Author: Mario Jaconelli

Having spent over a year out of the water as part of the ongoing Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP), HMAS Arunta has ‘undocked’ at Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia. Overseen by the Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA), the program has seen significant improvements made to major platform systems such as the communications centre, and […]

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Australia’s first two locally based F-35 fighter aircraft have arrived on home soil at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Williamtown, signalling the dawn of a new era for the nation’s defence capabilities. Lockheed Martin designed and built Australia’s fleet of F-35s and also serves as the global industry lead for F-35 sustainment. Australian suppliers play […]

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RAF Typhoons have launched from RAF Lossiemouth for the first time with the Meteor Air-to-Air missile in defence of UK airspace during a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) mission. This milestone represents the culmination of many years of research, development and testing to bring this advanced weapon into service on front-line aircraft. Meteor is a state […]

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As Tyndall Air Force Base recovers in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, the US Air Force has called upon Congress to allocate additional funding for the F-35 Lightning II. Following a preliminary evaluation, the US Air Force confirmed a rebuilt Tyndall AFB could accommodate up to three F-35 squadrons. Additionally, operational F-22 Raptors could also […]

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Two new keynote speakers have been announced for Defence Procurement, Research, Technology & Exportability (DPRTE) 2019, which will take place for the first time at Birmingham’s NEC on 28 March next year. Professor Trevor Taylor, Professorial Research Fellow in Defence Management, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), and Tracy Buckingham, Head of Operations and Security Exports, […]

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An increasing number of military systems are now dependent on space technology, with communications, imagery, precision targeting and friendly force tracking all reliant on satellites and space-based services.  The same is true for many aspects of modern living, with space technology enabling a diverse range of civilian activities from agriculture to GPS navigation, banking and transportation.  This growing reliance saw Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announce the launch of the UK’s first Defence Space Strategy and hand over command and control of […]

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Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers have been added to the Naval Combat Systems Integration Support Service (NCSISS), QinetiQ has confirmed. The NCSISS dates back to 2012, and it has been delivered by BAE Systems and QinetiQ and in collaboration with Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) ever since. The service removes risk in the development, integration and […]

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The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has celebrated its second anniversary, with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson calling it a ‘shining example’ of industry innovation. For the uninitiated, DASA is responsible for finding and funding exploitable innovations in support of UK defence and security. The cross-government organisation first launched in December 2016 following the Strategic Defence […]

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A team of subject matter experts led by military simulation and training company NSC is to help the UK’s Armed Forces prepare intelligence professionals for the complexities of current and future operations. Working in support of the Joint Intelligence Training Group (JITG), the team – made up of employees from NSC and its industry partners Torchlight Group and Harquebus – will […]

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Defence Minister Mark Lancaster has declared that the UK’s future relationship with Mexico looks bright under the country’s new administration. Mr Lancaster travelled to Mexico City where he was a guest at the inauguration of Mexico’s new president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. There he met with the new Secretary of National Defence, General Luis Sandoval […]

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The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced a £400 million funding boost for the Dreadnought programme, as he opened a new training academy and revealed the name of the second Dreadnought submarine. The planned funding release, which supports the building phase of the programme, came as the Defence Secretary unveiled a £25 million BAE Systems […]

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Babcock International has successfully completed a significant work package – including an engine replacement – on Royal Navy ocean survey vessel, HMS Scott. A 150-strong team – including welders, electricians, slingers, pipe workers, painters, commissioning engineers and fabricators – have worked on HMS Scott since her arrival at Babcock’s Rosyth site in May this year. […]

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Boeing has announced that the KC-46 tanker program has successfully completed its Phase II receiver certification flight testing following three weeks of airtime alongside F-15E fighter jets from Edwards Air Force Base, California. In collaboration with US Air Force KC-46 crews, Boeing officially kicked-off receiver certification testing with F-16 aircraft in April 2018. The team […]

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The world’s first High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) flight base to serve the Zephyr UAV has officially opened in Wyndham, Western Australia. With access to unrestricted airspace and reliable weather conditions, the Wyndham site is ideally placed and represents a significant investment by Airbus into its much-anticipated Zephyr programme. For the uninitiated, Zephyr is a solar […]

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The US Navy has hired BAE Systems to integrate and sustain critical communications systems across its military vehicles and command centres. Under two single-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts, BAE Systems will support command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems on behalf of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division […]

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