Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the first of 24 MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters has successfully completed its first test flight. The initial test flight occurred at Sikorsky’s Production Facility, Connecticut USA on 26 June 2013. It passed a range of tests includi
Minister for Defence Materiel Dr Mike Kelly AM MP today announced the final keel block for the future destroyer, Hobart, has been successfully lifted into place by the AWD Alliance in Adelaide. Dr Kelly said the final keel block is the 18th of 31 blocks to be joined into what is rapidly becoming the
Australian Navy’s Electronics Challenge will commence mid-July as part of the inaugural Engineering Challenge providing technical sailors the chance to demonstrate professional skills through healthy competition. Lieutenant Commander Damon Craig and Petty Officer Jeremy Younger of Chief Information
Cobham has received a one year supplementary contract extension from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to provide maritime surveillance services using two F406 twin turboprop fixed – wing aircraft through June 2014. The aircraft are fitted with a surveillance radar and satellite c
Naval reservists from 10 nations, including the UK, descended on New Zealand to practise their response to natural disasters. Exercise Bell Buoy saw the personnel, who form part of Maritime Trade Operations, rehearse how they would ensure merchant and military shipping could aid a country in the eve
The Australian Minister for Defence Materiel Mike Kelly today announced the signing of a $21 million four-year contract with AMC Search Ltd to provide Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB) training services. Dr Kelly said AMC Search Ltd (AMCS) is the commercial arm of the Australian Maritime College, located in
Indian Minister of Defence A. K. Antony and the Australian Minister for Defence Stephen Smith met in Perth on 4 June and Canberra on 5 June 2013 to discuss shared strategic and security interests, including maritime security and bilateral defence cooperation. The Ministers exchanged ideas concerning
Australian Minister for Defence Stephen Smith, Japanese Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel held trilateral defence ministerial talks in Singapore June 1 on the margins of the International Institute of Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue. This was the s
The last of the improved Los Angeles-class submarines, USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), arrived in Yokosuka May 24 as part of its Western Pacific Deployment. With a crew of approximately 150 Sailors, Cheyenne continues to test its capabilities, exercising this submarine’s ability to conduct sustained forward
OSI Maritime Systems announces the provision of an advanced Command, Control and Situational Awareness system to the Royal Australian Navy Amphibious Task Group. OSI’s Tactical Asset Control and Tracking System (T-ACT) will be equipped on two Mother Ships and 12 Landing Craft. Designed for close C2
HMAS Newcastle successfully completed ammunitioning and de-perming at the Magnetic Treatment Facility Fleet Base West before commencing Rotation 31, Operation SLIPPER, in the Middle East Area of Operations. At the Magnetic Treatment Facility the ship was provided the capability to reduce, alter and
The Department of Defence released a Request For Tender to CEA Technologies for the development of a High Power Phased Array Radar concept demonstrator. CEA Technologies Pty Ltd is a Canberra-based company whose world leading technology CEAFAR radar is being fitted to the ANZAC Class Frigates of the
Commander of the Australian Fleet , RADM Tim Barrett, AM, CSC RAN visited HMAS Newcastle on 9 May 13, whilst she was underway in Cockburn Sound, WA making final preparations for deployment on Operation SLIPPER to the Middle East Area of Operation (MEAO). RADM Barrett took the opportunity to personal
On Wednesday 01 May 2013, HMAS Newcastle entered the Magnetic Treatment Facility at Fleet Base West in order to undertake deperming. The Magnetic Treatment Facility provides the capability to reduce, alter and stabilise the permanent magnetism in steel hulled vessels – limiting the issue of magentic