Defence

Snapshot

In the news

13 February

The Vietnamese Government has given its approval for further work to commence in search of Australian soldiers missing in action from the Vietnam War.

Ongoing diplomatic efforts, greatly assisted by the support of the Vietnamese Embassy in Canberra, have secured approvals for the private, Australian Government-backed group Operation Aussies Home, and a specialist civilian team coordinated by Army, to conduct further examinations of sites in Vietnam where the remains of Australian soldiers could be located.

The Army team, supported by the Operation Aussies Home group, will seek to establish whether remains of Lance Corporal John Gillespie can be located from a helicopter crash site in the Minh Dam Mountains (formerly the Long Hai Hills) of southern Vietnam.

Army is currently making preparations to support the expert team to go to Vietnam at the earliest opportunity.

23 February

The Government has given First Pass approval for a new Helicopter Aircrew Training System for the Australian Defence Force which will teach Navy and Army pilots and aircrew to fly helicopters through the use of simulators, advanced rotary wing training aircraft, and an aviation training vessel.

Projects Air 9000 Phases 7A (Navy) and 7 B (Army) have been merged into a single project, with an estimated value between $500 and $700 million. Project Air 9000 Phase 7 combines both the Navy and Army Helicopter Training Systems into a joint Helicopter Training School, and will see the replacement of the Kiowa and Squirrel helicopter fleets with a common helicopter type.

Defence expects that Project Air 9000 Phase 7 will return to Government for Second Pass approval in 2009.

26 February

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will conduct a search for the RAN submarine HMAS AE1, which disappeared with its full crew near Rabaul in September 1914.

The AE1, along with her sister ship AE2, was commissioned into the RAN at Portsmouth, United Kingdom, on 28 February 1914, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Thomas Besant, RN. The two submarines sailed for Australia in March 1914 and arrived at Sydney on 24 May 1914.

On 11 August 1914, just five days after Australia declared war on Germany, AE1 was dispatched from Sydney to support the Australian military operating against the German Army on the island of New Britain.

On 14 September 1914, she disappeared without trace while on patrol on the east coast of the Duke of York Island Group. A brief search was conducted without success.

RAN survey vessels HMAS Benalla and Shepparton searched for the submarine during routine survey operations in the vicinity of New Britain, north east of Papua New Guinea, between February 26-28. An update on the outcome of the search will appear in the Defence magazine as soon as information is at hand.

27 February

An independent review of military superannuation arrangements has been commissioned. The superannuation review complements a range of Australian Government initiatives aimed at enhancing Australian Defence Force recruitment and retention.

The review will be led by Mr Andrew Podger AO, a former Public Service Commissioner with strategic Defence experience. He will be assisted by Dr David Knox, a recognised superannuation expert and former APRA Board member, and Air Commodore Lee Roberts, CSC, who will provide advice about ADF personnel and bring a military perspective to the review team.

Submissions addressing the terms of reference are welcomed. Additional information about the review, the terms of reference and consultation arrangements are available on Defence’s website at www.defence.gov.au/militarysuperreview.

1 March

The Army and Navy celebrated their 106^th birthday, with ceremonies around Australia to remember the sacrifice, the commitment, the dedication and the achievements of our soldiers and sailors over this long period, both during wars and in peacetime.

They continue to perform these roles today in a wide variety of locations and activities. We should recall their legacy to all of us with great appreciation.

1 March

A new Defence Industry Policy has been announced. The new policy is designed to achieve the cost-effective delivery of equipment and support to ensure the men and women of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have the best possible advantage we can give them when on deployment.

The Policy Statement sets outs the Government’s response to the challenge of ensuring the cost-effective delivery of equipment and support to the ADF in line with Australia’s strategic circumstances.

The Policy builds on the Government’s 2006-07 Budget commitment to the defence of Australia and its interests through a sustained increase in Defence spending of three per cent per annum in real terms out to 2015-16.

13 March

The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson MP, welcomed to Sydney Harbour one of the warship options being developed by the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Program for the Royal Australian Navy. The Spanish Navy’s F100 Class ship, Alvaro de Bazan, berthed at Garden Island on the final leg of its Australian tour.

The ship was visiting Australia as part of the first circumnavigation of the globe by a Spanish warship in 142 years.

The F100 class, designed by Spanish company Navantia, is the basis of the Existing Design option being developed by the AWD Alliance, which consists of the Commonwealth, ASC AWD Shipbuilder Pty Ltd and Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd.

The other option is the Evolved Design being developed by Gibbs & Cox, Inc., which is based upon the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer in service with the United States Navy.

No matter which option is selected by Government, the Australian Defence Force will be equipped with one of the world’s most capable air warfare destroyers to defend Australia and its national interests.

The AWDs will provide the flexibility to deliver continuous air and missile defence beyond the range of supporting land-based aircraft.

The AWD Alliance is currently developing business cases for the Existing and Evolved Designs, which will be presented to Government for consideration in mid-2007.

The Air Warfare Destroyer Program is the largest, most complex naval procurement in Australia’s history.

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