Australian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

17 May

AUSTRALIA
The government is considering acquisition of F-35B fighters … to operate from CANBERRA class helicopter carriers
(rmks: should require – expensive – modification/strengthening of flight deck)

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TerraN_EmpirE said:

As a Chopper Carrier it did not need the full outfitting for dealing with the Thrust of the F135 Engine. As A chopper carrier the Ausies have time. but If they want to put Lightning on the Deck they need to reinforce it. Fortunetly they and The Spanish will both both have time and each other to share the same data.

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Japan, Australia consider submarine deal that could rattle China

TOKYO/SYDNEY — Japan will get the chance to pursue an unprecedented military export deal when its defense and foreign ministers meet their Australian counterparts in Tokyo this month.

Japan is considering selling submarine technology to Australia - perhaps even a fleet of fully engineered, stealthy vessels, according to Japanese officials. Sources on both sides say the discussions so far have encouraged a willingness to speed up talks.

Any agreement would take months to negotiate and remains far from certain, but even a deal for Japan to supply technology would likely run to billions of dollars and represent a major portion of Australia’s overall $37 billion submarine program.

It would also be bound to turn heads in China......

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Jeff Head said:

I have to believe that both Canberras are similarly outfitted. We know they purposefully kept the ski-jump...I bet the decks are properly treated too.

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Brumby said:

They probably are but like Japan, F 35 B's acquisition are not in the budget. This means, politicians are not on board - yet. The Australian military will have to articulate a strategic vision that would call for such a requirement. The Australian public is generally supportive of the Canberra's because they can be used for among others, humanitarian missions. F 35 B changes the dynamics of the missions - I think.

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ABC/Reuters said:

Japan plans to sell submarine technology to Australia in a deal that would see it export defence-related products for the first time since World War II.

Japan will get the chance to sell the technology, and potentially a fleet of fully-engineered vessels, when its defence and foreign ministers meet their Australian counterparts in Tokyo next month.

Sources on both sides say the discussions so far have encouraged a willingness to speed up talks, which would likely take months to negotiate.

While it remains far from certain, a deal for Japan to supply technology would likely run into billions of dollars and represent a major portion of Australia's overall $37 billion submarine program.

It would also turn heads in China.

Experts say a Japan-Australia deal would send a signal to Asia's emerging superpower of Japan's willingness, under nationalist prime minister Shinzo Abe, to export arms to a region wary of China's growing naval strength, especially its pursuit of territorial claims in the East and South China seas.

A deal would also help connect Japanese arms-makers like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries to the world market for sophisticated weaponry, a goal Mr Abe sees as consistent with Japanese security.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he favours boosting strategic cooperation with Japan.

The Australian Government has committed to building the $40 billion replacement for its Collins-class submarines at home.

However, a government-commissioned report from US-based think-tank Rand Corp found that Australia lacked enough engineers to design and build a vessel that it said would be as complex as a space shuttle.

"The likely practical approach is that Australia would partner with a foreign partner company and government," the report published last year said.

Professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University, Hugh White, warns the deal is not without risk.

"There's a clear danger that aligning ourselves closely with Japan on a technology as sensitive as submarine technology would be read in China as a significant tightening in what they fear is a drift towards a Japan-Australia alliance," he said.

"It would be a gamble by Australia on where Japan is going to be 30 years from now."

Australia's proposed fleet of submarines is at the core of its long-term defence strategy.

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Naval Today said:

Royal Australian Navy submarine, HMAS Sheean, has been hunted from the air and sea as part of Exercise Bersama Shield off the Malay Peninsula.

Exercise Bersama Shield is designed to enhance the interoperability of Five Power Defence Arrangement member nations. Australian Defence Force (ADF) elements have joined with forces from Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom for the exercise, which started on 22 May to and concluded yesterday.

Commanding Officer of Sheean, Commander Richard Smallwood, said the submarine provided a number of air and sea training opportunities for the contributing nations.

“We work closely to test not only our own abilities to avoid detection but to help air and sea assets search,” he said.

“The water we operate in here is very shallow and this presents a unique challenge in terms of anti‑submarine warfare.”

Monday, 26 May, also marked the 100 year anniversary of Australian submarines. Thanks to the exercise, Sheean was the first submarine to sail on the first day of the second century of Australian submarine service.

Throughout the exercise the submarine was hunted by two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP-3C Orion’s from No. 92 Wing, based at Edinburgh, in South Australia.

In addition to Sheean, the Royal Australian Navy Frigate HMAS Sydney also participated in the exercise.

Commanding Officer of Sydney, Commander Karl Brinckmann, said Bersama Shield provided all involved with invaluable training.


“This was a fantastic opportunity for the crews, not only to conduct the exercise at sea but to participate in the harbour phase that includes joint planning, training activities and a sports event,” Commander Brinckmann said.

“Bersama Shield enables all participants to develop close working relationships.”

Commander Australian Contingent, Commander Michael Jacobson, agreed that Bersama Shield was an excellent opportunity for the five nations to enhance their interoperability in various facets of air and maritime warfare.


“The role of the Royal Australian Navy, especially HMA Ships Sheean and Sydney, in the exercise is very important,” Commander Jacobson said.

Across the five nations, 53 aircraft participated in the air effort, which was supported by 5 naval vessels and thousands of personnel working in areas such as operations, planning, logistics and maintenance.

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