DefenceTalkA top Australian defence official said Wednesday the country was actively considering alternatives should a troubled multibillion-dollar French submarine deal fall through. The US$68 billion agreement with Naval Group to build 12 state-of-the-art Attack Class subs is years behind schedule, well over budget and tangled up in Australian domestic politics. The question of whether the […]

DefenceTalkChina on Thursday suspended an economic agreement with Australia, worsening an already-troubled relationship fractured by spats over the Covid-19 pandemic and human rights abuses. Tensions between the two sides have have soared after Canberra called for an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and banned telecoms giant Huawei from building Australia’s 5G […]

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkAustralia’s prime minister angrily denounced a “repugnant”, “outrageous” and “appalling” tweet from a top Chinese government spokesman Monday and demanded Beijing formally apologise. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian sparked the outrage when he posted a staged image of a man dressed as an Australian soldier holding a bloody knife to an Afghan child’s throat. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-pm-slams-chinese-officials-repugnant-tweet-76575/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkEspionage in Australia had eclipsed Cold War levels, the country’s spymaster told parliament on Tuesday, in a speech warning that citizens were being monitored and harassed by foreign powers. Several politicians across the ideological spectrum have become embroiled in investigations into suspected overseas influence operations — most notably from China. Australia’s normally tight-lipped spy chiefs […]https://www.defencetalk.com/espionage-in-australia-at-higher-levels-than-cold-war-spy-chief-warns-76484/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkChinese investment in Australia almost halved in 2019, new data released Monday showed, as relations between the two countries deteriorated. Researchers from the Australian National University said Chinese investment Down Under plunged from Aus$4.8 billion (US$3.5 billion) to just Aus$2.5 billion last year. Professor Peter Drysdale, who led the data research, said the Aus$1.43 billion […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinese-investment-in-australia-plunges-as-tensions-mount-76321/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkIn conjunction with the Department of Defence, University of South Australia material scientists have developed a range of lightweight panels that can change colour on demand, allowing drones to match their appearance to the background colours of the sky. Ever since the French had the bright idea of using hydrogen balloons for military surveillance in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/adding-chameleon-like-capabilities-to-defence-drones-76300/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkUnited States Air Force B-1B Lancers and B-2 Spirit bombers have recently participated in a combined United States-Australia exercise in the Northern Territory. The B1-B and B-2 aircraft flew from Guam and Diego Garcia respectively, and operated over Delamere, Bradshaw and Mount Bundey training areas during August. The activity saw the United States aircraft integrate […]https://www.defencetalk.com/united-states-b-1b-bomber-training-in-the-australian-top-end-76268/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkArmy’s Hawkei vehicle was put on show at Russell Offices, Canberra, on September 2, for the announcement that it was ready to commence full-rate production at the Thales facility in Bendigo. Chief of Army Lieutenant General Rick Burr said the event recognized completion of the rigorous acceptance-testing program. The Australian-designed Hawkei will complement government investment […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australian-armys-hawkei-on-its-way-to-full-scale-production-76263/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe United States and Australia said Tuesday they will expand military cooperation as tensions soar with China, presenting a common front between the allies. Going ahead in Washington with annual talks despite the coronavirus pandemic, Australia’s foreign and defense ministers offered clear, if more mildly stated, support for a hawkish shift on China by President […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-australia-seek-new-military-cooperation-in-face-of-china-76092/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkPHILIPPINE SEA: The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Australian Defense Force (ADF), and the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group began a trilateral exercise in the Philippine Sea, July 19. U.S. Naval forces routinely operate alongside regional allies, strengthening shared commitments to regional stability, and a free and open Indo-Pacific through integrated training and cooperation. “The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-japan-join-u-s-for-trilateral-naval-exercise-75956/