Defence & Security Podcast Network

While drones are growing in popularity for recreational and commercial applications, Australia is currently one of the leaders in utilising this game-changing capability in defence. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant chats with Australian Army Lieutenant Colonel Keirin Joyce – one of the key officers driving the development of the unmanned aerial system (UAS) program within Army – who shares his insights on the accessibility of the technology for Australian soldiers and how developments in drone functionality are enhancing the capabilities of Australian soldiers on the battlefield. Join LTCOL Joyce as he shares what the future holds for drone technology in defence, the opportunity for Australia's defence industry to support drone development, the changes we are likely to see in combat support, and how this technology could potentially reignite the once thriving domestic aircraft industry. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

For over 100 years, Lithgow in NSW has been a centerpiece to Australia's sovereign arms manufacturing capabilities – with the armament factory equipping our military since WW1. Now under the stewardship of a leading prime, the Thales Lithgow Facility – which started its life as the Lithgow Small Arms Factory producing SMLE III rifles – continues to not only support employment in the regional hub, the products it creates are first class and a testament to Australia's manufacturing pedigree. Join Defence Connect host Phillip Tarrant in conversation with Graham Evenden, director integrated weapons and sensors, land and air systems at Thales Australia, as they discuss the future for the facility, how manufacturing will evolve in the decades and generations ahead, the production of the latest generation of weapons the F90, the need for sovereign manufacturing capabilities and how a focus on quality engineering is central to rifle manufacture. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

"We are de-risking a lot of the Type 26 equipment on the Type 23 in the UK, which gives us confidence. But I think... with the Australian program running five years behind the UK program, it really won't be an issue, because it will be de-risked in the UK." This week on the Defence Connect Podcast, we follow up with BAE Systems SEA 5000 managing director Nigel Stewart about the progress of the company's SEA 5000 bid and the UK Navy's Type 26 build. Stewart walks us through BAE Systems' plans for mobilising the Australian industry – should it secure the SEA 5000 project – how it plans to de-risk the build of the vessel and the key role Australian SMEs could play in delivering the Type 26 vessel. Tune in for this and more, Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team.

Minster for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne MP is tasked at enhancing collaboration and connectivity between defence and industry, and overseeing the delivery of capability acquisition and sustainment programs – and the defence industry agenda. With an excess of $200 billion to be spent of capability acquisition and sustainment over the coming decade, delivery of defence spending is critical to the national agenda and ensuring Australia's strategic interests in the decades ahead. Join Minister Pyne as he speaks with Defence Connect Podcast host Phillip Tarrant, as they cover key issues including the recent Land 400 Phase 2 announcement, how the completion for the SEA 5000 is shaping up, the opportunity to enhance Australia as a defence exporter and how Aussie business can crack the global supply chain. Tune in for this and more, Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team.

"We thought that we could definitely have a crack at fixing that unemployment rate and underemployment rate. When we looked at the figures initially it scared us and alarmed us, and drove us further." This week on the Defence Connect Podcast, we chat with Tom Moore, co-founder and CEO of WithYouWithMe which is tackling the issue of unemployment and underemployment of Australia's veterans. A recent survey by WithYouWithMe presented damning figures, with the veteran unemployment rate sitting at 30.2 per cent, significantly above the national average of 5.5 per cent. Moore takes us through his story as a former Army officer, his experience in finding work after life in the forces, how WithYouWithMe came to be and what services they are offering to get veterans back into the workforce.

Rheinmetall Defence Australia has made headlines recently as the industry awaits the announcement of the successful LAND 400 Phase 2 competitor. As one of the two contenders for the coveted contract to build 225 new combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRVs) for the Australian Army, the other is BAE Systems Australia, Rheinmetall has made a commitment to not only build significant industrial capability in Queensland to manufacturer the vehicles, it has also shored up its supply chain across Australia, leveraging numerous SMEs and other organisations, to deliver material, technology and man power assets for the project.. However Rheinmetall Australia is much more than just the looming LAND 400 Phase 2 program, its managing director Gary Stewart tells Defence Connect Podcast host Phillip Tarrant. Tune into the podcast and uncover breath of Rheinmetall's Australian operations and objectives, it's focusing on building sovereign industrial capabilities related to military vehicle manufacture in Australia, why the company believes its Boxer CRV is the right choice for LAND 400 Phase 2 plus other key programs it's involved in across defence.

The potential Australia's space sector is significant, with industry hotly anticipating the release of the government's space industry capability review – and what that means for the sector's future. The space sector has been growing at a compound annual growth rate of 9.52 per cent for nearing two decades, more than three times the annual growth rate of world GDP in the same period. And the upsides are huge. Join managing director Australia and New Zealand at Lockheed Martin Space Rod Drury as he details his view on the future of the Australian space industry, how Lockheed Martin sees its role in building our sovereign space capabilities and the challenges ahead to realise Australia's future in space.

LAND 400 Phase 2 will deliver the Australian Army 225 highly-capable combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRVs) to replace the aging ASLAVs in a project worth $4-5 billion dollars. With the decision on the successful tenderer expected to be handed down by the government within a matter of weeks – or months depending on where you get your sources… – the defence industry awaits with anticipation on the news whether BAE Systems Australia with its AMV35 or Rheinmetall Defence Australia with its Boxer CRV, will land the contract. Join host Phillip Tarrant in this special episode of the Defence Connect Podcast as he speaks with Brian Gathright, vice president of business development at BAE Systems Australia – the executive leading the prime's campaign to secure the LAND 400 Phase 2 contract.

"Australian Industry Group Defence Council working with Defence is really about recognising defence industry as that fundamental input to capability and about recognising the national security flavour that goes over the top of everything that we do." This week on the Defence Connect Podcast, former First Assistant Secretary Defence Industry Policy Kate Louis joins us in her new role as head of defence and industry policy of Australian Industry Group. Louis takes us through her 20-year in the Department of Defence, specialising in capability development acquisition and defence industry policy, and her decision to join Ai Group and lead its Defence Council. The former First Assistant Secretary discusses the dangerous new world developing out of cyber security threats and how this is affecting the defence industry, how Ai Group is leading the discussion with Defence around exports and the Australian Standard for Defence Contracting (ASDEFCON) suite of tendering and contracting templates. www.defenceconnect.com.au

This week on the Defence Connect Podcast, former CEO of Naval Group Australia Sean Costello joins us in his new role as director of Fincantieri Australia, taking us through the Italian company's bid for the SEA 5000 project. Costello delves into the Italian shipbuilder's plans for developing a sovereign Australian naval shipbuilding industry, starting with mobilising a skilled workforce, creating a strong defence export sector and ultimately implementing technology transfer and technology development programs. The former naval officer leaves no stone unturned, touching on his time in the Australian Navy, his role as chief of staff to various defence ministers, his brief stint at ASC Shipbuilding and arguably his most known role, CEO of Naval Group Australia, and why he left the job a year after helping secure the coveted and highly-contested Future Submarine project. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team.