Armée Australienne/Australian Defence Force (ADF)

GlaivedeSion a écrit:

Une évolution intéressante dans la relation Australie-Japon

Citation :

Australia Likely To Buy Subs From Japan

effectivement,d´autant que ca sera je crois la premiere fois du coté japonais une telle vente si ca se concretise,je sais pas si ca effacera la malchance des aussie avec l´arme SM,mais ils feraient mieux de ne pas repeter les meme bourdes qu´avec les collins.
j´imagine que les Subs japonais devraient etre trop cher

Yakuza a écrit:

GlaivedeSion a écrit:

Une évolution intéressante dans la relation Australie-Japon

Citation :

Australia Likely To Buy Subs From Japan

effectivement,d´autant que ca sera je crois la premiere fois du coté japonais une telle vente si ca se concretise,je sais pas si ca effacera la malchance des aussie avec l´arme SM,mais ils feraient mieux de ne pas repeter les meme bourdes qu´avec les collins.
j´imagine que les Subs japonais devraient etre trop cher

pour le pays ou l'heur du travaille coute le plus chère au monde ... sa doit être exorbitant .

Yakuza a écrit:

GlaivedeSion a écrit:

Une évolution intéressante dans la relation Australie-Japon

Citation :

Australia Likely To Buy Subs From Japan

effectivement,d´autant que ca sera je crois la premiere fois du coté japonais une telle vente si ca se concretise,je sais pas si ca effacera la malchance des aussie avec l´arme SM,mais ils feraient mieux de ne pas repeter les meme bourdes qu´avec les collins.
j´imagine que les Subs japonais devraient etre trop cher

Possible, mais l’Australie a de gros moyens financiers et franchement les Sub japonais sont excellents,si les australiens décident de se doter de sub japonais,ils ferons un pas de géant pour leurs arme sous-marine et en plus de ça ils renforcerons leurs alliance militaire avec le Japon qui est déjà une puissance militaire majeur,mais surtout a terme qui réarmera massivement pour répondre a la menace chinoise.

Si mon avis étais écouter en Australie je leurs dirai qu'ils doivent ce doter de sub japonais et encourager des alliances locales plutôt que de miser sur les usa qui un jour ou l'autre peuvent tres bien abandonner la région pour la livrer a la Chine.

Citation :

Elbit Systems to Supply Battle Management Systems for the Royal Australian Navy

Haifa, Israel | Elbit Systems Ltd., announced today that it was awarded a contract from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for the supply of Battle Management Systems (BMS) for the Royal Australian Navy's landing craft. The contract is in an amount that is not material to Elbit Systems.

The systems are to be integrated into landing craft installed on board the Canberra Class Amphibious ships (LHD). The watercraft will enable transport of troops and equipment from the LHDs to the shore including where there are no fixed port facilities and will allow communication and connectivity with the Infantry Forces in joint operations.

Elbit Systems has been supplying its BMS to the Australian Army under the defence network-centric "Land 75/125" Program, one of the largest BMS programs in the world.

Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, General Manager of Elbit Systems’ Land and C4I Division commented: “The fact that the Australian Defence Force, one of the most advanced and modern armies in the world, has decided to also equip its Navy with our Battle Management Systems, attests to its satisfaction with the quality and maturity of our systems". Machlis added: "This decision also reflects the need of world leading armies to enhance the connectivity and communication between their divisions, and we trust that additional customers will follow and select our advanced Battle Management Systems.”

defpro.com

Citation :

Australia signs A$73.9m deal to participate in P-8A development

Australia has signed a A$73.9 million ($81.1 million) agreement with the US Navy to participate in the further development of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA).

The signing formalises Australia's participation in the development of the Increment 3 P-8A Aircraft and marks Australia's continued commitment to the project to acquire a new manned MPA, says Australia's Department of Defence.

"The P-8A is a fundamental element of Australia's future maritime patrol and response strategy in replacing the current [Lockheed Martin] AP-3C Orion fleet, due for withdrawal around 2019."

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operates 19 AP-3C Orions. It has yet to announce a formal order for the P-8A.

"The Increment 3 Project Arrangement falls under the production, sustainment and follow-on development memorandum of understanding between [the DoD] and the US Navy, which was signed in March this year and provides the framework by which the P-8A will be acquired, sustained and developed throughout its service life," it adds.

