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15 Oct 21. UK Carrier Strike Group led by HMS Queen Elizabeth enters Bay of Bengal. The UK’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by HMS Queen Elizabeth has sailed into the Bay of Bengal today in a powerful demonstration of the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreed by both Prime Ministers in May 2021. In its most substantial port visit to date, the CSG will provide a platform for a wide range of cultural demonstrations and trade and investment initiatives.
Subsequently, the CSG will take part in the most demanding exercise ever between the UK and India, incorporating elements from all three military services.
The deployment is a powerful demonstration of the UK’s commitment to deepening its diplomatic, economic and security-based ties in the Indo-Pacific region. India is essential in ensuring a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis said, “India is an essential partner for the UK in the Indo-Pacific region. The Carrier Strike Group’s visit demonstrates the deepening of the UK and India’s defence and security partnership. Prime Ministers Modi and Johnson agreed to work in lockstep for our shared security and prosperity. This visit will boost the cooperation of our armed forces and show the living bridge connecting our people.”
First Sea Lord Adm Tony Radakin said, “The CSG’s engagement with India showcases the deepening comprehensive strategic partnership. Both the Indian and the Royal navy are blue-water, multi-carrier navies, which places us in a very exclusive club. Our growing interactions are a testimony to the shared commitment to rules-based international system, a belief in the values of open trade, and in the importance of the freedom of the high seas – a right conveyed on all nations.”
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal and Bhutan, Marten van den Berg said, “The Indian Ocean is a gateway for Europe into the Indo-Pacific and The Netherlands definitely recognizes the increasing importance of the Indo-Pacific region and crucial role of India in this region. The visit to the port of Mumbai by HNLMS Evertsen is a confirmation of our long standing strong relationship and a step towards enhancement of the Netherlands and India defence relations.”
The participation of HNLMS Evertsen in the UK Carrier Strike Group provides the Royal Netherlands Navy a unique opportunity for the operations and training with allies and partners and to enhance diplomatic, security and economic ties while visiting different countries along the CSG route. The Netherlands and India are like-minded partners and are committed to an effective multilateralism. The visit definitely reaffirms support to the rules-based international order and shares the common principles of security, stability and freedom of navigation by both nations. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
15 Oct 21. AUKUS: Shaking up the Indo-Pacific status quo. The AUKUS trilateral partnership between Australia, the UK and the US is a significant step towards countering the rise of China’s interests and increasingly monopolising presence in the Indo-Pacific. Australia’s decision to acquire nuclear-powered submarines doesn’t just signal a significant shift in the maritime status quo in the region, it also raises questions and new challenges around the issues in play regarding politics, diplomacy, the impact on local SMEs, defence industry, science and technology, The accelerated changes to regional security and the rapidly advancing rate of military modernisation were part of the key considerations that led to Australia’s strategy re-evaluation according to a media statement published by the Commonwealth government. Due to the rapid pace in which regional security requirements have evolved, conventional submarines are no longer suited to fulfil the operational needs in the decades ahead. The Commonwealth government has asserted that it is necessary for Australia to have access to the most capable submarine technology available as a three-ocean nation. Pursuing the most advanced submarine technology available and to accelerate the production of a more capable, integrated, nuclear-powered submarine platform is necessary to defend Australia and its national interests.
For Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison (ret’d), UNSW Defence Research Institute director, the alliance was good news for UNSW’s defence and security community.
“The significance of the US decision to share nuclear submarine propulsion technology with Australia cannot be overstated.
“This establishes a new inner circle of trust among the Five Eyes nations, which purposely leaves New Zealand and Canada on the outside looking in.”
“It places Australia at the front of the queue, alongside the UK, as Washington’s most trusted and respected strategic partner,” Maddison said.
Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarine technology via AUKUS is designed to leverage on decades of experience from the US and UK. Changing strategic gears inclined towards a nuclear-powered submarine fleet came down to the absence of limitations.
Nuclear-powered submarines can be completely submerged for many months, hindering opportunities for detection by adversaries whereas conventionally powered (diesel or electric) submarines do not have the same range in capability. Weapons storage, speed and endurance are key conventional submarine constraints that are not areas of concern for its nuclear-powered counterparts.
