Latest news with #DefenceIndustries
The Age
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
Cook heads for UK to bolster AUKUS deal and build more nuclear submarines in WA
West Australian Premier Roger Cook has announced a defence mission to the UK in a bid to bolster the precarious AUKUS agreement and lobby for more nuclear-powered submarines to be built in WA. The partnership between Australia, the UK and US has been in limbo since President Donald Trump took office and said he plans to review it. Since the inception of AUKUS in 2021, all three leaders at the time – Scott Morrison, Boris Johnson and Joe Biden – have either lost elections or left politics. Despite this, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer remain in favour of the deal. The state government says defence is set to become WA's second-largest industry after mining – surpassing agriculture – and lobbying for UK Astute-class submarines to be built in WA will be a major focus of five-day talks. 'The defence industry is critical to our plans to diversify our economy, and that's why this trip to strengthen AUKUS ties and unlock opportunities for local businesses is so important,' he said. Loading 'We are working to make more things right here in WA, attract more international investment, and make our State one of the best in the world to do business.' Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia will join Cook on the mission, after he travelled to the US for similar talks in April where he said WA was also on the cusp of entering America's Virginia-class submarine manufacturing industry. 'From submarines to frigates, defence is Made in WA, and our local businesses are strongly positioned to support the construction and sustainment of Astute-class submarines,' he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
8 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Cook heads for UK to bolster AUKUS deal and build more nuclear submarines in WA
West Australian Premier Roger Cook has announced a defence mission to the UK in a bid to bolster the precarious AUKUS agreement and lobby for more nuclear-powered submarines to be built in WA. The partnership between Australia, the UK and US has been in limbo since President Donald Trump took office and said he plans to review it. Since the inception of AUKUS in 2021, all three leaders at the time – Scott Morrison, Boris Johnson and Joe Biden – have either lost elections or left politics. Despite this, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer remain in favour of the deal. The state government says defence is set to become WA's second-largest industry after mining – surpassing agriculture – and lobbying for UK Astute-class submarines to be built in WA will be a major focus of five-day talks. 'The defence industry is critical to our plans to diversify our economy, and that's why this trip to strengthen AUKUS ties and unlock opportunities for local businesses is so important,' he said. Loading 'We are working to make more things right here in WA, attract more international investment, and make our State one of the best in the world to do business.' Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia will join Cook on the mission, after he travelled to the US for similar talks in April where he said WA was also on the cusp of entering America's Virginia-class submarine manufacturing industry. 'From submarines to frigates, defence is Made in WA, and our local businesses are strongly positioned to support the construction and sustainment of Astute-class submarines,' he said.
West Australian
21 hours ago
- Business
- West Australian
Premier Roger Cook bound for the UK to push WA's case for AUKUS deal on the rocks
Roger Cook is heading to the UK this week to push WA's case for why the shaky AUKUS deal should proceed, amid fears Donald Trump will torpedo the $368 billion defence agreement. With Mr Trump ordering a review of the deal, the Premier — accompanied by his Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia — will meet with senior British government and defence personnel to emphasise why AUKUS is important to not just Australia, the US and the UK, but to WA. The 2021 AUKUS security pact between the US, Britain and Australia, is supposed to deliver Australia up to five nuclear-powered submarines from about 2030. WA stands to be a major beneficiary, with Henderson — just south of Perth — scheduled to get a $20b boost to become a major defence hub where the submarines would be serviced and naval ship building further developed. About $8b of upgrades are also scheduled to happen at HMAS Stirling, which will become home to Australia's nuclear-propelled AUKUS submarines — Virginia Class SSNs. 'I'm confident that AUKUS is a great deal for the US and Australia and that the Trump administration's review will confirm that,' Mr Cook said. 'While it's only natural that a new administration does a review, there's no doubt we live in uncertain times, and that's why this UK mission is a priority for my Government.' At the G7 summit, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was unable to get a one-on-one meeting with Mr Trump to discuss AUKUS after the US President left early to due to escalating the Middle East crisis. Mr Cook said the deal was in the interests of all three nations, adding any decision not to proceed with the agreement would be worrying. 'Obviously, it (AUKUS not proceeding) would be a concern not only for Australia but for the UK and a concern in relation to the US security attitude towards the geopolitical situation in this region,' he said. 'But, as has been observed by several people, the UK Government undertook its own review of AUKUS when it was elected. 'So, we are not too concerned.' During the five-day mission Mr Cook will hold a roundtable meeting in London with defence industry heavyweights and meet with UK Government officials, including Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry, and Lord Spellar, the UK's trade envoy to Australia. The Premier and Mr Papalia will also visit His Majesty's Naval Base, in Devonport which is the sole nuclear repair and refuelling facility for the Royal Navy. Regardless of AUKUS, Mr Cook was confident WA would play a significant in Australia's — and the US and UK's — defence industries. Mr Cook said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had, for example, recently announced a plan to build up to 12 additional nuclear-powered submarines over the next decade — and WA businesses could play a pivotal role in speeding up the construction of these military assets. 'There will still be significant opportunities for Western Australia's defence industry,' Mr Cook said. 'The US and UK will still need WA businesses, or WA manufacturers, to be part of the global supply chain for their own construction effort. 'There are three big opportunities for Western Australia. 'One is around maintenance and sustainment, the other is around frigate construction and the third is around being part of the international manufacturing supply chain for the construction of UK and US subs back in their countries.' Mr Cook said the State's move to renewables and clean energy would also be a selling point. 'This mission to the UK is a crucial part of my Government's plan to diversify the economy and ensure it remains the strongest in the nation,' Mr Cook said. 'We are doing everything we can to ensure that local businesses benefit from this once in a generation boom, and that's why strategic talks with decision-makers to sell our State to the world and garner investment is so important.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
First KAAN export prospect: Turkey to deliver 48 jets to Indonesia
ISTANBUL — Turkey and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding for the sale of 48 units of the future fifth-generation KAAN fighter aircraft during the INDO Defence 2025 exhibition held in Indonesia. The signing of the agreement was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 11 in a post on X. The signing ceremony took place that day in Jakarta, with the participation of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Turkish President of Defence Industries Haluk Görgün, Indonesian Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Chairman of TUSAŞ Ömer Cihad Vardan, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Vice Chairman of the TUSAŞ Board of Directors Şuay Alpay, and TUSAŞ CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu. According to TUSAŞ, the agreement also includes significant technology-transfer components in the field of aviation, leveraging Indonesia's industrial infrastructure and production capacities for the KAAN program. This agreement marks the first export deal for the aircraft, which is still in the development stage. TUSAŞ aims to start delivering the plane for the Turkish Air Force in 2028. The prototypes of Kaan and the first batch of low initial production will be powered by a General Electric F110, an afterburning turbofan jet engine. The aim is to replace this engine with a Turkish one by 2032. Turkish engine manufacturer TUSAS Engine Industries Inc. (TEI) is developing the TF-35000 engine, specially designed for the KAAN fighter. The new turbofan engine will produce 35,000 lbf of thrust. Each aircraft will be equipped with two engines. Mr. Demiroğlu stated in a post on X that the KAAN aircraft to be delivered to Indonesia would be powered by indigenous Turkish engines. Speaking about the Indonesian project, Mr. Demiroğlu said that these deliveries would come later, hopefully in the 2030s. 'Our planned delivery schedule currently includes our own indigenous engine. Right now, we're talking about 48 aircraft. Of course, depending on what's included in the package, this number could change. We estimate the total will end up somewhere between 12 and 15 billion dollars,' he said.
