Defence & Security Podcast Network

2020 was a big year for Defence and defence industry, with major projects kicking off across the three branches. In this top five, we will cover the most popular Land domain stories of the year. While much of the attention was on both the Navy and Air Force due to the arrival of a growing number of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for the Royal Australian Air Force, progress on the SEA 1000 Attack Class submarines and SEA 5000 Hunter Class frigates – Army has operated largely under the radar, despite major modernisation updates. 2020 has seen a resurgence of focus on Army's increasing number of modernisation and capability enhancements – with progress made on the $5.2 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 and the $10-15 billion LAND 400 Phase 3 programs. The Army has also seen progress made on the LAND 19 Short Range Ground Base Air Defence and LAND 4503 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter replacement and the LAND 8116 Protected Mobile Fires self-propelled artillery gun programs, and the federal government used the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and supporting Force Structure Plan to support the development and lethality of the Australian Army. In this podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper discuss the biggest headlines that made news in the Land and Amphibious domain from LAND 400 progress, through to the development of Australia's self propelled howitzer program, industry milestones for Hawkei production and the LAND 129 program. Enjoy the podcast,  The Defence Connect Team

2020 was a big year for the nation, with Defence and defence industry playing an important role in the nation's post-COVID recovery. In this top five, we will cover the most popular Strike and Air Combat domain stories of the year. In this podcast hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper discuss the massive year that wasfor the Royal Australian Air Force, which has seen major progress across the acquisition cycle including on some of Australia's largest Defence projects, with the growing fleet of fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and announcements around Australia's acquisition of an armed remotely piloted aerial system (RPAS). 2020 has also seen major progress and advancements across the Air Force's fleet of E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning command and control aircraft, KC-30A Multi-role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and airlift aircraft fleet.  However, 2020 was a year dominated by a focus on air combat and strike capabilities with public conversation focusing on the F-35 and America's decision to cancel the F-22 Raptor in the mid-2010s, with concerns about Australia's long-range strike capability gap becoming increasingly topical talking points.  Enjoy the podcast,  The Defence Connect team

2020 was a big year for both Australia and the globe, with great power competition, pandemics and economic, political and strategic chaos the flavour of the year. In this top five, we will cover the most popular Key Enabler and Analysis stories of the year. The 2020s have kicked off with one hell of a bang – rising great power tension between the United States and China; a pandemic that has thrown the global economy into turmoil; economic, political and strategic tensions throughout the Indo-Pacific; and an increasingly diverse range of challenges facing Australia. While the government has moved to respond to the rapidly deteriorating geostrategic circumstances transforming the Indo-Pacific, largely through the 2020 Defence Strategic Update, 2020 Force Structure Plan and a series of important acquisitions and critical policy announcements as Australia seeks to reassert its position in the region. As part of an ongoing series of the Defence Connect podcast leading up to the end of the year, host Phil Tarrant and Defence Connect editor Stephen Kuper  discuss the top-ranking stories in the Key Enabler and Analysis pieces from the year, ranging from regional power dynamics, the growing geopolitical and strategic tensions and the evolving challenges facing Australia in the Indo-Pacific. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

2020 was a big year for Defence and defence industry, with major projects progressing across the three branches with major projects reaching critical stages in the design, build and delivery phase transforming the multi-domain, intelligence and cyber capabilities of the ADF well into the next decade. In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper discuss the year that was for the multi-domain, intelligence and cyber capabilities of the ADF and key global allies as they continue to embark on a generational transformation of its platforms and capabilities, and the role Australia’s growing defence industry is playing in this transformation. As part of an ongoing series of the Defence Connect podcast leading up to the end of the year, the pair discuss the top-ranking stories in the domain, beginning with the increasing development and proliferation of autonomous and unmanned systems across the land, sea and air domains as a key force multiplier. The pair then cover the newly operational Satellite Ground Station near Geraldton, WA — delivered under Joint Project 2008 Phase 3F in partnership with BAE Systems Australia, and an opinion piece by Michelle Price, CEO of AustCyber, and Alex Scandurra, CEO of Stone & Chalk, where they discuss the need to nurture the development of a sovereign Australian cyber capability. Finally, Tarrant and Kuper discuss the fall out of a cyber attack against government, industry and Australian civilians in mid-June and the government's commitment to securing and responding to the challenges posed by state and asymmetric cyber security threats. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