With a view to creating a strong and effective sustainment industry and meet all requirements to safely operate and maintain nuclear-powered submarines locally, the government has maintained that it intends to maximise the use of Australian workers by building nuclear-powered submarines in South Australia.
While the Opposition has affirmed its support for the AUKUS-enhanced security partnership and nuclear submarines, the Labor Party is now pushing for the government to provide a roadmap for impacted workers and SMEs following the cancellation of the $90 bn submarine deal with France’s Naval Group.
“In addition to a yet unknown cancellation fee for the Attack Class contract, up to $4 bn has already been spent.
“A program that is running 10 years late from its original schedule and $40 bn over budget.
“The government must be transparent about how much money has been burnt in the process,” a Labor Party release read.
After three separate deals and eight years into this program, the Commonwealth government is now starting from scratch, a Labor Party release outlined, taking aim at the government’s management of the Attack Class submarine project.
Remaining in stealth mode
As Australia works towards establishing a Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce in the Department of Defence, the trilateral partnership will co-operatively examine the full suite of requirements that underpin nuclear stewardship to be able to demonstrate a clear pathway to becoming a responsible and reliable steward of this sensitive technology.
Under AUKUS, the three nations are aiming immediate focus on identifying the optimal pathway to deliver at least eight nuclear-powered submarines for Australia.
The switch to nuclear power also presents a much broader, long-term impact on the future undersea detection technologies on the vulnerability of submarines particularly those carrying nuclear weapons. Professor Rory Medcalf, the head of the National Security College at The Australian National University, is forecasting the race to detect and neutralise SSBNs will intensify, and the effect of strategic stability can potentially reach far beyond the Indo-Pacific region.
“Strategic competition is accelerating in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in relation to China’s assertiveness and power, and in spite of the great disruption of COVID-19.
“This rivalry involves increased investment in undersea nuclear forces.
“Whether or not future detection technologies will render the world’s oceans transparent, thus making SSBNs vulnerable to detection and destruction, is a matter of great and growing contention,” Medcalf said.
Developing defence capabilities
Historically, the combination of legislative, regulatory, cultural and strategic trust deficits in national capitals render seamless collaboration outside of special projects difficult. The most important aspect of the AUKUS partnership is its potential to gain traction past the initial maritime scope, according to Maddison.
“There is recognition in defence circles that current international defence sharing processes are no longer fit for the purpose of accelerating the creation of new competitive advantage military capability across the Technical Readiness Levels (TRL).
“The challenges associated with introducing nuclear propulsion into the RAN will be huge, and the path from the announcement to seeing Australian-built nuclear-powered combat-capable submarines flying the White Ensign on the west coast will be fraught with complex technical, training, financial, workforce and political hurdles,” he added.
Beyond the AUKUS submarine initiative, the unprecedented opportunity for US, UK and Australian research teams to collaborate by sharing knowledge focused on work that contributes to a collective national security interest is invaluable Maddison added, welcoming the milestone defence development opportunities the AUKUS has revealed.
“The UNSW Defence Research Institute is well-positioned to engage with Defence and our US/UK partners to gain more traction for our researchers in contributing to the long-term success of the alliance,” Maddison said.
“Perhaps most important in the AUKUS announcement is language around enhanced collaboration in developing defence capabilities in the fields of AI, cyber, hypersonics, quantum technologies and others.” (Source: Defence Connect)
12 Oct 21. Japan seeking more military co-development work with US DoD. The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) has asked the US Department of Defense (DoD) to consider areas for new co-development work, ranging from acquisition programmes to science and technology (S&T) projects, the Pentagon’s chief technology officer said on 12 October.
“They’re interested in hypersonics, they’re interested in quantum; and out of the wide spectrum of their interests we agreed to have a follow-up meeting to try to flesh out, out of their multitude of interest areas, how shall we move forward in co-development,” Heidi Shyu, undersecretary of defence for research and engineering (OUSD(R&E)), told reporters at the annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, DC.
