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Austal chief executive Paddy Gregg.

ManufacturingCommentsPremiumAustal kept in dark on ‘strict conditions’ for Hanwha stake

The approval of Hanwha’s doubled stake in Austal is subject to ‘strict conditions’, including limits on access to sensitive intellectual property held by Austal and “stringent criteria” on any board nominee.

Sean Smith

A defence bill that lifts US troop pay and sets military priorities will head to the Senate. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumUS House backs $900 billion defence policy bill

The US House of Representatives voted to pass a sweeping defence policy bill that authorises $900 billion in military programs.

Patricia Zengerle

Donald Trump’s ambassador has given the clearest indication yet on the future of the AUKUS security pact between the US, UK and Australia.

Federal politicsCommentsReviews over, now UK minister says AUKUS is set for a reboot

Australia, the UK and the US are determined to ‘reboot’ the AUKUS partnership and get on with delivering an ‘apex predator’ of the seas, the British Defence Minister has told a meeting of the AUKUS partners.

Katina Curtis

The US seizure of a tanker could signal new efforts to go after Venezuela's oil (file photo). (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumUS seizes oil tanker off Venezuela coast, video posted

US President Donald Trump has announced the seizure of a "very large" oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela amid mounting tensions.

Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Steve Holland

Tokyo accused Chinese fighter jets of directing their fire-control radar at Japanese aircraft. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumUS backs Japan in clash with China over radar incident

The US has criticised China for targeting Japanese military aircraft with radars, siding with its Asian ally as tensions rise between Beijing and Tokyo.

Daphne Psaledakis and John Geddie

Lithuania accuses Belarus of allowing smugglers to use balloons to transport contraband ?cigarettes. (AP PHOTO)

DefenceLithuania declares emergency over balloons from Belarus

A national emergency has been declared in Lithuania over security risks from balloons entering its airspace from Belarus.

Andrius Sytas

Australia hopes to export the locally developed the MQ-28A Ghost Bat aerial combat drone. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumBillion-dollar boost for 'Aussie born' Ghost Bat drones

Australia will pour an extra $1.4 billion into a world-leading drone, the first combat aircraft to be designed and made in the nation for several decades.

Tess Ikonomou

Penny Wong and Richard Marles have met their US counterparts Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth in DC. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumAfter review, USA going all the way on AUKUS pact

Penny Wong and Richard Marles have met their US counterparts with both nations labelling the AUKUS deal as "full steam ahead".

Grace Crivellaro

The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat represents Australia’s first fully homegrown aircraft design and build in more than 50 years.

DefenceCommentsExtra billion pumped into AI-powered drone development

An Australian-made, AI-powered lethal drone could soon become a ‘fully operational war fighting’ asset for the Australian military, with the govt to pump a further billion dollars into the Ghost Bat program. 

Andrew Greene

Austal Henderson Shipyard pictured on Sunday.

Mergers and AcquisitionsCommentsPremiumChalmers promises Austal stake call ‘by Christmas’

Having made an unsuccessful takeover tilt at Austal last year, South Korean conglomerate Hanwha has applied to double its holding in the WA naval shipbuilder to 19.9 per cent.

Sean Smith and Andrew Greene

A Chinese aircraft carrier has carried out intense air operations near the Okinawa Islands. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumChinese carrier 'conducting air operations' near Japan

Aircraft aboard a Chinese carrier have conducted around 100 takeoffs and landings near the Okinawa Islands, Japan's defence force says.

Staff Writers

The German government wants to raise the number of military personnel to 260,000 in the next decade. (AP PHOTO)

DefenceMPs approve German plan to attract military recruits

Germany wants to persuade more people to join the armed forces as it bolsters its defence to counter the threat posed by Russia.

Staff Writers

Australia and NZ are contributing funding to buy critical military equipment for Ukraine. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremium'More than rhetoric': $95m boost to support Ukraine

Australia's "unwavering" support of Ukraine has been reinforced with a $95 million support package to help the nation defend itself against Russia's invasion.

Tess Ikonomou and Grace Crivellaro

Under AUKUS, the US will sell three Virginia-class submarines to Australia from the early 2030s.

DefenceCommentsPremiumSubmarines deployed to WA could carry nuclear weapons

US Virginia-class submarines that will operate out of WA could carry nuclear weapons in the future, with Defence conceding the Australian government would not object to the move.

Andrew Greene

Pete Hegseth has backed a US admiral in ordering a second hit on an alleged drug boat. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumHegseth cites 'fog of war' for follow-on strike on boat

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has defended a follow-up strike on an alleged drug-carrying boat in the Caribbean Sea.

Konstantin Toropin

Matt Keogh, Federal member for Burt fronts the media

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
DefenceCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Matt Keogh promises Aussie veterans easier ADF transitions

Cultural change, cutting-edge treatments and being able to avoid injury in the first place should be the new reality for people leaving the Australian Defence Force.

Katina Curtis

Minister for Defence Richard Marles says the changes will mean defence projects will be delivered on time and on budget.

updated
updated
Federal PoliticsComments
updated
‘Historic’ Defence reforms as Marles comments on China ships

Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the sweeping changes to his department on the same day he confirmed the Australian military was tracking a Chinese naval task group.

Andrew Greene

A Sydney-based company with links to China is supplying drones equipped with AI to WA’s police force, sparking concerns about the security of the data collected by the advanced surveillance technology.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
PoliceCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Police drone deal raises alarms over Chinese tech invasion

A Sydney-based company with links to China is supplying drones equipped with AI to WA’s police force, sparking concerns about the security of the data collected by the advanced surveillance technology.

Andrew Greene

France is boosting defence as Russia's actions put Europe at "great risk", Emmanuel Macron says. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumFrance unveils new voluntary military service

Young volunteers will serve in a new French military service program as the country seeks to bolster its armed forces to address the Russian threat.

Staff Writers

Oleg Vornik, chief executive officer of DroneShield.

MarketsCommentsDroneShield boss says he’s all in, despite quitting shares

The defence company also revealed its two independent directors would review DroneShield’s disclosure practices after the Australian Securities Exchange last week queried the controversial share sales.

Sean Smith

DroneShield chief executive Oleg Vornik.

MarketsPremiumDroneShield ‘not given warning of directors sell-off’

The defence company has also disclosed that some of the $70 million of sales occurred on November 10, after DroneShield’s announcement that day of a new contract that was pulled several hours later.

Sean Smith

The Russian spy ship Yantar has used lasers to disrupt RAF pilots, the UK defence minister says. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremium'We see you': UK warns Russia after ship points lasers

A Russian spy ship has used lasers for the first time to disrupt RAF pilots tracking its activity near UK waters, the defence minister says.

Staff Writers

A more robust defence force is needed to deal with regional threats, a think tank leader says. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumWarning regional threats demand more integrated defence

Defence spending needs to increase for Australia to have the robust and integrated military needed to counter regional threats, the head of a think tank warns.

Farid Farid

An artist's impression of the Cockatoo Island revamp.

MiningCommentsPremiumAlan Bond’s Kimberley resort island to get a $300m revamp

The WA Government has approved the $300 million development of a marine and aviation logistics base on the narrow, 6km-long island by an Australian company backed by a global US investor.

Sean Smith