Pentagon AUKUS review outcome mooted

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles heads to the US for AUSMIN talks with senior Trump administration officials amid speculation the long-awaited Pentagon review of AUKUS could also be released. Mr Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong and their US counterparts War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are tentatively scheduled to meet on December 9 in Washington. Its tipped to be an opportune time to release the findings of the Pentagon review to cement ties between the two countries. The review was predicted to be released in the Fall. US President Donald Trump already gave AUKUS a ringing endorsement when he met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Washington in October. During the post meeting press conference President Trump assured reporters that Australia would get its submarines. The President was referring to the most contentious element of the AUKUS deal – the bid by Australia to buy three to five Virginia class nuclear powered conventionally armed submarines from 2032. Concerns have persisted in the US that it does not have the capacity to build enough vessels for its own Navy let alone have three to five to spare for Australia. However, the Australian government has committed up to $A 4.7 billion to support the US submarine building industry in a bid to alleviate schedule pressures. The US President also appeared to provide the Australian Prime Minister with a leave pass on increasing Defence spending after some officials including Hegseth had urged Australia to lift its spending to at least 3.5 per cent of GDP to counter the threat posed by China. Spending currently sits at just over 2 per cent of GDP although the Albanese government has promised to review spending levels in 2026. Any such reprieve, real or imagined is unlikely to last long. As the Albanese government navigates its relationship with Washington, Defence spending will remain squarely on the

SA signs deal to boost AUKUS workforce

The South Australian Government has partnered with the Australian affiliate of US-based BlueForge Alliance (BFA) to help build the state’s skilled workforce and industrial base to deliver Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine program. The collaboration with BlueForge Alliance Australia (BFAA) will facilitate knowledge transfer from its US counterpart and support the delivery of the SSN-AUKUS program in South Australia. Under the MoU, BFAA plans to establish a presence in the state, working closely with government, academic and industry partners. The partnership will benefit Australia, the US, and the UK, while contributing to workforce development, industry capability, technology development, supply chain resilience, knowledge transfer, and public awareness. A BFAA spokesperson said the organisation was honoured to be partnering with South Australia to support delivery of AUKUS Pillar I. “BFAA, as a not-for-profit with an Australian-led team, is a strategic enabler for AUKUS, designed t

NIOA missile MOU

Australian-owned munitions manufacturer NIOA and European defence company MBDA have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore manufacturing and supply-chain cooperation on the French-made MISTRAL short-range air-defence missile. The MoU opens the possibility for assembly or production of Australian-made warheads for the MISTRAL family and for Australia to become part of the global MISTRAL supply chain. If realised, Australia could become the first country outside France to produce the system, the partners said. The MISTRAL is a very short-range air-defence (VSHORAD) system that operates in fire-and-forget mode. Its high manoeuvrability and supersonic speed deliver short interception times and allow it to counter threats ranging from aircraft and helicopters to drones, cruise missiles, gunboats, and loitering munitions. MBDA says the latest MISTRAL 3 has a success rate of more than 98 per cent; the company recently delivered its 2,000th missile to European customers. NIOA group CEO Rob Nioa said the agr

Remembrance Day

Leaders gathered in Canberra on Tuesday to pay tribute to the fallen to mark Remembrance Day. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the minute’s silence observed so solemnly reached out across 107 years, a noiseless echo of the hush that fell across Europe when the guns stopped in 1918. He urged Australians to remember the sacrifice of not only the fallen but the grief and wounds of those left behind. Defence Force Chief, Admiral David Johnston said Remembrance Day honoured all Australians who had defended the nation paying his respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He said the true cost of war was loved ones who would never return home, grieving families left in mourning, and veterans who wore the physical and psychological scars of conflict. Major General Greg Melick who retired as RSL president last month, called for an increase in Defence spending amid a more dangerous geostrategic environment. He also honoured the service and sacrifice of all who had worn the uniform.

Progress as GWEO turns one

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has hailed progress on the Guided Weapons Explosive Ordnance plan on the occasion of its first anniversary. The Albanese government had committed more than $8 billion to the program so far. The program included: committing $7 billion to acquire Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC and Standard Missile 6 from the United States; $142 million to acquire the Joint Strike Missile and $650 million to acquire additional stocks of Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided missiles; Establishing a Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missile manufacturing capability in Australia, with production on track to commence by the end of 2025. Investing up to $850 million with Kongsberg Defence Australia to build a Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile factory with construction underway and missile production on track to start in 2027; Funding more than $500 million to uplift Australian companies to manufacture and maintain guided weapon components.