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Latest News for our Navy Network Download the JUNE edition of our newsletter BROADSIDE |
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18 July US
Navy 2 years behind on hypersonic missile installation on
Zumwalt destroyersThe U.S. Navy’s expensive effort to install hypersonic missiles on three Zumwalt-class destroyers is two years behind schedule, according to government auditors. In addition to problems stemming from both the destroyers and the missiles, the Navy and Army are reportedly not coordinating work on the joint Conventional Prompt Strike missile program. Missile flight testing scheduled for 2025 has been pushed back to 2027. More..... |
17 July WW2
veterans celebrate milestone and share stories with today's
sailorsWorld War 2 Royal Navy veterans were invited to celebrate another milestone in their remarkable lives surrounded by friends, family and today’s generation of sailors in Portsmouth. Fine food, perhaps a tot of rum, cake and a card and letter of gratitude for their service as the final members of Britain’s greatest generation from the head of the Royal Navy, First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins were all part of a memorable few hours of celebration. More..... |
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17 July A naval failure in the Strait of Hormuz  Why
can’t the world’s most powerful military secure the Strait
against a country that has no navy?The collapse of negotiations between the US and Iran can be traced to a single point of failure: the inability of the US military to keep the Strait of Hormuz open in the face of Iranian opposition. The challenge has been long anticipated. The Navy has been thinking about it for 45 years, ever since it escorted tankers through the Persian Gulf in the 1980s and successfully thwarted Iranian efforts to control traffic. More..... |
17 July Infleqtion
and Royal Navy demonstrate World’s First Quantum Optical
Clock on Underwater Autonomous Submarine to advance GPS-Free
NavigationInfleqtion, a global leader in neutral atom–based quantum technology, today announced a successful trial with the Royal Navy and MSubs, marking the first-ever deployment of a quantum optical atomic clock on an underwater autonomous vehicle. The trial integrated Infleqtion’s Tiqker optical atomic clock into the Royal Navy’s Excalibur (XCal) testbed submarine, demonstrating precision timing capabilities critical for resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) in GPS-denied environments. More..... |
17 July Diving for lethal treasureADF and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) experts have discovered more than 11 tonnes of World War II-era munitions in Tuvalu’s northernmost atoll. The munitions were spread across a 12km lagoon in Nanumea, home to about 500 people and the site of an airbase during World War II. More..... |
17 July Music
links culture with serviceMusician Seaman Grant Rowsell’s musical journey began when he was eight years old, after his dad gave him a didgeridoo and encouraged him to express himself through music. Now, Seaman Rowsell is not only the first person to join the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Band as a didgeridoo player, he is among the first of three First Nations members to represent the RAN on the global stage in the United States. More..... |
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JulyDefence partners set sail in the Pacific The Royal Australian Navy landing ship dock HMAS Choules has officially set sail from Subic Bay, the Philippines, to take part in Exercise Pacific Partnership. Serving as the exercise's primary command and control platform, the ship is carrying a multinational contingent of more than 100 military personnel to various locations throughout the Indo-Pacific. More..... |
16 July Guided
by light and nameWhen HMAS Supply passed Horsburgh Lighthouse on July 6, it was more than another navigation waypoint for the ship's first lieutenant, Lieutenant Luke Horsburgh. The active lighthouse, which marks the eastern entrance to the Straits of Singapore, shares the same surname as the maritime combat officer and has become a familiar landmark throughout his naval career. More..... |
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OUR JULY HERO Admiral Sir Anthony Monckton SYNNOT KBE AO MiD  Anthony
Monckton Synnot was a distinguished officer and one of the
few Royal Australian Navy officers to reach full Admiral
rank.Born in Corowa, NSW, Synnot joined the RAN in 1939. During World War II, he saw extensive action in the Mediterranean aboard HMAS Stuart - notably at the Battle of Cape Matapan - and supported the evacuations of Greece and Crete. Following his survival of the sinking of HMS Punjabi, he served on HMAS Quiberon, participating in North Sea convoy duties and the North African landings. Synnot steadily rose through the ranks. He commanded HMA ships Warramunga, Vampire, Sydney and Melbourne in the 1950s and 1960s, and later served as Director Joint Staff during the 1974 Cyclone Tracy relief efforts. Appointed Chief of Naval Staff in 1976, he was promoted to full Admiral in 1979 and served as Chief of the Defence Force Staff (CDFS) until his retirement in 1982. He championed modernising the defence force and was later the Chairman of the Australian War Memorial. Continue reading about our latest naval hero..... |
