Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition

The Australian Government has unveiled its 2024 Australian Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Plan, which includes manufacturing missiles in Australia. Key capability investments set out in the 2024 Australian GWEO Plan, include: - $850 million in partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia to manufacture and maintain the Naval Strike Missile and the Joint Strike Missile from 2027 at a new facility to be built at Williamtown, near Newcastle; - $37.4 million in partnership with Lockheed Martin Australia to enable an initial batch of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) missiles to be manufactured in Australia from 2025; - $7 billion agreement with the United States to acquire the Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC (SM-2 IIIC) and Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) long-range missiles; $142 million for the accelerated acquisition of the Joint Strike Missile, to be delivered from 2025; - Up to $60 million over five years to develop hypersonic and long-range strike capabilities; and - $22 million over three years to seek options from industry to establish a manufacturing complex for the production of rocket motors in Australia. Site assessments for the new Australian facility are underway, with the facility to be operational by 2029. It will have the ability to manufacture a range of weapons and contribute production capacity to Australia's trusted partners in the region and beyond. “The 2024 Australian GWEO Plan will provide defence industry with the clarity and confidence it needs to help increase defence materiel resilience and sovereign capability,” said Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, the Hon Pat Conroy MP. “Our industry partnerships are essential to uplift Australia’s stockpiles and resilience and meet increasing demands.” Image courtesy of Defence

Babcock Australasia (Babcock) has opened a new cutting-edge facility that will double its Adelaide maintenance, manufacturing and repair footprint in support of critical sovereign army and navy programs. The $31 million Defence-accredited building will be home to more than 100 Babcock engineers and technical experts working across nationally significant Defence programs including Collins Class submarine sustainment and Life of Type Extension, Hunter Class frigate systems, future AUKUS endeavours and counter chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) asset management. The opening of the high-tech facility signals a significant uplift in capability for Babcock and its defence operations in South Australia, by providing additional space to engineer, assemble and test equipment under simulated conditions as well as deliver a full suite of high-quality asset management services. Babcock’s Collins Class delivery team will conduct deep maintenance on several of the fleet’s key systems from the new specialist facility, along with future LOTE modernisation packages as part of its partnership with ASC Pty Ltd. “The additional space means we can scale up our sustainment output on the Collin Class fleet, deliver Life of Type Extension projects, and provide a critical pathway to AUKUS by ensuring these submarines remain operational until the first of the nuclear-powered submarines hit the water," said Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland. Babcock Australia & New Zealand

AUKUS partners have cooperated in the first large-scale demonstration of advanced capabilities, during Exercise Autonomous Warrior 2024 in Jervis Bay, New South Wales. Over the past month, hundreds of uniformed personnel and industry participants from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have operated 30 asymmetric capabilities from across the three countries, representing the clearest demonstration yet of advanced technologies delivering combined effects in areas critical to future warfare. Exercise Autonomous Warrior is the first Australian-based exercise under the AUKUS Pillar II Maritime Big Play initiative - a series of integrated trilateral experiments and exercises aimed at enhancing advanced capability development, improving interoperability, and increasing the sophistication and scale of autonomous systems in the maritime domain. AUKUS partners welcomed Japan as an observer of the Maritime Big Play series. The systems demonstrated during Exercise Autonomous Warrior will deliver strike capability and persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.  Advanced Australian-developed capabilities trialled included the long-range loitering strike glider OWL-B; the uncrewed surface vessel Bluebottle; the extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle Ghost Shark; and the large uncrewed underwater vehicle Speartooth. https://lnkd.in/ggTWJAD6 60s_MASTER_APPROVED v2.mp4

