French shipbuilder Naval Group (former DCNS) has appointed a new executive director to work with the Commonwealth of Australia on the Australian Future Submarine program. Jean-Michel Billig, the Australia executive director joined Naval Group in May 2017 as special advisor to Hervé Guillou, Presiden
Australian shipbuilder Austal on Monday held a keel-laying ceremony for the first vessel of the Australian government’s Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) Project. Defense industry minister Christopher Pyne authenticated the keel by committing his signature to a plate that was subsequently weld
Australian government-owned shipbuilder ASC on Monday opened new facilities in Henderson that will increase the efficiency of the maintenance and sustainment of Australia’s submarine fleet. The $13 million upgrade enables the co-location of essential facilities, which will deliver a significant incr
Some 600 personnel from the Republic of Singapore and Royal Malaysian Navy concluded ten days of drills as part of the bilateral exercise Malapura which took place from July 18 to 28. Conducted since 1984, this year’s exercise was hosted by the Royal Malaysian Navy and saw the participation of six w
U.S. Navy’s Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group was joined by a U.S. destroyer and four Australian frigates to test elements of the up-gunned ESG concept during two weeks of drills at exercise Talisman Saber 2017. The field training exercise (FTX) component of TS17 tested a combined and join
The combined U.S.-Australian exercise Talisman Saber 2017 concluded in Brisbane on July 25 after 30 days of high-end, mid-intensity warfighting scenarios. Two years in the planning, Talisman Saber involved approximately 33,000 participants, 36 warships and over 220 aircraft. Luke Howarth MP, Austral
Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Arunta returned to her home port of Fleet Base West in Rockingham, Western Australia, on July 23, completing the longest Middle Eastern deployment of an Australian Navy vessel since the first Gulf War. Senator for Western Australia, Linda Reynolds; Commander Austra
Taking charge of the largest amphibious assault conducted by an Australian force in 70 years as part of exercise Talisman Saber presented an opportunity to shine for the Amphibious Task Group Headquarters. The assault, led from amphibious asssault ship HMAS Canberra, was a significant milestone in t
Royal Australian Navy’s Armidale class patrol boats joined their much larger counterparts for the northern component of exercise Talisman Sabre proving they can play a role in complex war drills. The Darwin-based HMAS Bathurst and Broome took on a superior force including guided missile frigates HMA
A project to repair and upgrade two Sydney wharves used by the Royal Australian Navy has received green light to start. The project, called Stage One, is aimed at addressing significant condition, capacity and compliance issues with two existing wharves at Garden Island (East), Sydney, New South Wal
En route to the Middle East and operation Manitou, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Newcastle made a port visit to Cochin, India, building on relationships recently made on exercises in Australian waters. As a continuation of exercise Ausindex, the visit allowed for the strengthening of internatio
Australian shipbuilder Austal and German designer Fassmer hosted over 120 Victorian defence and manufacturing companies for an industry engagement forum in Melbourne. The forum was held to allow the companies to learn about the Austal Fassmer joint venture bid for Australia’s $3 billion Offshore Pat
Australia’s Future Submarine project officially opened an office in Cherbourg, France in a July 9 ceremony attended by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The office is a tripartite secure facility which will house submarine designers, naval architects and engineers who will work alongside e
Australian shipbuilder Austal has officially opened a new vessel sustainment office in Cairns to support the Cape-class fleet and the future Pacific Patrol Boats (PPB) that Austal is currently building. Following the opening ceremony on June 10, the sustainment facilities will employ nearly 30 peopl