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15 July Honouring
the past, leading the futureIn true Anzac spirit, two sailors were recognised for their commitment to their teams and their service during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC). With the USS Arizona Memorial providing a poignant backdrop, Royal Australian Navy’s Chief Petty Officer Edgar Dunsby and Royal New Zealand Navy’s Leading Seaman Thomas Sullivan were promoted at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. More..... |
15 July Japan ramps up defences amid concerns about China's
'military activities'While the world has been watching China's rise, Japan has been in the midst of its biggest defence shift since World War II. The move is seen as a shift away from the nation's pacifist constitution, but during a speech on the newly built warship JS Nagara, Yoshida Shinji, the parliamentary secretary to Japan's defence minister, said it was required to "safeguard" the country's territory. More..... |
15 July ASPI Defence Conference tackles Australia’s space
security risksThere is growing debate within the global space policy community about whether space is becoming a ‘warfighting domain’. As adversaries develop increasingly sophisticated counterspace capabilities, Australia should consider how to strengthen resilience and assure access to space. A panel at ASPI’s 2026 Defence Conference in June explored the implications of these evolving threats, the effectiveness of space law, and opportunities to work with allies such as Japan to strengthen collective deterrence in space to enhance resilience and assured access. More..... |
14 July New concept explores converting commercial ships into drone
carriersElbit Systems is exploring a new maritime surveillance concept that combines unmanned aircraft with converted commercial vessels, creating a new alternative to traditional naval aviation platforms. The company’s proposed solution would transform merchant ships into floating unmanned aviation bases capable of deploying multiple Hermes™ 650 Spark unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. More..... |
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14 July Royal Australian Navy Band - Times Square Performance The RAN band was recently in New York for the International Naval Review 250 and for celebrations marking 250 years of American independence. |
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14 July USS
Essex at the Center of Additive Manufacturing Trials During
RIMPAC 26USS Essex (LHD-2) is the centerpiece of large-scale additive manufacturing tests during Rim of the Pacific 2026 exercise, as the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps lean on modern machine-made parts to hone self-repair capabilities. RIMPAC 26, which is being held in Hawaii through July 31, brings together military, government, academic, commercial and coalition partners in what the U.S. Navy has described as the largest advanced manufacturing demonstration conducted by the Defense Department. More..... |
14 July Sea
drones strike Iranian port in combat first for USU.S. Central Command utilized three Corsair unmanned surface vessels to strike a submarine and ship maintenance facility at the Bandar Abbas naval base in Iran, marking the “first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations,” CENTCOM confirmed on X on Monday. More..... |
14 July Helping
veterans stay connectedVeterans transitioning to civilian life are now able to continue accessing Defence bases for up to two years under a new program created in response to Recommendation 82 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The first Veteran Defence Common Access Card (DCAC) recipient under the program, David Humphry, who spent 50 years in the ADF, said it was important to maintain strong connections with former colleagues following transition from full-time service. More..... |
13 July US
Coast Guard cutter Harriet Lane arrives in Cairns for
official engagementsPersonnel from the 270-foot United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter are scheduled to attend a series of discussions with maritime leaders, youth and the community. The cutter is also due to attend overarching multi-mission U.S. Coast Guard endeavour, Operation Blue Pacific, to promote regional stability, and security throughout the Pacific. In addition, the cutter’s crew recently assisted Fiji with their maritime law enforcement operations. More..... |
13 July Safely
removing the scars of the conflictTuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo welcomed a Royal Australian Navy task unit to survey Nanumea Lagoon under Operation Render Safe. Mr Teo joined senior Tuvalu Government officials on board HMAS Diamantina after the minehunter arrived in Funafuti on July 1. He described the ADF-led mission as deeply significant for his nation. More..... |
