Latest news with #AII
SBS Australia
26-05-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
'It's my DNA': Lydia Santoso talks about her new role, personal mission at Australia-Indonesia Institute
SBS Indonesian 26/05/2025 14:55 In February, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the appointment of Lydia Santoso as Chair of the Australia-Indonesia Institute. Lydia Santoso was born in Indonesia—to an Australian mother and Indonesian father—and grew up in Cessnock in the NSW's Hunter Valley. The lawyer is also Chair of the Australia Indonesia Business Council NSW and sits on the board of the Australian Consortium for 'In-Country' Indonesian Studies (ACICIS). Ms Santoso said she was excited about the appointment—especially as she became the first woman to ever hold the role—although she admitted to not know of why she was chosen. These two cultures are like my whole being. The whole relationship is my DNA. Lydia Santoso - Chair of the Board of the Australia-Indonesia Institute 'So, for me, it's a personal mission to make sure the relationship between these two countries,' she told SBS Indonesian. Ms Santoso explained the mission of the AII including projects that build partnerships and collaborations between the two countries. But what is her big dream in this role? Listen to the full interview. Listen to SBS Indonesian on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 3pm. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram , and don't miss our podcasts.
SBS Australia
18-05-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
'We need Indonesia more': A look at PM Albanese's visit to Indonesia
SBS Indonesian 18/05/2025 10:02 Board Chair of Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII) Lydia Santoso spoke to SBS Indonesian on what to expect from PM Anthony Albanese's visit to Indonesia. Ms Santoso outlined where she saw progress in the two countries' relationship in recent years, particularly in trade, and mentioned factors that were obstacles and needed to be addressed going forward. If I'm being completely honest, Indonesia does not really need Australia. We need Indonesia more. Lydia Santoso, Board Chair of Australia-Indonesia Institute Listen to the full podcast. Listen to on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 3pm. Follow us on and , and don't miss our
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Did the Trump administration move too quickly to commit to the F-47?
On March 21, President Donald Trump announced that Boeing was being awarded the contract to develop the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter, or NGAD, now called the F-47 — a major commitment by the Trump administration. As outgoing secretary of the Air Force in the Biden administration, I had the opportunity to make that decision but I chose to defer it until after the presidential election. Why? At first glance, the decision to ensure the U.S. Air Force has the most capable manned fighter in the world doesn't seem to be a tough call. But Congress needs to look beyond the obvious appeal of this advanced aircraft and ask the Trump administration some hard questions: Is this the right airplane for our defense strategy? Is it affordable? Does it displace higher priorities? I deferred the NGAD decision because I didn't have those answers before I left the Department of the Air Force — and it's unclear whether the Trump administration has them now. I started the NGAD program in 2015, when I was under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and Logistics. At the time, I launched the Aerospace Innovation Initiative, or AII, to build experimental prototypes, known as X-planes, that would develop and test high-risk and high-payoff technologies for the next generation of fighters after the F-35, while also supporting competition and maintaining cutting-edge aircraft design teams in the defense industrial base. This program successfully produced the technologies that are the basis for the designs that competed to become the F-47. Following AII's success, the Air Force moved on to developing more detailed tactical designs with all the features and subsystems required to support the Air Force's chosen mission. When I returned to the Pentagon as Secretary of the Air Force in 2021, I found that the Air Force had decided to pursue a follow-on to the F-22, a fighter designed for manned Penetrating Counter Air, or PCA, missions. Such missions involve flying deep into enemy airspace and fighting against robust, state-of-the-art defenses. The PCA emphasis brought with it significant costs — tens of billions for development and hundreds of millions per aircraft for production. These expenses limit the potential aircraft inventory to small numbers. We currently have fewer than 200 F-22s. These airplanes are precious, and we can't tolerate high losses in this fleet. We don't know what conflicts or warfighting scenarios will drive the Trump administration's defense investments. PCA designs are based on the need to take the air superiority fight deep into heavily defended enemy territory, but we have to ask: Is this a sound planning scenario for nuclear powers like China or Russia? If the Trump administration's strategy emphasizes homeland security and defensive scenarios, wouldn't a lower cost design more focused on Defensive Counter-Air, or DCA, make more sense? Would a multirole next-generation design, like the F-35, make more sense? Would an aircraft designed to work with uncrewed tactical aircraft, like the Air Force uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft, make more sense? The decision to buy the F-47 needs to be the right choice for the future — this is the only new crewed fighter aircraft the Air Force will likely pursue for a long time. Just before I left office, I authored a report for Congress on the Department of the Air Force that the U.S. would need in 2050. I discussed the strategic environment we could expect at that time and what the Air Force and Space Force would need to do to prepare. I predicted a transition to reliance on uncrewed aircraft that would most likely be controlled by crewed aircraft designed for that purpose, providing superior capabilities and putting fewer pilots at risk. The F-47 will be able to control uncrewed aircraft, but it isn't optimized for that function. Congress needs to ensure that the Trump administration has considered the relationship between the F-47, the Trump defense strategy and the overall future of the Air Force. Moreover, whether the F-47 will fit into the Trump administration's 2026 budget and future years program remains an open question. When the Air Force created its first draft 2026 budget and five-year program in 2024, we concluded we couldn't afford NGAD no matter how capable and relevant it was. Congress needs to ask what has changed since then. Over the next five years, the F-47 program will require tens of billions of dollars in additional funding. At this point, with all the other demands on the Air Force budget, including recapitalizing two legs of the nuclear triad, it's unclear whether this administration — or the next — will be able to continue this program. Congress should demand to see the affordability analysis the Trump administration should have completed before awarding the contract. Congress should also consider whether the Trump administration's future year defense plan and budget will prioritize higher priority investments than the F-47. When I left the Pentagon, the Department of the Air Force had a list of unfunded strategic priorities that were higher priority than NGAD. At the top of the list were counter-space weapons and airbase defense. Neither of these is a direct Air Force responsibility, but both are critical to the success of the entire Joint Force. China is well on its way to fielding robust space-based targeting systems that threaten all of our land- and sea-based forces. We must acquire counter-space systems at scale or China will be able to target all of our assets at sea and on the ground with impunity and in real time. China also has an ever-expanding arsenal of sophisticated weapons ready to strike our airbases in the Pacific. Those bases are limited in numbers, not well defended and each is subject to attack by literally hundreds of missiles of all types. Our new F-47s — and all of our forward-based aircraft — will never get off the ground if we don't address these threats through substantial budget increases. Congress must demand that the Trump administration provide a national defense strategy with the 2026 budget and explain how the F-47 supports that strategy. The administration also needs to show the F-47 is affordable and that it hasn't come at the expense of higher priority needs. Congress must ensure that the Trump administration provides the needed support for the F-47 decision. Until then, the jury is still out on whether the F-47 contract should have been awarded. Frank Kendall served as the Secretary of the Air Force during the Biden administration.
