Australian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

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XavNN

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Australian Navy Frigate HMAS Anzac Gets Her New Mast
Australian-Navy-Frigate-HMAS-Anzac-Gets-Her-New-Mast-770x410.jpg

HMAS Anzac’s new mast has been installed in the next major milestone as part of the ship’s Mid Life Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) being undertaken at BAE Systems Australia’s Henderson facility.
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asif iqbal

Lieutenant General
Also RAN is getting two tankers from Spain

Spain managed to milk the Aussies for plenty of naval hardware along with the LHD and DDG design

But French got that submarine deal
 
noticed with a slight delay
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Australian defence spending overkill
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:

Last month, during an
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held in Perth, former Australian defence minister Kim Beazley and present Chief of the Australian Defence Force General Angus Campbell both observed that almost all of Australia’s strategic commentators agree an increased defence budget is required.

While there may be a consensus on increasing spending, such calls contend that the Australian Defence Force requires greater resourcing to enhance its capabilities to meet threats. However, such improvements can arguably be funded instead by focusing on another aspect of Campbell’s remarks. He noted Defence must ensure it make best use of its available finances. Indeed, billions of dollars would become available if the Department were more stringent in considering whether its acquisitions are “fit for purpose”.

This phrase “fit for purpose” stems from the
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, meaning simply that it be adequate to fulfil identified needs. Procurements must meet requirements, but also not be “gold plated” – aiming to buy a Ferrari when a Toyota will do.

The capability needs for Defence have been fairly constant over the last 30 years of White Papers. The aim has been to procure assets:

  • that support the independent defence of Australia;
  • contribute to regional stability;
  • and support wider operations as necessary around the globe.
For the latter two objectives, while the ADF is expected to be able to operate largely independently in low-end peacekeeping and peace-enforcement operations (such as the experience in Timor Leste), any involvement in high-end warfare has always been envisaged as occurring in cooperation with the US.

Considered against these needs, and in my view as a former Defence capability analyst, many of the Department’s acquisitions arguably do poorly on fitness for purpose. Vast sums have been, and are planned to be, spent on capabilities that have doubtful utility for the defence of Australia, and either exceed requirements for independent operations or are redundant to supporting the US.

Three projects (although there are others) illustrate this poor fit: the Army’s Abrams tank, the Air Force’s Growler electronic attack aircraft, and the Navy’s coming Attack-class submarines.

The 59 Abrams tanks, approved in 2004, cost some $770 million (in 2018 dollars, to help with comparison) and would have a key use in high-end warfare. While such units can support the defence of Australia against an invasion, every White Paper since 1987 has recognised this as the least likely threat, given Australia’s distance from those who might wish the country harm, and the Air Force and Navy offering strong defences against any who would try.

While the Abrams can be deployed in the region, such assets are clearly overkill for peacekeeping operations, while also
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to the terrain. Further, if the US needs our support, it has some
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.

The 12 Growlers entered service in 2017 at a cost of
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(again, in 2018 dollars), their main mission being against land-based air-defence missiles and radars, clearing a path for other strike aircraft. Given Australia is an island, the Growlers seems to have a doubtful use in the aim of defence of Australia and would again be overkill for low-end regional operations. For coalition purposes, the US already has
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.

Finally, the 12 planned Attack-class submarines will cost $50 billion, with the key role the defence of Australia by sinking enemy ships and submarines. While excellent for this purpose, they are also Australia’s most expensive military project ever and its clearest example of choosing Ferraris over Toyotas. This is clear, because while invasion forces must come to us, the Attacks are required to operate all the way
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and be
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all submarines in that region. Such bespoke specifications amount to an extraordinary price tag on what will be the world’s most expensive submarine, at over $4 billion each. In comparison, ASPI estimated buying 12 standard German Type 214 boats, similar in many ways except for range, would
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.

What does an additional $40 billion buy? From a defence of Australia perspective, largely the ability to sink ships near China rather than in the waters north of Indonesia. The functional difference as a way of stopping an invasion is at very least debatable.

Further, in terms of low-level actions, submarines have
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, as their powerful weapons and dependence on stealth leave them unsuited to maritime operations where killing ships isn’t the main goal. And for high-end combat, by the time 12 Attack-class are in service (likely
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), the US will have
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nuclear equivalents.

So with only three projects, more than $44 billion of funding can be identified that could be better spent. If Defence does need more funds, a first step might be to more rigorously apply the Department’s responsibility to apply fitness for purpose in procurement and see where the account balance then stands.
 

araberuni

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Lockheed Martin Aegis Battle Management Systems For Royal Australian Navy

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· SEPTEMBER 25, 2019


The US State Department has cleared Australia to acquire US$185 million Aegis Combat Management System to equip its nine new Hunter-class Frigate under SEA 5000 program and to upgrade the Aegis CMS on its three SEA 4000 Hobart class DDGs.

