submarine found off Scotland A WW1 naval mystery might be finally solved after a German U-boat was found off the coast of Wigtownshire, Scotland by engineers who are working on a subsea power cable laying project. Sonar images have revealed what is presumed to be the German UB-85 submarine, which was, according to reports from the time, caught on the surface during the day of April 30 1918 and sunk by a British patrol boat – the HMS Coreopsis. More.....
19 Oct 2016	Russian aircraft carrier escorted off Norway en route to Syrian coast Russian cruiser-carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and other ships from its strike group were escorted off the Norwegian coast as they were sailing towards the Mediterranean. NATO said it deployed ships that were under its command to monitor the presence of Russian warships, noting it was routine procedure in such cases. Admiral Kuznetsov is sailing towards the coasts of Syria from where it will deploy Su-33 and MiG-29K/KUB fighter aircraft against ISIS strongholds. More.....
18 Oct 2016	Irish Navy commissions third OPV LÉ William Butler Yeats The Irish Navy has commissioned its third offshore patrol vessel, LÉ William Butler Yeats, during an October 17 ceremony in Galway, Ireland. The vessel was officially named by Caitriona Yeats, a granddaughter of the Irish 20th-century poet the ship is named after. More.....
18 Oct 2016	New Zealand Navy hosts International Naval Review to mark 75th anniversary The Royal New Zealand Navy is hosting a 15-nation International Naval Review to mark the 75th anniversary of its existence. The review is scheduled to take place in Auckland next month. For the first time in over 30 years, a US Navy ship, the USS Sampson, has been given clearance to visit New Zealand next month by Prime Minister John Key. More.....
18 Oct 2016	Euronaval 2016: DCNS presents new SMX®3.0 submarine concept French shipbuilder DCNS has unveiled its new submarine concept ship SMX®3.0 at Euronaval which is being held in Paris, France. Available from 2025, the submarine will feature on board 3.0 technologies, better power management and improved data systems, DCNS said. More.....
18 Oct 2016	Euronaval 2016: Thales unveils improved AESA radar French defense technology company Thales has unveiled its upgraded NS200 dual-axis multi-beam radar at the Euronaval expo in Paris, France. According to Thales, the new radar is suited for naval platforms up to destroyers and provides a range of 400 kilometers. The new AESA-based sensor system is the larger version of the NS100 and uses newer and more powerful Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology. More.....
18 Oct 2016	Sea, air, land and space updates The USS Mason, a US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, was attacked three times last week off the coast of Yemen. The attacks were launched from territory held by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and were suspected to have been conducted with Chinese-built but Iranian-supplied C-802 anti-ship missiles. While the USS Mason wasn’t damaged in any of the attacks, the ship did deploy defensive countermeasures each time. The US Navy responded to the attacks by destroying three Yemeni radar sites suspected of providing targeting data to the rebels. More.....
17 Oct 2016	Mine countermeasure exercise Clear Horizon starts in South Korea The first iteration of the international mine countermeasure (MCM) exercise Clear Horizon 2016 started in Busan, Republic of South Korea on October 16. U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy mine countermeasures units will train alongside MCM forces from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. More.....
17 Oct 2016	China to export eight submarines to Pakistan China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, one of two biggest shipbuilding conglomerates in China, confirmed that a project to export eight attack submarines to Pakistan has been initiated. The corporation held a conference to discuss details of the arrangement, the China People’s Daily news site reported quoting China Shipbuilding Online. More.....
17 Oct 2016	Ronald Reagan carrier strike group visits South Korea during Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol Units from from the U.S. Navy’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 arrived in Busan for a port visit, October 16. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), and the embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Barry (DDG 52) and USS Stethem (DDG 63), arrived together for a routine port visit. More.....
17 Oct 2016	HMNZS Canterbury returns from dry-docking period in Sydney, Australia Royal New Zealand Navy’s multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury has returned from Sydney, Australia having completed a nine-week dry-docking period. After harbor acceptance trials were completed, the ship sailed into Devonport on October 10. More.....
17 Oct 2016	British battleship HMS Royal Oak receives new ensign Royal Navy clearance divers from HM Naval Base Clyde have changed the White Ensign on the wreck of HMS Royal Oak on the anniversary of its sinking on October 14, 1939. HMS Royal Oak was a Revenge Class battleship which came under attack from German U-Boat U-47 at Scapa Flow, Orkney. The warship was sunk with the loss of 834 lives and is now a registered war grave. More.....