Zawya
09-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Middlebank Consulting Group and Netstock announce strategic partnership
Dubai, UAE – Supply chain and value chain management consultancy Middlebank Consulting Group, today announced an expanded strategic partnership with Netstock, a global leader in inventory management and demand planning software. This collaboration aims to equip businesses with the tools and expertise necessary to stay resilient against today's supply chain challenges while optimising business performance. In the current market landscape, businesses worldwide are grappling with the increasing complexity of managing inventory, responding to rapid demand changes, challenges with suppliers and staying competitive. Supply chain disruptions, outdated planning systems, and inefficiencies have created significant operational headaches. To remain competitive, organisations need innovative solutions that offer real-time insights and enable swift, informed decision-making. The strategic alliance between Middlebank Consulting Group (MCG) and Netstock brings together the deep consulting expertise of MCG and Netstock's cutting-edge inventory optimisation platform, with built-in artificial intelligence (AI) functionality. This collaboration is aimed at empowering businesses to stay resilient against today's supply chain challenges and set their operations on the right path to thrive in an ever-changing market. Netstock's software has already demonstrated its value to companies worldwide, improving fill rates by 15%, reducing inventory levels by up to 25%, and improving demand forecasting accuracy by 50%. This partnership enables MCG to integrate these powerful capabilities, with strategic consulting to help businesses maximise their impact and ensure sustainable growth. 'Having built a strong reputation for providing businesses with strategic guidance on the latest supply chain solutions which ultimately drive efficiency and cost savings, we are excited to have Netstock in our portfolio,' said Alan Win, Founder and CEO, Middlebank Consulting Group. 'Through this partnership, we will enable organisations to fully harness Netstock's capabilities and create agile, future-ready supply chains that respond to both current and emerging business needs.' 'We're excited to work with Middlebank Consulting Group to extend the benefits of Netstock's platform to a wider audience. Together, we can help more businesses optimise their inventory management and make better strategic decisions,' said Mark Hopkins, VP Global Accounts at Netstock. Netstock's innovative inventory and demand planning solutions are made smarter with AII, offering businesses a more efficient way to manage inventory. By replacing manual, error-prone processes with an automated, data-driven approach, companies using Netstock have achieved improved stock visibility, reduced manual workload by up to 70%, and have more streamlined decision-making. These benefits free up valuable time and resources, allowing businesses to focus on growth and enhancing service levels. What also sets Netstock apart is its commitment to data security. Being ISO 27001 certified ensures that Netstock customers' data is handled with the highest standards of security and integrity. This deep dedication to safeguarding data, alongside their tailored onboarding experience and premier Learning Academy, reinforces Netstock as a trusted partner for long-term success. Over the past two and half decades, MCG has achieved numerous milestones, including successfully working with over 150 client organisations across a spectrum of industry sectors in more than a dozen countries to improve their logistics and supply chain operations. The company has successfully reduced operational costs for clients by an average of 15% through strategic interventions and has also implemented a complete range of technology solutions to enhance supply chain efficiency. About Middlebank Consulting Group (MCG) Middlebank Consulting Group (MCG) is a leading provider of comprehensive supply chain management services. Founded in 1998 in New Zealand, MCG has been operational in Australia since 2003, in Singapore and India since 2016, and more recently in the USA. For over 25 years, the company has grown to become a trusted partner for businesses looking to optimise their supply chain operations. With a team boasting over 225 years of collective experience, Middlebank Consulting Group delivers innovative solutions that drive efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall performance. About Netstock Netstock is a leader in demand and supply planning software, trusted by 2,400+ customers globally to optimise their planning. With $26B inventory managed by Netstock, the company's cloud-based solutions enable businesses to be agile, responsive, and profitable. Each solution integrates with leading ERPs and uses advanced analytics and smart AI tools, helping businesses quickly adapt to market changes and make the best supply chain decisions for their business. Media contact:
