In this episode, Grant McHerron talks with two representatives of K39 Consulting: Sarah Dean, their Managing Director, and Darren Owen, the CEO about the changes and challenges in the defence munitions landscape that has been brought upon by recent geopolitical conflicts.

We begin our discussion by exploring K39C's history along with Sarah and Darren's careers, highlighting their expertise within defence and industry. We examine major patterns observed among allies since 2022, focusing on supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by recent conflicts, which signals a need for Australia to prioritise sovereign capability development. Our discussion also addresses the challenges of industrialising munitions, including balancing domestic versus international manufacturing, and bi-lateral agreements. Steps to sustainably build this capability involve political commitment and investment into industry.

We wrap up by assessing how SMEs like K39C contribute specialised skills and agile thinking to uplift defence capability by embracing innovation and challenging the status quo of traditional partnering agreements.

Links:

K39 Consulting

Website: www.k39consulting.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/k39-consulting-pty-ltd

------------------

The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via [email protected] to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2026

In this News Review episode, Grant McHerron and Ewen Levick review and discuss some of the news of interest that's occurred recently in the world of Defence.

We open with a discussion about the Defence Major Projects Report coming to an end, which is reducing the public's access to how Defence is spending billions of dollars, including project delays, major issues, and more. Previous ANAO reports have helped identify significant deficiencies in LHD sustainment and more, so given the volumes of money involved in these projects, the secrecy now being established is of great concern.

We move on to Kongsberg's StrikeMaster demonstration vehicle remaining in Europe for demonstrations to interested countries in the area while also noting the recent test flight of the PrSM Increment 2 missile. We then discuss the current situation in Iran and the impacts of the closure of the Straits of Hormuz, which go well beyond delays in supplying crude oil and liquefied natural gas. Other raw products are also being blocked which will have major impacts on production of components for radars, fighters and more, not to mention the impacts on fertilisers and other products required to support agriculture and other industries.

We wrap it up by noting that the next ADM Looks At episode is coming soon and the topic is the Hunter Class Frigate, that the 30 Under 30 winners have been announced, and that the next ADM Women in Defence Network event is coming up, and this time it's an online event with participants in Australia and the UK.

Links:

Defence Major Projects Report at an end

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/defence-major-projects-report-at-an-end

ANAO finds 'significant deficiencies' in LHD sustainment

www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/sea/anao-finds-significant-deficiencies-in-lhd-sustainment

Kongsberg StrikeMaster to remain in Europe

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/kongsberg-strikemaster-to-remain-in-europe

Lockheed Martin completes PrSM Increment 2 test

https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/lockheed-martin-completes-prsm-increment-2-test

2025's 30 under 30 winners announced

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/adm-2025-30-under-30-announced

Women in Defence Network's online event for Australia and UK is coming up on 14th April

admwomenindefencenetwork.com.au

------------------

The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via [email protected] to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2026

In this episode, Grant McHerron talks with Sam Vye, founder and CEO of SYOS Aerospace, about its recent contract with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to supply uncrewed vehicles across air, land, and sea domains.

We explore SYOS’s history and the benefits of contracting to a sovereign provider, then delve into how these systems are designed for experimentation in current conflict environments. Our discussion also examines the importance of operational testing versus simulation, highlighting real world lessons from deployments like those in Ukraine.

We wrap up by assessing SYOS's role as a sovereign capability provider to the NZDF and their involvement with the UK's Project NYX which will pair autonomous uncrewed systems with the Army's Apache helicopters.

Links:

New Zealand awards SYOS multi-domain autonomous vehicle contract

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/new-zealand-awards-syos-multi-domain-autonomous-vehicle-contract

UK's Project NYX:

www.gov.uk/government/news/futuristic-helicopter-drones-programme-advances-as-british-based-companies-selected-to-develop-prototypes

------------------

The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via [email protected] to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Editor: Chris Visscher

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2026

Ewen Levick and Nigel Pittaway discuss Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat, the first aircraft designed and built in Australia in over 50 years. Originally referred to as the Boeing Airpower Teaming System under the Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program, the first flight of the uncrewed system was on 27th February 2021 and it was officially named the MQ-28A Ghost Bat on 21st March 2022.