Increment 3 will also include a networked maritime strike weapon, air-sea rescue kit and enhanced target tracking.

Minister for defence Stephen Smith and minister for defence materiel Jason Clare made the announcement at RAAF Amberley, where they welcomed a visit by three US navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft. The aircraft are in Australia to familiarise pilots with its capabilities.

In August, Canberra announced that it would convert 12 of its 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets into EA-18G Growlers. It estimates that the conversion will cost A$1.5 billion, including conversion kits, support equipment, spares and training.

flightglobal.com

Citation :

LHD hull in Australian waters



11 Oct 2012




The hull of the first of the navy's two new large amphibious landing ships is in Australian waters and will reach Melbourne in a week.

The LHD01 hull has been transported from Spain to Australia by a Heavy Lift Ship, Blue Marlin.

The LHD hull will be unloaded and moved by tug to the BAE Systems Williamstown Shipyard for consolidation of the superstructure and other critical fitout work.

BAE Systems Director Maritime, Bill Saltzer said preparation works were complete and the Australian team are ready to start work on the next phase of the construction, as soon as it arrives.

“In the last few months, works have proceeded at a rapid pace as we prepare for the arrival of the first hull,” Saltzer said.

“Most recently as part of the preparation for the arrival, one of the largest permanently-based cranes in Australia has been assembled on Nelson Pier.”

Saltzer said the total mass of the crane and the counterweight is in excess of 800 tonnes.

He went on to say that the combined mass of the crane, support steelwork and the load during the first lift of the LHD blocks would be in excess of 1500 tonnes.

The first section of superstructure to be lifted weighed approximately 300 tonnes and would be lifted to a height of approximately 25 meters.

It then needed to be placed in exactly the right position for it to be joined to the deck of the LHD.

The LHD is expected to be introduced into Royal Australian Navy service in 2014.

australiandefence

Citation :

Australian Army rolls out new IED blast gauges
15 October 2012

The Australian Army's Diggerworks team has rolled out new blast gauges designed to provide assistance to treat soldiers injured from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan.

Defence materiel minister Jason Clare and Australian defence science and personnel minister Warren Snowdon said in a joint statement that the new high-tech devices would enable medics to provide rapid and effective treatment to injured personnel by efficiently detecting and capturing data from the blasts.

"The trial will enable medics to access data to immediately assess the effects of blast pressure and acceleration from an IED or other explosion on a soldier," Snowdown said.

"This is part of making sure we continue to apply world class technology to our defence force, giving health professionals the latest technology to treat brain injuries resulting from a blast."

Clare added: "Bomb blasts can put enormous force and pressure on the brain. These devices measure that and help our medics treat our soldiers who have been hit."

Originally developed by the US Defence Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the gauges are capable of displaying a yellow, green or red light to suggest the pressure level of an IED blast.

A total of three blast gauges will be worn on the outside of helmet, the non-firing shoulder and chest to facilitate measurement of the blast wave from all directions in the battlefield.

Weighing less than 29g each, the gauges are designed to resist tough weather conditions and have also completed testing with US soldiers in Afghanistan.

Approximately 400 soldiers have already trialled the blast gauges in combat zones, and more than 10,000 devices are expected to be rolled out to additional troops in the next year.

The Australian Government is spending more than $1bn on new equipment, including combat body armour, uniform, upgraded Bushmaster vehicles, counter rocket, artillery and mortar (CRAM) system and Maximi machine guns to enhance troop protection in Afghanistan.

http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsaustralian-army-rolls-out-new-ied-blast-gauges

Citation :

(Source: Australian Department of Defense; issued Oct. 16, 2012)

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Government had approved the purchase of an additional two artillery batteries of Lightweight Towed Howitzers, comprising 19 M777A2 155mm howitzers.

The cost of the additional 19 howitzers is around $70 million.

In October 2009, then Defence Minister Faulkner announced the Government would acquire four batteries of 35 M777A2 155mm Lightweight Towed Howitzers (M777s).

In May, the Government announced the cancellation of the acquisition of self-propelled howitzers, proceeding instead with additional towed artillery.

The additional acquisition announced today means Army will now have six batteries of M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzers.