17 Oct 2016	Veteran mission to Republic of Korea Australia will honour the service and sacrifice of those who served in the Korean War when a mission of eight veterans pay their respects at the battlefields of Kapyong and Maryang San next week to mark the 65th anniversaries. The group will be joined in Korea by Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan and Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel Gai Brodtmann. More.....
17 Oct 2016	Minister launches veterans’ training program The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Dan Tehan, has called on the private sector to explore new pathways to provide veterans with employment opportunities. Mr Tehan today launched a pilot training program for veterans in Canberra run by technology company ServiceNow and ex-service organisation Soldier On. More.....
16 Oct 2016	US Navy's Most Advanced Warship, USS Zumwalt Commissions in Baltimore The US Navy's newest and most technologically advanced warship, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) was commissioned into active service Saturday, Oct. 15, at North Locust Point in Baltimore. Zumwalt, the lead ship of a class of next-generation multi-mission destroyers, features a state-of-the-art electric propulsion system, wave-piercing tumblehome hull, stealth design, and the latest warfighting technology and weaponry available. More.....
16 Oct 2016	Naval Historical Society of Australia (Victorian Chapter) President's October Musings are now available to download.....
14 Oct 2016	US Navy works on skin-inspired hydrogel to fight biofouling Barnacle clusters that inevitably form on ships have always been a problem for seafarers as they slow the ship down and increase fuel consumption. In the case of the U.S. Navy, which operates over 400 ships, biofouling becomes a real issue. According to the navy, this natural occurrence can increase a ship’s fuel consumption by as much as 40 percent. More.....
14 Oct 2016	NATO explains how naval mines are fought Sea lanes are key to the movement of goods for everyday life. Around 90 percent of world trade is carried by ship. The same is often true for military forces on the move, while aircraft can fly in some amount of fuel, dry goods, food and ammunition; the majority of the supply chain often requires movement by sea. To stop that movement, in wartime, naval mines may be laid to hinder access to a port or close off a channel or strait. More.....
13 Oct 2016	Russia fires ballistic missiles from three platforms in one day Two Russian Navy submarines and one launch pad at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome fired ballistic missiles from different positions within a single day on October 12, the Russian Ministry of Defense has informed. The Russian Pacific Fleet submarine Georgiy Pobedonosets was the first to fire a ballistic missile from the Sea of Okhotsk while submerged. More.....
13 Oct 2016	US launches Tomahawks at Yemen after another attack on USS Mason Guided missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) has launched Tomahawk missiles against Yemen’s Houthi fighters in response to repeated anti-ship missile launches at U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mason. In the morning hours of October 13, USS Nitze struck and destroyed three radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. More.....
12 Oct 2016	South Korea warns it will shoot at Chinese vessels fishing illegally South Korea has said it would shoot at vessels fishing illegally in the South Korean exclusive economic zone following an incident in which Chinese fishing vessels sank a South Korean fast patrol boat while fleeing the scene after being caught in South Korean waters. More.....
11 Oct 2016	Supporting Australia’s future shipbuilding capability ASC plays a crucial role as part of our naval shipbuilding, repair and maintenance industry. To ensure that it is best placed to support the future needs of Australia’s future shipbuilding capability, the Government will separate ASC into three individual Government owned companies. These three new companies will support the key capabilities of: – Shipbuilding – Submarine sustainment; and – Infrastructure. More..... Press conference..... Interpreting the ASC split
11 Oct 2016	Young Endeavour voyage to North West Australia The Young Endeavour Youth Scheme is a not for profit organisation which provides young Australians with a unique, challenging and inspirational experience at sea.
10 Oct 2016	The rules of extraction: Australia and the Timor Sea On 19 September, Timor-Leste won a minor victory in its ongoing dispute with Australia over rights to resources in the Timor Sea. The UN Conciliation Commission, convened under the Annex V conciliation proceedings of UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), rejected Australia’s bid to block proceedings. Australia has copped some heavy criticism over the affair. More.....
