US Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) units got together on February 16 to start the exercise Resilient Shield 2018 at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. The annual computer-based Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint (FST-J) exercise will also be joined by US Air Force and Japan Air Self-De
HMS Sutherland, a Royal Navy Type 23 frigate on a deployment to Asia Pacific, stopped in the Eastern Indian Ocean to honor the sunken Royal Australian Navy cruiser HMAS Sydney. The wreck of the wartime cruiser HMAS Sydney lies off the west coast of Australia and 500 miles northwest of Perth. Sydney
Prior to entering the city of Hobart for a first visit to her namesake city, the lead ship of the Royal Australian Navy’s air-warfare destroyers, HMAS Hobart, tested her armament with a program of firing serials. During the trials, Hobart tested her 20mm close-in weapons system (CIWS) against an inf
Australian shipbuilder ASC on February 14 announced the appointment of a chief executive officer and managing director. The newly-appointed CEO Stuart Whiley has been interim CEO of ASC Pty Ltd since 2014. “Stuart brings a deep understanding of what it takes to create and sustain sovereign naval ind
Western Australia premier Mark McGowan is set to join prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and other officials on a visit to the US during which he will present Western Australia’s defense capabilities. McGowan is to meet with US Navy secretary Richard V. Spencer to discuss Western Australia as a suitabl
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga carried out another successful drug interdiction operation on February 1, bringing the total value of drugs seized by the crew since November 2017 to over AU$1 billion. The latest operation took place in the Western Indian Ocean and resulted in the seizu
US-based command and communication company L3 Technologies announced it is joining the BAE Systems Power and Propulsion Team by providing the integrated platform management system (IPMS) for BAE’s proposed Type 26 frigate design adapted for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) SEA5000 program. L3 was sel
Australian shipbuilder ASC signed a collaboration agreement with international engineering consultancy BMT to meet increasing demand for ASC’s submarine platform expertise and experience. The 12-month collaboration agreement, signed at ASC’s submarine headquarters at Osborne, South Australia, will s
The Australian government on January 31 announced it signed the patrol vessel construction contract with German shipbuilder Lürssen. Australian defense industry minster Christopher Pyne said the contract with Lürssen to lead the design and build is worth at least $3 billion for 12 OPVs. “The vessels
Navantia Australia announced it has teamed with Tasmanian firm Taylor Bros for work on the Royal Australian Navy’s Future Frigates. Navantia embedded a Taylor Bros team into its design and production teams for the SEA 5000 program creating the “Integrated Product Team” which the company said will “i
The Australian federal government has unveiled a new defense export strategy aimed at turning Australia into a major defense exporter. The document, unveiled by defense industry minister Christopher Pyne on Monday, sets out the policy and strategy to make Australia one of the top ten global defense
A New Zealand Defence Force aircraft and an Australian Navy frigate joined forces in the Western Indian Ocean to interdict 915 kilos of heroin worth AUD$274 million. A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 aircraft detected a suspicious vessel on January 23 prompting a boarding and investigation by the
The Australian defense ministry has awarded Lockheed Martin a AU$700 million contract to design, build and integrate a combat system for the Royal Australian Navy’s future submarines. Announcing the contract on January 25, Australian defense industry minister Christopher Pyne said the contract with
The Royal Australian Navy has teamed with the Australian Army and industry to set up a new training system for a joint helicopter school. Rotary wing crews are now set to benefit from the newly-established Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) at a dedicated facility at HMAS Albatross. The first
