Indian Ocean Defence & Security (IODS)

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.

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

The first Seven Royal Australian Navy (RAN) enlisted sailors have graduated the US Navy Nuclear Power School, in what is seen as another significant milestone for the Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) enhanced trilateral security partnership. The seven sailors, alongside a third group of RAN officers who also graduated, are the pioneers towards Australia establishing a sovereign conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) fleet in the early 2030s. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN acknowledged the rigorous training the sailors completed at the school. “Naval Nuclear Power training is exceptionally rigorous and to have seven Australian sailors and five officers complete the program and move on to Nuclear Power Training Unit takes us closer to operating our own SSNs,” Vice Admiral Hammond said. The seven enlisted RAN sailors have trained at the Nuclear Power School since October 2023, learning the science and engineering principles that are fundamental to the design, operation, and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants alongside American and British submariners. The graduates will now attend the United States Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, which trains officers, enlisted sailors, and civilians for shipboard nuclear power plant operation and maintenance of surface ships and submarines in the US Navy’s nuclear fleet. Director-General Australian Submarine Agency, Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead AO, RAN acknowledged the significant milestones of AUKUS this year. “Thirty-seven months after AUKUS’ inception, we are well on our way to developing Australia’s SSN capability,” Vice Admiral Mead said. “Last month, Australian sailors conducted the first maintenance period on an SSN in Australia. Today we graduate the first enlisted personnel from an exceptionally rigorous school; already we have Australian officers serving aboard both US and UK SSNs.” Image courtesy of Australian Submarine Agency

Defence is modernising Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) membership processes, with the latest DISP Membership Portal capability release enabling self-management services for existing DISP companies. Free to join and open to any Australian entity wishing to become part of the Defence industry supply chain, DISP is a membership-based program designed to provide industry with security advice and support to ensure organisations have the right security in place for Defence tenders and contracts. The initial release of the portal in December 2023 allowed companies to complete and lodge membership applications online. This new capability release will also uplift the cyber security assessment process to align with the Australian Cyber Security Centre Essential Eight mitigation strategies. Under the Defence Industry Development Grants Program, up to $100,000 is available to assist eligible small to medium enterprises to establish and maintain security accreditation and controls, in line with the DISP – including cyber security. Defence Chief Security Officer, Peter West, said the latest capability release would make it easier for industry to manage their membership. “The DISP Member Portal simplifies the process for membership self-management and provides improved security for member information,” Mr West said. “This launch represents significant progress towards modernising membership processes without compromising security objectives – as outlined in the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS).” A further DISP Portal release planned for Quarter 4, 2024 will deliver fully digitised member services, including a full suite of membership self-reporting and self-service tools, and strengthen DISP compliance capabilities. For more information on the Defence Industry Security Program, visit https://lnkd.in/g3G966mf

The Australian Government will contribute up to $850 million in partnership with Kongsberg Defence Australia to manufacture and service missiles at Williamtown near Newcastle. The project, which involves construction of a factory in the Newcastle Airport precinct, is expected to generate more than 500 jobs in the construction phase and almost $100 million in economic benefits to the local area. Once complete, the factory is expected to employ approximately 100 people. The factory will manufacture and service Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) to be used by the Australian Defence Force (ADF). It will be one of only two facilities in the world capable of producing NSM and JSM with the other site in Kongsberg, Norway. Construction of this factory, expected to start later this year, represents a leap forward for Australia’s defence industry that highlights the Government’s commitment to a future made in Australia. The Government is including Kongsberg Defence Australia as a strategic partner in the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise. The GWEO Enterprise is backed by a commitment of up to $21 billion over the coming decade through the Government’s 2024 Integrated Investment Program. It delivers on priorities in the 2024 National Defence Strategy to both develop the ADF’s ability to precisely strike targets at longer range and manufacture munitions in Australia. The JSM – which can be fitted to the F-35A aircraft – and NSM are modern anti-ship cruise missiles designed to defeat highly capable enemy warships. Both can also be deployed against land-based targets. The NSM will enhance the maritime and land strike capabilities of Hobart class destroyers and Anzac class frigates, and will replace the Harpoon anti-ship missile, supporting the increased lethality of the enhanced surface combatant fleet. HMAS Sydney test-fired a NSM in July 2024. The establishment of the manufacturing facility at the Newcastle Airport precinct will help make Australia more self-reliant and boost war stocks, while supporting the local economy and Australia’s defence industry. (📸 Defence. HMAS Sydney fires Royal Australian Navy’s first Naval Strike Missile during a SINKEX off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii as a part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024.)

Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) have finalised the establishment of an export licence-free environment, unlocking billions of dollars of investment and cutting red tape for Australian industry and our AUKUS partners. Delivering on our collective commitment just over a year ago to streamline defence trade, AUKUS partners have implemented generational legislative reforms that provide reciprocal national exemptions from our respective export control frameworks. Together, our respective national exemptions remove the licencing requirements for most controlled goods, technologies and services exported, re-exported or transferred to, or within, AUKUS nations. This will be critical in driving scientific and technological collaboration, including under AUKUS Pillar II Advanced Capabilities. From 1 September 2024, AUKUS partners will operate in this new export licence-free environment, significantly boosting defence trade and innovation. It will support unprecedented levels of advanced scientific, technological and industrial cooperation, fast‑tracking the delivery of high-end capabilities to the Australian Defence Force. Importantly, the new licence-free environment removes barriers to trade and collaboration and reduces costs to local businesses, supporting industry, higher education and research sectors in all three nations. This milestone delivers on key reforms that defence industry has been calling on for years.  The changes to our export control mechanisms will enable: ▪ Licence-free trade for over 70 per cent of defence exports from the US to Australia that are subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations. ▪ Licence-free trade for over 80 per cent of defence trade from the US to Australia that are subject to Export Administration Regulations.  ▪ The elimination of around 900 export permits required under the previous export controls from Australia to the US and UK valued at $5 billion per year. ▪ The removal of approximately 200 export permits required for defence exports from the UK to Australia valued at over $129 million per year. Australia has implemented national exemptions for the UK and the US through the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024 and associated regulations. The US provided national exemptions through amendments to its International Traffic in Arms Regulations and Export Administration Regulations, and the UK provided national exemptions through an AUKUS-specific Open General Export Licence. The Australian Government committed $28 million in the 2024-25 Budget to implement reforms under the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024, including to support industry engagement and accelerate trade between AUKUS partners.

The third session on day one of the Indian Ocean Defence & Security 2024 Conference, presented the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP. Minister Marles spoke In Conversation with Jessica Page, Political Reporter from Seven News, on the AUKUS partnership with fascinating insights into Australia's global role and allied relationships both now and into the future. The session concluded with Perspectives from the Indo-Pacific, a panel discussion between Jennifer Parker,Australian National University, His Excellency Mr. Gabriele Visentin, EU Ambassador to Australia, Erika Olson, Charge d ’Affairs, US Embassy Canberra and Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. 🎥 Did you miss this session at IODS 2024? Catch up now: https://lnkd.in/gDqxxaFZ #IODS2024 #WhereAUKUSMeetstheQuad

Indian Ocean Defence & Security 2024 may have wrapped for this year but we are still reminiscing about the excitement of the week. Were you at IODS 2024? #IODS2024 #WhereAUKUSMeetstheQuad

The second session on Day 1 of the Indian Ocean Defence & Security 2024 Conference delivered high level insights and strategic discussion driven by this year's theme, 'Where AUKUS meets the Quad'. 🗝 Keynote speeches: - The Hon. Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Minister for International Development and the Pacific - Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN, Chief of Navy - The Hon. Madeleine King MP, Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia 💡 Strategic Panel Discussions: 1. A World Adrift - Global Instability and the Indian Ocean: - Peter J. Dean, Director Foreign Policy and Defence, United States Studies Centre - Lisa Curtis, Director Indo-Pacific Security Program, Center for a New American Security - Darshana Baruah, Director Security and Geopolitics, Australia India Institute - Moderated by Jennifer Parker, Expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University 2. Implications of AUKUS for Industry: - Erich Hofmann, Managing Director, Hofmann Engineering - Alex Walsh, Chief Nuclear & Capability Officer, ASC - Dr Laura Hooks, Vice President and General Manager, Maritime & Strategic Systems, General - Dynamics Mission Systems - Craig Ballantyne, Head of Maritime Business Development, Northrop Grumman UK - Moderated by Linda Dawson, Deputy Director General, Industry Science and Innovation, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation 🎥 If you missed it, don't worry! You can catch the full recording of this IODS 2024 Conference session here: https://lnkd.in/gYjs3x2t #IODS2024 #WhereAUKUSMeetstheQuad