Latest Defence and Industry News
Defence budget climbs to $44.6 billion
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- Written by Marcus Hellyer
- Category: Defence Budget
The 2021–22 budget was a ‘no surprises’ one for Defence. The government set out its plan in the 2016 white paper, reaffirmed it in last year’s defence strategic update and is now providing Defence with the funding it promised to deliver the plan. The size of the budget is as expected and that’s good news, but it’s how it can be spent to acquire more offensive firepower well before the 2030s that matters most. The budget tells us little new here.
RAAF to conduct four week exercise at Darwin, Tindal bas
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- Written by Katherine Times
- Category: RAAF
For four weeks, the Royal Australian Air Force will be conducting exercise Arnehm Thunder 21 (AT21) from the RAAF Base Darwin and Tindal. From May 17 to June 15, the Air Force will deploy a collection of aircraft and over 500 personnel for the exercise who will be arriving in the week prior to commencement.
The following aircraft and personnel will be based at RAAF Base Darwin:
Budget 2021-22: what’s in it for tech?
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- Written by Eleanor Dickinson ARN
- Category: Defence Budget
The federal government has handed over a raft of new investment for Australia’s digital services and technology sector as part of its Budget for 2021-2022. As previously announced, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has earmarked $1.2 billion for the government's Digital Economy Strategy and $130.4 million for improved regional connectivity.
ECA Group and TMT join forces to bid for Australian Navy programme
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- Written by Naval Technology
- Category: Navy
French company ECA Group has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Australia’s Total Marine Technology (TMT) to jointly bid for a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) programme. The two companies will partner to combine their expertise in unmanned technologies and place a joint offer to RAN, which seeks to bolster its maritime mine countermeasures and military survey capability using unmanned systems.
The 'wearable cockpit' could change fighter-jet controls forever
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- Written by Joseph Flaig
- Category: BAE Systems
The fighter-jet cockpit is one of the ultimate expressions of engineering complexity. Baffling to anyone other than pilots and aerospace engineers, the rows of displays and controls condense vital information to enable safe operation of the aircraft – and mission completion. The cockpit of the future will be decidedly more minimalist. Projects such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 have already streamlined controls, introducing large customisable touchscreens, but upcoming fighters will take the approach even further.
Kongsberg wins extension to US Army’s CROWS IDIQ frame contract
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- Written by Army Technology
- Category: USA
The US Army has awarded an extension to its Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) framework contract to Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. Valued at around $500m, the extension is dependent on ‘future demand and annual allocations’. The original CROWS IDIQ agreement was signed between the US Army and Kongsberg in September 2018.
Army Revamps to Pursue New Air-and-Missile Defense Tech – National Defense Magazine
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- Written by The Miracle Tech
- Category: USA
As the Army works toward modernizing its air-and-missile defense capabilities, the service is expanding efforts to develop joint systems that will be key to winning future battles. The technology is one of the top modernization priorities being spearheaded by Army Futures Command. As part of its effort to bolster its capability, the service is combining offices and testing technologies with the other armed services to converge and streamline the process of building and integrating new platforms.
Delivery of the 10th Guardian class patrol boat RSIPV Taro by Austal Australia
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- Written by Navy Recognition
- Category: AUSTAL
According to a press release published by Austal on May 10, 2021, Austal Limited announces Austal Australia has delivered the tenth Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB), RSIPV Taro to the Australian Department of Defence. The vessel, the RSIPV Taro, was then gifted by the Australian Government to the Solomon Islands Government at a certificate signing ceremony held at Austal Australia’s Henderson shipyard,...
Home Affairs scores $42m to secure critical infrastructure
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- Written by Justin Hendry
- Category: Cyber Security
The federal government will provide $42.4 million to the Department of Home Affairs to secure critical infrastructure assets and help owners and operators respond to major cyber attacks. The funding, revealed in the budget on Tuesday, comes ahead of the introduction of the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020, which is currently before parliament.
Big Four win millions in government consulting contracts
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- Written by Consultancy.com.au
- Category: General
The Big Four have followed a bumper 2020 in federal public sector work with a swag of new government consulting and professional services contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars so far this year. Despite a Covid-ravaged economy, each of the Big Four of Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC last year managed to maintain or grow their revenues on 2019 – with lucrative government contracts a major factor in the positive figures.