Navantia Australia has announced it will establish a new Naval Research Centre at the Australian Maritime College near Launceston, Tasmania. The research centre will enhance support for the defence industry by fostering collaboration between academics and students to undertake research and design projects. Navantia Australia Managing Director, Israel Lozano, said the company recognised AMC’s unique offering as the national institute for maritime education, training, and research in Australia. “The Australian Maritime College has specialist maritime research and learning facilities, some of which are the most advanced in the Southern Hemisphere,” Mr Lozano said. “Through the Naval Research Centre, students will be able to utilise these facilities to undertake cutting edge research for the defence industry.” The Naval Research Centre is expected to begin operation in 2025. The Australian Maritime College already has an international reputation for maritime research, with facilities including a 100-metre towing tank and model test basin, and a maritime simulation centre. The College’s recently upgraded Cavitation Laboratory, used to test submerged structures such as submarines and ship hulls, is unique within Australia. Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Trade and Major Investment, Jeremy Rockliff, said Tasmania’s strong relationship with Navantia Australia highlighted the success of the State’s defence industry sector. “Navantia Australia’s decision to establish their Naval Research Centre at AMC is a significant milestone for both Navantia Australia and the Precinct, and will further Australia’s defence and maritime shipbuilding capabilites,” Premier Rockliff said. “This will also support our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future to create more jobs and help keep our economy strong, with Tasmanian manufacturers playing an important role in Navantia Australia’s supply chains. “Major national and international defence contractors are seeking out the Tasmanian Defence Precinct, to utilise our specialist maritime facilities and expertise to design the best and safest ships for our naval personnel,” Premier Rockliff said.

The AAUS - Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems and the Australian Certified UAV Operators (ACUO) have announced that they will unite under the AAUS banner to form a single peak body. Effective immediately, AAUS will serve as the peak body for the uncrewed systems industry, while ACUO, after years of valuable contributions, will formally cease operations. Founded in 2009, ACUO has been instrumental in the development of Australia’s UAV operations, setting standards and advocating for the safe and responsible use of UAVs across various sectors. ACUO’s legacy is one of pioneering professionalism and shaping the early stages of the industry’s regulation and acceptance within Australia. This unification signifies a strengthened and single voice for the Australian uncrewed systems industry, bringing together the collective expertise, advocacy, and resources of both organisations. AAUS, as the recognised leader in the sector, will continue to drive policy, innovation, and industry development, while preserving the legacy and contributions of ACUO. “We are proud to announce this new phase for Australia’s uncrewed systems industry,” said Reece Clothier, President of AAUS. “By uniting with ACUO, we are creating a stronger, more cohesive body that will be better positioned to champion the interests of our members and drive forward the growth of this dynamic industry.” Brad Mason, one of the seven founding members of ACUO, said, “We are all quietly proud of the foundations we laid. I want to personally thank all the ACUO management committee members over the years who volunteered their time for us and the development of our industry.” “The Australian RPAS industry is incredibly innovative and the pace of development such that our consolidation is a logical next step to industry growth. I’m pleased to see the two organisations finally unite and I’m keen to see now what we can achieve together.”

Australia’s Hobart class destroyers and future Hunter class frigates will be armed with SM-2 and SM-6 missiles, under a new $7 billion Australian Government deal with the United States. The Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC (SM-2 IIIC)  and Standard Missile‑6 (SM-6) are billed as the most advanced air and missile defence weapons in the world. The SM-2 IIIC brings active seeker technology and significantly enhanced defensive capabilities against missile threats. The SM-6 missile will provide Australia with extended range air defence capability against air and missile threats, an offensive anti-ship capability and for the first time, a terminal ballistic missile defence capability. The SM-2 IIIC and SM-6 complement existing capabilities such as ESSM Block 2 and Naval Strike Missile as part of a layered strike and missile defence capability for the Royal Australian Navy surface combatant fleet. “The Standard Missile‑6 and Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC will enable our Navy to strike maritime, land and air targets at long-range, and provide a terminal ballistic missile defence capability, boosting the capacity for the ADF to safeguard Australians and their interests,” said Australian Minister for Defence, Richard Marles. HMAS Sydney conducted a successful first-of-class firing of the Naval Strike Missile during Exercise RIMPAC in July and the SM-6 as part of Exercise Pacific Dragon 2024 near Hawaii in August. Image: HMAS Sydney fires Royal Australian Navy’s first Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) during Exercise Pacific Dragon 2024. Image courtesy of Defence.

