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Latest News for our Navy Network Download the MARCH edition of our newsletter BROADSIDE |
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24 April Australian
navy's newest boats made in ChinaA new fleet of tug boats ordered for the Royal Australian Navy by the Defence Department was secretly built at a Chinese shipyard under a $28 million contract awarded last year to a Dutch company. Certification documents uncovered by the ABC reveal the first of three "harbour tugs" was completed in late December at the Damen company's "state-of-the-art" Changde facility in Hunan province, before being delivered to Darwin earlier this year. More..... |
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24 April Trading
the desert for the oceanTrading the desert for the ocean, Able Seaman Mitchell Rigney reflects on family, country and Anzac Day with Australia’s Federation Guard – the ceremonial face of the ADF. For Able Seaman Rigney, a proud Aboriginal man from the Ngarrindjeri clan, supporting Anzac Day in France is more than ceremonial, it is special; a tribute to his family. “My family’s story is entwined into this country’s history,” Able Seaman Rigney said. “There were many people from my clan who fought in France during the war – 21 family members to be exact. More..... |
24 April Australia
hands over command to EgyptAustralia handed over command of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) task force responsible for maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to the Egyptian Navy on April 9. Royal Australian Navy Captain Jorge McKee handed over command of Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153) to Egyptian Navy Commodore Mohamed Rasmy at a ceremony presided over by Commander of CMF, United States Navy Vice Admiral George Wikoff, at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain. More..... |
23 April Dawn
service ashore a first for sailorDeployed on Anzac Day in the Middle East region, Leading Seaman Phillip Lofthouse will honour his grandfather’s resilience as a World War 2 prisoner of war by standing silent in the catafalque party at the dawn service in Abu Dhabi. Serving as a communications information specialist on Operation Accordion, he’ll mark his first Anzac Day ashore – a change from years spent commemorating at sea. His grandfather, Henry Thomas Wyatt, enlisted in Army’s 2/20th Australian Infantry Battalion in 1940 and was discharged in 1946. More..... |
23 April Honoured
and humbled to serve‘Woody’, to his mates is a Larrikin, but on April 25 he will be stepping into a very important role, viewed live by millions of people. On Anzac Day, Leading Seaman Benjamin Woodlock will assume the distinguished position of Commander of Australia’s Federation Guard Catafalque Party during the 110th anniversary dawn service at Gallipoli. “I feel very honoured and humbled to serve as the catafalque commander for such a widely attended and important commemoration service,” Leading Seaman Woodlock said. More..... |
23 April Unmanned
undersea vessels eyed by Pentagon as key part of Navy growthAs pressure rises on the U.S. Navy to boost its shipbuilding capacity, the Pentagon has released a call for a new type of undersea vessel called the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform, or CAMP, an unmanned system built “to maximize operational effectiveness in contested environments,” according to the solicitation released by the Defense Innovation Unit. More..... |
23 April Navy
Secretary John Phelan kills Biden-era climate planNavy Secretary John Phelan said he’s rescinding a Navy plan focused on combating climate change established by the Biden administration. “Today, I’m focusing on warfighters first and I’m rescinding the Biden administration’s climate action program,” he said in a video posted to X on Tuesday. “Our focus needs to be on lethality and our warfighters.” More..... |
22 April AI is changing Indo-Pacific naval operationsArtificial intelligence is poised to significantly transform the Indo-Pacific maritime security landscape. It offers unprecedented situational awareness, decision-making speed and operational flexibility. But without clear rules, shared norms and mechanisms for risk reduction, AI could act as a destabilising force—particularly in contested waters where tensions are already high. In the Indo-Pacific, larger countries are adopting AI to monitor and respond to threats. But the unclear nature of AI decisions risks escalation in contested spaces. Additionally, smaller states without the technological capacity risk being left behind. Furthermore, the lack of clear legal guidelines means there is no agreement on responsible use, risking further escalation. More..... |
22 April Home
