DefenceTalkLockheed Martin Australia has been selected as the preferred tenderer for the new Australian Defence Force Pilot Training System. The contract will see the Australian Defence Force’s Basic Flying Training delivered from RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria. The Pilot Training System will deliver 49 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, with RAAF Base East Sale to become home […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raaf-base-east-sale-to-deliver-adf-basic-flying-training-65282/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Navy awarded a nearly $1.5 billion contract Aug. 27 to Boeing Defense, Space & Security for the procurement of 13 Full-Rate Production (FRP) Lot 2 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Nine planes will join the U.S. fleet and four will join the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), who has been a cooperative partner in the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-orders-additional-p-8a-aircraft-first-royal-australian-air-force-planes-65216/

DefenceTalkThe Government today announces the signing of a multi-million dollar acquisition and support contract for a Light Weight Automatic Grenade Launcher capability for the Australian Defence Force. This contract, between Defence and Australian company Nioa Pty Ltd, has an estimated value of $47 million. As part of project Land 40 Phase 2, the acquisition of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-to-acquire-new-light-weight-automatic-grenade-launcher-65181/

DefenceTalkA dozen life-saving Bushmasters are going into production in Bendigo for export to the Netherlands, after the country’s Ministry of Defence ordered new vehicles from Thales Australia. The vehicles will complement the 86 Bushmasters previously purchased by the Dutch customer between 2006 and 2009, and will be delivered by the middle of 2016. Thales Australia […]https://www.defencetalk.com/netherlands-orders-12-new-bushmasters-64775/

DefenceTalkChief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, AO, welcomed the first RAAF C-27J Spartan battlefield airlift aircraft in Australia at a ceremony at RAAF Base Richmond today. The acquisition of the C-27J Spartan will fill a gap in Australia’s military capability for tactical fixed wing airlift, which has been left open since the retirement […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-raaf-c-27j-spartan-arrives-in-australia-64756/

DefenceTalkThe State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia for AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $69 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on June 19, 2015. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-to-buy-agm-88b-high-speed-anti-radiation-missiles-64638/

DefenceTalkJapanese troops will take part in a major US-Australian military exercise for the first time in July, as Washington looks to bolster links among its allies in the face of an increasingly assertive China. Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) — its army — will send 40 personnel to participate in Talisman Sabre, a two-yearly drill […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-to-join-major-us-australia-military-drill-64325/

DefenceTalkAustralia now has the most advanced air battle space management capability in the world, with the Royal Australian Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail aircraft achieving Final Operational Capability. The fleet of six Wedgetail aircraft reached the milestone this month with the entire capability, from physical aircraft to logistics, management, sustainment, facilities and training, now fully operational […]https://www.defencetalk.com/wedgetail-aircraft-achieves-final-operational-capability-64308/

DefenceTalkIn an important milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program, the first of three destroyers, Hobart, was launched alongside the Port River wharf in Adelaide today. This is a key achievement for the program and a big step towards the delivery of three highly capable warships to the Royal Australian Navy. I am pleased […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-launches-first-air-warfare-destroyer-64283/

DefenceTalkThe 2015 Budget is part of the Commonwealth Government’s plan to build a strong, safe and prosperous future for all Australians. The first responsibility of Government is to keep our people safe in an uncertain world. In the 2015 Budget, the Government will continue to make a significant investment in the safety and security of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-boost-defence-spending-in-2015-budget-64152/