The M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzer is the most advanced towed artillery system available in the world. It has a titanium and aluminium alloy structure able to fire up to 5 rounds per minute. It is capable of being transported by Chinook helicopters and C130 aircraft. The full mission system comprising of the howitzer, towing vehicle and crew transport vehicle is able to be transported by C‑17 aircraft.

The M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzers are also in service with the United States Army and Marine Corps and are currently supporting US operations inAfghanistan.

The use of the M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzers by US forces strengthens interoperability with our Alliance partner. There are also significant efficiencies in sustainment and training through the fielding of a single fleet of howitzers.

This acquisition decision means that the additional M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzers will be acquired off the current production line in the United States and avoids potential additional costs to restart such production. Government will consider additional support and facilities costs associated with this acquisition later in the 2012-13 Financial Year.
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/139377/australia-orders-additional-m777-howitzers.html

Citation :

Australia Purchases 19 New M777A2 Howitzers for the Army


(Photo: Australian DoD)

08:13 GMT, October 17, 2012 Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Government had approved the purchase of an additional two artillery batteries of Lightweight Towed Howitzers, comprising 19 M777A2 155mm howitzers.

The cost of the additional 19 howitzers is around $70 million.

In October 2009, then Defence Minister Faulkner announced the Government would acquire four batteries of 35 M777A2 155mm Lightweight Towed Howitzers (M777s).

In May, the Government announced the cancellation of the acquisition of self-propelled howitzers, proceeding instead with additional towed artillery.

The additional acquisition announced today means Army will now have six batteries of M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzers.

The M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzer is the most advanced towed artillery system available in the world. It has a titanium and aluminium alloy structure able to fire up to 5 rounds per minute. It is capable of being transported by Chinook helicopters and C130 aircraft. The full mission system comprising of the howitzer, towing vehicle and crew transport vehicle is able to be transported by C?17 aircraft.

The M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzers are also in service with the United States Army and Marine Corps and are currently supporting US operations in Afghanistan.

The use of the M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzers by US forces strengthens interoperability with our Alliance partner. There are also significant efficiencies in sustainment and training through the fielding of a single fleet of howitzers.

This acquisition decision means that the additional M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzers will be acquired off the current production line in the United States and avoids potential additional costs to restart such production. Government will consider additional support and facilities costs associated with this acquisition later in the 2012-13 Financial Year.

defpro

Citation :

Australia commits to Poseidon development



October 19, 2012



The Australian government formally allocated nearly $81 million toward development of Boeing's P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, the replacement for the country's ageing AP-3C Orion planes.

Minister for Defense Stephen Smith and Minister for Defense Materiel Jason Clare signed the Increment 3 Project Arrangement with the U.S. Navy, Australia's Department of Defense said.

The deal "formalizes Australia's participation in the development of the Increment 3 P-8A Aircraft and marks Australia's continued commitment to the $5 billion project to acquire a new manned maritime patrol aircraft," a defense department statement said.

The Increment 3 Project Arrangement is the first planned upgrade to the Australian P-8A fleet.

The project aims to upgrade the capability of the original order, the Increment 2 aircraft, and includes a networked maritime strike weapon, air-sea rescue kit and enhanced target tracking.


Australia will phase in the Poseidon from 2016 and withdraw from service its 19 turbo-prop AP-3C Orion fleet around 2019, after nearly 30 years of service.

This month the department of defense also announced that two of its Orions which have been on operational service in the Middle East for a decade will return home, along with 90 personnel, within several months.

The two Orions are working with Operation SLIPPER conducting overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The overseas-based Orions also have been flying maritime patrols off the Arabian Gulf and North Arabian Sea and more recently, counter-piracy missions in the vicinity of Somalia, working closely with the U.S.-led Combined Maritime Force and other international task forces.

Australia's replacement P-8A aircraft is based on the Boeing B737 commercial airliner.

Like the Orion, the P-8A has advanced sensors and mission systems, including multi-mode radar, a high-definition electro-optic camera and an acoustic system that has four times the processing capacity of the AP-3C Orion's system, the government statement said.

The P-8A has a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles or the ability to remain on station conducting low-level anti-submarine warfare for over four hours at a range of more than 1,200 nautical miles from base.

The P-8A is also air-to-air refuelable from the boom of tanker aircraft such as the KC-30A.

