Israel’s Elbit to supply systems for Australia’s Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles
The $600 million contract calls for "advanced protection, fighting capabilities and a sensors suit."
The $600 million contract calls for "advanced protection, fighting capabilities and a sensors suit."
Under the new plan, the Australian surface fleet will grow to 26 ships over the next decade.
A total of 20 programs, including F-35 fighter jets to future Hunter-class frigates, face a combined 38 years of procurement delays, according to a new government report.
“I won't go into details of the nature of that drone for security reasons,” Pat Conroy told reporters in Canberra. "But I want to assure everyone in this country that we are spending lots of time working on drones."
“Envision a swarm of these autonomous vessels going out to various island chains … not having to beach because we're gonna have the UAVs come in, meet somewhere over the water, grab portions, and take that AOR’s portion … of ammo, food, blood,” said Rob Watts, the deputy director of the Army’s contested logistics cross-functional team.
"When the tough but necessary decision was made last year to expedite the withdrawal of the MRH-90s [Taipans] from service, it meant that we needed to look at all options when it came to filling the capability gap and the training which our servicemen and women need,” Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a statement.
The trial, which took place in South Australia, is the latest in a series of experimental efforts associated with AUKUS' Pillar II.
“The opportunity for our Navy personnel to learn from our AUKUS partners demonstrates meaningful progress along Australia’s pathway to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines,” Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said.
“Instead of seeing the Ukraine conflict and deciding ‘this is too hard,’ [China’s] intention, on the other hand, is to take note of the actions of Russia in order to effect a short, sharp, fait accompli conflict,” Adm. Samuel Paparo told lawmakers.
“The opportunities that are open to our space and technology sectors are actually immense," New Zealand’s Defence Minister Judith Collins said.
Although slim on details, Heidi Shyu told reporters today that DoD will conduct a Technology Readiness Experimentation event sometime this year with its Australian counterparts and will conduct a new sprint of RDER with them next year.
"We have been clear and direct about our concerns. And I noted in my remarks that, as we've watched this happen, we're prepared to take steps to respond to that kind of activity ...,” said President Joe Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, while otherwise lauding progress with Beijing.
“This project will build a foundation for future joint research on robotic and collaborative autonomy, aiming to deliver advanced capabilities to support asymmetric advantage,” Tanya Monro, Australia’s chief defense scientist, said in a statement.
After keeping mum on the issue for weeks, minister for defense procurement Pat Conroy said Kyiv's request came too late, months after the helos had been destined for disposal.
"It is very 'wolf warrior' in style and I think it underlines that from Beijing's perspective, there is no real 'reset' or 'stabilisation of the relationship,'" Malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute told Breaking Defense.