Tag: Defence
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SA reaches half-way mark in first multibillion-dollar Hunter frigate warship build
Around 1800 workers were now halfway through construction of the first of six Hunter Class frigates to be built at Osborne. BAE Systems Acquisition and Build Director Andy Coxall told InDaily the project was on track, with construction set to be completed mid-2032 as agreed with the Federal Government. The first warship to be built…
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Brisbane hydrogen-fuelled scramjets land major investment
The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) has made its first investment in the defence sector, with a $10 million equity investment to help Brisbane-based Hypersonix Launch Systems test, develop and manufacture its next-generation hypersonic aircraft. Hypersonix – spun out of University of Queensland research in 2019 – is developing scramjet engines for low-earth orbit travel.…
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Anti-drone tech firm to launch SA facility with $13m investment
ASX-listed counter-drone and electronic warfare company DroneShield has selected Adelaide as the home for its new research and development facility, citing the SA capital’s proximity to leading global defence and aerospace organisations. The new R&D centre – backed by a $13 million investment – is expected to initially create 20 high-skilled roles, with those employed…
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Defence spend boost ‘not about appeasing the US’
Defence Minister Richard Males denies that a multibillion-dollar boost to naval capabilities for the AUKUS submarine deal is about easing US concerns. The federal government has unveiled a $12 billion investment in the Henderson Defence Precinct in Perth, where the nuclear submarines Australia will acquire under the pact will be able to dock. US submarines…
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Weapons firm looks to establish Murray Bridge factory
Murray Bridge may soon be able to capitalise on Australia’s growing defence industry with the establishment of a local weapons manufacturing facility. Emerging South Australian ammunition manufacturer Ares Armaments announced in April that it would establish a presence in regional SA. The company planned to draw its workforce from the veteran community in partnership with…
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Australia left hanging by US on AUKUS
Anthony Albanese has downplayed the extension of the US review of its multi-billion dollar nuclear submarine deal with its long-term ally. The Pentagon announced a review of the AUKUS security pact in June, which was originally slated to take 30 days. It has sparked alarm Australia might not be sold the promised submarines, as US…
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Hegseth launches into tirade over coverage of Iran strikes
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has berated journalists for their coverage of the impact of America’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which he described as “historically successful”. A combative Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Dan Caine worked to convey the extent of the weekend strikes at a press conference on Thursday (US…
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Aus stands ground on defence spend despite NATO boost
Australia is standing firm on defence spending despite European nations vowing to rapidly ratchet up expenditure under pressure from US President Donald Trump. On the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Netherlands, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia would decide its own spending levels to meet its own military needs. That risks drawing a…
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Why the AUKUS ‘dream’ was never realistic and is likely to die
The first clear sign the Trump administration was taking a long, hard look at AUKUS came two weeks ago when US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth gave his first major speech on American strategic policy in Asia at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. In a long presentation that catalogued a host of initiatives with…
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Trump may try to strike a deal with AUKUS review, but here’s why he won’t sink it
The Pentagon has announced it will review the massive AUKUS agreement between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia to ensure it’s aligned with US President Donald Trump’s “America first” agenda. The US undersecretary of defence for policy, Elbridge Colby, is reportedly going to oversee the review. The announcement has raised concern in Australia, but…