Aussies Launch Ambitious Shipbuilding Program: The Perspective of the Australian CNO

05/27/2017
2017-05-21 As a key part of shaping its enhanced defense capabilities, the Australian government has launched a comprehensive and long term shipbuilding program. The plan was officially launched on May 16 at a ceremony held in Adelaide. NavalShipbuildingPlan According to text and a video released by the Australian Department of…

New Australian Naval Shipbuilding Program

05/21/2017
05/21/2017: According to text and a video released by the Australian Department of Defence: Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Defence, Senator the Honourable Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Industry, the Honourable Christopher Pyne MP, announced the release of the Naval Shipbuilding Plan at the…

Naval Shipbuilding Plan

05/21/2017
05/20/2017:   According to a video and text released by the Australian Department of Defence: The Naval Shipbuilding Plan released on 16 May 2017 outlines the Government’s vision for the Australian naval shipbuilding enterprise and the significant investment required in coming decades. The Australian Government is laying the foundations for an…

Another Italian First: The First F-35B Built Abroad

05/13/2017
2017-05-07 By Robbin Laird In a 2015 piece, I highlighted three historic firsts for Italy in the F-35 program delivered in 2015. LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- At the beginning of the 20th Century, Italy was a pioneer in combat aviation. Although different at the beginning of the 21st century,…

Reshaping the Australian Industrial-Government Working Relationship to Enable Integrated Force Design

05/07/2017
2017-05-05 By Robbin Laird The Williams Foundation seminars on the crafting and empowering of an integrated force has focused largely on key elements for reshaping the force and enabling the capability to shape a more effective and integrated combat force. This will simply not occur without a significant reworking of the…

The Way Ahead for Australian Defense Industry in its Partnership with Government: The Perspective of Chris Jenkins

05/04/2017
2017-05-01 By Robbin Laird Two years ago during a visit to Australia, I had a chance to interview the head of Thales Australia, Chris Jenkins. In that interview, we focused on the business model followed by Thales in Australia, namely to transfer technology, grow indigenously and export from Australia. https://sldinfo.com/the-business-model-of-thales-australia-transfer-technology-grow-indigenously-and-export-globally/…