By Editor Jack Dillich provided this article for publication in December 2022 but, unfortunately, it went into an email black hole and was only discovered on 20 February, by which time the way forward with AUKUS was announced and the content of the article has been overtaken by events. Nevertheless, this article provides excellent food […]
More than two centuries ago, one of America’s founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, famously said: ‘An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.’ At that time, he was talking about the need for more universal education at a basic level. Today, as the Indo-Pacific faces its toughest security environment in decades, the same principle should […]
The crew of a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) warship rescued six mariners from a 30- metre motor yacht north of Australia on Monday, March 6. A rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was deployed from the destroyer HMAS Hobart in unfavourable conditions to enable the rescue of the yacht’s crew, who had experienced engine trouble and became […]
It was “all hands on deck” today at HMAS Watson as CN hosted a joint celebration recognising the RAN’s 122nd birthday and RADM Guy Griffith’s 100th birthday. Retired senior officers, serving senior officers, COMAUSFLT and senior staff, members of the many ship’s associations RADM Griffiths was the Patron of, together with family and friends and […]
The 2023 defence strategic review, which sets out how Australia can sustain its security and sovereignty, has been handed to the government. In terms of the concept of warning time developed in the 1987 defence white paper, we’ve moved from a force structure designed to deal with ‘escalated low-level conflict’ to one able to engage […]
The Bradley’s Head Naval Memorial is the site of the HMAS Sydney I memorial mast, which commemorates the “Sydney-Emden” action. This was the first engagement at sea of a Royal Australian Navy ship during the First World War on 9 November 1914 at Keeling Island near Cocos Island. The memorial also honours those who served […]
Australia’s defence and technology industry will be tested like never before by the AUKUS partnership in managing the torrent of sensitive information flowing from partner countries and in defining the shape of the agreement itself. Whatever form the agreement ultimately takes, it looks sure to usher in an unprecedented level of information sharing among Australia, […]
16 FEBRUARY 2023 Today the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) have strengthened the relationship between military and civilian maritime jurisdictions to support safety at sea and delivery of naval capability. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN and Chief Executive Officer AMSA, Mr Mick Kinley, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which […]
The Royal Australian Navy air warfare destroyer HMAS Sydney became the first Hobartclass destroyer to strike a land target with a Harpoon surface-to-surface missile during Exercise Pacific Vanguard 22. (Photo: Australian Department of Defence) Much has been written on the importance of guided weapons and ensuring conflicts aren’t lost through a shortage of ammunition. Deputy Prime Minister and […]
For the third time in less than a century, the US government has rapidly awakened to Australia’s strategic importance. On this occasion, it’s focused on the significance of Australia’s northern strategic geography. While on previous occasions Australia traded sovereignty for protection, this time it must play a far more assertive role. Northern Australia is critical […]