13 July New
simulator boosts submarine readinessThe Submarine Training and Systems Centre (STSC) at HMAS Stirling has officially opened a new submarine bridge simulator, enhancing the way submariners train for surfaced operations. Commander Submarine Force Commodore Daniel Sutherland formally opened the capability, cutting the ribbon alongside Commodore Flotillas Commodore Simon Howard; Director Training Authority – Submarines Captain Robin Dainty; and Paul Taylor, a representative from Kongsberg Maritime. More..... |
10 July Simple
promise from Navy's new enlisted leaderNavy's most senior sailor appointment, Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N), changed hands for the 11th time during a ceremony in Canberra on July 10. In accepting the ‘weight’ of leadership from outgoing WO-N Andrew ‘Bert’ Bertoncin, incoming WO-N Cheryl Collins acknowledged her predecessor’s contribution and thanked him for his leadership and advocacy on behalf of Navy's sailors. More..... |
09 July Standing
ready to do the nation's toughest workAfter nearly 50 years of service, Admiral David Johnston handed over command of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to Admiral Mark Hammond at a change of command ceremony in Canberra on July 9. Now Australia’s longest-serving three- and four-star ADF officer, Admiral Johnston said the people he worked with throughout his career had been the highlight of his service. More..... |
09 July Uncrewed
vessels airdropped in pioneering trial supported by Royal
NavyThe Royal Navy is a step close to launching drone boats from the skies after a pioneering trial which saw the first airdrop of its kind from a military transport aircraft. A uncrewed surface vessel was dropped by parachute four times from an A400M at 1,300 feet over the North Sea in the very first extracted-load airdrop of its kind, which was conducted by Kraken Technology Group and Capewell and supported by the Royal Navy under Project Beehive. More..... |
08 July Forget
the signalling: China’s missile test is part of an alarming
nuclear buildupPeople are missing the most important implication from China’s test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on Monday. It’s not the signalling of China’s power, though that was almost certainly in there. In part, it’s what the test confirms: China has now validated a new, long-range missile from a submerged submarine, extending its nuclear deterrent to sea and moving closer to a credible triad. More..... |
08 July US
Navy fears ballistic missile subs can be hit by drones,
anti-tank rocketsWhen hidden deep in the vastness of the ocean, America’s ballistic missile subs are practically invulnerable. But berthed in port — or sailing on the surface while transiting to and from port — these powerful yet fragile boats can be sitting ducks for drones, mines and even anti-tank rockets. What once seemed the plot of thriller novels has become reality. More..... |
08 July Ukrainian
Drone Raid Hits 10 Russian Ships, Crippling Crimea Supply
LinesOn the night of July 6th and into the early hours of July 7th, Ukrainian drone forces conducted a massive raid into the Sea of Azov and the Northern Black Sea. This raid aimed at crippling Russia’s logistics supplying occupied Crimea in the increasingly contested waters, striking a total of 10 ships, including eight vital oil tankers, one bulk cargo vessel, and one ferry. More..... |
08 July US
forces have carried out retaliatory strikes on more than 60
Iran’s small attack boats in and near Strait of HormuzThe strikes were conducted on July 7 using precision-guided munitions in response to what Washington described as recent Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the strategic maritime corridor. According to CENTCOM, U.S. forces targeted a range of Iranian military assets, including air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar installations, and anti-ship missile capabilities. More..... |
08 July Eight
NATO allies to create new satellite mega-constellationEight NATO countries, Denmark, Canada, Finland, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Turkey, plan to link their military satellites into a “mega-constellation” to enable “high-speed communications, intelligence and missile tracking,” the alliance announced on Tuesday at its Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, in a move that joins a number of other a new initiatives aimed at improving NATO space capabilities. More..... |
08 July Leader
grows together with her peopleFor hydrographic survey operator Leading Seaman Rebecca Churches, witnessing Navy Indigenous Development Program (NIDP) Intake 25 graduates on parade was a bittersweet moment. The ceremony, held on the HMAS Cairns quarterdeck, marked the training completion of her first intake of NIDP recruits, having joined the unit as a recruit instructor in January. More..... |
08 July Pacific
