Defence Alert

THE 1100 workers at risk of losing their jobs if the Williamstown docks close need to look at their company, not the Federal Government, for support, Defence Materiel Minister Mike Kelly says.

BAE Systems and unions have warned that the shipyards will be shut down in 2015 unless the company gets more work.

The Defence White Paper is an uncosted fairy story. It reads well but there is no way in which Julia Gillard and her woeful Defence Minister Stephen Smith will ever see any of it through.

It’s another crutch for her government on which to limp through until September 14, when Australia goes to the polls and the burden of running Australia is lifted from shoulders quite inadequate for that task.

The twists and turns of Australian immigration policy grew even more complicated yesterday with the passage of legislation in parliament to excise the mainland of Australia from the “migration zone”.

The migration zone is any place in Australia where a person arriving without a valid visa – what is technically called “without lawful authority” – can still make a valid visa application.

US President Barack Obama is planning to boost spending in Australia and other Pacific and East Asian nations as the US refocuses on the region, and away from traditional hotspots Europe and the Middle East.

The request came as Defence Minister Stephen Smith and US ambassador Jeffrey Bleich exchanged diplomatic notes on Thursday in Canberra to formally bring the Australia-US Defence Trade Treaty into effect.

The invitations have gone out to air forces around the world and now Warbirds Over Wanaka is awaiting the replies.

Reporting to the annual meeting of the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust this week, general manager Ed Taylor said he had contacted the air forces of Australia, France, Singapore and the United States about the Easter 2014 show but had yet to hear which would attend.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the new defence trade treaty between Australia and the US will expand the reach of, and help protect, both nations' interests across the world.

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith and US ambassador Jeffrey Bleich exchanged diplomatic notes on Thursday in Canberra to formally bring the Australia-US Defence Trade Treaty into effect.

MANAMA — As the interest in mine warfare floats to the top of navy agendas around the world, effective coordination remains one of the biggest challenges facing budget-conscious nations who now need to work together to stop the threat of mines blocking crucial waterways for trade.

On May 15, 2013, the shares of L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. ( LLL - Analyst Report ) climbed to its 52-week high of $85.29 primarily driven by strong results in the first quarter of 2013 on strong international and commercial operations. We believe that operational efficiency, few strategic acquisitions, innumerable sizeable contracts and an effective cash deployment strategy have also led the company’s share to attain this high.

After last year's drastic spending cuts, there are aspirations for moderate growth (2% of GDP) in Defence spending. Treasurer Wayne Swan's budget speech stated that "this Budget funds the core defence capabilities required to protect Australia's national security interests". Following the Budget, there is still little clarity on how the aspirational 2% target can be achieved.

AUSTRALIA has jumped back on board the US Navy program to develop long-range surveillance drones to watch over the country's vast landmass and ocean approaches.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the government would issue a Letter of Request to the United States to gain access to detailed cost, capability and availability information on the US Navy's MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft.

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced he wound visit the United States starting Thursday. Also on Thursday he exchanged diplomatic notes to bring the Australia - U.S. Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty into force with the U.S. Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey Bleich.

It will be Smith's fifth visit to the United States as Minister for Defence and the first visit to the United Nations Headquarters since Australia assumed seat on the United Nations Security Council in January this year.

Australia and Sweden have reached agreement on transfer of submarine intellectual property as a key step in maintaining existing Collins submarines and building their replacements.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said this followed extensive negotiations between Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration.

Good Technology said the Australia’s Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) gave its Good for Enterprise (GFE) secure mobile container solution DSD Cryptographic Evaluation (DCE) certification.

Such certification will allow iOS devices secured with Good for Enterprise to communicate and store classified information up to “protected” level. Ovum describes protected level security certification as “the holy grail" for IT services.

The Skeldar V-200 vertical-lift unmanned aerial system by Saab of Sweden has verified key capabilities in flight testing in Sweden and the United States.

The testing to demonstrate both land-based and sea-based operations, were conducted in night and day circumstances and showed system capabilities, including convoy shadowing, performance of its EO/IR sensors, as well as precision landing.

The first pilotless flight over British airspace has been successfully completed.

Aerospace company BAE Systems flew a Jetstream 31 - dubbed the "flying test bed" - from Warton near Preston in Lancashire to Inverness in Scotland.

Strictly speaking, the flight was not unmanned -- two pilots were in the cockpit as a precaution.

Australia's aid and defence spending in the Pacific has escaped the sweeping cuts to Government programmes announced in the latest Budget.

Reflecting the nation's concerns for stability, crime and violence in the region, Australia will pump more than A$1.2 billion ($1.4 billion) into humanitarian, economic and military programmes.

Another Defence White Paper – the second from the current Labor Government and almost a sideshow in the lead-up to the Federal Election and the Budget.  Unlike past papers, this one drew headlines for a day then faded into obscurity, to be left for analysis by academics and retired senior military figures in front of equally specialised audiences. The general public moved on.

SINGAPORE - The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Ng Chee Peng signed the Submarine Rescue Arrangement with Royal Australian Navy (RAN)'s Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral Ray Griggs earlier today.

The agreement was signed on board the RSN's submarine rescue and support vessel, MV Swift Rescue.

Defence Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman today announced the purchase of 200 new trucks for the New Zealand Defence Force.

In a $135 million project, the government is purchasing Rheinmetall- MAN military vehicles to replace the old NZDF Unimog and heavier Mercedes trucks.

A FIFTY-THREE-LOT subdivision proposed for a controversial aircraft-noise affected area in Raymond Terrace was approved in principal by council last night.

Port Stephens mayor Bruce MacKenzie called up the development application (DA) for 2 Halloran Way, which extends to 153 Richardson Road, for councillors to vote on.