Mine warfare units from the United States, Australia and New Zealand participated in Exercise Dugong 24, which tested their capabilities to neutralize sea mines. The training ran from March 4 to 22 and involved integration, training and tactical stages, with the latter phase tasking the participants to conduct mine countermeasures and explosive ordnance disposal operations....
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Category: Australia
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Canberra Bares Three Defense Science Appointments to Support Warfighting Capabilities
The Australian Department of Defence has announced the appointment of Emily Hilder as head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, a new government agency formed in May 2023 to transition game-changing concepts into capabilities that provide a warfighting advantage to the Australian Defence Force. The department said Hilder brings 20 years of industry and academic...
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New Zealand’s C-130J Super Hercules Completes Debut Test Flights in US Skies
New Zealand’s first C-130J Super Hercules has completed its initial test flights in the United States. The Lockheed Martin-manufactured aircraft flew for 246 minutes over Georgia and Alabama, achieving an altitude of 10,500 feet and traveling a span of 984 kilometers, Auckland said. Defence Minister Judith Collins described the test flights as a significant milestone...
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Australian Space Startup Hypersonix Names Arthur Sinodinos as Board Chair
Australian space startup Hypersonix Launch Systems has appointed Arthur Sinodinos as board chair, replacing David Waterhouse, who now assumes the deputy chair role. Sinodinos, who co-chairs the AUKUS Forum, formerly served as a senator for New South Wales and Australia’s ambassador to the United States from February 2020 to March 2023. He also held other...
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Shield AI Seeks Expanded Australian Presence With Acquisition of Sentient Vision Systems
U.S.-based defense technology company Shield AI is expanding its business in Australia with the acquisition of Sentient Vision Systems, a company that provides artificial intelligence-enabled imagery. On Thursday, Shield AI announced its “definitive agreement” with the Australian firm to “merge AI expertise and operational understanding to deliver superior intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.” The two sides...
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BAE Systems Selects Airspeed to Supply Critical Component for Hunter-Class Frigate
BAE Systems has selected South Australian company Airspeed to supply a critical component of the U.K. Royal Navy’ Hunter-class frigates. Under the subcontract, Airspeed, provider of composite materials for the aerospace, maritime and energy sectors, will build the replenishment at sea stump masts for the first batch of the upcoming frigates. The stump masts enable the...
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Australia Defense Export Catalog Highlights Increasing Business Participation in 2024
Canberra has published the 2024 Australian Defence Export Catalogue, listing more businesses that deliver defense services and capabilities to foreign customers, an increase of 20 percent from the previous iteration. According to Defence Australia, the business growth reflected in the catalog highlights the federal government’s commitment to helping local defense companies access the international market...
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Austal Drops Hanwha Ocean’s Acquisition Proposal
Austal, a global shipbuilding company and defense prime contractor based in Australia, has rejected a $2.82-per-share acquisition offer from Hanwha Ocean. According to Austal, it considered the proposal with its advisers and concluded that Hanwha may encounter difficulties securing regulatory approvals as part of the acquisition process. In a press release, Austal explained that the...
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New Zealand Selects 12 Teams for Joint Earth Observation Research With NASA
New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has selected 12 research teams to conduct six-month Earth observation studies in partnership with NASA. The teams’ research projects cover a wide range of feasibility studies, including environmental monitoring, natural hazards and biodiversity, according to New Zealand Space Minister Judith Collins. The teams were chosen from proposals...
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Australia Passes Bill Eliminating Licensing Requirements for AUKUS Tech Transfers; Richard Marles Quoted
Australia has removed the requirement for the local defense industry to secure export licenses for delivering technology and information to the United Kingdom and the United States. The Australian Parliament on Wednesday passed the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024, which amends the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012, to reduce technology transfer, collaboration, research and...