after honing capabilityHMAS Hobart has returned to its home port of Sydney following a busy three-month deployment. The guided missile destroyer and its crew sailed more than 21,780 nautical miles across the Indo-Pacific, representing Australia and contributing to regional security. More than 200 officers and sailors were embarked for the deployment, which included high-level international engagement, multinational exercises and critical warfighting training. Families and friends gathered on the wharf at Fleet Base East to welcome their loved ones home, eager to reunite and celebrate their achievements. More..... |
22 April Britain
recasts AUKUS for a new eraBritain once risked a reputation as the weak link in the trilateral AUKUS partnership. But now the appointment of an empowered senior official to drive the project forward and a new burst of British parliamentary engagement reveal an ambitious new posture. This demonstration of seriousness and dynamism strengthens London’s legitimacy to secure a new era for AUKUS during the administration of US President Donald Trump. More..... |
18 April First
Royal Australian Navy Enlisted Students Graduate Nuclear
Power TrainingThe first eight enlisted sailors and five additional officers from the Royal Australian Navy graduated from the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Charleston as part of the Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership. The curriculum encompassed a wide range of critical subjects, including mathematics, nuclear physics, reactor principles, and nuclear reactor technology. This achievement marks an important step in Australia's development of a sovereign, conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) fleet. More..... |
18 April Japan
releases image of Railgun installed on naval vesselOn April 18, 2025, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) released an image of its state-of-the-art railgun currently undergoing testing aboard the test ship JS Asuka. Latest status of rail gun development In the Japanese MoD, railgun development is conducted by the Ground Systems Research Center (GSRC), a division of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA). ATLA began full-scale development of the railgun in 2016. The research was conducted from FY 2016 through FY 2022. The target in this research was a muzzle velocity of 2000 meters per second and a barrel life of 120 rounds. In other words, the goal was to achieve stable firing up to 120 rounds at a constant muzzle velocity. More..... |
18 April Australian
thinktank warns of ‘less reliable’ America, high pricetag
for AUKUS sub programWith the emergence of “a less reliable and more demanding” partner in the US, it’s time for Australia to look inward for its own defense needs and to reach out to “non-US” allies in the region, according to a new report from an Australian thinktank. “American policy appears to be much more likely to be one of much narrower calculations of immediate self-interest in specific situations, instead of enduring decades-long partnerships and alliance actions that are predictable and reliable as the basis for others’ defence decisions and actions,” says the report from Strategic Analysis Australia published Thursday. More..... |
17 April Veterans’
Review Board pathway to be available to all veteransFollowing passage of the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (VETS Act), the first level of external merits review for all compensation claim decisions made from 21 April 2025 will be to the Veterans’ Review Board (VRB), regardless of which Act a veteran or dependant has claimed under. More..... |
17 April Streamlining
compensation claims processingDVA is committed to making the claims process as fast as possible for the entire veteran community. To assist us in this and ensure the fastest processing time for veterans, we have asked advocates to ensure that all claims are complete and lodged through MyService. Lodgement channels MyService is the go-to platform to carry out claim’s lodgement online. Access details on MyService, including How-To videos and manuals. More..... |
17 April Continuing
a family legacy of serviceOn Anzac Day this year, Able Seaman Rachel Brandt will have the perfect opportunity to pay respects to her great-great-uncle who fought and died in World War 1 – she will be parading at Gallipoli as part of Australia’s Federation Guard catafalque party on the 110th anniversary of the landing. “I had no words when initially I found out I was going,” Able Seaman Brandt said. “It is a great honour and privilege to be given the opportunity to attend Gallipoli.” More..... |
17 April Chance
to honour relatives who fought and diedWith Anzac Day fast approaching, members of Australia’s Federation Guard (AFG) are preparing for one of the most significant events in the Australian commemorative calendar. AFG will play a central ceremonial role at the Anzac Day dawn service at the Australian National Memorial near Villers-Bretonneux, a place forever etched in the story of Australian sacrifice during World War 1. For many in the contingent, it will be their first time supporting Anzac Day activities overseas, making the experience especially poignant. More..... |
16 April Taking
