In this News Review episode, Grant McHerron, Ewen Levick, Nigel Pittaway and Ben Felton review and discuss some of the recent news of interest that's occurred in the world of Defence over the past two weeks.

We start with the news that the first Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessel has been accepted by Defence for sea trials, three years after it was launched in December 2021 and following Contractor Sea Trials in August and September 2024. We discuss the issues that have delayed SEA1180 and the OPV's acceptance, the revised quantity to be built, and how Defence have been using Evolved Cape Class vessels and ANZAC Frigates to fill the gaps due to the delays.

This leads to a consideration of the strategic roller coaster that Defence and Australian government procurement cycles have produced over the past twenty years due to election cycles, changes of approach and confusion over capabilities. We also comment on how Defence locking down on vendors talking about projects and platforms is leaving a vacuum that rumour and gossip flow in to fill, along with the inevitable impacts on recruitment and industry as people are not able to learn of the benefits of being involved.

Meanwhile, the RAAF's third MQ-4C Triton has completed testing at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale facility and will transit to Naval Air Station Patuxent River for calibration testing, where the second Triton is currently under going tests. Both are expected to arrive in Australia before the end of this year. We discuss the uses for Triton, how it integrates with the rest of the ADF, the US Navy's reduction in orbits they intend to maintain, and the aircraft's survivability as demonstrated by a US Global Hawk being shot down in 2019 near Iran.

We wrap the episode with mention of ADM's Top 40 Defence Contractors of 2024 being available to premium subscribers, some of the insights it's revealed, and a reminder that the ADM Congress is happening at the Hyatt in Canbera on the 19th of February, along with the ADM AUKUS Pillar II Conference and ADM Space Summit 2025.

LINKS:

Defence accepts first Arafura class OPV

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/defence-accepts-first-arafura-class-opv

Third Triton nears delivery

www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/third-triton-nears-delivery

ADM's Top 40 Defence Contractors 2024

www.australiandefence.com.au/industry/top-40/adm-s-top-40-defence-contractors-2024

ADM Congress

admevents.com.au/adm-congress

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

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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.

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Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

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