Latest news with #NationalDefenceStrategy
Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
Maldives to receive Guardian-class patrol boat from Australia
Australia will gift an Australian-built Guardian-class Patrol Boat to Maldives, country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles and Maldives Minister of Defence, Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, announced in Male on Monday. In addition to the new vessel, Australia will also gift a multi-beam echo sounder to Maldives. The hydrographic equipment will support Maldives' capability to map its ocean floor, helping to ensure maritime safety and unlock economic development, said the Australian Defence Ministry. The Guardian-class Patrol Boat is under construction and due for completion in 2026. "This announcement is a key milestone in our bilateral relationship and a significant step towards enhancing Maldives' capability to protect its sovereign waters and contribute to maritime security in the Indian Ocean. The Guardian-class Patrol Boat will provide Maldives a more persistent presence in its vast exclusive economic zone to deter, detect and disrupt illegal maritime activities," read a statement issued by the Australian Defence Ministry. Working closely with Maldives, Australia will develop a maintenance and sustainment package to support the vessel. This initiative, Australia said, upholds its shared commitment to security, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). "Australia is proud to partner with Maldives to support its maritime security capability. In line with our National Defence Strategy, Australia is working with partners across the Northeast Indian Ocean to maintain regional security and stability. Australia is pleased to gift a Guardian-class Patrol Boat to Maldives and will continue to seek opportunities to deepen our long-standing defence partnership. As Indian Ocean countries, Australia and Maldives share a vision of our region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous," said Marles. After attending the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from May 30-June 1, Marles is travelling to South and Southeast Asia from June 2-5 for high-level meetings. He will meet leaders and counterparts in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia to deepen diplomatic and defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. "The visit to India coincides with the fifth anniversary of Australia and India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which underpins our relationship and shared vision for the Indian Ocean," the Australian Defence Ministry stated.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Australia to gift Guardian-class patrol boat to Maldives
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and Maldives Minister of Defence, Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, on Monday (June 2, 2025) announced that Australia would gift a Guardian-class patrol boat to the Maldives. The vessel is under construction and scheduled for completion in 2026. 'In addition to the new vessel, Australia will also gift a multi-beam echo sounder to Maldives. The hydrographic equipment will support Maldives' capability to map its ocean floor, helping to ensure maritime safety and unlock economic development. This initiative upholds our shared commitment to security, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region,' said a release. Working closely with the Maldives, Australia will develop a maintenance and sustainment package to support the vessel. 'Australia is proud to partner with Maldives to support its maritime security line with our National Defence Strategy, Australia is working with partners across the Northeast Indian Ocean to maintain regional security and stability,' said Mr. Marles. Mr. Maumoon said, 'Our nations are bound by a mutual commitment to the safety and security of the seas — particularly in the vital area of search and rescue operations, where we share a common border.' According to another statement, Mr. Marles is on a visit to South and Southeast Asia from June 2 to 5 for high-level meetings. He is expected to meet leaders and counterparts in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia. 'During his visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka, the Deputy Prime Minister will discuss ongoing Australian support for both nations' sovereign capability development,' it added. The visit to India coincides with the fifth anniversary of Australia and India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 'In Indonesia, the Deputy Prime Minister will meet his counterpart to reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,' the release said.
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
US General warns America's military capabilities will be 'challenged' if a war breaks out, in stark warning to Anthony Albanese after he dismissed ASPI report
The United States' military and its ability to defend not only itself but its allies has been called into question, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been forced to address his government's attitude towards defence. General Jack Keane, who served as the Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army from 1999 to 2003, warned the US' military capabilities are not what they used to be and that it could be significantly challenged as the threat of war lingers. He also warned of the threat of war in the Indo-Pacific region and that the likes of China, North Korea, Russia and Iran have come together to form the "most significant and serious threat to the United States' interest" and its allies since the Second World War. General Keane recalled the 2022 Congressional Commission on the National Defence Strategy, which he contributed to, and how it concluded the US army and allies in the region would be "challenged" to win a war against China as its military capabilities currently stand. "After two years of examination, (we found) that based on current military capability... U.S. Military capability and allies in the region, that we would be challenged to win a war against China in the near term because of the erosion of US military capability," he told Sky News' The Bolt Report on Thursday. "Even though we're earnestly trying to repair that, we would be challenged to win and indeed, we could lose. "We have to move with a sense of urgency to create the kind of deterrence that we need. We're trying to prevent a war from happening. (Chinese) President Xi has told his military leaders, be prepared by 2027, and he has been threatening war every single year as well." In a statement of hope for the future though, General Keane said President Donald Trump's $150 billion pledge for defence would be "very significant" in solving glaring holes in America's military. "(It could) solve the fact that we don't have all the missiles we should have. We don't know all the long range weapon systems, all the air defence systems and others," he said. Earlier on Thursday, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) warned that the government risks falling behind in its military preparedness amid rising global threats. In the report, its author and former home affairs deputy secretary Mark Ablong concluded "the failure of this year's budget to meet that responsibility will make all Australians less secure". "Without urgent, coordinated and well resourced responses to those challenges, Australia risks a brittle and hollowed defence force, diminished industrial sovereignty, and compromised national security in a volatile Indo Pacific region." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to the report but brushed off the concerns, maintaining his government had invested in the department more than adequately. "Well, that's what they do, isn't it, ASPI? I mean, seriously, they need to… have a look at themselves and the way they conduct themselves in debates," Mr Albanese told ABC Radio Brisbane. "We've had a defence strategic review. We've got considerable additional investment going into defence — $10 billion. "ASPI regularly produce these sort of reports, you know, run by people who have been in a position to make a difference in the past as part of former governments."