2020 has been a big year for the nation, Defence and defence industry, with major projects reaching critical stages in the design, build and delivery phase transforming the Royal Australian Navy well into the next decade. In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper discuss the year that was for the Royal Australian Navy as it continues to embark on a generational transformation of its platforms and capabilities and the role Australia’s growing defence industry is playing in this transformation. As part of an ongoing series of the Defence Connect podcast leading up to the end of the year, the pair discuss the top ranking stories in the Maritime & Undersea Warfare domains according to engagement by the Defence Connect audience – this includes a focus on programs like the Royal Australian Navy’s SEA 1180 Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels and concerns around ‘upgunning’ the vessels. Building on this, the pair discuss the recent arrival of the Navy’s next-generation fleet replenishment ship NUSHIP Supply and the key capabilities it will deliver to the Royal Australian Navy and allies as they operate in the Indo-Pacific. Tarrant and Kuper also discuss content covering the rising power of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and its ongoing transformation as a carrier power, as well as the ongoing French Navy program to replace and supplement the force’s aircraft carrier, the FNS Charles de Gaulle, with a design similar to the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier. Finally, the hosts discuss US Marine Corps Commandant General David Berger’s push to field a growing number of ‘Lightning Carriers’ to support distributed operations with a growing number of F-35Bs to complicate adversary decision making processes, the successful participation of Australian frigate HMAS Ballarat in the US Navy’s Nimitz carrier strike group, and US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday’s push to develop the US Navy’s next-generation destroyers. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this edition of the weekly Inside Defence, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper discuss the latest developments and issues shaping the Defence, defence industry and national security ecosystem this week. Inside Defence is your source for all the very latest in Australian Defence, defence industry and national security policy news. Tune in every week to hear hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper bring you the biggest stories over the past few days, covering everything you need to know about the issues, programs and developments shaping Australia's national security, defence and strategic relationships in the Indo-Pacific region. In this episode, Phil and Steve discuss the success of the 2020 Australian Defence Industry Awards held as a hybrid, in-person event at COVID-safe venues in Canberra, Brisbane and Sydney and digitally around the nation, providing an opportunity for defence industry to come together and celebrate the success of businesses and individuals during the year.  They also discuss the ongoing debate between Defence Minister, Linda Reynolds CSC and her West Australian state counterparts Defence Issues Minister, Paul Papalia CSC and WA Premier, Mark McGowan over the Commonwealth's plans for full-cycle docking of the Royal Australian Navy's Collins class submarines.  Building on this, they discuss comments made by Victorian Senator, David Van following the Victorian State Budget and his calls for greater support to attract defence industry to Victoria as part of its post-COVID recovery.  Phil and Steve also discuss the appointment of Scott Stapp as Northrop Grumman's new corporate vice president and chief technology officer (CTO) at a time when the company is in the middle of major programs both in Australia and the United States.  Finally, the pair discuss the successful cooperative deployment of the Royal Australian Navy frigate, HMAS Ballarat as part of the US Navy's Nimitz Carrier Strike Group following the completion of joint training exercises with the Indian and Japanese Navy as part of Exercise Malabar. 

