Prime Minister Tony Abbott has instructed the authors of the new Defence White Paper currently in preparation to consider the acquisition of the STOVL F-35B variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to operate from the Navy’s forthcoming LHD amphibious ships. “It is understood Mr Abbott has instructed planners working on his defence white paper
The RAAF has released these images of Exercise Stoneage, which it describes as a “long-range strike exercise” involving Amberley-based 1 Squadron over May 12 – 24. “The exercise involved the release of the Joint Stand Off Weapon (JSOW), Guided Bomb Units (GBU)-10, GBU-24 and GBU-31 at the Woomera Air Weapons Range,” the RAAF said. This content
European aerospace companies Airbus Defence and Space, Dassault Aviation, and Alenia Aermacchi have joined forces to develop a next generation medium altitude long endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system. The three companies say they have delivered the ‘MALE2020’ proposal to further define a European UAS to France, Germany and Italy. The offer proposes a definition phase
The Navy has celebrated 30 years of service of 723 Squadron’s AS350 BA Squirrels, marking the arrival for the first ‘Battle Budgie’ at HMAS Albatross, Nowra on May 14 1984. The white and navy blue AS350 B Squirrels were part of an initial buy of 24 helicopters for the ADF, with an original six Squirrels being
Switzerland’s plan to buy 22 SAAB Gripen fighters has been voted down in a public referendum. Held on May 18, 53.4 per cent of respondents voted to reject the proposed Gripen Fund Law, effectively bringing to a halt Swiss plans to replace its F-5E/F fleet with the Gripen. This content is available exclusively to Australian
Defence Minister Senator David Johnston has again raised the possibility of Australia acquiring a number of Lockheed Martin F-35B short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) versions of the Joint Strike Fighter for operation from the RAN’s new Canberra class LHD vessels. Speaking to The Weekend West on May 17, Senator Johnston said the acquisition