charge below deckLieutenant Commander Rayne Choice joined Navy at 17 and was ready to take on new experiences. “From leaving school in Tamworth to being here as the engineer of HMAS Choules – that took 15 years,” she said. Within that time, her career was nothing short of exciting. “On completion of my Navy training I went to the Australian Defence Force Academy for four years,” she said. More..... |
16 April HMAS
Sydney's three-month journey through the regionSydney has joined Exercise Bersama Shield and is conducting training alongside Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Participation in this exercise follows a port visit by Sydney to Singapore, the first overseas stop for this regional presence deployment since the ship left Australian waters earlier this month. During Bersama Shield, Sydney’s crew will exercise in a contemporary and complex environment with other defence forces. More..... |
16 April Russia
unveils massive financial injection for naval sector: $100.8
billion for new warshipsRussian President Vladimir Putin has unveiled a sweeping development strategy for the Russian Navy, outlining plans for a significant expansion and modernization through 2050. The strategy, revealed during a meeting in St. Petersburg, emphasizes the integration of advanced technologies, including hypersonic weaponry and unmanned systems, while committing RUB 8.4 trillion ($100.8 billion) over the next decade for the construction of new warships. More..... |
16 April Blue
Ridge Conducts Port Call in Cairns, AustraliaU.S. 7th Fleet staff, embarked aboard USS Blue Ridge, commands the world’s largest forward-deployed fleet with the primary mission of providing operational control and planning for its forces in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, while promoting regional stability and maritime security through engagements with allies and partners. "Deepest thanks to the people of Cairns for their warm welcome to our Blue Ridge and 7th Fleet teams," said Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. More..... |
16 April ANZAC
Day March times clarificationRSL Victoria would like to clarify misinformation on social media regarding the ANZAC Day March in Melbourne. The start time of the march has not changed. It will start at 9am like it has for several years now. The form up time has been brought forward to 8am (from 8:30am) at the request of Kindred Orgs and Unit Leaders to give the more than 10,000 expected participants more time to get organised in the correct slot for the march. More..... |
15 April Enter
AJUS? Australia, Japan, US must boost trilateral intel,
industrial cooperation: ExpertsDue to an “unprecedented convergence in the strategic outlooks of all three countries,” a new report stresses that Australia, Japan and the US (jointly, AJUS) must work more closely as a trilateral unit on defense issues, especially when it comes to boosting intelligence sharing and increased real-world operational cooperation, to better counter Beijing. “Though it may lack the same ‘brand power’ of groupings like AUKUS or the Quad, AJUS (as the three countries are known) is arguably the grouping best suited to deliver tangible results when it comes to the balance of military power in the Indo-Pacific. More..... |
15 April Trump
signs shipbuilding order as Navy leaders call for 381-ship
fleetPresident Donald Trump on April 9 signed an executive order aimed at revitalizing an American shipbuilding industry that has fallen well behind production levels of its rivals from the People’s Republic of China. Language in the executive order, which cites the need to strengthen a “commercial shipbuilding capacity and maritime workforce,” mirrors many concerns expressed among the industry’s defense counterparts. More..... |
14 April New
tech to enhance the battlespaceThe Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) is leading a new cutting-edge quantum research project to enhance secure timing technologies in the battlespace and provide asymmetric advantage to the warfighter. Position, navigation and timing is an essential component of the command and control of deployed forces. These technologies enable real-time operational and logistical information to be shared across Defence assets in the air, on the land and in the sea. More..... |
14 April Scientists
on board at the sharp endAmid Navy’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercise in more than a decade off the Western Australian coast, one group is focused on some of Navy’s most powerful and sophisticated weapon systems – its people. A team of Australian scientists from the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) have embarked on HMAS Choules to experience life at the “sharp end of the spear”, allowing them to better develop the next-generation capabilities used in theatres of war. More..... |
13 April Anzac
Day event at Museum of Chinese Australian History in