Following a summary of the product's history, we then look at the differences between the Block 1, 2 & 3 versions, and the reporting by some media that Ghost Bat wouldn't be armed. The discussion also covers Boeing's new production facility at Wellcamp airport, the project's transition from DEF6014 to AIR6015, the likely number being produced and the importance of having combat mass.

We also talk about Exercise Carlsbad where the Ghost Bat was exercised through a series of trials that culminated in a missile shoot against a target drone, including a look at relative lack of commands required to generate the flight and missile shot, We wrap up by noting the proliferation of Collaborative Combat Aircraft programs, how a crowded market could be a good thing, and why it may be that we're seeing more autonomy activity in the air and sea domains than on land.

Links:

Boeing's Ghost Bat proves operational viability

www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/air/boeing-s-ghost-bat-proves-operational-viability

Ghost Bat fires a live AMRAAM

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/ghost-bat-fires-a-live-amraam

Wikipedia entry on Ghost Bat

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_MQ-28_Ghost_Bat

------------------

The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via [email protected] to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2026

In this News Review episode, Grant McHerron, Ewen Levick, Nigel Pittaway and Kirra Davey review and discuss some of the news of interest that's occurred recently in the world of Defence.

We start with the current military operations over Iran and the Middle East, which Ewen notes can be traced from the 2020 assassination of Iran's General Qasem Soleimani through Hamas' attack on October 7th, 2023, and the collapses since then. We then talk about ADM Congress and the Women in Defence and National Security breakfast session held on the same day, before reviewing the government's Co-Investment Fund that was announced at Congress. The fund is a recognition that government can't fund all of Defence, of the need for certainty to help industry, and that many private investments are in dual use infrastructure.

We move onto the topic of Hypersonix' Dart AE completing its first flight, during which it achieved speeds greater than Mach 5 following a boost from Rocket Lab's Haste launch vehicle operating from NASA's Wallops Island range. Following this, we wrap by noting that Army & Navy are celebrating 125 years in 2026 and that Navy's celebrations include a Fleet Review in Sydney harbour on March 21st.

Links:

Hypersonix Dart AE blasts off

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/hypersonix-dart-ae-blasts-off

Australian Navy and Army commemorate 125 years of service

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/australian-navy-and-army-commemorate-125-years-of-service

Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review

www.navy.gov.au/community-engagement/events/2026-03-21/exercise-kakadu-fleet-review

------------------

The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via [email protected] to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2026

In this episode we present audio from the Women in Defence Network's breakfast session held at Indo-Pacific 2025 that was hosted by AtkinsRéalis and supported by Women in Nuclear Australia and Women’s Defence Connection. The session explored the theme of 125 years of the Royal Australian Navy: legacy, leadership, and a nuclear-propelled future.

Beth Fitzpatrick, AtkinsRéalis' Defence Consulting Lead for Australia, confirms the importance to AtkinsRéalis of sponsoring the event and introduces our speakers, Commander Kathryn Jones of the Royal Australian Navy followed by Pamela Naidoo-Ameglio from Exige. The morning examined the evolution of women’s service in the RAN, the leadership required to sustain meaningful progress, and the cultural and workforce foundations needed to support Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine capability.

Links:

AtkinsRéalis

www.atkinsrealis.com

ADM Women in Defence and National Security Breakfast – Indo-Pac hosted by AtkinsRéalis

admwomenindefencenetwork.com.au/event/adm-women-in-defence-and-national-security-breakfast-indo-pac-hosted-by-atkinsrealis

------------------

The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via [email protected] to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2025

Grant McHerron and Nigel Pittaway discuss their views on day three of the Singapore Airshow 2026, the final trade day and their last day attending the show. They discuss some of the highlights of the flying display and also note that the day had many briefings, general discussions and one-on-one sessions with senior vendor staff.

Airbus provided briefings on their H-160 helicopter and also on their H-Teaming system for manned/unmanned teaming, both of which will feature in upcoming ADM articles. Boeing provided a briefing on the upcoming version 6.5 of the Apache's onboard software system which includes a Counter-UAS capability. Meanwhile, in addition to other content being recorded, Grant caught up with reps from Horizon Air to discuss their hybrid powered vertical and conventional take-off/landing aircraft.

A major component of attending shows such as this is reinforcing and consolidating contacts, making new connections, and also setting up future opportunities. This was certainly the case in Singapore and watch for detailed reports in future issues of the magazine and on the website.