Shyu noted that Japan co-operates with the Pentagon on one development programme already, although she did not name the programme.
Japan has eight ballistic missile defence-capable destroyers with the Aegis combat system, and has co-operated with the United States in developing technologies for the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA interceptor, with Japan providing money and technology work via a co-operative research effort under a US-Japan memorandum of agreement signed in 1999.
“What they’re looking for is a follow on, something else,” Shyu said. “I went through my strategic thrust areas … to try to get a better understanding of what are their priorities.”
She said the Japanese MoD is interested in setting up “a separate S&T forum, not just focused on acquisition, but also an S&T forum for increased collaboration”. OUSD(R&E)’s international team is now working with the MoD on potential ideas.
“Next year they invited me to Japan to literally review the work that is being done this year, so I’ll be staying engaged, Shyu noted. (Source: Jane’s)
13 Oct 21. Japan’s ruling party makes unprecedented defence spending pledge. An unprecedented election pledge by Japan’s ruling party to double defence spending underscores the nation’s haste to acquire missiles, stealth fighters, drones and other weapons to deter China’s military in the disputed East China Sea. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) included a goal of spending 2% of GDP – about $100bn – or more on the military for the first time in its policy platform ahead of a national election this month.
Experts don’t expect new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to double spending anytime soon, given Japan’s debt-saddled public finances and a pandemic-stricken economy. But it is a sign that the pacifist nation could over time abandon a commitment to keep military budgets within 1% of GDP – a number that for decades has eased concern at home and abroad about any revival of the militarism that led Japan into World War Two.
“LDP conservative leaders want the party to give it up,” said Yoichiro Sato, an international relations professor at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, referring to the de facto spending cap, which he called “sacrosanct for Japanese liberals.”
“They are setting the direction, that is what conservatives want to do,” he added.
The United States has been pushing key allies to spend more on defence; an increase to 2% of GDP would put Japan in line with pledges by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members.
The hawkish notes from the LDP come as Japanese public sentiment shifts away from concerns about rearming to growing alarm over China’s military assertiveness in Asia, particularly toward Taiwan.
In a survey of 1,696 people conducted by the Nikkei business daily at the end of last year, 86% of respondents said China posed a threat to Japan, more than the 82% who expressed concern about nuclear-armed North Korea.
“Putting this in the manifesto is a recognition of the need to garner public support for required defence policy changes,” said Robert Ward, a London-based researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “The direction of travel is now set.”
SOUTHWEST THEATRE
Japan’s military strategy is focused on defending territory along the edge of the East China Sea, where Tokyo is locked in a dispute with Beijing over a group of uninhabited islands.
The Okinawan chain, Taiwan, and islands stretching down through the Philippines form what military planners dub the First Island Chain, a natural barrier to Chinese operations in the Western Pacific.
With an additional $50 bn a year, Japan could buy more American equipment, including F-35 stealth fighters, Osprey tilt-rotor utility aircraft and surveillance drones, as well as domestically made equipment such as amphibious landing craft, compact warships, aircraft carriers, submarines, satellites and communications gear to fight a protracted war.
“The Self Defence Force is well trained and well equipped, but its sustainability and resilience is one of the most serious problems,” former Maritime Self Defense Force admiral and fleet commander Yoji Koda told Reuters.
Japan’s defence ministry also wants money for an indigenous stealth fighter, and missiles that can strike enemy ships and land bases more than 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) away. The country is also building up cyber, space and electromagnetic warfare capabilities.
“Japan wants to acquire very sophisticated capabilities in a variety of areas,” Thomas Reich, the country manager for BAE Systems PLC (BAES.L), said during a briefing on Tuesday. “What’s in the budget and where it’s going are the things that really attract us.”
Britain’s biggest defence company is part of the consortium led by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) that builds the F-35 fighter.
CARRYING ABE’S TORCH
The speed at which once-dovish Kishida has fallen in line with the national security agenda of conservatives has surprised some observers. But he is carrying on policies pursued by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and supported by conservative lawmakers who helped him win the party leadership election last month.