MelbourneA message from the Museum of Chinese Australian History The Museum of Chinese Australian History in Melbourne is holding a special event to honour the Chinese Australians who served during the First and Second World Wars. The event centres on three short videos featuring Chinese Australians who fought for Australia. These include: More..... |
11 April Nations
prepare for warfighting exerciseAustralian personnel are taking part in a multi-nation military exercise to defend Malaysia and Singapore against a fictional enemy. About 800 military personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom, including seven surface ships and more than 30 aircraft, will conduct mock warfighting scenarios across the Malay Peninsula from April 7-22. The exercise is being conducted under the Five Power Defence Arrangements. Established in 1971, it is the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia. More..... |
11 April Humble
hero of the fleet“I think we are often in the right place at the right time.” The ultimate understatement, illustrating the determined nature of the ‘humble hero’ of the Australian fleet, HMAS Choules. As spoken by its Commanding Officer, Commander Arron Convery. “People on Choules, they just get the job done. They’re excited to do their job, which is helping people,” Commander Convery said. It is not the fastest, prettiest or most heavily armed ship in the fleet, but it is arguably the bravest. More..... |
10 April Defending
the Arts on the high CsMidshipman Alex Agnew can pinpoint the moment she fell in love with music – a violin performance in a cathedral that blew her away. “I loved the feeling of the music so much, I immediately wanted to be a part of it,” Midshipman Agnew said. She started playing violin but found a new passion in classical guitar, an instrument that has stayed with her ever since. Alongside playing bass drum for the ADF Academy Pipes and Drums and performing in theatre productions, the musically minded Midshipman Agnew dedicates her spare time to conquering guitar compositions. More..... |
10 April Anzac
wolf pack hunts subs off WAFour of Australia’s seven Anzac-class frigates sailed in formation off the Western Australian coast for ASWEX 25 this month. Their mission; to hunt Australian submarine assets to ensure Navy is fully capable of protecting Australia and its interests. While capable of operating independently for long periods, for ASWEX, this lethal grey wolf, the backbone of the fleet, operated in packs. HMA Ships Warramunga, Toowoomba, Stuart and Arunta worked as one united frigate force under the direction of the Australian Maritime Task Group. More..... |
09 April U.K.
Carrier HMS Price of Wales Set for Pacific DeploymentHMS Prince of Wales (R09) will depart its homeport in Portsmouth on April 22 and deploy as the lead ship in the U.K. Carrier Strike Group 2025 to the Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific, the U.K. Ministry of Defence announced Tuesday. Upon departing Portsmouth, the carrier will proceed to join a formation of warships, supply ships and aircraft off the coast of Cornwall and head to the Mediterranean. The carrier strike group will initially be placed under NATO command for Exercise Neptune Strike, testing the alliance’s ability to use high-end maritime strike capabilities, including multiple aircraft carrier and amphibious strike groups. More..... |
09 April US
Navy unveils newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS
IowaThe Navy formally unleashed its newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the Iowa, in a commissioning ceremony Saturday in Groton, Connecticut. The 377-foot vessel, built by General Dynamics Electric Boat, can dive to depths of more than 800 feet below the surface and maneuver at speeds of over 25 knots, or nearly 29 miles per hour. Iowa is equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and a nuclear reactor plant that eliminates the need for refueling. The boat was built with flexible design features, including an expansive lock-in/lock-out chamber for special operations divers and a reconfigurable torpedo room. The submarine can also deliver unmanned undersea vehicles. More..... |
08 April Thales,
Saildrone pitch a windsurfing fleet of submarine spottersThales Australia has partnered with Saildrone to integrate a towed array sonar system with the Surveyor unmanned surface vessel, promising navies the ability to pinpoint underwater threats through silent operation. The companies’ tie-up follows sea trials, funded by the United States Office of Naval Research, during which Saildrone’s Surveyor USV, equipped with Thales’ BlueSentry sensor package, operated almost uninterrupted for 26 days. More..... |
08 April Top
US admiral at NATO removed amid Trump’s growing military
firingsVice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, a top U.S. military official at NATO, has been fired as the Trump administration continues its widespread removal of senior uniformed officers, according to multiple U.S. and European officials. It’s unclear whether the firing originated from the Pentagon or the White House, which last week removed several national security officials — including Gen. Timothy Haugh, head of the NSA and Cyber Command — after President Donald Trump met with far-right activist Laura Loomer. More..... |