The Aegis Combat Management System is a centralized, automated, command-and-control and weapons control system that was designed as a total weapon system, from detection to kill. The heart of the system is the AN/SPY-1, an advanced, automatic detect and track, multi-function phased-array radar.

The Aegis system integrated with the Hunter class’s CEA CEAFAR radar through a Saab 9LV interface, while the Hobart class’ Aegis system will be upgraded to the new Baseline 9 configuration with Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) and the ability to conduct the ballistic missile defence mission if required.

The Aegis package includes various Aegis-related equipment, including Command Display System (CDS) Consoles; Multi-Mission Display (MMD) systems; Tactical Equivalent Core Computing System (CCS) Cabinets; Tactical Equivalent AEGIS LAN Interconnect System (ALIS) Cabinets; Tactical Equivalent AEGIS Conversion Equipment Group Input/Output (ACEG I/0) Cabinets; and Tactical Equivalent Advanced Storage Area Network (ASAN) Cabinets; Global Command and Control System – Maritime (GCCS-M).

Royal Australian Navy acquired other equipment includes AN/SPQ-15 Converter/Receiver and /signal data converter equipment; Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DIVDS) cabinet; AN/SQQ-89 Sonobouy Processing Core Computing System racks; AEGIS simulator racks and workstations; AEGIS Training System; and various ancillary equipment and support products.

Australia will significantly improve network-centric warfare capability for US forces operating in the pacific region through the acquisition of Aegis Combat Management System.
 
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Lockheed Martin Aegis Battle Management Systems For Royal Australian Navy

BY
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· SEPTEMBER 25, 2019


The US State Department has cleared Australia to acquire US$185 million Aegis Combat Management System to equip its nine new Hunter-class Frigate under SEA 5000 program and to upgrade the Aegis CMS on its three SEA 4000 Hobart class DDGs.

...
thought it'd cost more
 

Mr_C

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20191009_122959.jpg Ok not exactly news, but a picture of two Canberra Class LHD and two Adelaide Class DDG
taken from Sydney Tower.
 

XavNN

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^ This week I am sure. I saw both LHDs too, i am in Sydney

Day 1 video coverage at PACIFIC 2019, the international maritime exposition held in Sydney, Australia

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In this video we cover New designs by Austal, MHI, Whiskey Project, Kongsberg & L3Harris:
0:56 - Austal's OPV 84 proposal to the Philippine Navy
2:17 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries new ship designs: OPV and Destroyer
4:41 - The Whiskey Project next generation watercraft
6:13 - Kongsberg's new Vanguard ship design
7:59 - L3Harris sonobuoy pod dispenser for UAVs







Day 2 video coverage at PACIFIC 2019, the international maritime exposition held in Sydney, Australia

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In this video we cover Royal Australian Navy programs:
0:42 - Hunter-class Frigate (SEA5000) with BAE Systems
3:11 - Safran Optronic masts for Attack-class submarine (SEA1000)
4:39 - Luerssen Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel (SEA1180)
6:02 - Saab UMS Skeldar V200 VTOL UAV (SEA129 Phase 5)
7:39 - Australian Naval Infrastructure / Osborne Naval Shipyard

 

XavNN

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Registered Member
PACIFIC 2019 Day 3 - Navantia JSS, Submarine Cabin Concept, MTU Engine, Serco RSV Nuyina

3rd and final day at PACIFIC 2019, we cover:
1:05 - Navantia's new JSS Joint Support Ship design
2:58 - Royal Australian Navy and University of South Australia Submarine Cabin Concept for Attack-class and Collins-class upgrade
4:16 - MTU 12V 4000 U83 submarine charging unit for Attack-class submarine
6:21 - SERCO Damen RSV Nuyina icebreaker for Australian Antarctic Division


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GICAN French Pavilion at PACIFIC 2019 - Day 2

Day 2 for the French industry at the PACIFIC 2019 exposition in Sydney, Australia. Overview of the French pavilion federated by GICAN. In this video we cover:

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1:24 - Interview with Rear Admiral Didier Maleterre, Joint Commander of French Forces in Indian Ocean (Marine Nationale ALINDIEN)
3:49 - Sofresud IPD Intuitive Pointing Device
5:11 - Lacroix Defense countermeasures
6:38 - Bessé insurance solutions for defence industry risks


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GICAN French Pavilion at PACIFIC 2019 - Day 3

Day 3 for the French industry at the PACIFIC 2019 exposition in Sydney, Australia. Overview of the French pavilion federated by GICAN. In this video we cover:

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0:39 - Interview with François Lambert, GICAN's Managing Director
2:44 - ECA Group MCM solutions
4:03 - Jeumont Electric propulsion system for submarine
5:20 - Easy Skill engineering services
7:11 - FIVA engineering solutions

 
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