AUS: Minister for Defence to visit Brussels

I leave Australia later today to travel to Brussels to join my North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Defence Ministerial colleagues for the February NATO / ISAF Defence Ministers’ Meeting on Afghanistan.

This will be my fourth visit to Brussels for the purpose of attending a NATO / ISAF Defence Ministers’ Meeting on Afghanistan.

Defence Ministers will consider progress in Afghanistan, particularly in the security context and the ongoing transition process to Afghan-led security by 2014.

Australia is committed to training and mentoring the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in Uruzgan Province to enable them to take on responsibility for security in Uruzgan by 2014.

Australian forces continue to make steady progress in training the 4th Brigade of the Afghan National Army. The 4th Brigade is increasingly assuming the lead for the planning, preparation and execution of tactical operations, allowing Australian forces to concentrate on mentoring and partnering Afghan command and combat support functions.

The 4th Brigade is also demonstrating progress towards operating independently, with a number of infantry Kandaks (Battalions) now expected to be capable of conducting independent operations during 2012. On current advice, the 4th Brigade as a whole is expected to be operationally viable and ready to take the lead for security by 2014, and possibly earlier.

Defence Ministers will also take the opportunity to discuss the international community’s post‑2014 transition commitment to Afghanistan ahead of the NATO / ISAF Summit in Chicago in May.

Continued international community support and resourcing for the ANSF will be essential for Afghanistan in the post-transition environment.

I will also take the opportunity to meet bilaterally with a range of my NATO/ISAF Defence Ministerial colleagues.

AUS DoD

News Story: (AUS) Navy set to be more capable than ever

Australia's Future LHD

Max Blenkin

New warships will give Australia's navy more capability than ever before, with some help from the US Marines, Defence Minister Stephen Smith says.

Speaking at the navy's Sea Power Conference in Sydney, Mr Smith noted the navy was set to acquire two new landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships, their largest vessels ever, three advanced air warfare destroyers and 12 next generation submarines.

As well, the navy's eight Anzac frigates were being upgraded with new radars and missile defences while 24 new Seahawk helicopters would give warships a greatly enhanced combat capability.

Read the full story at 9News 

India: India, Sri Lanka hold Inaugural Defence Dialogue

The inaugural defence dialogue between the Defence Secretaries of India and Sri Lanka was held here yesterday. Defence Secretary Shri Shashikant Sharma and the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Shri Gotabhaya Rajapaksa co-chaired the meeting alongwith their delegations, comprising the officers of the Defence Ministries and the Armed Forces of the respective countries. Regional security situation including issues of maritime security in the Indian Ocean region dominated the inaugural Annual Defence Dialogue. 

The Defence Secretary Shri Shashikant Sharma and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mr. Gotabhaya also called on the Defence Minsiter Shri AK Antony in South Block. Various issues relating to bilateral defence interactions came up for discussion at the meeting. 

India Press Information Bureau

Thales demonstrates Fibre Laser Sensor in Sydney Harbour

Thales Australia is demonstrating its innovative Fibre Laser Sensor technology in Sydney Harbour this week as part of the Pacific 2012 International Maritime Exposition.

The company is a leader in underwater systems, operating a Centre of Excellence in Rydalmere, NSW. The Fibre Laser Senor (FLS) technology is another example of technological success in this field.

The FLS is a rapidly deployable sea-bed surveillance array representing the next generation of underwater surveillance solutions. Lightweight, ultra-thin and cost effective, an FLS array can be dropped from a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) and almost immediately provide an underwater surveillance capability.

“FLS technology is of real significance at a time when terrorist threats are increasing,” said Chris Jenkins, Thales Australia CEO. “This technology could play an important role in border protection, deployed to protect a harbour for example, or in a force protection role, deployed around a ship to warn it about incoming surface or underwater threats.

“The technology also has commercial applications, and could be used as a seismic array to survey seabeds, for example.

“We would like to thank the Department of Defence for supporting this innovation through its investment in the FLS via the Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) program. We also acknowledge the close cooperation of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the Royal Australian Navy, who have played key roles in this program’s development."

FLS technology uses electro-optic hydrophones (underwater microphones) to convert underwater sounds to light signals. An FLS device is embedded inside the hydrophone’s fibre-optic glass. When the hydrophone picks up the underwater noise made by another ship or submarine, the actual shape of the device changes. This change in dimensions is used to transmit the acoustic information via a light signal back along the cable, where a processor provides information about the signal to the operator.

