Tag: RAN

Navy celebrates 190 years on Garden Island

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June 14, 2019 – One hundred and ninety years of Navy presence on the unique shores of Garden Island, Western Australia was celebrated recently at HMAS Stirling. The event, which was attended by a number of dignitaries including the Governor of Western Australia, The Hon Kim Beazley AC; previous commanding officers, and serving members and families, took place at the Sir James Stirling Mess, named after the Royal Navy officer who first landed on the island on 7 June 1829. Stirling’s Commanding Officer Captain Ainsley Morthorpe said he was still…

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HMAS Newcastle completes final international deployment

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June 12, 2019 – The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) today celebrated the completion of the final overseas deployment by an Adelaide Class guided missile frigate, with HMAS Newcastle arriving back in Australia. Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead AM, RAN, said the Adelaide Class frigates have been an indispensable part of Navy’s role in protecting Australia’s maritime interests for almost forty years. “Adelaide Class ships have formed the backbone of many Navy operations since 1980, serving with distinction on complex missions and cementing our reputation as one of the…

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Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List for RAN Announced

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June 10, 2019 – The Governor-General and Chancellor of the Order of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), today announced 1214 awards in the Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List, including 26 members of the Royal Australian Navy. “On behalf of all Australians I congratulate today’s recipients. They have made an enormous contribution to their local communities and to the entire nation and deserve our thanks, admiration and to be celebrated,” the Governor-General said. “This is my last honours list as Governor-General. Over the last…

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Indo-Pacific Endeavour Joint Task Force returns to Australia

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May 26, 2019 – The Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) Joint Task Force has returned to Australia following a three-month regional engagement mission to South and South East Asia. The flagship HMAS Canberra will anchor off Darwin tomorrow, having visited seven nations since March 2019 during the third IPE iteration since its inception in 2017. Chief of Joint Operations, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, said this third iteration of IPE was one of the most ambitious regional engagement activities undertaken by the Australian Defence Force (ADF). “With four ships and various…

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Controlling the air from the sea

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May 27, 2019 – Three Royal Australian Air Force personnel are controlling the airspace from a moving airstrip on board HMAS Canberra. Squadron Leader Ross Madsen and Flight Lieutenants Hamish Upton and Paul Atteridge are deployed on Canberra – one of Australia’s two landing helicopter docks (LHDs) – for three months during INDO-PACIFIC ENDEAVOUR 2019 (IPE19). A senior air traffic controller (ATC), Squadron Leader Madsen said providing an air traffic control service at sea was largely similar to on land. “The biggest difference is the airfield moves and the runway…

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Newcastle always at Canberra’s side

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May 15, 2019 – HMAS Newcastle continues to provide the critical role of primary defense for HMAS Canberra (III) and the wider protection for the INDO-PACIFIC ENDEAVOUR 2019 (IPE19) fleet. As it transits from west to east on its final mission, the Adelaide class guided missile frigate has been at Canberra’s side. The operations room supervisor and combat systems supervisor, Petty Officer Bianca Sherrington, said Newcastle used sensors and liaised with the other Royal Australian Navy ships to provide an up-to-date force picture for the IPE19 Joint Task Force. “In…

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A safer Australia: Budget 2019-20

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April 2, 2019 – The Morrison Government’s number one priority is keeping Australians safe and secure. The 2019–20 Budget sees continued strong investment in Australia’s national security, with a particular focus on enhancing our regional security, building defence capability and supporting Australia’s sovereign defence industry. The Budget maintains the Government’s commitment to grow the Defence budget to two per cent of GDP by 2020–21. The Government will allocate Defence $38.7 billion in 2019-20 and $175.8 billion to 2022-23. REGIONAL AND GLOBAL SECURITY As our security environment evolves, we are increasing Australia’s commitment…

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Industry engaged in Attack Class submarine program

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April 1, 2019 – Australian companies and universities continue to show a high level of interest in the Attack class submarine program. The Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said the Attack class submarine Combat System Integrator, Lockheed Martin Australia, has selected ten organizations to participate in research and development topics. “Following a competitive selection process, these organizations have been selected to develop 13 research & development concept papers on topics related to the Attack class,” Minister Pyne said. “The research grants, totaling $900,000, cover a range of…

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New Leeuwin Crew Charts the Way

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March 29, 2019 – HMAS Leeuwin has achieved a series of significant milestones since her new crew was assembled several months ago – including their first overseas deployment as a ship’s company. The hydrographic survey ship is currently on her way home from South Asia. While the vessel herself has deployed overseas before, this is the first time she’s done so with a permanent ship’s company since recently reverting from a multi-crewing model to a single crew model. Leeuwin and minehunter HMAS Diamantina recently conducted a search for the lost…

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Helicopter aircrew training system

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April 1, 2019 – The Australian Defence Force’s Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) has successfully achieved Initial Operating Capability. Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the training system was designed to prepare Navy and Army aircrew for transition into Defence’s complex combat helicopters. “Following successful testing of the individual aircrew training courses throughout 2018, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan declared the conditions had been met for Initial Operating Capability,” Minister Pyne said. “The training system, operating from 723 Squadron at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, NSW,…

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Young Endeavour Replacement

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April 1, 2019 – The Government is pleased to announce the STS Young Endeavour replacement project is progressing and will be due for consideration by Cabinet later this year. Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the program is recognized internationally as a leading youth development program, with more than 500 young Australians taking part every year. “More than 13,600 young Australians have participated in the scheme since January 1988,” Minister Pyne said. “After 31 years of dedicated service the Young Endeavour is now approaching the end of…

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Contract Awarded for Second Stage of Infrastructure Works at Garden Island

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March 25, 2019 – Defense is delivering a Critical Infrastructure Recovery Program in two stages to address significant condition, capacity and compliance issues with its existing wharves and engineering services. Today Assistant Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon David Fawcett, announced critical infrastructure works at Garden Island, Sydney NSW, which will be delivered under Stage Two of the Critical Infrastructure Recovery Program, valued at $286 million. The works represent the Government’s significant investment in Garden Island as the primary home port for Navy ships on the east coast. This investment…

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New Rigs on Trial

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March 25, 2019 – A new look multi-cam uniform is being put to the test, for Navy, with trials of the sea-going variant taking place across the Fleet. The cut, design and pattern of the prototype Maritime Multi-cam Pattern Uniform (MMPU) is based on the Australian Multi-cam Combat Uniform, which is used by the Australian Army and Air Force. The laboratory-tested MMPU sea-going variant fabric is required to be flame resistant, while being lighter than the Disruptive Pattern Navy Uniform (DPNU) – theoretically allowing it to be more comfortable in…

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ANZAC Class Frigates — Sustainment

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The audit objective was to examine whether the Department of Defence has effective and efficient sustainment arrangements for the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of eight ANZAC class frigates. Summary and recommendations Background 1. The Royal Australian Navy (Navy) operates eight ANZAC class frigates. The frigates were commissioned between 1996 and 2006, and form part of Navy’s core surface warship capability. The ANZAC class is used to: conduct surveillance and patrols; protect shipping and strategic areas; provide naval gunfire in support of the Army; and undertake disaster relief and search and rescue…

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