DefenceTalkMinister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, and Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP, today announced the selection of the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper variant as the system which best meets the capability requirements for Australia’s first armed remotely piloted aircraft system. Minister Pyne said the medium altitude long endurance aircraft […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-to-buy-mq-9-reaper-male-drones-71938/

DefenceTalkRheinmetall has won another major order in Australia. The Duesseldorf, Germany-based tech enterprise has been selected to supply the Australian Defence Force with more than a thousand additional military trucks and modules. Just signed, the contract is worth €430 million. The Commonwealth of Australia has thus acted on a procurement decision already announced in July […]https://www.defencetalk.com/rheinmetall-sells-australia-over-a-thousand-more-trucks-71846/

DefenceTalkThe Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft has successfully fired its first Harpoon missile during Exercise RIMPAC 18. The ATM-84J Harpoon missile was launched from the aircraft at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, off the coast of Hawaii. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne said the Harpoon is integral to the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australian-p-8-poseidon-fires-first-harpoon-71750/

DefenceTalkROCKHAMPTON, Australia: On the 100th anniversary of WWI’s Battle of Hamel, when U.S. and Australian forces first fought side by side against German forces in Le Hamel, France, the longtime partners once again joined forces — this time for Exercise Hamel at Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area in central Queensland, Australia, from June 18-July 1. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australian-us-forces-team-up-for-exercise-hamel-71729/

DefenceTalkThe Turnbull Government’s first priority is the safety and security of Australia and its people. The 2018–19 Budget will provide national and economic security, while generating thousands of Australian jobs. The Budget provides funding to continue to deliver: — on our ongoing commitments to Defence Operations around the globe, ensuring safety and security at home […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-sets-36-4bn-defence-budget-71663/

DefenceTalkA number of United States Air Force (USAF) B-52 Stratofortress Bombers have arrived at RAAF Darwin to participate in Enhanced Air Cooperation. RAAF Base Darwin is hosting the bombers while they take part in training activities with the Australian Defence Force in designated military airspace near RAAF Base Williamtown until early April. Enhanced Air Cooperation […]https://www.defencetalk.com/united-states-air-force-b-52-bombers-arrive-in-darwin-71603/

DefenceTalkGerman manufacturer Rheinmetall won a Aus$5.2 (US$4.1 billion) contract Wednesday to supply Australia with new armoured combat vehicles as Canberra boosts its defence capabilities. The deal will see Rheinmetall supply 211 of its Boxer CRV vehicles built with Australian steel by Australian workers, defeating a rival bid from BAE Systems. “The vehicles will provide improved […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germanys-rheinmetall-wins-australia-combat-vehicle-contract-71566/

DefenceTalkA Royal Australian Air Force electronic warfare plane caught fire on takeoff during an exercise in the United States Saturday (Jan 27) but there were no serious injuries, the military said. Australia’s Department of Defense confirmed “an incident involving an EA-18G Growler at Nellis Air Force Base during Exercise Red Flag”. It said RAAF personnel […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-warplane-catches-fire-during-us-training-military-71368/

DefenceTalkThe hackers used a tool called “China Chopper” which according to security experts is widely used by Chinese actors, and had gained access via an internet-facing server, he said. Sensitive data about Australia’s F- 35 stealth fighter and P-8 surveillance aircraft programmes were stolen when a defence subcontractor was hacked using a tool widely used […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35-stealth-fighter-data-stolen-in-australia-defence-hack-70662/

DefenceTalkAustralia’s new frigates will be equipped with a long-range missile defence system to counter threats from rogue states like North Korea, officials announced Tuesday. Canberra in May revealed details of a massive shipbuilding strategy, its largest peacetime naval investment, including 12 new submarines and 12 offshore patrol vessels. The Aus$89 billion (US$70 billion) package to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australias-new-frigates-to-feature-long-range-missile-defence-system-70580/