Latest Defence and Industry News
Australia’s plan for manufacturing missiles to be accelerated
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- Written by THE CONVERSATION
- Category: Department of Defence
The government is speeding up the establishment of its planned $1 billion Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise, which aims to boost Australia’s own defence production capabilities as it faces a deteriorating security outlook. The defence department will now start the process of selecting a strategic industry partner to operate a sovereign guided weapons manufacturing capability to produce missiles and other weapons on the government’s behalf .
ADF signs $221 million contract extension with Inmarsat
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- Written by ADM
- Category: Department of Defence
The ADF and Inmarsat have agreed to a $221 million contract extension for the provision of commercial satellite communications airtime services and managed hardware. Brigadier Gregory Novak, Commander Defence Strategic Communications Branch and Todd McDonell, President Inmarsat Global Government, announced the contract extension to 2027.
BAE Systems wins $42.5 million contract from the U.S. Navy
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- Written by Navy Recognition
- Category: BAE Systems
According to a press release published by BAE Systems on March 30, 2021, the firm was awarded a four-year $42.5 million task order by the U.S. Navy to provide shore-based landing systems integration (LSI) support services for instrument carrier and instrument landing systems (ICLS/ILS). The new ILS provides U.S. Navy pilots with increased guidance capabilities by utilizing radio beam signals that aircraft computers translate,..
Air Force asks Raytheon to build hundreds of AMRAAM radar-guided air-to-air missiles in $518.4 million deal
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- Written by John Keller
- Category: Ratheon
U.S. military airborne weapons experts are ordering several hundred of the nation's most sophisticated radar-guided air-to-air missiles for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and military allies under terms of a half-billion-dollar contract announced on Friday. Officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Manager Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., are awarding a $518.4 million contract to the Raytheon Co. Missile Systems segment in Tucson, Ariz., for Lot 34 production of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile (AMRAAM) for the U.S. and foreign militaries.
Hensoldt, Rheinmetall and Diehl bid for future Germany air defence system
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- Written by Army Technology
- Category: Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall Electronics, Diehl Defence and Hensoldt Sensors have teamed up to bid for the future German short-range and very short-range air defence system, known as the ‘LVS NNbS’.The partners have signed a joint agreement to form a special collaboration known as Arbeitsgemeinschaft (ARGE). The tender will be submitted under the ARGE NNbS framework.
Air force chief says RAAF will be faster, smarter and have longer reach in its next 100 years
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- Written by Brendan Nicholson
- Category: RAAF
With the development of hypersonic missiles—and ultimately aircraft—flying at several times the speed of sound, space-based systems, armed drones and uncrewed combat aircraft, the Royal Australian Air Force is fundamentally changing as it turns 100. Heavily involved in World War I as the Australian Flying Corps, the nation’s military aviators were part of the army until the RAAF was formed in March 1921.
ASC launches digital transformation program
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- Written by Peter Dinham
- Category: Australian Submarine Corporation
Defence contractor ASC is undertaking a digital transformation of its critical business systems to set the ground for its digital shipyard transition. ASC - formerly the Australian Submarine Corporation - says the comprehensive digital program will facilitate more streamlined processes, enhanced integration between systems, and the expanded use of real-time data to drive optimised decision-making across the organisation.
Helicopter drones could become the Australian Navy’s new tool
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- Written by Josh Spires
- Category: Navy
The Australian Navy could soon be using helicopter drones to keep an eye on things, as it furthered Project Sea 129 earlier this week. The Australian Navy has shortlisted companies into the next round, with Northrop Grumman and Leonardo Australia being chosen. The two companies will work together to develop a single system that utilizes Leonardo’s AWHERO helicopter drone and Northrop Grumman’s command and control center.
ANAO releases report into cyber security strategies
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- Written by Roya Ghodsi, ADM
- Category: Cyber Australia
Defence contractor ASC is undertaking a digital transformation of its critical business systems to set the ground for its digital shipyard transition. ASC - formerly the Australian Submarine Corporation - says the comprehensive digital program will facilitate more streamlined processes, enhanced integration between systems, and the expanded use of real-time data to drive optimised decision-making across the organisation.
Deloitte to bring submarine company’s systems above water with IFS ERP
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- Written by Ben Moore
- Category: Australian Submarine Corporation
Deloitte is delivering “sweeping digital transformation” for the ASC submarine company, updating its systems with IFS’s ERP solution. The program will provide improved processes, enhanced integration between systems, and expanded use of real-time data for decision-making across the organisation, according to a statement.
Australia to establish Centre of Expertise for electronic warfare
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- Written by Army Technology
- Category: Department of Defence
The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has formed a strategic partnership with Flinders University and a South Australia-based defence industry firm DEWC T&E. The partners have set up a Professional Electronic Warfare Training, Education and Research (PEWTER) memorandum of understanding. Over the next five years, the DoD and the university would co-finance a Defence Science Partnership (DSP) valued at $5m.