By pursuing a policy of similar small steps, Abe enacted security laws to allow Japanese troops to fight on foreign soil, ended a ban on military exports and reinterpreted the country’s war-renouncing constitution to allow missile strikes on enemy territory.
For now, however, the LDP defence spending pledge does not say how any extra money would be spent or indicate when the 2% goal would be reached.
“The real question is whether Japan can absorb another $50bn in a way that measurably improves Japan’s defence,” said Chuck Jones, a former defence industry executive familiar with Japan’s military policy. “The concern is that large sums will be wasted on programs and projects doomed to failure or irrelevance.”
The lack of detail gives the ruling group room to alter course, analysts say.
“There is opposition even inside the LDP,” said Tetsuo Kotani, a senior research fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs. “We are going to have an election and we will see if the general public supports the LDP’s proposal.” (Source: Jane’s)
12 Oct 21. While China’s Intimidation of Taiwan Continues, U.S. Remains Committed to Taiwanese Self-Defense. Since October 1, more than 100 Chinese military aircraft have moved provocatively through the air defense identification zones of nearby Taiwan — just over 100 miles to the east. Those military maneuvers serve only to create uncertainty in a part of the world where the U.S. wants to see stability and peace, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
“The PRC [Peoples Republic of China] has stepped up efforts to intimidate and pressure Taiwan and other allies and partners, including increasing their military activities conducted in the vicinity of Taiwan, the East China Sea and the South China Sea, which we believe are destabilizing and only increase the risk of miscalculation,” Kirby said during a briefing today at the Pentagon.
Despite the recent Chinese show of force, Kirby said the U.S. remains committed to keeping the Taiwan Strait a peaceful region.
“We will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people of Taiwan, and our commitment to Taiwan is rock solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the strait and within the region,” Kirby said.
Kirby also said that the U.S. is interested in ensuring that Taiwan continues to be able to defend itself.
“We have an abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and that’s why we’re going to continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability,” he said.
Kirby said the department would like for Beijing to honor its own commitments to peace and stability in the region.
“We’re urging Beijing to cease this military, diplomatic and economic pressure, and the coercion against … Taiwan,” he said.
While China’s Intimidation of Taiwan Continues, U.S. Remains Committed to Taiwanese Self-Defense
Since October 1, more than 100 Chinese military aircraft have moved provocatively through the air defense identification zones of nearby Taiwan — just over 100 miles to the east. Those military maneuvers serve only to create uncertainty in a part of the world where the U.S. wants to see stability and peace, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.
“The PRC [Peoples Republic of China] has stepped up efforts to intimidate and pressure Taiwan and other allies and partners, including increasing their military activities conducted in the vicinity of Taiwan, the East China Sea and the South China Sea, which we believe are destabilizing and only increase the risk of miscalculation,” Kirby said during a briefing today at the Pentagon.
Despite the recent Chinese show of force, Kirby said the U.S. remains committed to keeping the Taiwan Strait a peaceful region.
“We will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people of Taiwan, and our commitment to Taiwan is rock solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the strait and within the region,” Kirby said.
Kirby also said that the U.S. is interested in ensuring that Taiwan continues to be able to defend itself.
“We have an abiding interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and that’s why we’re going to continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability,” he said.
Kirby said the department would like for Beijing to honor its own commitments to peace and stability in the region.