Air-refueling will push the P-8A's endurance to around 20 hours, making it possible to patrol Australia's isolated Southern Ocean territories.

The Increment 3 Project Arrangement falls under the Production, Sustainment and Follow-on Development Memorandum of Understanding between Defence and the United States Navy, which was signed in March this year and provides the framework by which the P-8A will be acquired, sustained and developed thought it service life.

In July, Boeing announced that two Australian companies -- Lovitt Technologies and Ferra Engineering -- will manufacture parts and assemblies for the P-8A Poseidon.

Lovitt Technologies will manufacture mission systems parts and assembly fabrications for the P-8 aircraft, while Ferra Engineering will supply internal and external airframe parts and assemblies to support P-8 flight and mission systems.

Boeing said both companies hold a number of contracts with it for component manufacturing. Lovitt supplies parts for the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Ferra manufactures spare parts for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet program.

Lovitt Technologies Australia and Ferra Engineering were identified as possible suppliers by Boeing's Office of Australian Industry Capability, which is part of the Defense Materiel Organization's Global Supply Chain Program.

Copyright 2012 U.P.I.
All Rights Reserved

Citation :

Raytheon awarded $45 million MK 54 torpedo contract


Increases US MK 54 lightweight torpedo inventory; bolsters critical undersea warfare capability of Australian and Indian navies
TEWKSBURY, Mass., Oct. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $45.3 million U.S. Navy contract to provide MK 54 lightweight torpedo hardware, test equipment, spares and related engineering and repair services for U.S. fleet inventory and in support of foreign military sales to the Royal Australian Navy and the Indian Navy. The award represents an exercised option of a current Navy contract for MK 54 torpedo kits.

"As enemy submarines remain a threat to security, stability and access to the world's oceans, naval forces worldwide require a reliable and effective undersea warfare weapon," said Kevin Peppe, vice president of Seapower Capability Systems for Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business. "Together with the U.S. Navy, we continue to advance the development of the world's most effective lightweight torpedo, delivering its proven capabilities to meet the anti-submarine warfare needs of U.S. and allied fleets."

Raytheon is the U.S. Navy's sole production supplier for MK 54 lightweight torpedo hardware, in production since 1999. With an established infrastructure and experienced workforce co-located with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Keyport, Wash., the company works directly with the Navy to meet the lightweight torpedo requirements of U.S. and allied fleets.

raytheon.mediaroom.com

Citation :

Controversial report recommends Federal Government lease nuclear subs to save $10b



AUSTRALIA could save $10 billion by leasing nuclear-powered Virginia Class submarines from the US, says a Centre for Independent Studies report.

Author Simon Cowan also claimed it could save up to $0.75 billion a year in operation and maintenance costs.

The Future Submarine Project Should Raise Periscope for Another Look report from one of the country's most influential think tanks, said arguments against buying nuclear-powered submarines didn't stand up to scrutiny.

And it found leasing the fast attack submarines could avert "a potentially disastrous capability gap developing" between when the six Collins Class are retired and the replacement diesel-powered submarines are designed.

The project is expected to cost $36 billion. The Government has previously ruled out the nuclear option.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott, who previously had a former Centre for Independent Studies research fellow as an adviser, deferred to Defence spokesman David Johnston for a response.

Senator Johnston showed no sign of backing its contents, saying: "The Coalition is not considering a nuclear-powered option" and "work on the project will centre around the South Australian shipyards".

The report went on to rebut claims that Australia could not buy nuclear-powered submarines because it does not have a supporting nuclear industry.

Using a leasing arrangement meant the US could service the subs and also get rid of spent nuclear fuel, it said.

Mr Cowan's report criticised the existing process to replace the ageing Collins Class submarines with 12 new craft, saying the Commonwealth Government's current path "was marred by indecision and waste, conflicts of interest and substandard procurement practices".

SA Treasurer Jack Snelling rejected the nuclear-powered sub plan, saying it would be a wasted opportunity for thousands of jobs.

Mr Snelling said the Commonwealth Government had committed to building the new diesel-powered submarines in Adelaide and "what the US wants from its Virginia Class is different".

