With the Boeing P-8A Poseidon established in US Navy service and the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton well into its test and evaluation program, the US Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) project is being monitored closely by the ADF as it seeks to inform its broadly similar Air 7000 program.

Tracking 2014-15 revenue of $1.2 billion, Austal is Australia’s largest domestically-based defence contractor but its attributes have tended to fly below the radar in its home country

With the purchase of the Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) complete with the Aegis weapons system, ADM thought it might be time to have a look at what these ships can do in the ballistic missile defence (BMD) space. What can we achieve and what do we want to do?

The Australian Submarine Escape and Rescue System (SERS) is a unique capability. Even more so when you consider that a lone, local SME has produced a range of technologies that world leaders told them was ‘unachievable’ for some elements of the system.

While much of the ‘noise’ emanating over plans to acquire new submarines have tended to focus on their number, type and where they will be built, there are the more muted concerns of this country’s clever systems companies.

As homeport to 10 of the RAN’s 14 Armidale class patrol boats, HMAS Coonawarra, adjoining Darwin Harbour and part of Larrakeyah Barracks, is a major part of the RAN’s involvement in Operations Resolute and Sovereign Border.

Before construction of the RAN’s Anzac class of eight FFH frigates was completed their need for better weapons and self defence capabilities had long been evident, especially in respect to anti-ship missile defence (ASMD).

At the 2001 Defence + Industry Conference in Canberra, there was an expectation that Defence would announce the results of the competition for the supply of a new combat system for the Collins-class submarines. The choice lay between the ISUS90-55, offered by STN Atlas and its Australian partners, and the Raytheon CCS Mk.2, in service with the US Navy.

While Australia’s Project SEA 1180 has been put on the back burner, the US Navy remains resolved to bring offboard MCM into its front line. ADM examines the means to effect this transformation, and challenges being encountered.

Although IOC for the first of the RAN's two Canberra class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) amphibious ships is scheduled for mid to late 2015, the capabilities these 27,800 tonne vessels will deliver to the ADF have yet to be widely appreciated.

When the first of the RAN’s three Hobart class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs) is completed sometime around March 2016, much of the navy’s weaponry portfolio will be deployed on the one platform.

When first mooted, the program to replace the Anzac class of frigates with another, more modern version, aka the Future Frigate, might have been seen as something of a blank canvas.

By far the most dramatic moment at ASPI’s two-day “The Submarine Choice” conference came in its closing minutes, with an extraordinary verbal stoush between the chairman of German submarine constructor Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS), and a retired Swedish Rear Admiral.

Another option for Australia’s SEA 1000 Future Submarine program has become clear in very recent times, with the news that SAAB has been directed by the Swedish government to explore the possibility of creating a submarine design and construction capability.

Stealth is the single most important factor in the philosophy and broad issues guiding the development of Australia’s Future Submarine, key decisions on which need to be made within 18 months, David Gould, general manager Submarines at the DMO, told the ADM Congress.

Both HMS Daring and HMAS Perth were on hand for the International Fleet Review last year in Sydney to help celebrate the 100 years of the Royal Australian Navy. I was lucky enough to sail from Jervis Bay into the Sydney heads on Daring and spend some quality time on HMAS Perth during her stay.