RAN to acquire SM2 Block IIIC and SM6
The RAN will arm itself with Raytheon SM2 Block IIIC and SM6 missiles under a $7 billion agreement with the United States. The SM2 Block IIIC and SM6 are said by Defence to be the most advanced air and missile…
US Navy, RAN collaborate on integrated air and missile defence test
The US Navy destroyer USS Preble has successfully completed Flight Test Aegis Weapon System-32 (FTM-32), using the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System to successfully intercept a Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) target using SM-6 Dual II Software Upgrade. Supported by…
LOSV – joining the dots…
Defence’s announcement that it would acquire six Large Optionally Crewed Surface Vessels (LOSV) took many observers, including this one, by surprise. Digging into the program, however, this is a more logical move than it may at first seem. First of…
RAN fleet expansion – what DON’T we know?
The announcement that the RAN’s fleet of surface combatants would more than double is welcome; even more so is the news that the Australian defence budget will be increased to pay for them. It is gratifying that EX2 managed to…
RAN to grow surface combatant fleet
The Royal Australian Navy will more than double the size of its surface combatant feet under plans released by the Australian government. The expanded fleet of more than 26 ships will also be more lethal than the RAN’s current fleet…