‘Solution’ to build naval patrol vessels exposes ‘broken’ procurement system
By Nicholas Stuart*
In Defence terms, a $3.4 billion decision is a pittance, a mere bagatelle. Last week's stunning decision, however, splitting the build of our new patrol boats (now called "offshore patrol vessels") between two companies in two states simultaneously revealed how our politicians are capable of both sheer brilliance and utter incompetence.
New officers join fleet
After five months intensive training, Navy has graduated its newest group of officers from the Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell.
Commanding Officer Creswell, Captain...
Fleet Air Arm farewells Magnificent Machines
The S-70B-2 ‘Bravo’ Seahawk and AS350BA Squirrel helicopters have been formally retired from active Royal Australian Navy service in a ceremony at HMAS Albatross (Nov 2017). The Fleet Air Arm community, including retired flight crews and maintainers, joined Navy to farewell the helicopters that provided decades of dependable service. Putting defence above politics
A truly bipartisan approach to defence in Australia would create a new strategic and political paradigm, allowing sensible dialogue on security interests to underpin the making of the agreement and shifting the political focus to its implementation, David Fawcett writes. A bipartisan approach is the only way that our large and growing expenditure on defence will effectively bring both security in uncertain times and economic benefit to the nation. Foreign policy paper: dreams and nightmares
By Graeme Dobell*
Australia’s foreign policy white paper is a contrast study, both dark and light. Bright vistas of international opportunity are described beneath storm clouds of ‘political alienation and economic nationalism’. Here are both dreams and nightmares. Australian Naval Institute Annual General Meeting
The 2017 ANI AGM was held at the Australian Defence Force Academy on 23 November. Captain John Stavridis gave an excellent presentation on the...
ANI & RAN sign Strategic Partnership Agreement
On 2 November 2017 the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, and the ANI President Vice Admiral Peter Jones signed a Strategic Partnership...
Naval history series: HMAS Australia court martial
The story of the HMAS Australia Court Martial
Professor Tom Frame and an expert panel discuss the famous 1942 HMAS Australia Court Martial in...
Strategic risk in the new era: response to Dibb and Brabin-Smith
By Hugh White*
Paul Dibb and Richard Brabin-Smith have written a significant ASPI paper that may well mark a turning point in Australia’s efforts to...
Indian Navy’s master defence plan
The South Asian region is dominated by India. Along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, it forms a self-contained geographic region called the Indian subcontinent. Geopolitical imperatives for India’s security and independence are the control, or at least influence, of the sub-continent and maritime expansion through the Indian Ocean Region. By Periklis Stampoulis looks at the Indian Navy's master strategy.