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…
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…
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,…
2017-05-08 The A400M as an operational baseline aircraft is being operated by several air forces. According to Airbus Defence and Space there are now 42 A400Ms in service and the company currently has orders for 174 of the aircraft. The two largest operators currently are the RAF, with 15 out of…
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…
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/…
04/26/2017: HMAS Parramatta undocking after her Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade at BAE Systems Henderson Shipyard, Western Australia. HMAS Parramatta achieved a significant milestone in the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade program when she undocked from the BAE Systems Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia on 19 April 2016. The ASMD upgrade program…
2017-04-22 The MOD has negotiated a new £1.4 billion contract for the Royal Navy’s new attack submarine, the sixth in a total fleet of seven, which will protect the UK’s new aircraft carriers and nuclear deterrent. The submarine, named Agamemnon, is part of the Astute Class, the largest, most advanced and…
