Residents of Sydney, Canberra and the Shoalhaven had their last chance to see the Royal Australian Navy’s Sea King helicopters in the air today as they said farewell to the nation with a formation flypast. The formation launched from the Naval Air Station at HMAS Albatross in Nowra at 10:00am, proce
Royal Australian Navy’s Commodore Jonathan Mead has assumed command of Combined Maritime Operations in support of counter-terrorism in the Gulf region of the Middle East. Supported by a team of Australian and New Zealand naval personnel, Commodore Mead now commands Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150)
The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, has promoted Commodore Robyn Walker to the rank of Rear Admiral in the Royal Australian Navy. Admiral Walker is the first female in the Navy to attain the rank of Rear Admiral and to take on the job of Surgeon General for the Australian Defence Force. “Thi
Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, and Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, today released the report of Phase 1 of the Review of the Sustainment of Australia’s Collins Class submarines, the Coles Review. The review is being led by Mr John Coles, an independent expert from BMT Defence Servi
The Royal Australian Navy now has enhanced amphibious warfare capability with the commissioning in Fremantle today of Australia’s newest warship, the Bay Class Landing Ship HMAS Choules. Choules, a former Royal Fleet Auxiliary which served the Royal Navy under the name Largs Bay, was renamed after C
The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) returned to Sasebo, Japan Dec. 8 after completing a two-and-a-half month patrol of the Western Pacific. Throughout the patrol, Essex Sailors along with the embarked Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in two
In order to meet for underwater navigation capability requirements for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) the MCDSPO is procuring 34 Underwater Navigation and Integrated Sonar (UNIS) systems, which will allow the RAN to conduct mission planning, accurate navigation and automated hydrographical data rec
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Government has approved the upgrade of all eight of the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class frigates with an advanced Anti-Ship Missile Defence system. The total project cost is in excess of $65
Three Royal Australian Navy Frigates have departed Sydney Harbour bound for the coast off Newcastle to continue a series of intensive air and sea exercises over the next fortnight. Triton Warrior 11 is the third in a series of co-ordinated naval exercises conducted this year in the Eastern Australia
Melbourne based BMT Design & Technology, a subsidiary of the BMT Group, the international maritime design, engineering and risk management consultancy, has announced that it has been awarded a contract that will help preserve the historic warship HMVS Cerberus. BMT Design & Technology is investigati
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith today announced that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has commenced Exercise COOPERATION SPIRIT 2011 with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Sichuan Province, China. The exercise began on 27 November and will continue until 1 December. “Exercise COOPERATION SP
The Minister for Defence and Member for Perth, Stephen Smith MP and the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney, congratulated seven West Australian employers and their Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reservists for their outstanding service to the ADF during 2011. A ceremony recogn
Divers from Australian Clearance Diving Team One boarded and secured merchant vessels in Sydney Harbour recently, as part of specialist training in the lead up to deploying on Operation SLIPPER. Using rigid hulled inflatable boats, the Divers honed their skills in advanced level boardings. Pre consu
On the 19 November the Minister for Defence Stephen Smith attended a memorial service in Geraldton, Western Australia to honour the 645 sailors and airmen who perished when HMAS Sydney (II) was lost at sea 70 years ago. Minister Smith laid a wreath at the Sydney (II) Memorial Dome of Souls and paid
