New Zealand is seeking stronger ties with its Five Eyes partners under its new prime minister, Christopher Luxon. The Five Eyes was established by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to share intelligence during World War II. According to Winston Peters, foreign minister of New Zealand, the government will reinvigorate...
Category: Australia
US Approves Potential $2B Sale of Submarine Trainers to Australia
The Department of State has approved a possible foreign military sale of submarine training devices to the Royal Australian Navy under the AUKUS Pillar One Optimal Pathway program. Under the proposed deal, to run for nine years with a ceiling value of $2 billion, the United States will also provide personnel training, planning and nonrecurring...
Australia Seeking Partners to Develop New Tech for Enhanced Military Ops, Data Processing
Australia’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator is looking for potential industry and research partners to support its mission of developing new technologies to advance the country’s defense capabilities. ASCA said it requires innovative solutions and skills to boost how the Australian Defence Force conducts military operations and data processing. The collected input will inform efforts to...
Defense Allies Meet in Berlin to Discuss Advancing Space Collaboration
The Department of Defense attended the Combined Space Operations Initiative Principals Board meeting in Berlin, Germany, where participants discussed opportunities to advance operational cooperation and information sharing in space. The event brought together top defense officials from the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. For the 2023 edition, CSpO...
Australian Army Picks Infantry Fighting Vehicles From Hanwha
Canberra has awarded Hanwha Aerospace subsidiary Hanwha Defense Australia a $2.4 billion contract for the supply of 129 infantry fighting vehicles. Hanwha described the contract as a landmark purchase, noting that it is the first time South Korean defense solutions will be developed for the Australian Army. Under the contract, HDA will supply the Redback...
AUKUS Security Alliance Launches Investor Network to Accelerate Advanced Military Technology Development
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have launched a new initiative that promotes the development of new advanced military technologies. The AUKUS Defense Investor Network is comprised of private capital investors from about 300 institutional venture capital firms, corporate venture capital groups and family offices from the three nations. Together, the network represents over...
Australia Developing Intel Cloud Interoperable With US, UK Spy Networks
Australia is working on a top secret intelligence cloud system that would be interoperable with the United States and the United Kingdom. According to Andrew Shearer, director general of the Office of National Intelligence, the upcoming cloud infrastructure would function with the spy networks operated by Australia’s AUKUS partners. At an event hosted by the...
SIPRI: US Remains World’s Top Arms Supplier, But Production Issues Cut Revenues
The United States continued to dominate the list of the world’s top 100 arms and military services companies, accounting for 51 percent of the sector’s $597 billion revenue in 2022. According to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the 42 U.S. defense companies on the list saw supply chain, labor shortage and...
Australian Bill Seeks to Tighten Military Tech Transfer to Non-AUKUS Foreigners
Richard Marles, Australia’s minister for defense, has introduced in Parliament proposed legislation to tighten the transfer of military technology to foreign interests except AUKUS allies the United States and the United Kingdom. Marles filed the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023 ahead of his U.S. visit to attend the AUKUS Defense Ministers’ Meeting in California. The...
AUKUS Could Involve More Countries in Efforts to Integrate Emerging Technologies Into Military
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States are mulling the possibility of welcoming the contributions of other countries in Pillar 2 of their AUKUS security partnership. AUKUS has two lines of effort: Pillar 1 is focused on aiding Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines while Pillar 2 will explore the integration of emerging technologies in military...