Gulf Today
21-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
UAE enhances manufacturing through industrial excellence
Tawazun Council and Thales have signed a cooperation agreement to locally produce advanced Ground Master series air surveillance radars. This agreement supports the UAE's vision to boost local manufacturing and develop national defence capabilities. The signing took place on the second day of the 'Make it in the Emirates 2025,' with Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Sector Chief of Defence and Security Industry Affairs at Tawazun Council, and Abdelhafid Mordi, CEO of Thales in the UAE, in attendance alongside representatives from both sides. This reflects Thales' commitment to supporting the UAE's vision of advancing manufacturing capabilities through innovation and industrial excellence. The Ground Master radars are internationally recognised for their reliability, superior performance, rapid deployability, and adaptability to diverse missions, positioning them amongst the world's leading air surveillance and defence systems. The facility is scheduled to be fully operational by 2027, where it will assemble, test, and qualify advanced air surveillance radars to meet both domestic and export markets' needs. The factory will serve as a strategic asset, bolstering the UAE's defence manufacturing capabilities, enhancing self-sufficiency in critical technologies, and providing flexibility to address varying operational requirements. A core pillar of Thales Radar Centre of Excellence's expansion is the development of Emirati talent. Thales places localisation at the heart of its growth strategy through advanced training programmes and sustainable professional career development, building specialised local expertise in advanced radar technologies in support of the UAE's National Defence Strategy and its vision of a highly capable, future-ready national workforce. As the project is not only focused on building the radar system but also on qualifying domestic suppliers, it further contributes to strengthening the national industrial base and promoting long-term self-reliance. Commenting on the agreement, Al Romaithi said, 'The expansion of Thales' Radar Centre of Excellence reflects the strength of the UAE's defence industrial strategy and its regional leadership in advanced technologies. This initiative enhances national capabilities in air surveillance radar systems while creating significant opportunities for local companies to grow, innovate, and compete globally.' For his part, Mordi said, 'Thales is proud to contribute to the growth of the UAE's industrial defence ecosystem by advancing local capabilities, in-line with the national vision. The expansion of our Radar Centre of Excellence, through the establishment of a new production facility, marks a major milestone - from integration, testing, manufacturing to lifecycle support. 'This investment reinforces the UAE's sovereignty in critical defence technologies, strengthens the national supply chain, embarks UAE talents and deepens local expertise in advanced radar systems.' Earlier Tawazun Council and Airbus announced, during the Make it in the Emirates 2025, the strengthening of their strategic partnership through the launch of a national industrial capability development programme in the aerospace sector. Tawazun Council and Airbus strengthen partnership to manufacture C295 fuel tanks in UAE. The initiative aims to manufacture and supply Cargo Compartment Removable Tanks (CCRTs) in collaboration with EPI, a subsidiary of EDGE Group. In the presence of Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of Tawazun Council, the agreement was signed by Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, CEO of Operations at Tawazun Council, and Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus for Africa and the Middle East, in the presence of representatives from both sides. The programme aligns with the UAE's vision to expand its industrial footprint within global aerospace and defence supply chains by developing and producing mobile, multi-role fuel tanks for cargo compartments. These tanks will support aerial refuelling, ground support and extended-range missions with high efficiency. The initiative falls under the UAE's Tawazun Economic Programme, one of Tawazun Council's key strategic tools aimed at boosting local content and promoting technology transfer in the aviation and defence sectors. As part of this effort, the Council is supporting the exclusive serial production of this type of removable fuel tank over the next five years. The project involves Airbus Defence and Space sourcing from EPI to manufacture and assemble aerostructures and sub-assemblies, and to certify specialised production processes. Once fully developed, EPI will serve as the sole source supplier for these components, reinforcing the UAE's growing role as a key industrial partner in the aerospace and defence sectors.
