Australian space startup Hypersonix Launch Systems has appointed Arthur Sinodinos as board chair, replacing David Waterhouse, who now assumes the deputy chair role. Sinodinos, who co-chairs the AUKUS Forum, formerly served as a senator for New South Wales and Australia’s ambassador to the United States from February 2020 to March 2023. He also held other...
Hello, Guest!
Category: Australia
Post
Shield AI Seeks Expanded Australian Presence With Acquisition of Sentient Vision Systems
U.S.-based defense technology company Shield AI is expanding its business in Australia with the acquisition of Sentient Vision Systems, a company that provides artificial intelligence-enabled imagery. On Thursday, Shield AI announced its “definitive agreement” with the Australian firm to “merge AI expertise and operational understanding to deliver superior intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.” The two sides...
Post
BAE Systems Selects Airspeed to Supply Critical Component for Hunter-Class Frigate
BAE Systems has selected South Australian company Airspeed to supply a critical component of the U.K. Royal Navy’ Hunter-class frigates. Under the subcontract, Airspeed, provider of composite materials for the aerospace, maritime and energy sectors, will build the replenishment at sea stump masts for the first batch of the upcoming frigates. The stump masts enable the...
Post
Australia Defense Export Catalog Highlights Increasing Business Participation in 2024
Canberra has published the 2024 Australian Defence Export Catalogue, listing more businesses that deliver defense services and capabilities to foreign customers, an increase of 20 percent from the previous iteration. According to Defence Australia, the business growth reflected in the catalog highlights the federal government’s commitment to helping local defense companies access the international market...
Post
Austal Drops Hanwha Ocean’s Acquisition Proposal
Austal, a global shipbuilding company and defense prime contractor based in Australia, has rejected a $2.82-per-share acquisition offer from Hanwha Ocean. According to Austal, it considered the proposal with its advisers and concluded that Hanwha may encounter difficulties securing regulatory approvals as part of the acquisition process. In a press release, Austal explained that the...
Post
New Zealand Selects 12 Teams for Joint Earth Observation Research With NASA
New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has selected 12 research teams to conduct six-month Earth observation studies in partnership with NASA. The teams’ research projects cover a wide range of feasibility studies, including environmental monitoring, natural hazards and biodiversity, according to New Zealand Space Minister Judith Collins. The teams were chosen from proposals...
Post
Australia Passes Bill Eliminating Licensing Requirements for AUKUS Tech Transfers; Richard Marles Quoted
Australia has removed the requirement for the local defense industry to secure export licenses for delivering technology and information to the United Kingdom and the United States. The Australian Parliament on Wednesday passed the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024, which amends the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012, to reduce technology transfer, collaboration, research and...
Post
Northrop Grumman Books $60M Contract to Upgrade US Navy, Australian EA-18G Aircraft Communication
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced a $60.34 million contract award to Northrop Grumman for the manufacture and supply of Airborne Electronic Attack System Enhancements B-Kits for Weapons Replacement Assemblies 7s and 8s and low-band dedicated receivers for the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft of the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The...
Post
US, Australian Navies Intercept Missile Target During Aegis Weapon System Test
The U.S. Navy has partnered with the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force to test a ballistic missile defense system in the Pacific. On March 28, the armed forces intercepted an advanced medium-range ballistic missile type 3 configuration 2 using the Standard Missile-6 Dual II as part of the Missile Defense Agency’s Flight Test Aegis Weapon System...
Post
New Defense Pact Seeks to Enhance UK-Australia Security Cooperation
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps have signed a new defense and security cooperation agreement to strengthen the partnership between Canberra and London on common issues and concerns. The U.K. government said the pact was signed during the annual Australia-United Kingdom Ministerial Consultations, or AUKMIN, held Friday...