Yesterday
Australia’s defence chief rejects Chinese spying claims
In his first comments on dramatic helicopter near miss, General Angus Campbell said a Chinese pilot had acted unsafely and unprofessionally.
- Andrew Tillett
This Month
China wrong on defence flare stoush: Albanese
Beijing now says an Australian navy helicopter was spying on its military in the Yellow Sea.
- Andrew Tillett
Beijing blames ‘provocative move’ for helicopter flare incident
Stabilisation of ties between Canberra and Beijing suffered a setback after a Chinese fighter jet released flares near an Australian navy helicopter.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
April
Navy, RAAF face cuts to pay for $330b in new weapons
While the government touts its $330 billion new weapons blueprint, concerns are being raised about programs that have been scrapped.
- Andrew Tillett
- Opinion
- Defence
Defence strategy fills gaps but misses holes
We need to move towards a wider conversation around national security and mobilisation, and be clear on the vulnerability in our capabilities until the late 2030s.
- Jennifer Parker
Defence’s $330b plan still leaves decade of danger
Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia faces a “precarious” decade, by the end of which defence spending will be about $100 billion a year.
- Andrew Tillett
First Japan, now Canada wants in on AUKUS
China says AUKUS plans to broaden participation in its military technology sharing agreement is “stoking bloc confrontation”.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett and Matthew Cranston
Two years to fix Defence: New military chief’s mission
Bedding down AUKUS and recruiting new personnel are key challenges for the new Defence chief amid warnings China will be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
‘Never seen him riled up’: Meet Australia’s new defence chief
Vice Admiral David Johnston has had plenty of tough jobs to prepare him to take command of Australia’s military.
- Andrew Tillett
- Exclusive
- National security
Government poised to shake up spy, security chiefs
The Albanese government has the opportunity to reshape the leadership of the military and security agencies in coming months.
- Andrew Tillett
Christopher Pyne emerges as Hanwha’s man in Canberra
The Korean conglomerate has lobbed a $1 billion bid for ASX-listed Austal. The local shipbuilder has rejected the offer, saying it won’t be approved.
- Kylar Loussikian
February
Silos, sugarcoating and second guesses: Insiders on Defence’s problems
Defence officials are inclined to put a positive spin on issues at odds with reality, according to defence insiders.
- Andrew Tillett
Marles rips into defence ‘culture’
Defence Minister Richard Marles has sharpened criticisms of his own department, arguing there are “issues of culture” which need challenging.
- John Kehoe
Six years in a leaky boat: the plan to fix an ailing navy
Defence is betting that smaller ‘drone’ ships and plenty of missiles will be enough in a fast-changing world of remote-controlled warfare.
- Andrew Tillett
Congress pushes back on Australian industry AUKUS fears
Australian defence industry concerns about tight AUKUS controls on technology are being heard in America’s halls of power, but don’t bet on softer rules.
- Matthew Cranston
Australia’s 10 major defence projects that are late and over budget
A new report has revealed that Australia’s 20 biggest defence acquisitions are running a cumulative 37 years behind schedule. Here are the top 10.
- Andrew Tillett
Too old, too slow: Marles’ mission to shake up Defence
As Marles tries to assert his control over Defence, it’s obvious there is no silver bullet – or silver drone – available to him.
- Andrew Tillett
- Opinion
- Justice
Is this man a war-crimes whistleblower - or a celebrity martyr?
The ex-army lawyer who could be jailed for leaking military secrets, David McBride, is no hero. He’s the product of self-entitled privilege.
- Kevin Foster
Marles takes potshot at Defence
Richard Marles says the Defence Department has a “way to go” before achieving excellence following the Financial Review’s revelations of tensions between minister and military.
- Andrew Tillett
- Exclusive
- Defence
The defence minister’s war with his department
Increasing tensions between Richard Marles and Defence are fuelled by bickering about new weapons and the government’s inability to deliver a funding boost.
- Andrew Tillett