"It would make our submarine capability entirely dependent on the US," he said.

www.heraldsun.com

Citation :

Successful wheels up landing of F-111C at Royal Australian Air Force base Amberley. Pilot, Flying Officer Peter Komar Navigator, Flight Leutenant Luke Warner The aircraft lost one main wheel during take off and it was decided the safest method to land was with the complete undercarriage retracted. The arrestor hook system was successfully employed to stop the aircraft.
(Date taken: 18 June 2006)

HMAS Success ( OR-304 ) quittant Hobart le 28-10-2012



HMAS Warramunga ( F-152 )

Citation :

Par manque d’effectifs, la marine australienne désarme 2 frégates
30 octobre 2012

Si l’on considère ses moyens et les les équipements dont il est prévu de la doter dans les années qui viennent, l’on pourrait penser que la Royal Australian Navy n’a aucun problème.

Ses capacités devraient être en effet renforcées, du moins si les recommandations du dernier Livre blanc sur la défense publié en 2009 par Canberra sont respectées à la lettre, avec l’acquisition, d’ici 2030, de 20 corvettes, le passage de 6 à 12 sous-marins, et le renouvellement des 8 frégates de classe Anzac.

Seulement, ces ambitions risquent fort d’être mises à mal en raison d’un manque récurrent de personnels qualifiés. En 2009, un rapport avait déjà mis en garde contre cette situation, conséquence des coupes budgétaires, qui, réalisées au cours des 20 dernières années, ont “fragmenté, dilué et diminué les ressources” de la marine australienne.

Ainsi, d’après ce document, ce problème avait déjà atteint un “niveau d’urgence et un caractère critique.” Qui plus est, le manque de formation des marins australiens avait également été pointé du doigt étant donné que le rapport s’inquiétait déjà “des compétences des techniciens, alors insuffisamment préparés à “faire face aux défis des nouveaux bâtiments modernes, commes les destroyers, les bâtiments amphibies et les sous-marins.”

Trois ans plus tard après la publication de ce rapport, la situation n’a pas évolué, au point que la marine australienne a été contrainte de retirer temporairement du service les frégates HMAS Arunta et HMAS Stuart en raison d’un manque de marins qualifiés. En outre, cette situation a aussi des répercussions sur la disponibilité des autres bâtiments, certains d’entre eux ayant faits l’objet “d’arrêts non planifiés” pour des opérations de maintenance et de réparations imprévues.

Le chef d’état-major de la Royal Australian Navy, le vice-amiral Ray Grigg, a indiqué que le déficit en personnels qualifiés ne pourrait pas être comblé d’ici 2018, voire même 2020. En attendant, des mesures de fidélisation ont été prises, de même qu’il a été décidé une restructuration des unités de soutien.

L’une des causes principales avancées pour expliquer les difficultés de la marine australienne est la concurrence du secteur minier sur le marché de l’emploi. Actuellement en pleine expansion, il assèche le marché des techniciens qualifiés, attirés par des perspectives de salaires élevés.

Qui plus est, la démographie australienne est une autre explication des problèmes de recrutement de la marine en particulier et des forces armées australiennes en général. Et pour le moment, c’est un paramètre qui n’est pas prêt de changer.

http://www.opex360.com/

Citation :

Boeing delivered the sixth Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17 Globemaster III

Airlifter delivered 5 months after contract signing; will enhance Australia’s ability to provide humanitarian support and disaster relief
LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 1, 2012 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered the sixth Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17 Globemaster III today at the company's final assembly facility in Long Beach. The airlifter will be assigned to No. 36 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, where it will help meet increased demand for airlift to support military, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations.

"I am delighted to accept the sixth C-17 on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force," said RAAF Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown. "The C-17 is a capability that has improved Australia's reach locally, regionally and globally. Individually, the aircraft is impressive – but as a fleet, it has fundamentally enhanced our strategic airlift agility to meet the Australian Defence Force Air Mobility requirements."

The government of Australia announced its intent to buy a sixth airlifter during last year’s arrival ceremony for the RAAF's fifth C-17. The contract was completed on June 6 and now Boeing has delivered the aircraft less than five months later, due to the strong cooperation among the Australian and U.S. governments working with the Boeing team.