Links:

Singapore Airshow Coverage

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/singapore-airshow-2026

------------------

The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via [email protected] to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2026

Grant McHerron and Nigel Pittaway discuss their views on day two of the Singapore Airshow 2026 where the crowds are even bigger, potentially the most crowded Nigel's ever seen it and this is the 10th one he's attended.

Grant's caught up with Ondas about their ground and low-altitude defence system of systems, plus had a tour of Embraer's KC-390 after an update with their Defence team. Airbus Defence & Space provided a media briefing where they announced the MRTT Automated Air-to-Air Refuelling (A3R) has been fully certified by the RSAF, something the RAAF is very interested in.

They also spoke about the MRTT+ which is based on the A330 NEO but confirmed that they're still selling conversions of second hand airframes if the right ones with sufficient remaining cycles can be found. They also talked about the progression of their Smart Tanker concept with enhancements to the MRTT's communications relay capabilities and Manned/Unmanned Teaming base station capabilities to control Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs).

There's also updates about the A400M with Indonesia receiving their first aircraft, then Grant caught up with Textron regarding their multi-mission and specialist mission aircraft, ranging from King Airs to Citations and also potential configurations for the new Denali Single Engine Turboprop and SkyCourier twin.

Links:

Singapore Airshow Coverage

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/singapore-airshow-2026

------------------

The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via [email protected] to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2026

Grant McHerron and Nigel Pittaway discuss their views on day one of the Singapore Airshow 2026 where vendors have been saying they've been kept very busy and are trying to make space in their schedules for all the meetings. There's also been announcements including Lockheed Martin stating that RAAF F-35s achieved FOC in December and Embraer announcing that the KC-390 tanker/transport has been selected by Uzbekistan. Embraer were asked about progress on adding a boom to the KC-390 but details were not forthcoming at this stage.

Other information included that the Republic of Singapore Air Force has purchased second hand Spanish C-130Hs as a bridging capability while funds are arranged for an upgraded transport fleet. Both the KC-390 and the A-400M are on display while the C-130J remains a contender. Also Airbus are bidding their H-160M helicopter for the Defence Search & Rescue (DSAR) role to replace the RAAF's existing AW139s. It was also noted that the ADF released a new tender this very morning for civilian supplied helicopters to assist with training and currencies.

Links:

Singapore Set to Shine

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/singapore-set-to-shine

------------------

The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via [email protected] to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2026

This episode collects a number of interviews recorded at the Indo Pacific 2025 event held in Sydney at the start of November. We start by speaking to Dr Shane Arnott, Chief Engineer at Anduril Industries, about the success of their Ghost Shark unmanned submarine program which has a $170 million contract with the RAN. We also discuss the strategic shift towards unmanned systems for naval operations, and the considerable adoption of such submarines by the Royal Australian Navy. We examine other maritime approaches by Anduril, like its Copperhead (small diameter undersea robot) and Sea Bed Century (subsea sensors), designed to network underwater assets effectively despite challenging communications conditions. We close with an assessment of the immense technological challenge of subsea autonomy compared to other domains and Anduril's approach of rapid iteration through early field testing, rather than relying solely on simulation

=—-=

Next up, Grant talks with Antony Penn, Chief Commercial Officer at Exail Robotics. discussing Exail Robotics' long history in mine countermeasures, dating back to its origins as ECA Group in the 1930s. We assess their development of the PAP system for demining and how it became a reference solution. Antony then reviews the company's current autonomous systems designed to detect, classify, identify, and neutralize underwater threats efficiently.

=—-=

Finally, Grant speaks with Sam Abbott, Head of Research & Development at Austal Australia, and Harry Hubbert, Chief Operations Officer and Director at Greenroom Robotics, about Austal Australia's collaboration with Greenroom Robotics on autonomous patrol boats. We delve into their Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which repurposed a decommissioned vessel that operated autonomously for four days across 700 nautical miles of the WA coast without human intervention. We wrap up by assessing how this partnership is bringing autonomy capabilities to maritime platforms like patrol boats and potentially Border Force vessels.

Links:

Anduril

www.anduril.com

Exail Robotics' Mine Countermeasures

www.exail.com/product-range/umis-unmanned-mcm-mine-countermeasure-integrated-system

Austal

www.austal.com

Greenroom Robotics

greenroomrobotics.com

------------------

The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via [email protected] to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2025