Defence and National Security

Israel intensified its bombardment of Rafah in Gaza's south as the ruined Palestinian enclave's health ministry announced 29,313 deaths in the war so far.

The Albanese Government today announced a multibillion overhaul of the Australian Navy, which will see a significant increase in the number of Australian Navy vessels.

Don't know your frigates from your AWDs and OPVs? Here's a run down of how Australia's surface naval fleet looks, and how it will change under the federal government's new plan.

The SA government says today's long-anticipated naval overhaul will secure continuous shipbuilding at Adelaide's Osborne shipyard — but the state opposition has expressed doubts it will stave off a "valley of death".

Six large and "optionally crewed" naval vessels heavily armed with missiles will be added to Australia's surface fleet under a dramatic $11 billion reshaping of the navy that will also see the acquisition of 11 new general-purpose frigates to be partly built overseas.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will face a last-ditch legal challenge this week to stop his extradition from Britain to the US, in what his wife has described as a matter of life or death.

A vast technology gap that has eaten deeply into Australia's ability to determine its own path is now so vast, it has become impossible to bridge, writes Linton Besser.

Labor reveals the cost of the massive Hunter Class frigate project has leapt from $45 billion to almost $65 billion, as it prepares to trim the program while unveiling other shipbuilding plans.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Operation Sovereign Borders is working as intended and the arrival of a boat carrying asylum seekers on WA's shore is "unfortunate" but not a policy failure.

After last week's announcement of compulsory military service for Myanmar men and women over the age of 18,  the Thai embassy in Yangon was flooded with requests for tourist visas, with some youngsters sleeping in their cars overnight to get to the front of the queue.

ANU Professor and defence expert Hugh White says the AUKUS deal is not something Australia needs, nor is it likely to be successful.

When China opened its fifth research station in Antarctica this month, analysts sounded alarm bells about potential security threats on Australia's southern doorstep.

Antoni Gregory Furman is fined in Adelaide's District Court for accessing more than 200 classified defence department documents after he transferred to a private sector job.

Israeli forces raided the biggest functioning hospital in Gaza on Thursday, as footage posted online showed chaos, shouting and the sound of shooting in darkened corridors that were filled with dust and smoke.

Indonesians in Australia who voted in this week's presidential elections have expressed scepticism about the provisional results and concerns about the future should the provisional winner, Prabowo Subianto, be officially confirmed as the country's next president.

Ukraine's GUR military intelligence agency published grainy footage on Telegram purporting to show several naval drones approaching a large vessel at night and at least one large explosion.

The 52-year-old WikiLeaks founder is wanted in the US for espionage, and faces 18 charges related to the publication of a range of highly classified information relating to the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Australia's Defence Force told the United States two years ago it was unable to help establish a new military task force in the Red Sea region because resources were needed at home and in the Indo-Pacific.

Scott Morrison reveals the covert diplomatic manoeuvres behind the biggest deal of his prime ministership and how he kept it a secret from the man who could torpedo it.

A leaked photo of dismantled Taipan helicopters slated for burial has reignited frustrations over a decision not to send the aircraft to Ukraine, but one army association says doing so would have been gifting the nation a "poisoned chalice".

The head of NATO warns that Donald Trump is putting the lives of US troops and their allies at risk by saying Russia should do "whatever the hell they want" to members of the military alliance who don't spend enough on defence.

Donald Trump says that, as president, he warned NATO allies that he "would encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to countries that are "delinquent" as he ramped up his attacks on foreign aid and longstanding international alliances.

Foreign ministers and top officials from Indian Ocean states have gathered to discuss conflict in the region.

In a high-profile speech laying out Australia's Indian Ocean strategy, the foreign minister warned against political interference and economic coercion, urging China to be more transparent about its military build-up.

A locally designed combat drone will receive a significant funding boost as the Australian Defence Force works to catch up with rapid advances in lethal unmanned technology across the world.