“We’re urging Beijing to cease this military, diplomatic and economic pressure, and the coercion against … Taiwan,” he said. (Source: US DoD)
11 Oct 21. Tigrayan leaders say Ethiopian army has launched ground offensive. Addis Ababa seeks end to protracted conflict in northernmost region. The Ethiopian armed forces and their allies have launched a “final” ground offensive against Tigrayan loyalist forces, leaders from the northern region said, as Addis Ababa seeks to end an almost year-old conflict. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF, which ruled the country for three decades until the selection of prime minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018 and has been engaged in a war with the government since November, said Abiy’s “final offensive” was in its second day. “Thousands have already perished in the latest round of [this] reckless campaign,” said Getachew Reda, a senior member of the TPLF, on Tuesday. The Financial Times was unable to independently verify his claims. But people close to the Ethiopian government have said that federal troops have been regrouping and rearming in recent months and were waiting for the rainy season to come to an end before engaging in battle. Asked if an offensive was under way, Billene Seyoum, Abiy’s spokeswoman, said that the government “has a responsibility to protect its citizens in all parts of the country from any acts of terrorism. The government of Ethiopia will continue to counter the TPLF’s destruction, violence and killings in the Amhara region and elsewhere.” Thousands of people are believed to have been killed and more than 2m have fled their homes since a civil war erupted in November in Tigray when Abiy, a Nobel Peace laureate, sent troops to quell unrest in the northernmost region after what he said was an attack on Ethiopian forces by troops loyal to the TPLF. While the prime minister had promised swiftly to restore law and order, and took over most of Tigray in late November, the war has become a protracted and gruesome conflict that has sparked a humanitarian crisis pushing hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions, according to the UN and USAID. After pro-TPLF fighters retook the regional capital Mekelle in June, the federal army largely withdrew, and the government called a unilateral ceasefire. In August, Abiy urged “all capable Ethiopians” to join national and regional armed forces “to halt the destruction of the treasonous and terrorist TPLF . . . once and for all”. On Monday, the TPLF accused Addis Ababa of “fielding hundreds of thousands of regular and irregular fighters” who are “supported heavy artilleries, tanks, rockets, drones and fighter jets”. The war has also ensnared troops and militias from other Ethiopian regions, particularly Amhara, as well as neighbouring Eritrea, and the US has raised the prospects of sanctions if all warring factions do not end hostilities. Abiy was inaugurated for another term last week after winning his first electoral test in June. (Source: FT.com)
08 Oct 21. Sri Lanka proposes strong defence budget increase for 2022. The government of Sri Lanka has proposed a defence budget of LKR373bn (USD1.86bn) for 2022, a 14% increase over the allocation in 2021. The new budget plan was contained in the appropriation bill for 2022, which was presented to parliament on 7 October. According to the bill, the proposed defence allocation accounts for 15% of total government expenditure for 2022. The proposed budget comprises LKR326.3bn for ‘recurrent’ expenditure for operations, maintenance, and salaries. It also includes LKR46.7 bn for capital expenditure. The recurrent allocation is a 20.5% increase over the expenditure in 2021 while the appropriation for capital expenditure is a rise of 26%. The 2022 bill also lays out proposed funding for the branches of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces (SLAF). The army will receive a total allocation of LKR188.1bn, a year-on-year increase of 11%. The navy will get LKR63.9bn, an increase of 4%, while LKR56bn has been allocated to the air force, an increase of 8.5%. Of this funding, the air force will receive nearly LKR15 bn in capital expenditure, while the navy and army have been allocated LKR9.2 and LKR7.4bn respectively. Most of the remainder, LKR18.4bn, is allocated to Sri Lanka’s multipurpose development task force, a social welfare and job creation initiative started by the government in 2020. Other recipients of defence funds include the minister of defence, department of civil security, and the coast guard. Following its presentation to parliament, the appropriation bill for 2022 will be subject to three readings and debate. The bill is scheduled to be enacted from December. (Source: Jane’s)
07 Oct 21. North Korea promotes new five-year military plan amid heightening tensions with Seoul. Janes Defence Budgets forecasts gradual real-terms growth in North Korea’s military expenditure over the coming decade. North Korea’s launch in late September of a claimed hypersonic missile shone light on the country’s five-year plan to develop ‘defence science and weapon systems.’ While few details have been released about the plan, Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the hypersonic missile – named Hwasong-8 – is one of the plan’s “five top-priority tasks”. The disclosure came during a period of heightened tensions with South Korea, with both countries announcing and progressing plans to develop several new missile systems. In addition to the hypersonic missile, North Korea launched in September a newly developed long-range cruise missile, short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) from a new railway-based platform, and a newly developed anti-air missile. It was following the launch of the first of these systems, on 13 September, that the KCNA made its first reference to the five-year programme. “The development of the long-range cruise missiles … is of great significance in attaining the main goal of the five-year plan for the development of national defence science and weapon systems,” said the KCNA. (Source: Jane’s)
11 Oct 21. Australia’s AUKUS submarine deal strikes blow to arms contractors. Small firms in scuttled contracts for French-made vessels face stormy future. Australia’s cancellation of a 90bn Australian dollars ($65.9bn) submarine contract with France and shift to working with the U.S. and the U.K. to develop nuclear submarines has created problems for defense contractors abandoned by the move. Lockheed Martin Australia, which was supposed to be in charge of the submarine’s combat systems, is one that is being battered by Canberra’s surprise move to scrap the 2016 contract with France’s Naval Group for 12 diesel-powered submarines. Local companies could also be involved in the new program, but the outlook remains murky. Just a day before Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed the new tripartite alliance known as AUKUS — an initiative that would entail building at least eight nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy — Lockheed Martin Australia had announced it was awarding 12 contracts to Australian industry and academic organizations for a combined value of AU$900,000. The contracts were for developing novel and emerging technologies in support of Australia’s attack-class submarine combat system.