The information coming from many underwater sensors can then be processed to provide information on the direction the underwater noise is coming from and its strength, giving the operator an indication of where another ship or submarine is, how many propellers and blades it might have, and even what direction it is travelling. The low attenuation of the optical signals potentially enables an FLS array to be several kilometres long.

Over the past 20 years, Thales has made a substantial investment in building an Australian sonar technology and expertise base. The company has supplied sonar systems for the FFG Upgrade, Collins submarine, Huon Class Minehunter and ANZAC frigates. This has created a significant capability advantage for the Royal Australian Navy, as well as important exports for the Australian economy, with over $400 million of exported sonar and related systems from Australia.

Thales

Record intake of apprentices and trainees at Garden Island dockyard (AUS)

Thales Australia has taken on a record 20 new apprentices and trainees at the Garden Island dockyard in 2012.

The intake is more than double the nine apprentices and trainees who graduated to fully qualified employees at the end of 2011.

Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said the record intake of apprentices and trainees was a positive sign for the future of maritime sustainment work at Australia’s largest naval ship repair and maintenance facility.

“We are very proud of the support role we play to the Royal Australian Navy at the Garden Island facility.

“Successfully sustaining the ships based at Garden Island requires constant training to build the skills of our workforce and ensure we have skilled employees training for the future.

“A broad range of skills are covered by the 20 new apprentices and trainees we have taken on this year, including various trades, weapons repair, technicians and electronics.

“These are advanced and specialised skill sets essential for the sustainment of the Navy’s east coast fleet.

“With a build-up in the size of the fleet based at Garden Island already starting, we are looking to ensure we have the skilled workforce necessary to meet the challenge of a larger east coast-based fleet.

“The arrival of HMAS CHOULES in December will be followed in coming years by the new Air Warfare Destroyers and the LHDs, the largest ships ever to be operated by the Navy. 

“The Navy’s Garden Island facility is a vital national strategic asset, and we work closely with the Navy to ensure ship sustainment is carried out on budget and on time, every time.”

Thales

News Story: Australian forces receiving Falcon radios

AN/PRC-150(C) (Harris Info)

MELBOURNE, Fla., Jan. 31 (UPI) --Australia's Department of Defense has ordered Falcon radios from the Harris Corp. of Florida for its armed forces.

The order is part of Australia's tactical radio modernization program for its armed forces and will provide service personnel with secure Type-1 voice and data communications.

The value of the order is $235 million.

Read the full story at UPI

News Story: Companies team for ship support work

HMAS Choules

SYDNEY, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- The Australian navy's newest Landing Ship Dock HMAS Choules could be provided with life support services from Britain's A&P Group and Thales Australia.

A&P said it has signed an agreement with Thales Australia to offer the service to Australia's Defense Material Organization.

The ship was decommissioned by the British navy last April as part of cost-cutting measures by the British government and was purchased by Australia.

Read the full story at UPI

News Story: Russia to Sell 60 Armored Vehicles to Indonesia

Russia to Sell 60 Armored Vehicles to Indonesia

14:26 31/01/2012 Russia is set to sell up to 60 infantry fighting vehicles to Indonesia in a deal worth more than $100 million, the Izvestia newspaper cited an unnamed military source as saying on Tuesday.> Read the full story HERE <

Other news of the day

Editorial: India Picks Rafale Fighter

By Devindra Sethi

The Indian Defense Ministry called in the representatives of Dassault France and handed over a Letter of Intent to them Tuesday afternoon, in the process selecting the company to supply 126 Rafale fighters to the Indian Air Force over the next ten years.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Editorial: Why U.S. Needs Amphibious Skills

By Rep. J. Randy Forbes

Amphibious combat capabilities are vital to the U.S. military. This is no more so than in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Amphibious warfare.” To most Americans, the term conjures up images from HBO’s The Pacific, where U.S. Marines assault the beaches of Pacific islands on their way to Tokyo. Sure, it served its purpose in World War II, but are we ever going to need to fight our way onto a beach again? A decade of combat in the Middle East has only strengthened the opinion that the Marine Corps may be a muscular instrument of warfare, but its amphibious tradition is now ancient history.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Our Navy-Marine Corps team’s ability to conduct joint amphibious operations bestows the United States with a range of unique capabilities that will be in high demand in tomorrow’s uncertain security environment, specifically in the Indo-Pacific maritime region.

Read the full story at The Diplomat