The United States has budgeted $26 million for the construction of a U.S. Air Force mission planning and operation center in Darwin, ABC News reported, citing U.S. budget filings. The facility is expected to expand American military assets in northern Australia, a growing presence seen as a proactive move against China’s military buildup. According to...
The United States has established a new mission partner environment in Australia, allowing allied countries to have access to all information they need to conduct operations in various domains. The Combined Joint Network Operations Security Center enabled sharing of communications, targeting and other data among military personnel from 13 Indo-Pacific countries that participated in the...
The Royal Australian Navy’s planned buildup in response to China’s increasing threat has already drawn bids from four shipbuilders, Breaking Defense reported. The pitches came following the April release of the Australian Defence Strategic Review, which lined up a naval strategy of increasing the number of smaller surface vessels in RAN’s fleet. The four...
BAE Systems Australia worked with the Australian government to stand up a new aircraft coating facility at its Williamtown aerospace site in Newcastle, New South Wales. According to the company, the government-funded facility will support the future sustainment requirements of the Royal Australian Air Force’s F-35 fleet. The service currently operates 63 F-35As and plans...
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress of the possible sale of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to Australia. The proposed deal, which has received Department of State approval, calls for the delivery of up to 22 HIMARS and related equipment for an estimated cost of $975 million. Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Leonardo...
Fortinet Australia said it will provide teachers with free training about cybersecurity through its Security Awareness and Training service program. In a statement, Nicole Quinn, head of government affairs for Asia Pacific at Fortinet, said the program will be localized and customized to suit administrators and teachers of Australian schools. The plan is to deliver...
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has deployed two of its F-35A Lightning II fighter jets to Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal in the Northern Territory, marking the first time it has sent the military aircraft overseas. Japan’s vice minister of defense for international affairs, Kiyoshi Serizawa, and Kazuhiro Suzuki, the ambassador to Australia, were present at...
Australia’s federal government will continue to purchase flood and bushfire data from natural catastrophe services company Iceye. Under the agreement with Iceye, the federal government, states and territories can access the Finland-based company’s Flood Insights and Bushfire Insights products, to be made available to agencies via Esri’s ArcGIS software. Using a combination of synthetic aperture...
The United States and its allies can defeat China’s efforts to influence Pacific Island states by establishing stronger civil ties, combating Chinese disinformation campaigns, and providing them with humanitarian and disaster relief services, according to Mitre’s Sage Dragon wargame report. The two-day Sage Dragon wargame was held in November 2022 to simulate a fight in...
Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States are making significant progress in artificial intelligence and autonomy under Pillar 2 of the AUKUS security partnership, according to Tanya Monro, Australia’s chief defense scientist. Media coverage has focused chiefly on Pillar 1 of AUKUS, which involves providing Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, but Pillar 2 activities are...