In this edition of the weekly Inside Defence, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper discuss the latest developments and issues shaping the Defence, defence industry and national security ecosystem this week. Inside Defence is your source for all the very latest in Australian Defence, defence industry and national security policy news. Tune in every week to hear hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper bring you the biggest stories over the past few days, covering everything you need to know about the issues, programs and developments shaping Australia's national security, defence and strategic relationships in the Indo-Pacific region.  In this episode, Phil and Steve discuss the recent partnership announcement between Rheinmetall Defence Australia and Queensland Gaskets in support of the RDA's LAND 400 Phase 3 bid to supply the Australian Army with its KF 41 Lynx IFV. They also discuss the Government's recent announcement of a $300 million investment into a submarine detection capability in WA, developments by Flinders University to help track terrorist through environmental testing, Royal Australian Air Force F-35s training with their US counterparts at Eglin Air Force Base.  Finally, the pair also discuss the implications of the multi-billion strategic reorientation and investment in defence capability announced by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which is billed as the most significant strategic and defence policy shift for the United Kingdom since the end of the Cold War, with great power status once again on the agenda.  

In this first edition of the weekly Inside Defence, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper discuss the latest developments and issues shaping the Defence, defence industry and national security ecosystem this week. What’s Making Headlines is your source for all the very latest in Australian Defence, defence industry and national security policy news. Tune in every week to hear hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper bring you the biggest stories over the past few days, covering everything you need to know about the issues, programs and developments shaping Australia's national security, defence and strategic relationships in the Indo-Pacific region. In this episode, Phil and Steve discuss the Prime Minister’s visit to Japan and the foundations of a new strategic partnership between the two nations and its impact on the Indo-Pacific. The pair also discuss the latest in the developments in the multibillion-dollar SEA 1000 submarine program, the latest round of contract developments for developing Australia's strategic defence training facilities and research and development programs enhancing the lethality of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

In this episode, Defence Connect Analyst and Editor, Steve Kuper is joined by Chris Deeble of Northrop Grumman Australia, Platinum Partner of the Australian Defence Industry Awards, and two finalists in the Engineer of the Year category: Claire Milton of CASG and Akhlaquor (Aka) Rahman of OPEC Systems. The four discuss defence industry’s response to the COVID pandemic and the way defence businesses of all sizes have pivoted to support the economic response and collaborated to support the Australian defence supply chain. They also discuss Milton’s transition from the Royal Australian Air Force to CASG and supporting some of Air Force’s key air mobility programs and the evolution of Rahman’s career as an engineer and speciality in fuel security for defence. The four also deep dive into their immediate goals, objectives and challenges they foresee over the coming twelve to eighteen months and what they believe set them apart from the competition for this year’s awards. Defence Connect will continue to recognise the achievements of talented professionals in the lead up to the 2020 Australian Defence Industry Awards — despite a limited capacity to gather physically. Registration is free for our live stream, which will be held at 8:15PM AEDT on Thursday, 26 November. Register now to be a part of the Defence Connect 2020 Australian Defence Industry Awards Live Stream.

In this episode, Defence Connect Analyst and Editor, Steve Kuper is joined by Scott Thompson of Lockheed Martin Australia, Platinum Partner of the Australian Defence Industry Awards, and two finalists in the SME of the Year (Metro) category: Craig Maynard, of Axiom Precision Manufacturing and Matt Wilcox of FifthDomain. The four discuss defence industry’s response to the COVID pandemic and the way defence businesses of all sizes have pivoted to support the economic response and collaborated to support the Australian defence supply chain. They also discuss the evolution of Axiom and its participation in the global F-35 program, Maynard also details the transition of the company from an automotive manufacturing company to a specialist, high-performance aerospace and defence manufacturing business. Wilcox details the expansion of FifthDomain since its foundation and the growing recognition by Government and Defence industry that Australian SMEs are willing and capable of meeting the exacting cybersecurity requirements expected in a contested era. The four also deep dive into their immediate goals, objectives and challenges they foresee over the coming twelve to eighteen months and what they believe set them apart from the competition for this year’s awards. Defence Connect will continue to recognise the achievements of talented professionals in the lead up to the 2020 Australian Defence Industry Awards — despite a limited capacity to gather physically. Registration is free for our live stream, which will be held at 8:15PM AEDT on Thursday, 26 November. Register now to be a part of the Defence Connect 2020 Australian Defence Industry Awards Live Stream.