Epoch Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Australia's Defence Budget Up Just 0.8 Percent in Real Terms Over the Last Decade: Analysis
Australia's defence spending over the last 10 years has stagnated, and new funding commitments unlikely to make a difference for years to come, a new report says. The federal government's latest defence budget announcements listed an 'additional $50.3 billion' of spending over the next 10 years with an 'additional $10.6 billion invested over the forward estimates.' In addition, $1 billion of spending would be brought forward 'to enable Defence to acquire capabilities faster,' making a total of $57.6 billion over the coming decade. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the pledge was in contrast to the previous Coalition government, which had 'secretly ripped' $20 billion out of the defence budget. But an analysis by Strategic Analysis Australia (SAA) shows that under both Labor and Coalition governments, the real buying power of the funds has been eroded by inflation, and in real terms only equate to a 0.8 percent increase. And while it raises the proportion of defence spending from 2.03 to 2.05 percent of GDP, that's still well short of the government's National Defence Strategy (NDS) target of 2.4 percent by 2033/34. Related Stories 4/1/2025 3/24/2025 The funding analysed is allocated to the Department of Defence, the Australian Signals Directorate, and the Australian Submarine Agency. Despite acknowledging that, "over the next two decades, we face greater security uncertainty and complexity, globally," the 2016 Defence White Paper made no funding provision for dealing with it, according to a report from Strategic Analysis Australia. The 2016 Defence White Paper (DWP) outlined 10-years funding up to 2025/26 with the Morrison government's 2020 Defence Strategic Update (DSU) extending that until 2029/30, essentially at the same rate of growth. 'By and large, both Coalition and Labor governments have delivered the funding set out in those documents,' the SAA report, titled, 'Defence 2025: Dollars and Decisions,' says. 'Using the last Budget year before the 2016 DWP as our starting point, the defence budget has grown from $31,151 million to $58.989 million in nominal terms, or 89.4 percent. 'Real growth, which takes inflation into account, is a better way of assessing the scale of growth and is still a substantial 41.5 percent. Defence funding has also grown from 1.88 to 2.05 of GDP.' But over that period, governments have regularly reassigned funding to new priorities. 'Changing priorities is the prerogative of governments,' SAA says, 'But most of them require Defence to fund the new measures out of its existing resources, and we rarely hear what's been given up to find the money.' This argument was mirrored by retired Major General Adam Findlay, who said the extra $50 billion headlined by Labor, was only a gradual increase in funding and that within the Australian Defence Force funding has Additional ADF priorities also include military support for Ukraine and efficiency dividends. The 2023/24 Budget included $924 million for Pacific engagement, and the 2024/25 estimates included $972.8 million for workforce retention measures. Australia's Minister of Defence Richard Marles (C) and Minister of Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy (R) announce the accelerated delivery of Australia's first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) at the Australian International Airshow in Avalon on March 24, 2025. The country's acquisition of the HIMARS system was accelerated after a 2023 Defence Strategic Review. Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images 'The most substantial measure over the past decade was the REDSPICE cyber program contained in the previous Coalition government's final Budget in March 2023,' the report says. 'That transferred nearly $1 billion per year ... from the Department of Defence to the Australian Signals Directorate to enhance cyber capabilities. 'This may be a good use of the money, but REDSPICE's impact is $981.4 million in 2024/25 and $974.9 million in 2025/26 that isn't available to acquire or operate military capabilities. The cumulative effect of those changes is now considerable.' Inflation Not Adequately Accounted For Aside from having to do more within the budget they're given, the Defence Force—like the rest of Australia—has also been affected by inflation and 'hasn't been compensated for that.' The 2016 White Paper was developed on the assumption that inflation would be within the Reserve Bank's target zone of 2 to 3 percent per annum. But since the pandemic, inflation has been significantly higher, and that has eaten into the value of every dollar allocated to defence. The impact of inflation on the defence budget (A$, 2019–20 real dollars) 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 Pre-COVID buying power 39,246 40,882 43,334 45,792 48,318 50,079 50,912 52,077 Current buying power 39,246 41,199 42,856 43,371 45,015 46,676 47,069 48,060 Buying power loss ($) 0 316 -478 -2,421 -3,303 -3,403 -3,843 -4,017 Buying power loss (percent) 0.0 0.8 -1.1 -5.3 -6.8 -6.8 -7.5 -7.7 The current year's funding shortfall is 7.5 percent, or a $3.8 billion annual loss in buying power, and a cumulative $13.1 billion since 2019/20. 'Those aren't small numbers, and Defence receives no budget adjustments to compensate for inflation,' Strategic Analysis Australia says. 'Even if inflation returns to historical norms—as the Budget papers predict—that loss of buying power will continue.' While the current government has increased defence funding by $50.3 billion over the decade, nearly all of it was 'dedicated to the funding gap between the cancelled Attack-class submarine program and the nuclear-powered submarine enterprise [AUKUS], plus some going to the government's new general-purpose frigate program. Only $1 billion of the $50.3 billion was for new capabilities.' And most of that is planned for well into the future. 'Defence got only $400 million of new money in 2024/25,' SAA points out. 'That was essentially the only new funding for that year since the 2016 DWP and represented a mere 0.7 percent increase.' A decade of increased expectations from government, inflation, and the costs of AUKUS meant the new funding was insufficient, and 'something had to give. $72.8 billion in previously planned projects were cancelled or delayed over the coming decade. 'Nothing has changed significantly since 2016,' the report concludes. 'It's only when we get to 2027/28 (the back end of the next term of government) that we see any noticeable divergence between the old and new plans. That's when the $3.8 billion (now down to $3.6 billion) cuts in. For now, we're still stuck in a spending plan that dates back to an earlier, very different era.'
