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
Malaysian company Boustead Heavy Industries announced on June 11 that its joint-venture company with French shipbuilder DCNS (now Naval Group) received a letter from the Malaysian defense ministry (MINDEF) seeking damages in a Scorpene submarine contract. According to BHI, the MINDEF is seeking appr
Australian Navy ships engaged their U.S. counterparts for four days high-end warfare exercises off the coast of Darwin, proving their ability to detect, track and engage surface, submarine, and air targets. HMA Ships Ballarat, Melbourne, Broome and Bathurst trained with USS John S. McCain while the
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
Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Arunta is on her way home after completing the longest Middle Eastern deployment by an Australian Navy vessel since 1990. Arunta concluded her assignment to Joint Task Force 633 as part of operation Manitou and handed over responsibility to HMAS Newca
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), joined other participants of exercise Talisman Sabre 2017 on July 8 ahead of the start of major at-sea portions of the drill. TS 17 is a joint exercise between the U.S. and Australia being held biennially off the coast of
Naval ships, aircraft and personnel from India, Japan and the United States will participate in exercise Malabar 2017, July 7-17. Malabar 2017 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises that has grown in scope and complexity over the years to address the variety of shared threats to maritime
On July 2nd, 2017, US Navy’s destroyer, USS Stethem, sailed within 12 nautical miles of Triton Island, a disputed island claimed by China in the South China Sea, according to Fox News. China has treated the USS Stethem’s entry into their territorial waters off the Xisha Islands as a provocation. Chi
Navy vessels visiting Brisbane have had straightforward and simple access to services while they’re alongside, due to a small but effective team the nation’s smallest commissioned establishment. The small team at HMAS Moreton, on the south bank of the Brisbane river, coordinates with external agenci
The U.S. and Philippine navies completed a coordinated patrol in the Sulu Sea at the invitation of the Government of the Philippines, July 1. During the operation, crews from the Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) and the Del Pilar-class Frigate BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF 16) worked closely togeth
The Chinese manufacturer SunRui and classification society DNV GL celebrated last week, as Sunrui became the fourth manufacturer of ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) to obtain type approval from the US Coast Guard (USCG). Its BalClor® system treats ballast water in three steps: Filtration, seaw
Spreading out the Talisman Sabre 2017 ceremonial flag aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) off the coast of Sydney Australia on June 29 senior leaders of the United States and Australia kicked off Australia’s largest military exercise. In its 7th iteration, Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise t
The Australian government is changing its tendering process in an effort to increase the involvement of Australian companies in defense projects. “We are changing the process companies undergo when responding to tenders for defence equipment,” Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne said anno