07 April Royal
Navy turns to drones to support carrier task group missionFor the first time a fleet of drones will fly crucial supplies between ships of the UK Carrier Strike Group when it deploys to the Indo-Pacific later this month. Alongside its F35B stealth jets and naval helicopters, flagship HMS Prince of Wales’ air group will also consist of nine powerful octo-copters for remotely moving items – food, packages from home and engineering parts – around the task group on its mission east. The trial of the new systems alongside crewed aircraft is intended to free up the more expensive helicopters to focus on their primary role of protecting the task force from danger on its mission to the Far East. More..... |
07 April AUKUS
and PNSY: Partnering for Enhanced Deterrence in the
Indo-PacificStrong alliances and partnerships have played a key role in the U.S. efforts to promote peace and stability around the world. No where is that more evident today than in the enhanced trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States known as AUKUS. AUKUS focuses on promoting a free, open, secure and stable Indo-Pacific region while building on strong trilateral ties. Those ties were on display at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, as the facility welcomed a delegation from Australia. More..... |
07 April Anduril
unveils ‘Copperhead’ underwater droneDefense tech company Anduril today unveiled a new unmanned undersea vehicle, dubbed Copperhead, built specifically to be launched from larger underwater drones. “Victory at sea will require large fleets of autonomous subsea, surface, and air vehicles capable of bringing advanced awareness and overwhelming adversaries with mass maritime effects,” according to a company statement. “With the Dive-LD and Dive-XL, Copperhead enables a comprehensive, intelligent maritime capability that allows operators to quickly respond to threats in the undersea battlespace, at a fraction of the cost of legacy options.” More..... |
07 April Australia:
“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”Australia will soon face a problem. It will have lots of naval helicopters, but not enough warships to embark them upon. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) currently has 23 Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters, but it has another 13 on the way. Simultaneously, Australia’s navy presently has ten surface combatants – seven Anzac-class frigates and three Hobart-class destroyers – a total that will reduce by one next year when the frigate HMAS Arunta retires. In one sense, this is a good problem to have – a surfeit of capable naval helicopters. But the other side of the coin is alarming – Australia has an insufficient number of warships. So perhaps the title of this article would more aptly be “O warships, warships, wherefore art thou warships”! More..... |
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06 April OUR APRIL HERO  Lieutenant
Commander Henry Hugh Gordon Dacre STOKER DSC MiDJust before the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli on the morning of 25 April 1915 an Australian submarine, the HMAS AE2 set out on an historic journey. Its mission was to force a passage up the treacherous Dardanelles Strait into the Sea of Marmara, and then, in the words of the Chief of Staff, 'Generally run amok.' Such an extraordinary order required an extraordinary Captain and luckily the AE2 had such a Captain, Lieutenant Commander Henry Hugh Gordon Dacre Stoker -- an Irishman. Henry Stoker, the second son of a physician, was born in Dublin on 2 February 1885. At the age of 12 he went to England to enter a school which specialised in training boys to pass the entrance examination for the Royal Navy, which he eventually joined at 15. Stoker became interested in the submarine service and applied to join this relatively new branch of the Navy. In October 1906, he was selected for submarine training and dispatched to the submarine depot ship HMS Thames at Portsmouth. Stoker was very much a free spirit and revelled in the freedom that the submarine service offered. He completed his submarine training in October 1907. Then in 1913 he volunteered and was selected to serve on loan with the RAN as Commanding Officer of one of the fledgling navy's new submarines HMAS AE2. Continue reading about this outstanding hero..... |
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05 April Hegseth
to visit Panama as Trump says US is ‘reclaiming’ its canalDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Panama next week, the second senior U.S. official to visit the country in as many months, as President Donald Trump says America is “reclaiming” the country’s eponymous canal. While there, Hegseth will meet with the country’s president, Jose Raul Mulino, and attend a meeting of regional chiefs of defense. He will also visit military sites and the Panama Canal itself. The meetings “will drive ongoing efforts to strengthen our partnerships with Panama and other Central American nations toward our shared vision for a peaceful and secure Western Hemisphere.” More..... |