US Navy green lights production of Block V Tomahawk cruise missile
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- Written by David Szondy
- Category: Ratheon
The US Navy has given Raytheon Missiles & Defense the go ahead on production of the latest Block of the venerable Tomahawk cruise missile. The Block V variant will start work later this year, giving the missile a life extension of 15 years plus increased capabilities. A remnant of the Cold War, the Tomahawk was first conceived in the 1970s as a modular, highly precise, land-attack missile that could be easily modified to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons.
NEW KONGSBERG F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER CONTRACT
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- Written by Defence Equipment News
- Category: Lockheed Martin
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KONGSBERG) has signed a new agreement with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (LMA) worth 1.750 billion NOK for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme production lots 15-17. The agreement includes delivery of the F-35 Rudders, Vertical Leading Edges and Main Landing Gear Closeout panels for more than 500 aircraft.
ACSC running scans to find vulnerable Microsoft Exchange servers in Australia
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- Written by Asha Barbaschow
- Category: Cyber Australia
Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) Abigail Bradshaw has told senators "10s of organisations" have so far reached out to her agency regarding vulnerable Microsoft Exchange servers. "We have had feedback from 10s of organisations who have spotted the indicators of compromise and whom we've assisted," Bradshaw said...
Boeing partners with Australian company on sustainable hypersonics
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- Written by ADM
- Category: Boeing
Boeing and Australia-based Hypersonix Launch Systems have signed an agreement to investigate the design of a sustainable hypersonic vehicle powered by the Hypersonix SPARTAN scramjet engines. Hypersonix and Boeing Research & Technology (BR&T) will conduct a joint study on the design of a reusable hypersonic vehicle to be used for the sustainable launch of satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Air Force marks RAAF's 100 year anniversary in 2021
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- Written by Port Stephens Examiner
- Category: RAAF
As Williamtown Air Base marks its milestone of 80 years in 2021, it is also a momentous occasion for the Royal Australian Air Force as a whole. It is 100 years since the founding of the Australian Air Force, which was officially formed on March 31, 1921. Following approval from the King, which came on August 13, it became known as the Royal Australian Air Force.
Singapore-based aviation contractor aims to build supersonic combat drone in Seletar hangar
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- Written by Aqil Haziq Mahmud
- Category: Unmanned Vehicle
A dozen drones carrying bombs are flying so fast, faster than the speed of sound, that they are leading a fighter jet into battle. Some of them fall away to take out high-value targets, hitting at such speed that the enemy has no time to react. Others become bait for hostile missiles, sacrificing themselves to protect the jet bursting in from behind to destroy the remaining threats.
Leidos Acquires Famed Naval Architecture Firm Gibbs & Cox
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- Written by THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE
- Category: LEIDOS
Engineering, IT and defense conglomerate Leidos has reached an agreement to buy the storied naval architecture firm Gibbs & Cox, boosting its capabilities as it competes for U.S. Navy unmanned systems contracts. In an earnings call Tuesday, Leidos CEO Roger Krone confirmed that his company plans to pay $380 million for Gibbs & Cox, with the transaction expected to close in the first quarter.
Robots at war: The future for autonomous systems at sea in the Indo-Pacific
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- Written by MALCOLM DAVIS
- Category: General
It is not inconceivable that by the 2040s, much of the fighting will be done by the robots, with their human masters kept well behind harm’s way. Future naval forces will exploit a mix of traditional crewed vessels and unmanned autonomous systems that operate over, on and under the waves. These autonomous systems will be able to generate a lethal effect on the future battlespace and, as a recent report by the Congressional Research Service suggested, be..
Large fly-past to celebrate RAAF centenary
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- Written by Canberra Weekly
- Category: RAAF
The Royal Australian Air Force will mark 100 years of service to Australia on Wednesday 31 March. The Governor-General will present a new Queen’s Colour for the first time since 1986, and 60 historic and current aircraft will take part in the largest fly-past in decades, over Lake Burley Griffin. “From modest beginnings in 1921, Air Force has grown into a potent, world-class force which Australia relies upon in both conflict and peace,” Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, AO, DSC, Chief of Air Force, said.
Five companies shortlisted for Australian naval UAV deal
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- Written by Greg Waldron
- Category: Navy
Canberra has announced the shortlist for its Sea 129-5 acquisition, which will see Royal Australian Navy ships receive a new unmanned air vehicle (UAV) capability. The five contenders are BAE Systems Australia, Insitu Pacific, Northrop Grumman Australia, Raytheon Australia, and Textron Systems Australia, says defence minister Melissa Price.