partners tackle wartime explosivesTwo Royal Solomon Islands Police Force explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists have bolstered a multinational operation to safely remove the danger posed by World War II-era explosives in Pacific Island countries. They embarked on Pacific Support Vessel ADV Reliant in Honiara on June 25, bound for Tuvalu to assist with the technical reconnaissance of Nanumea Lagoon. More..... |
07 July Navy's
weight of leadership changes handsThe Royal Australian Navy sailed into a new chapter on July 7, with Vice Admiral Matthew Buckley assuming command from Vice Admiral Mark Hammond during a ceremony in Canberra. It marked the conclusion of Vice Admiral Hammond's tenure leading Navy and the commencement of Vice Admiral Buckley's appointment as the new Chief. More..... |
07 July Recruit
charts path to Navy medicFor young Indigenous woman Recruit Shartarni Brown, aspirations to become a medic in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) felt out of reach after high school, but completing the Navy Indigenous Development Program (NIDP) has brought her goal closer. A Cairns local, Recruit Brown enlisted in the NIDP in January, looking to grow in confidence and learn more about her Indigenous culture. More..... |
06 July Powerful
reminder of service and sacrificeAble Seaman P.D. Mackintosh was at his aircraft defence post when he saw two torpedoes streak past the port side of HMAS Canberra I. The Brisbane sailor watched as the torpedoes continued into the darkness moments before the heavy cruiser came under devastating attack. In less than two minutes, Canberra I was struck more than 20 times by Japanese shells and torpedoes, leaving the ship crippled and many of her crew dead or wounded. More..... |
03 July Royal
Navy launches strike drone at sea in landmark trialsThe Royal Navy has successfully launched a strike-capable drone from a ship at sea, marking a significant step forward in the UK’s drive to create a hybrid naval force to defend against evolving threats. Working with British Army colleagues, sailors on experimentation ship XV Patrick Blackett launched the Nyan One Way Effector drone during recent trials off the south coast of England. More..... |
03 July Even
in Australia, China is after you. Its new law criminalises
what happens abroadFrom 1 July, work undertaken lawfully in Australia by journalists, think tank analysts, academics and others may be characterised as criminal under Chinese law. China’s new Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law claims legal authority to pursue people beyond the People’s Republic of China who, in the Chinese Communist Party’s view, undermine ethnic unity or promote ethnic division. Beijing has not simply enacted another domestic law. It has asserted a right to judge conduct occurring inside other sovereign states. More..... |
03 July Stepping
ashore after 36 years of serviceChief Petty Officer Simon Greenwood has come to the end of his final sea posting after 36 years in Navy. He will step off HMAS Sydney in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, after nearly two years as the hull technical manager on board. This follows a long career as a marine technician dedicated to life at sea, fixing all manner of systems from sewage systems to potable water plants. More..... |
02 July Toowoomba
locals proud to honour homeIt’s always a proud moment for Queensland’s brave sons and daughters when they serve on the ship named after their home town. For Chief Petty Officers Matthew Lyons and Rhys Clark, sharing this honour together was 17 years in the making. Despite growing up in Toowoomba, the pair only met for the first time on the bus to Royal Australian Navy Recruit School in 2009. More..... |
02 July Centralised support for veterans and their familiesDefence has welcomed the launch of the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency on July 1, marking an important step in strengthening support for veterans and families of veterans. The agency was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Its purpose is to make it easier for veterans and families of veterans to access the support they need across government and community services. More..... |
01 July All new compensation claims now under improved MRCA All new claims for compensation and rehabilitation will now be determined under an improved version of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) as the single ongoing Act for veterans’ entitlements from 1 July 2026. The simplification of the veterans’ compensation system from 3 Acts to one delivers on a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. More..... |
01 July All
aboard HMAS SydneyHMAS Sydney opened the gangway to about 3000 military personnel and their families keen to tour an Australian warship as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC). Sydney was one of 21 ships from around the world to welcome guests on board during the RIMPAC open ship day. More..... |
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BROADSIDE - JUNE 2026 Edition NOTE: To read Broadside in Flipbook form, click on the "Full Screen" arrows. |
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