04 April Aboard
the Ford: What it’s like on a US Navy aircraft carrier
preparing for deployment“Here we go!” the air crew chief yells, waving his hands back and forth to grab the attention of the two dozen reporters and sailors sitting in the cabin of this US Navy C-2A Greyhound transport aircraft as it comes in for a landing. Moments later, everyone is pinned to the back of their seats as the tailhook on the Greyhound catches one of the flight deck’s wires upon landing and, through the power of electromagnetism, the plane comes to a dead stop in a matter of seconds. As the reporters exhale and the plane’s aft door opens, it reveals the deck of an aircraft carrier where numerous sleek F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets come into view, surrounded by sailors wearing their iconic, brightly colored jerseys. More..... |
04 April Acting
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby Speaks at
Australian, US, UK Naval Capabilities and Science and
Technology TalksActing Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby spoke to leaders from the Royal Australian Navy, the British Royal Navy, and the U.S. Navy to discuss the long-standing partnership between the three navies and the continued integration and interoperability of their forces, at the inaugural tri-lateral Naval Capabilities and Science and Technology Talks, April 3. The talks between the navies centered on ways to increase warfighting capabilities, advance naval strategy and tactics efforts to increase lethality in operations and strengthen long-term warfighting advantage through a series of high-tempo working groups and panels. More..... |
04 April Australia’s
plan for acquiring nuclear-powered submarines is on trackSince the announcement in September 2021 that Australia intended to acquire nuclear-powered submarines in partnership with Britain and the United States, the plan has received significant media attention, scepticism and criticism. There are four major risks to the AUKUS national enterprise: the political will of all partners; delivery schedule; the cost of acquiring and sustaining the capability (including its impact on Australia’s broader Defence budget); and workforce challenges, both for uniformed personnel and within the submarine-building industry. More..... |
04 April Refugee's
Navy story of hope and tenacityAble Seaman Naffissa Mohamed’s story is one of hope, tenacity and determination. Born in Eritrea, a country fraught with internal strife since the 1960s, Able Seaman Mohamed and her family were forced to leave the country in the 1990s, when an unelected presidential dictatorship took control of the country. “When I left Eritrea at the age of seven, I began a long journey which started in Sudan and the grim reality of a refugee camp there, followed by a long trek into Egypt and a United Nations shelter,” Able Seaman Mohamed said. More..... |
03 April Australia-US
duo set to unveil ‘innovative’ autonomous naval attack
vesselUS defense company Eureka Naval Craft and Australian marine autonomy specialist Greenroom Robotics are set to unveil what they describe as ‘the most advanced autonomous naval attack vessel ever designed’. The new vessel AIRCAT Bengal MC (module carrier) is a 36-meter multi-mission surface effect ship (SES) being developed by Eureka and ESNA Naval Architects with autonomy and AI software supplied by Greenroom. It is the first autonomous naval vessel in the world to be able to carry a 40-tonne payload (2 X 40 ISO Footprint modules) with a top speed of more than 50 knots. More..... |
03 April Teaming
up to protect the blue economyOfficers from 15 navies attended the annual Pacific and Indian Ocean Shipping Working Group (PACIOSWG) meeting, demonstrating the growing significance of protecting maritime trade for Indo-Pacific navies. Observers and guests from the navies of Germany, Japan, Malaysia and Fiji joined for the 27th meeting of the PACIOSWG forum at HMAS Penguin from March 3-6. The meeting was established to advance the cooperation of member and observer navies with merchant shipping and related stakeholders. More..... |
03 April Recognising
a year of defence to the nationCyber Command celebrated its first birthday during a ceremony in Canberra on March 26, recognising its contribution to the defence of the nation. Officially activated on March 25, 2024, Cyber Command was established to deliver the transformational change required to meet the increasingly complex challenges within a contested, congested and competitive cyber domain – the fifth warfighting domain. Now, 12 months on, it has been a year of constant evolution to stay ahead of the challenges and opportunities present in the domain that has no geographical boundaries. More..... |
03 April Tragedy