10 Oct 2016	Australian Navy patrol boats undergo mid-life refit Australian shipbuilder Austal has announced that it was contracted to deliver a mid-life remediation program to the Royal Australian Navy’s Armidale Class patrol boat (ACPB) fleet. The company said it would undertake a number of hull remediation and configuration changes as well as planned and corrective maintenance work on up to seven ACPB’s at the company’s Henderson, Western Australia shipyard from October 2016. More.....
07 Oct 2016	Newest US aircraft carrier to miss another delivery deadline The most expensive ship the U.S. Navy has ever built is once again bound to miss a delivery deadline. USS Gerald R. Ford, the lead ship of a next generation of U.S. aircraft carriers, was scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2014, but the deadline kept being pushed back. The latest delivery was scheduled for November this year, but according to a report by the Virginian Pilot, the delivery was delayed again and the Navy did not set a new one. More.....
07 Oct 2016	USS Zumwalt ready for final trip before commissioning U.S. Navy’s biggest destroyer to date, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), is ready to depart Naval Station Norfolk October 7 and complete a one-day transit to Baltimore, Md., where it will be commissioned into active service on October 15. This means that the sailors and engineers have carried out repairs to the ship’s engineering plant where a seawater leak in a propulsion motor drive lube oil auxiliary system was found on September 19, during sea trials. More.....
07 Oct 2016	Maximising Reserve support Diversity, service conditions, and integrating Reserve expertise to deliver capability were some of the key discussion points at this year’s Defence Reserves Association conference, held recently in Brisbane. Lieutenant General Campbell acknowledged the importance of the Reserve, saying a well-trained force was critical to Defence capability. “We quite simply can’t sustain a prolonged presence without the Reserves. A strong Reserve force is vital,” he said. More.....
07 Oct 2016	Submarine returns from successful deployment After an extensive five month deployment in south-east Asia, Australian Navy submarine HMAS Sheean steamed back into Fleet Base West, in Rockingham, Western Australia last week. Despite having spent months in the tropics, the cool Australian weather was a distant second on the minds of ship's company as they approached Diamantina Pier seeing families and members of the submarine community lining the wharf. More.....
07 Oct 2016	Chief of Navy launches Family and Domestic Violence Strategy The Navy family received a boost recently with the launch of a specific strategy to prevent, respond to and support victims of family and domestic violence. “Family is important to me and it’s important to you. So we’re working hard to ensure they’re supported and protected.” More.....
07 Oct 2016	Operation RENDER SAFE 2016 wraps up Over 10 tonnes of World War II munitions have been destroyed during an Australian Defence Force led multinational operation in the Solomon Islands. Operation RENDER SAFE aims to remove explosive remnants of war across the South West Pacific, which continues to pose a potential danger to local communities.
06 Oct 2016	Cost Sharing Negotiations for Force Posture Initiatives Conclude The Minister for Defence, the Hon Marise Payne, and United States Secretary of Defense Ash Carter have welcomed the in-principle conclusion of cost-sharing negotiations for the Force Posture Initiatives today in Washington DC. “This marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Force Posture Initiatives, and ensures that our approach to cost-sharing is well-considered and sustainable,” Minister Payne said. More..... Minister's press conference.....
05 Oct 2016	Germany to commission sixth Type 212A submarine U 36 The German Navy is set to commission its sixth Type 212A submarine U 36 during an October, 10 ceremony at the Eckernförde navy base. With the acceptance of the last vessel of the U212 A class, the German Navy is completing its submarine fleet which was previously made up of Type 206 submarines, all of which are decommissioned. More.....
05 Oct 2016	Cyber wrap The inaugural Australia-US Cyber Security Dialogue was held in Washington D.C., by CSIS and ASPI the week before last. The event, announced by Prime Minister Turnbull and President Obama in January, brought together senior representatives from government, the private sector and academia to discuss common challenges and opportunities in cyberspace. The dialogue covered cyber developments in the Asia–Pacific, the fight against cybercrime and practical methods of advancing an innovative and secure digital economy for both countries. More.....
04 Oct 2016	Front-line women to room with Marines to 'boost team spirit' - but critics say plan has disaster written all over it Women fighters will share rooms with male Royal Marines commandos for the first time under controversial plans put forward by the head of the navy. The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Philip Jones, said that allowing women to sleep alongside their male counterparts would boost 'team cohesion' and 'equality'. More.....
04 Oct 2016	Royal Navy's first 'robot wars' exercise begins Unmanned Warrior - the Royal Navy's first major training exercise using drones - has begun off the Welsh coast. A reconnaissance craft called Watchkeeper is observing Nato forces arriving for another exercise, Joint Warrior. Next week, the training will switch to the Western Isles. Unmanned Warrior involves aerial and maritime technology operated by the military and civilian contractors, including QinetiQ. More.....