"The C-17 symbolizes the strength and the enduring nature of the partnership between Boeing and the Commonwealth of Australia," said Bob Ciesla, vice president, Airlift, and C-17 program manager. "We look forward to supporting the RAAF and this aircraft as we do the five other C-17s at Amberley."

Boeing provides after-delivery support to the RAAF C-17 fleet as part of the C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP) Performance-Based Logistics agreement with the U.S. Air Force. The GISP "virtual fleet" arrangement provides the highest airlift mission-capable rate at one of the lowest costs per flying hour.

Boeing has delivered 248 C-17s worldwide, including 218 to the U.S. Air Force active duty, Guard and Reserve units. A total of 30 C-17s have been delivered to Australia, Canada, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations. India has 10 C-17s on order for delivery in 2013 and 2014.

boeing.mediaroom

Citation :

Facts favour nuclear-powered submarines

Australia's $40 billion project to replace our six Collins Class submarines with 12 Future Submarines is at risk of failing. In addition to the potential gap between the retirement of the Collins Class and the commissioning of the Future Submarine, there are unsolved problems with the Collins Class that threaten the viability of our future fleet.

Australia's diesel-powered Collins Class submarines are expensive and unreliable and these problems are likely to be inherited by any Australian-designed Future Submarine. As a result of these problems, Australia must explore leasing the US Navy's nuclear-powered Virginia Class attack submarine.

Nuclear-powered submarines can travel further, faster and remain deployed for much longer than their diesel-powered rivals. Nuclear-powered submarines operate more powerful sensors, systems and weaponry.

Despite these advantages, the government has refused to consider a nuclear option, instead preferring to substantially redesign an existing diesel submarine. The same process gave us the Collins Class; we don't need to repeat the mistake to know the likely outcome.

Each Collins Class submarine costs more than $110 million a year to maintain and operate, with total costs for the six submarines likely to exceed $1 billion a year by 2021. Nor has the higher cost meant greater reliability. Typically, no more than two Collins Class submarines have been available for deployment. The rest have been in maintenance or awaiting repair of serious defects.

By contrast, the Virginia Class submarine costs the United States approximately $50 million per submarine per year and is proving very reliable.

The acquisition costs are lower too. The upfront cost of leasing eight Virginia Class submarines (together with establishment costs) is $23 billion to $27 billion, substantially lesser than the $40 billion estimate for the diesel-powered Future Submarines.

The US would seriously consider a request from Australia to lease Virginia Class submarines. Leasing nuclear submarines to Australia is in the interests of both Australia and the United States.

The US is rebalancing its fleet towards the Pacific to face the challenges of the Asian Century and the security tensions in the region. As a key US ally in the region, Australia's submarine forces are effective force multipliers for the US so the US wants to ensure that Australia has capable, reliable submarines. At the same time, the US Defence Department is facing a mandatory 10% budget cut across all programs. Australia participating in the Virginia Class program would alleviate these concerns. There are also historical precedents, the United States exported nuclear submarine technology to the United Kingdom in the 1950s and agreed to do the same for Canada in the 1980s.

Arguments against nuclear-powered submarines don't add up. The defence minister cited self-reliance as the main reason for rejecting nuclear-powered submarines. However, the Collins Class submarine was the poster child for self-reliance and it is hardly a success story.

Moreover, Australia depends heavily on foreign defence companies (and their Australian subsidiaries) for development and sustainment of its platforms now, and that dependence will only increase given Australia's declining defence budgets.

While nuclear safety is an important consideration, US nuclear-powered submarines have a perfect safety record, having travelled more than 240 million kilometres without a single reactor incident and visited Australian bases since 1960 without any problems. Moreover, submarine reactors are a fraction of the size of a nuclear power plant and much less dangerous.

What is important is getting the best submarine we can for the money the government is willing to spend. Rejecting highly capable nuclear-powered submarines on the basis of ideological objections, or for reasons like defence industry protectionism, is a mistake. Australia must correct that mistake and consider nuclear-powered submarines for the Future Submarine project.

onlineopinion

110M$/an de MCo chaque Collins pour un tel pietre taux ops,faut le faire

C'est une classe de SM "raté" ,la preuve est l'empressement de RN (sous fond de budget reduit ,je vous l'accorde....mais bon le hasard fait bien les choses ) a les fourguer.

