Sea State Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has been selected as the preferred tenderer for the $1.2 billion contract to construct two auxiliary oiler and replenishment vessels for RAN, Defence Minister Marise Payne confirmed last week. The …
The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee is holding an inquiry into the planned acquisition of the F-35 Lightning II (Joint Strike Fighter). ASPI has had a keen interest in this project for over …
Fisheries are significant renewable resources for Indian Ocean and Pacific Island countries. They underpin food supplies, maintain livelihoods and assist economic growth. Our regional fisheries engagement in the Indo–Pacific should be viewed as a whole-of-government …
Australia’s defence thinkers are ever worried about self-reliance and order. The Rs reign: rules and self-reliance and region. Those themes run through the 40 years from the first Defence White Paper in 1976 to the …
Those of us in the nation’s capital are enjoying a public holiday today, but we’ll be back tomorrow with our usual program of commentary and analysis. Until then, catch up with Friday’s ASPI suggests; Tom Hanson on upping …
Marking International Women’s Day this week The Economist released their annual glass-ceiling index, which seeks to show where women have the ‘best chances of equal treatment at work’. The interactive index reveals that Australia still has quite …
Israel’s persistent occupation of Palestinian lands is irreparably damaging its international standing—or so the conventional wisdom goes. In fact, Israel currently enjoys a degree of global influence unprecedented in its history, as a slew of …
The current strategic/political argument to buy Japanese submarines doesn’t stand up against a $50+ billion life cycle submarine project for acquisition, sustainment and upgrades which will run until at least until 2060. Alan Behm’s recent …
The record of the RAN’s Oberon- and Collins-class submarines shows that diesel-electric submarines can perform valuable long-range operations. However, Australia’s range and endurance requirements are much closer to the operating profiles of other nations’ nuclear-powered …
The release of 2016 Defence White Paper signifies a much sharper focus from Australia on maritime Southeast Asia. Geography dictates that whenever Canberra looks at maritime Southeast Asia, the first country that appears in its …
The US Navy’s USS John C. Stennis carrier strike group has recently concluded a five-day ‘routine patrol’ in the South China Sea. Accompanied by several US vessels based in Japan, at first glance it appears …
Referendums are all the rage in Europe. In June, British voters will decide whether the United Kingdom should remain in the European Union. The Hungarian government has called for a referendum on accepting its quota …
The contrast between the replacement for the existing Collins class submarines and the F-111 strike fighter is instructive. Governments didn’t replace the F-111 with the similarly sized F15 fighter, let alone require a much bigger …
The Beat Narcotic control strategy reports What’s that? You want to read about international narcotics control strategies? Well, you’re in luck. Both the United Nations and the US State Department have recently released reports on …
The Federal Government’s Defence White Paper signals a complete redesign of the relationship between the Australian Defence Force and industry. The Turnbull Government’s broader National Innovation & Science Agenda has significantly impacted this White Paper …
It’s time to look past Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs—this is Oz and the Seven White Papers. (No word to hand on the Handsome Prince capability trial or cost blowout in the digital poisoned …
Australia’s seventh Defence White Paper was announced as we approach the 40th anniversary of the first Defence White Paper, tabled in Parliament in November 1976. A 40th anniversary is an appropriate time to reflect on …
This year’s Defence White Paper was accompanied by a document entitled 2016 Integrated Investment Plan (IIP) (PDF), which claims to bring together ‘for the first time’ the following: Unapproved Major Capital Investment Program Approved Major …
This week saw the passing of one of the pioneers of cyberspace, Raymond Tomlinson, who was the first man to ever send an email. While Tomlinson didn’t invent email, he did transmit the first message …
A new reality is emerging in Asia. In recent decades, many of Asia’s economies have boomed. The region today accounts for about 40% of the world’s GDP—up from 25% in 1990-and contributes about two-thirds of …