Warren McDonald to lead Lockheed Martin Aust & NZ
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- Written by Andrew McLaughlin
- Category: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin Australia has announced that former Chief of Joint Capabilities and Deputy Chief of Air Force, AIRMSHL Warren McDonald (Ret’d) will join the company from July 1. AIRMSHL McDonald will join Lockheed Martin Australia after a distinguished 40 year career with the RAAF from which he retired at the end of 2020.
Northrop wins $959m IDIQ FRP contract for US Army CIRCM system
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- Written by Army Technology
- Category: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman has secured a full-rate production (FRP) contract for the US Army’s Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) system. The five-year indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract is valued at $959.1m. The CIRCM system is intended to offer protection to US Army rotary-wing and medium fixed-wing aircraft against infrared-guided missiles, shoulder-fired, vehicle-launched, and other missiles threats.
FLIR Wins Additional $15.4M Contract for Black Hornet Nano-UAV Systems for U.S. Army Soldier Borne Sensor Program
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- Written by Defence Review Asia Staff
- Category: USA
FLIR Systems, Inc. announced it has won an additional $15.4 million contract to deliver its FLIR Black Hornet® 3 Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS) to the U.S. Army. The advanced nano-unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being used to augment squad and small unit-level surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities as part of the Army’s Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program.
U.S. State Department Approves $1.7 Billion Aegis Sale To Canada
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- Written by Rich Abott
- Category: Defence Industry
The US State Department on Monday approved a potential $1.7 billion Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of the Aegis Combat System (ACS) to Canada for use in its new Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) ships. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the sale on Monday as well.
Holmwood Highgate to deliver modules for Australian Army logistics trucks
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- Written by Army Technology
- Category: Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) has contracted Queensland-based Holmwood Highgate to deliver fuel and water modules for the Australian Army’s logistics trucks fleet.Holmwood Highgate to deliver modules for Australian Army logistics trucks Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) has contracted Queensland-based Holmwood Highgate to deliver fuel and water modules for the Australian Army’s logistics trucks fleet.
Australia to upgrade HMAS Cairns naval base with $155m investment
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- Written by Navy Recognition
- Category: Navy
According to information published by the Facebook account of Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia, on May 6, 2021, the Australian government decided to upgrade the HMAS Cairns with a $155m investment. HMAS Cairns is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base located adjacent to the Trinity Inlet on the shore of Trinity Bay in Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
Deputy Chief of Army appointment
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- Written by Defence Media
- Category: Army
MAJOR General Natasha Fox, AM, CSC will be appointed as the Deputy Chief of Army in January 2022. After an outstanding career in a variety of key strategic roles, Major General Fox is set to become Australia’s first female Deputy Chief of Army. Major General Fox joined the ADF in 1988, graduating from the Royal Military College in 1991.
Concern at Australian 'submarine gap' amid rising China tensions
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- Written by Richard Wood
- Category: Future Submarine Project
Australia is in danger of being left with a critical "submarine capability gap" in a future Asia Pacific conflict, a Senator and naval veteran has warned. Senator Rex Patrick wants the Federal Government to fast-track the upgrade of Australia's ageing Collins class submarines to ensure the country retains an effective submarine force in the near future.
Royal Australian Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts to become Australia's first space commander
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- Written by Andrew Greene
- Category: Defence Industry
A senior Royal Australian Air Force officer whose childhood idol was Neil Armstrong will become Australia's first space commander next year. Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts, who is currently the Head of Air Force Capability, will take over the newly created position of Head of Space Division from January. The trained engineer, who has served in the RAAF for 35 years, was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for her work in overseeing the introduction of major aviation capabilities.
British Army awards contract for ‘most lethal tank in Europe’
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- Written by Dylan Malyasov
- Category: BAE Systems
The UK Secretary of State for Defense Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP has confirmed a £800 million ($1,1 billion) contract with Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) to build the next-generation Challenger 3 battle tank. “A multi-million-pound investment will deliver the most lethal tank in Europe and allow us to modernize our land forces,” the Defense Secretary said.
Raytheon to provide signals intelligence field services for the U.S. Air Force under 175M contract
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- Written by Help Net Security
- Category: Ratheon
Raytheon Intelligence & Space will provide signals intelligence field services for the U.S. Air Force’s Distributed Common Ground System, which collects, processes and analyzes intelligence. RI&S will support seven different intelligence applications the Air Force uses to collect and correlate data under the new program, DCGS-Signals Intelligence Field Support (DSFS).