Citation :

Thales completes Australia's Next Generation Desktop pilot programme
9 November 2012
Thales Australia has successfully completed the Australian Department of Defence's (DoD) next-generation desktop (NGD) project pilot programme, which is designed to generate significant cost savings for the country.

The A$6.2m ($6.5m) pilot programme began in July 2012 and involved evaluations of a new, secure and easy-to-use desktop computer system by approximately 700 DoD personnel.

Thales has now received approval from the federal government to move ahead with the roll-out of a single, large desktop to users for accessing both defence restricted and defence secret networks, which currently require multiple terminals for different networks.

Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said that the pilot programme demonstrated an efficient means of gathering real-world data from multiple operators.

"The pilot not only demonstrated the viability of this server-based computing solution, but also generated valuable implementation and de-risking experience across several defence sites and networks that will prove highly beneficial as the programme continues," Jenkins said.

"We have also recently completed a series of joint workshops with the customer, and are currently discussing how to proceed with full scale implementation of the NGD solution."

Thales was selected as NGD project's prime contractor by DoD in October 2011 to modernise its 115,000-seat end-of-life desktop environment in an effort to reduce hardware, power and sustainment costs and also improve the experience for operators.

The company's partners include Raytheon Trusted Computer Solutions (RTCS), Microsoft and Citrix, which are providing their Trusted Thin Client (TTC) software and hardware, Windows 7, Hyper V, MED-V and AppV, as well as XenDesktop and XenApp respectively for the programme.

Launched in 2009 as part of the DoD's strategic reform programme, the NGD project aims at generating an estimated A$20bn ($20.9bn) in savings between now and 2019, CIO has reported.
http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsthales-completes-australias-next-generation-desktop-pilot-programme

Citation :

Spanish navy ships head Down Under

Australia has finalised a deal for the Spanish navy tanker and supply ship SPS Cantabria to spend much of next year working with the Australian navy.

The Cantabria will deploy to Australia from mid-February to November, a period which covers part of the cyclone season when the Australian navy is short of support ships because of the problems with HMAS Choules.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the Cantabria deployment was a unique opportunity for both navies and would strengthen the relationship between Spain and Australia.

"I am very pleased that the project arrangement for this innovative activity has been signed," he said in a statement.

"It is a very sensible sharing of resources with positive training and capabilities for both the armada and for the RAN (Royal Australian Navy)."

The 19,500-tonne Cantabria was launched in 2008 and is capable of supplying fuel, food, stores and ammunition to ships while at sea.

This will be the Cantabria's longest deployment and will allow the Spanish Armada to trial the ship's full range of capabilities, including the operating and maintenance cycle.

Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare said many of the Cantabria's systems were similar to what would be on board Australia's new landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships and air warfare destroyers (AWDs), both of which are based on Spanish designs.

"This arrangement will provide an opportunity for RAN personnel to train and familiarise themselves with Cantabria before they go on to crew the LHD and AWD," he said.

During the deployment, the Cantabria will provide support to the RAN during domestic and international training and exercises.

The deployment will culminate with the Cantabria's participation in the Australian International Fleet Review in October 2013.

news.ninemsn.com.au

Citation :

GE Delivers LM2500 Gas Turbines for Royal Australian Navy's Third Air Warfare Destroyer

GE Marine reports it has delivered two LM2500 aeroderivative gas turbines to ASC in Adelaide, Australia. The LM2500s will power the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) third Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD).

ASC, the AWD project shipbuilder within the AWD Alliance, is constructing all three Hobart-class AWDs. Each ship features two LM2500s configured in a CODOG arrangement with two diesel engines. The RAN’s new destroyers are based on the design developed and used by Navantia of Spain for the Spanish Navy’s F100 frigate program.

The LM2500 gas turbines for the AWD program were manufactured at GE’s Evendale, Ohio, facility. The base and enclosure assemblies for the LM2500s were built by Thales Australia Limited, through a business component in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.

The RAN currently operates 16 LM2500 gas turbines in two additional ship classes – the Adelaide- and ANZAC- class frigate programs. The RAN also will use LM2500s to power two Canberra-class LHD ships, to be named HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide. The RAN’s LHD ships, currently under construction, will rely on one LM2500 gas turbine in a COmbined Diesel Electric And Gas turbine (CODLAG) configuration.

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