Earlier this week a few of the Indo Pacific 2025 team were invited to Ticketek's Summit at South by South West (SXSW) at International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney ). SXSW hosted at the beautiful International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney ) where Indo Pacific 2025 will be held from 4-6 November, 2025.  Learn more about Indo Pacific 2025 here - https://lnkd.in/gGdd9AkD #VenuePartners #IndoPacific2025 #SXSW 

Meet with representatives from the Indo Pacific team who will be onsite exhibiting at EURONAVAL France next month from 4-6 November.🚢 The week will mark only one year to go until the next edition of the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition in 2025, and is the perfect opportunity to ensure you have secured your exhibition space for this vital maritime event. The Indo Pacific 2025 team will exhibit on stand D35 at Euronaval and welcomes meetings to discuss opportunities to connect and do business with the Australian naval defence and maritime markets. Don’t miss the chance to connect at Euronaval - schedule your appointment today, email expo@amda.com.au.🗓️ We look forward to seeing you there! #EN24 #IndoPacific2025

Western Australia’s Civmec has entered into a non-binding agreement with NVL B.V. & Co. KG (Naval Vessels Lürssen) of Bremen, Germany, to acquire Luerssen Australia. Luerssen Australia’s sole business is the building of six Arafura Class Offshore Patrol vessels for the Royal Australian Navy under the existing SEA1180 contract with the Australian Department of Defence. Upon completion of the potential transaction, which is subject to Australian Commonwealth consent, NVL will transfer all its shareholding in Luerssen Australia Pty Ltd to Civmec Limited, including all assets, employees, and licences. This ensures the uninterrupted design and build of the Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels at the Osborne South shipyard in South Australia and the Civmec-owned facility in Henderson, Western Australia. “The acquisition of Luerssen Australia is a natural step for Civmec as a sovereign Australian shipbuilder with world class shipbuilding facilities and an experienced shipbuilding workforce," said Civmec’s Executive Chairman, Mr Jim Fitzgerald. "Having worked on the project since 2018 we’re confident in our ability to execute the remaining work scope and ensure a smooth transition for all stakeholders.” “We’re very confident in Civmec’s ability to finish the remaining works on the SEA1180 project and NVL will ensure they are supported by us until Civmec’s successful completion of the project," said Luerssen Australia’s Chairman (and CEO of NVL), Mr Tim Wagner. "We appreciate there are many details to work through and we look forward to engaging with all stakeholders, including the Commonwealth, Luerssen Australia employees and suppliers to ensure a smooth and successful transition.”

The Australian Government has announced it will establish a consolidated Commonwealth-owned Defence Precinct at Western Australia’s Henderson shipyard, to support the build of new landing craft for the Australian Army and new general purpose frigates for the Royal Australian Navy, with requisite large vessel infrastructure to form part of the Precinct. The Precinct will also be the home of depot-level maintenance and contingency docking for Australia’s future conventionally‑armed, nuclear-powered submarines. In announcing the Precinct, the Federal Government said it would “underpin tens of billions of dollars of investment in defence capabilities in the West over the next two decades and support in the order of 10,000 well-paid, high-skilled local jobs”. To deliver the long-term program, the Australian Government and Western Australian State Government have signed a Cooperation Agreement, which provides a foundation for collaboration to deliver the Defence Precinct and related activities. This will include: - Developing a dedicated joint forum to deliver the skilled workforce required to deliver and sustain critical Defence capabilities. - Establishing the necessary infrastructure, including common user facilities, to support industry across the Defence Precinct at Henderson. - Ensuring effective engagement across Federal, State and Local governments and communities. See the Full Agreement: https://lnkd.in/g6HSkR9u The Federal Government will make an initial investment of $127 million over three years to progress planning, consultations, preliminary design and feasibility studies as well as enabling works for the Defence Precinct at Henderson. “The Albanese Government’s commitments represent the most consequential defence investment in Western Australia in nearly four decades, since the commissioning of HMAS Stirling in 1978 and its expanded role as Australia’s Indian Ocean fleet base under the 1987 two-oceans navy policy,” said Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. “The Defence Precinct at Henderson will optimise Australia’s shipbuilding and sustainment industry while supporting continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia and Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine pathway." Image courtesy of Defence