remembered 20 years onMore than 20 years ago, a team who set off to deliver lifesaving aid met a tragic fate. Six sailors and three aviators died when their Sea King helicopter crashed on the Indonesian island of Nias. The emergency medical team were deployed with Operation Sumatra after a 8.6-magnitude earthquake struck days earlier. There were only two survivors. Air Force Sergeant Wendy Jones was among those who perished. On April 2, commemoration ceremonies were held at Russell Offices in Canberra and at the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, NSW. More..... |
03 April Britain
launches AUKUS parliamentary inquiry amid 'geopolitical
shifts'The United Kingdom has launched a parliamentary inquiry into the AUKUS partnership, with its scope to include the "impact of geopolitical shifts" on the deal since it was signed. Wednesday's announcement in London comes just over four weeks after US President Donald Trump appeared unfamiliar with the trilateral defence pact while giving a press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office. When asked whether they'd be discussing AUKUS, Mr Trump replied: "What does that mean?" More..... |
02 April AUKUS
partners launch Innovation Challenge 2025AUKUS partners have released the trilateral AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge 2025, connecting partner governments to the very best technology across industrial and innovation sectors to deliver cutting-edge capabilities to defence forces. The AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge 2025 seeks innovative solutions from industry and research institutions around the world to provide capability with a focus on undersea communications and control of autonomous systems. Australia’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) will lead the Australian component, and work with the United Kingdom’s Defence and Security Accelerator and United States’ Defense Innovation Unit. More..... |
01 April New
U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier To Be Named USS MuskImportant update on this article: April Fool’s The U.S. Navy is set to launch it next aircraft carrier, CVN 80, later this year. In a change from the planned USS Enterprise name, the vessel will now be named after the Senior Advisor to the President, Elon Musk. The U.S. Navy will name its next aircraft carrier the USS Musk according to an executive order to be issued later today. The vessel, which was originally to be christened the USS Enterprise (CVN 80), is expected to be launched by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) in November. The executive order on ship naming will follow on from a draft order in February entitled ‘Make Shipbuilding Great Again’. More..... |
01 April Defence
challenges students’ STEM skillsFrom high-tech augmented reality to flying drones, a group of talented Victorian students had the opportunity of a lifetime to explore Australia Public Service (APS), ADF and Defence industry capability in an emergency simulation. The Defence Work Experience Program, 'STEM to the Rescue', works with the Knox Innovation Opportunity and Sustainability Centre and Defence industry organisations to deliver a five-day placement in Melbourne. More..... |
01 April US
shipbuilding in a ‘perpetual state of triage,’ watchdog saysThe U.S. Navy is hoping to nearly double the amount of battle force ships in oceans around the world within the next three decades — a jump from 296 ships, including submarines, aircraft carriers and destroyers, to 381. The current state of American shipbuilding, however, is sorely in need of a complete overhaul if that plan is to be achieved, according to recent testimony and a new government watchdog report. More..... |
01 April From
Lang Lang rodeo air ambulance to RAN cockpitIt’s been a quite a journey for a teenager from regional Victoria, fascinated by helicopters, to take centre stage at the Australian International Airshow representing Navy. Sub-Lieutenant Nicholas Mudge grew up in Lang Lang, about 70km south-east of Melbourne, and would jump on his BMX whenever he heard a chopper was inbound, which was often the Air Ambulance on its way to help a local in trouble. “There’s the Lang Lang rodeo and unfortunately, back in the day, that could result in some poor soul needing extra medical attention after a run-in with a bull or a horse,” Sub-Lieutenant Mudge, of Fleet Air Arm’s 725 Squadron, said. More..... |
01 April Navy
takes Victorian schools to new heightsTwo Victorian schools received an extraordinary visit as a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter and its crew touched down, offering students a rare glimpse into naval aviation. Navy’s Fleet Air Arm’s 725 squadron landed the helicopter on the sports ovals of Geelong High School and Ocean Grove’s Bellarine Secondary College for an early-morning visit. The planned landing was part of a presentation to students about the aircraft and ADF capability ahead of the Australian International Airshow, March 25-30. More..... |
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