04 Oct 2016	Release of the IGADF report into complaints about the conduct of anti-malarial drug trials Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Dan Tehan today announced the release of the report from the independent inquiry into the conduct of anti-malarial drug trials in the ADF. In September 2015 the Inspector-General Australian Defence Force (IGADF) launched an inquiry into a number of allegations relating to the conduct of anti-malarial drug trials involving ADF personnel in East Timor from 2000 to 2002. The subsequent report contains 72 findings and three recommendations. More.....
04 Oct 2016	Sailing through a year of experiences A number of Navy sailors are having the time of their lives this year in a ‘try before you buy’ scheme allowing young Australians to experience life in uniform. The Australian Defence Force Gap Year – Navy provides the opportunity for to experience military training and lifestyle for up to 12 months, with no further obligations on the participant to continue to serve. More.....
04 Oct 2016	Sea, air, land and space updates Last week was a big one for Australia’s Future Submarine Program, with Lockheed Martin named as the combat system integrator. The selection came alongside the signing of the first operational contract between Australia and DCNS, the French shipbuilder designing the submarines. The contract allows DCNS to coordinate with Lockheed Martin and other partners to begin development of the Shortfin Barracuda 1A. More.....
03 Oct 2016	Clearance divers haul in 3.5 tonnes of WWII munitions Royal Australian Navy clearance divers hauled in over 3.5 tonnes of WWII munitions from the ocean in the Solomon Islands in a single morning during Operation Render Safe in September. The Australian Clearance Diving Team One found 82 United States 155mm high explosive projectiles off Guadalcanal just 50 metres from a village. Operation Render Safe aims to remove explosive remnants of war across the South West Pacific, which continues to pose a potential danger to local communities. The operation runs from 12 September – 7 October 2016
03 Oct 2016	ScanEagle soars in Christmas Island trials A team from the Navy Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unit have deployed to Christmas Island to test their ability to conduct long term Unmanned Aircraft System operations without support. The six member detachment is operating from the island’s aerodrome, testing the limits of the ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft System, with Visual Detection and Ranging (or ViDAR). More.....
02 Oct 2016	UK starts construction of Successor nuclear submarines The United Kingdom is starting construction work on the next-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon revealed this as he announced nearly £1.3 billion of funding was awarded to BAE Systems to start the ‘Delivery Phase 1’ of the Successor program. More.....
02 Oct 2016	360 Australia Ltd. V360 Australia Ltd. are proud to announce the first NATIONAL FREE CALL number for veterans, their families and friends to contact our Outreach Team and seek information or assistance for any ex-service personnel who are vulnerable, at risk or experiencing homelessness. 1800 838 360 will be manned 24/7 by our experienced operators and link callers directly with Outreach staff.
30 Sep 2016	Hobart completes Builder Sea Trials Builder Sea Trials for the first destroyer Hobart are complete following several days at sea off the coast of South Australia last week. Significant progress has been made on the project to reach the milestone with the ship build commencing in January 2010, hull consolidation in March 2014, and official launch - when the ship floated for the first time - in May 2015. More.....
30 Sep 2016	Combat System Integrator for Future Submarines The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and the Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced that Lockheed Martin Australia has been selected as the preferred Combat System Integrator for Australia’s Future Submarine Program, subject to further discussion on commercial matters. More.....
30 Sep 2016	First Contract Signed with DCNS to Commence Design Phase The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne today announced the next significant step in the building of Australia’s Future Submarines with the signing of the contract between the Government and DCNS to commence the design phase of the Program. More.....
29 Sep 2016	Drone launched from unmanned submersible at US Navy technology demo U.S. Navy’s annual technology exercise (ANTX) saw an autonomous underwater vehicle launch an unmanned aerial vehicle, all while being commanded by an unmanned surface vehicle. Defense technology company Lockheed Martin demonstrated the integration capabilities of its products by having the Marlin MK2 AUV launch the small UAV Vector Hawk. More.....