In a statement to Nikkei Asia, Lockheed Martin Australia said: “We are honored to have led the Combat System Integration for the Commonwealth of Australia’s Future Submarine Program since 2016. We are immensely proud that over the last five years our highly skilled team has strengthened our partnership with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Government, and supported sovereign jobs, training and strategic partnerships with industry and academia.”
The statement added that the company was “working closely with our customer to understand specific impacts for our highly skilled sovereign workforce.”
Many Australian manufacturers — mostly small and midsize companies — are facing huge losses that could bankrupt them.
After Australia’s new alliance with the U.S. and U.K. to build a fleet of nuclear submarines was announced in mid-September, Australian Industry and Defense Network CEO Brent Clark voiced concerns about the fate of hundreds of companies that have invested in the naval supply chain.
“The reality here is that, clearly, the government has made a strategic decision and we will always respect the government’s right to do that,” Clark told Sky News Australia. “But you have got hundreds of Australian companies that have been systematically investing, upgrading, upskilling and spending money to get themselves ready to go into the supply chain for Naval Group. We need to ask the question: How are those companies going to be looked after?”
Clark pointed out that many Australian defense manufacturers are small to midsize enterprises with under 300 employees. He warned the policy shift could drive these companies into bankruptcy with heavy losses from their bets on the French submarine contract.
Thales, a major French electronics maker, is another casualty. A statement on Australia’s abrupt change of course read: “From a financial point of view, Thales is exposed to this program at two levels: as a supplier of subsystems to Lockheed Martin, and as a 35% shareholder of Naval Group.”
Thales is a major shareholder in Naval and had a supply contract with Lockheed Martin. But the company downplayed the impact on its bottom line. “At 30 June 2021, the corresponding order book with Lockheed Martin is not material at the scale of Thales, since it amounts to less than 30m euros ($34m).”
In 2016, the Australian government selected DCNS, the forerunner of Naval Group, as its partner in the development of next-generation submarines. DCNS was chosen over Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, as well as German defense contractor ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
Then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who wanted to create more jobs at home, decided to go with DCNS, which promised to build the bulk of submarines in the state of South Australia.
The cost of building 12 conventional submarines was initially estimated at AU$50bn, with the program being touted as Australia’s biggest defense equipment procurement deal on record.
Naval is irked by Canberra’s shift. “For five years, Naval Group teams, both in France and in Australia, as well as our partners, have given their best and Naval Group has delivered on all its commitments,” the company said in a statement, reflecting its bitter disappointment and intent to start talks with Canberra about compensation.
Before Naval started building the submarines, Australia had already spent around AU$2.4bn on designing an attack-class submarine. The loss of the program is undoubtedly a heavy blow to Naval.
Australian Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has suggested that the cost of the planned fleet of “at least eight” nuclear-powered submarines will exceed AU$90bn.
With the involvement of the U.S. and the U.K., both of which operate their own nuclear submarines, experts say American and British companies will play leading roles in the program.
Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, has cited General Dynamics — maker of Virginia-class nuclear submarines in the U.S. — and its Electric Boat division as two potential candidates. British defense company BAE Systems, which makes nuclear submarines for the U.K., is another. Construction of Australia’s nuclear submarines will start within the next 10 years, according to Morrison. (Source: News Now/https://asia.nikkei.com/)
10 Oct 21. UK Carrier Strike Group’s return to Singapore off to flying start with Air Force and Navy interactions. UK’s aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will visit Singapore tomorrow, reaffirming the deep and enduring SG-UK Partnership. Launching from the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, F-35B Lightning jets took to the skies with the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) F-16 fighters yesterday (9 October). Exercising together in the international waters of the southern reaches of the South China Sea, the jets conducted simulated air combat training and formation flying. Meanwhile, ships from the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and the Republic of Singapore Navy conducted a manoeuvring exercise in the international waters in the South China Sea. These activities kicked off the Strike Group’s engagements with Singapore, which will be led by flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth visiting the city-state tomorrow (11 October), as a demonstration of the deep and longstanding UK-Singapore relationship.
UK’s Minister for Asia, Amanda Milling and Royal Air Force (RAF) Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, are also in Singapore tomorrow, and will meet with senior military officials from Singapore onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Amongst her engagements in Singapore, Minister Milling will also lead the UK’s contribution to a think-tank roundtable, covering themes of ASEAN, regional security and prosperity, and the UK’s role in the Indo-Pacific.
Whilst onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Air Chief Marshal Wigston will receive an operational update from 617 Squadron detailing how the F-35 Lightning has been integrated and operated throughout the deployment. The Carrier Strike Group, which set off on its maiden operational deployment in May (2021), has sailed the Atlantic Ocean, through the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific – participating in a range of activities with partners and allies enroute.
The deployment highlights the UK’s commitment to defending democratic values, enhancing defence and security cooperation and promoting free trade around the world – key themes in the UK Government’s Integrated Review, published earlier this year.
While in Singapore, the crew onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth will host Singapore officials and industry leaders from a range of sectors – including defence and security, trade and business, and science and research – supporting the development of closer UK-Singapore cooperation and the UK’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. To mark International Day of the Girl tomorrow (11 Oct), female engineers on HMS Queen Elizabeth have also participated in a ‘virtual Q&A’ with girls from Singapore, answering their questions about careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) sector. All activities involving HMS Queen Elizabeth will be conducted in full compliance with the Singapore government’s Covid-19 measures, including testing, mask use and safe distancing. All CSG personnel will remain on the ship throughout the duration of the visit. Singapore is one of over 40 countries which the Carrier Strike Group will visit or exercise with during its global deployment.
In July (2021), the Strike Group navigated through the Singapore Strait, with a number of ships conducting an exercise with the Republic of Singapore Navy in international waters in the southern reaches of the South China Sea. At the same time, replenishment ship RFA Tidespring also made a contactless pit stop to Singapore to embark supplies for the Group’s movement further east.
Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group, said, “The Carrier Strike Group’s deployment has been designed to recognise the importance of the region globally. The Group’s presence also demonstrates our support for the freedom of navigation passage through vital trading routes and our commitment to an international system of norms that benefits all countries. So thank you Singapore for your support to the Carrier Strike Group’s deployment, for contributing to air exercises alongside our jets and supporting HMS Queen Elizabeth’s pit stop at Changi. We are proud to play our part in continuing to grow and deepen the Singapore-UK relationship.”
Her Excellency Kara Owen, British High Commissioner to Singapore, said, “2021 is a pivotal year for our engagement with the region, with the UK becoming ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner since 1996, and launching negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Singapore has been a longstanding partner and supporter of the UK’s engagement in this region, and HMS Queen Elizabeth’s visit testifies to our close and enduring bilateral relationship. During her time here, she will support our ongoing efforts to further grow the SG-UK Partnership for the Future, in areas from defence and security, to trade and prosperity, and science and research. “(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Home land Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need. A CNIM Group Company
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