Defence Industry

Getting in early with cutting-edge and developmental military programs can yield huge benefits, and involves expensive gambles, but recent global events have shown the option of deploying surface vessels without humans could prove invaluable, writes Andrew Greene.

While the commitment to the Henderson Shipyard is being broadly welcomed, sceptics are concerned about skills shortages.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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

South Australia's defence sector, particularly shipbuilding, has been repeatedly spruiked as an economic boon and a pathway to long term prosperity, particularly in the wake of the demise of the automotive industry — but will what was promised actually be delivered?

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.

Defence has confirmed pilots on the now-retired Taipan helicopter fleet were using a helmet-mounted display system despite internal warnings the equipment carried an "increased risk" when used in flying conditions with poor visibility.

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".

Australia's troubled Hunter-class frigate program has avoided being axed following a sweeping review of the navy's combat surface fleet, with at least six and possibly several more of the large and expensive warships to be built over coming decades.

The Albanese government has committed another $400 million to the locally-developed combat drone.

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.

Companies like Boeing, Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin will purchase new military helicopters to bolster service-ready aircraft stocks in the wake of the Taipan fleet grounding.

Army veterans and engineers who once worked on Australia's now grounded fleet of Taipan helicopters are volunteering to rebuild the aircraft so they can be sent to Ukraine rather than be buried in an expensive disposal process.

A Chinese embassy official confronts Australia's new cyber ambassador after he told a gathering of diplomats in Canberra that Beijing was responsible for a series of devastating online attacks against this country.

Approvals to export Australian made military equipment to Israel are being "stalled" by the Albanese government as concerns grow over the rising number of civilian casualties in Gaza.

Ukraine relied on a huge influx of volunteers from Ukraine and abroad in the first year of the war but now it's facing an array of challenges, writes Mick Ryan. 

As Townsville is positioned as the new capital of the Australian Army, the federal government says the city's defence bases need modern, fit-for-purpose facilities and infrastructure to support critical capabilities.

The 45 Taipan MRH-90 aircraft were retired last year after a crash in Queensland that killed four Defence personnel during a training exercise.

China denies one of its warships fired sonar blasts that injured Australian navy divers last year, while claiming a Japanese warship may have been responsible.