29 Sep 2016	Let's Talk Let's Talk is a message from the Senior Leadership Group for ADF Mental Health Day 2016. Let's Talk is about having a positive and proactive attitude towards mental health and wellbeing. This includes accepting responsibility to look after our own wellbeing and assisting others, and the importance of showing leadership at all levels to set and maintain a supportive and inclusive workplace culture. This applies no matter our role or position.
29 Sep 2016	Operation Render Safe - HMAS Diamantina destroys munitions HMAS Diamantina has spent two weeks finding and destroying unexploded World War II munitions in the waters around the Solomon Islands during Operation Render Safe in September 2016. The Sydney-based mine hunter vessel found over 120 projectiles during its search around the Russell Islands, Florida Group and Honiara using sonar, mine disposal vehicles and divers.
28 Sep 2016	US Navy drone helicopter helps designate target for Hellfire missile shot A U.S. Navy helicopter squadron made history earlier in September when the MQ-8B unmanned helicopter they operated successfully tracked a target and served as a laser designator for an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter to fire an AGM-114N Hellfire missile. The Northrup Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout detected target location and was transmitted to the MH-60S for targeting. Once all target requirements were met, the Fire Scout lased the target while the MH-60S moved forward and into position for the running missile shot. More.....
28 Sep 2016	Submarine conference shares ideas The Royal Australian Navy has hosted the 16th iteration of the Asia-Pacific Submarine Conference discussing submarine survivability, escape and interoperability of rescue assets. The conference was conducted at the Western Australian Maritime Museum, in Fremantle from 19 to 21 September, with 53 representatives from 21 nations and agencies in attendance. More.....
28 Sep 2016	Vietnam War commemorative service The Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel, Dan Tehan, today paid tribute to the families of Australia’s service men and women. The War Widows’ Guild and the Partners of Veterans Association of Australia will tomorrow hold a joint commemorative service to mark the Vietnam conflict at the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park in Sydney at 11am. More.....
27 Sep 2016	Newest Russian nuclear ballistic submarine reaches new home Vladimir Monomakh, the Russian Navy’s newest strategic nuclear submarine, arrived at its permanent base in Viluchinsk, Kamchatka, on September 26, the Russian Ministry of Defense informed. The submarine moored at a modern berth, created for submarines of new generations, after performing a transit from the Northern Fleet to the Pacific Fleet. More.....
27 Sep 2016	Australian companies get opportunity to join Royal Navy’s Type 26 program Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will have the opportunity to enter the supply chain for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship program. BAE Systems, the company in charge of developing the frigate, announced that some 150 Australian companies would pitch their products and services into the project. More.....
27 Sep 2016	Russia and China: colluding on a South China Sea policy? At the G20 Hangzhou summit earlier this month, China made clear that Russian president Vladimir Putin was a top guest. Both China and Russia claim that their bilateral relations are the ‘best ever’ and demonstrate an ‘unprecedentedly high level of trust’. Putin described the relationships as a ‘comprehensive partnership and strategic collaboration’. The China–Russia relationship is based on a mutual wish to push back against the United States, More.....

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Request for Committal of Ashes to the Sea. Download form.....

Current Repatriation Benefits for Gold Card Veterans -
As of 01 January 2018
This is a list of products that are available on a Doctor's prescription for Gold Card Repatriation Patients. Download the list.....

DVA Mobile Apps

The new Operation Life mobile application is designed to help those at risk deal with suicidal thoughts and is recommended to be used with the support of a clinician.

The High Res (High Resilience) app helps you manage stress, build resilience and optimise performance on the go.

The PTSD Coach Australia app can help you learn about and manage symptoms that commonly occur after trauma.

ON TRACK with the Right Mix mobile app from the Department of Veterans Affairs helps you to keep track of the number and types of drinks you consume; the amount of money it's costing you and lets you know about the impact the alcohol has on your wellbeing and fitness levels.

Guide to the assessment of rates of veterans’ pensions
Guide to the assessment of rates of veterans’ pensions (GARP) is used to assess the extent of incapacity from war caused or defence caused injury or disease for the purposes of determining the rate of pension. Download.....

Planning ahead kit
Overview: Planning Ahead is a publication designed to help veterans and their families prepare for bereavement. There is also a checklist that can be used to record the contact details of important people, businesses and organisations that may need to be notified in case of your death. Download.....

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