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Brigadier Damian Bushell of the 13th Brigade with Corporal Brodie Lewis, Private Joel Rodan and Private George Fiddyment from 16 Royal Western Australian pictured at Irwin Barracks ahead of saturday’s Army Open Day for the 125th anniversary of the Australian Army. Ian Munro

DefenceCommentsArmy barracks open gates to showcase 125 years of service

A dozen military bases nationwide are opening their gates to the public on Saturday to commemorate 125 years of the Australian Army and show off the latest technology and capabilities. 

Hannah Cross

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that a world leading Royal Australian Air Force surveillance plane will be sent to the Middle East for ‘offensive’ support. 

analysis
analysis
Federal PoliticsVideoComments
analysis
Australia’s arms cupboard runs bare amid Middle East crisis

Australia was among the first countries to express support for the war against Iran, but now that it’s been asked to help Gulf nations defend themselves, it’s finding the cupboard is looking bare.

Andrew Greene

Aerial imagery of Henderson, Western Australia.

DefenceCommentsPremiumUS company chosen to finalise WA’s Henderson shipyard plans

An American company has been chosen to finalise the master plans for the ambitious overhaul of WA’s Henderson shipyard, just months before nuclear-powered submarines are scheduled to begin AUKUS rotations. 

Andrew Greene

An Australian Defence Force MH-60R helicopter has had a close encounter with a Chinese aircraft. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumChina closes in on Australian helicopter in Yellow Sea

A Chinese helicopter has flown too close to an Australian aircraft in the Yellow Sea in an incident described as "unsafe and unprofessional".

Farid Farid

Two high-tech US surveillance aircraft have made an ‘unexpected’ stopover into Western Australia just days after the Trump administration began its bombing of Iran, but officials are refusing to discuss details of the visit.

WA NewsPremiumREVEALED: US spy planes make secret WA stopover

Two high-tech surveillance aircraft made a stopover in Western Australia just days after the Trump administration began bombing Iran, but officials are refusing to discuss details of the visit.

Andrew Greene & Charlton Hart

The Nightly understands military personnel have been placed on alert for potential government repatriation efforts from the Middle East, despite Penny Wong requesting Australians get commercial flights.

Middle EastCommentsDefence prepares for evacuation flights from Middle East

The Nightly understands military personnel have been placed on alert for potential government repatriation efforts from the Middle East, despite Penny Wong requesting Australians get commercial flights.

Andrew Greene

Women who suffered abuse should be able to sue no matter where they're serving, Jacqui Lambie says. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumJacqui Lambie's plea to the PM about women in uniform

Senator Jacqui Lambie has issued a fiery message to Anthony Albanese, as Labor seeks to remove a whole group of veterans from a sexual abuse class action.

Tess Ikonomou

An Australian Army solder looks over the range near Headquarters Middle East, which was hit by an Iranian drone attack over the weekend.

World NewsVideoCommentsDefence Minister confirms Australian air base hit by Iran

 Defence Minister Richard Marles has confirmed that an airfield used by Australian troops in the Middle East was hit by drone attacks over the weekend.

Andrew Greene

The number of senior officers in the Australian Defence Force is continuing to soar.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Federal PoliticsComments
The West Australian exclusive
Senior military officer numbers soar in ‘top-heavy’ ADF

The number of senior officers in the Australian Defence Force is soaring despite the Albanese Government’s highly touted push to reshape the organisation.

Andrew Greene

The months-long dispute has divided some industry leaders, military officials and politicians. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumPentagon-Anthropic feud has AI warfare at stake

The US Pentagon has demanded lawful AI use without constraints and has threatened a top artificial intelligence lab's business.

Staff Writers

Austal is turning out patrol boats from its Henderson shipyard in WA.

ManufacturingCommentsPremiumAuditor reservations over Austal accounts

Austal is happy to recognise more than $100m on cost overruns on two US Navy projects at its US shipyard but Deloitte is awaiting confirmation from the US Navy.

Sean Smith

West Australian-based shipbuilder Austal has signed $5 billion worth of contracts to produce Army vessels at the Henderson shipyard, in a deal the government claims will generate hundreds of local jobs.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
ManufacturingCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Austal lands $5b shipbuilding contract creating 1110 WA jobs

West Australian-based shipbuilder Austal has signed $5 billion worth of contracts to produce Army vessels at the Henderson shipyard, in a deal the government claims will generate hundreds of local jobs.

Andrew Greene

There are many sites in Darwin that are a reminder of the action the city saw in World War II. (Lloyd Jones/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumMilitary tourism push as wartime bombings remembered

The Top End has marked the anniversary of the 1942 bombing of Darwin amid a push to attract niche tourists to World War II sites and their stories.

Lloyd Jones

A smashed window at Hyatt Hotel Canberra, the venue for the ADM Congress.

DefenceVideoCommentsSmashed window, evacuation spark defence conference chaos

Panic broke out after a rock was hurled through a window and a suspicious package was found at a defence conference in Canberra.

Andrew Greene

Under the plan to be unveiled by Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy on Wednesday, the Government would ask for proposals from the private capital market to establish what would be known as the Advanced Capability Investment Fund.

DefenceCommentsStruggling defence companies bolstered by $1 billion fund

Local defence companies could soon be able to access a fund worth up to $1 billion set up through contributions from the venture capital market.

Andrew Greene

It’s been 10 years since the investigation into Ben Roberts-Smith started. David Shoebridge has questioned the length of the probe into SAS soldiers.

DefenceCommentsPressure builds for SAS veterans to be charged or cleared

Ten years after the investigation began into war crimes allegations, veterans and their supporters say the time has come to resolve one of the most controversial legal steps in Australian history.

Aaron Patrick

Outgoing Austal USA president Michelle Kruger, right, with Austal chief executive Paddy Gregg at the company’s Mobile, Alabama shipyard.

ManufacturingCommentsPremiumAustal USA chief boss retiring after accounting gaffe

Michelle Kruger is stepping back from leadership of the flagship shipbuilding business ahead of retiring on June 1, leaving it to be run by its chief operating officer.

Sean Smith

Hillary Clinton’s former running mate for the 2016 Presidential election is in the country for a series of engagements.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
DefenceCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
High-profile US senator heading to WA amid AUKUS concerns

Former US Vice Presidential candidate Senator Tim Kaine is heading to WA where he’s due to tour the Henderson shipyard and HMAS Stirling naval base to observe preparations for AUKUS.

Andrew Greene

Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads a US delegation that Europe hopes will be less confrontational. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumTrans-Atlantic rift looms over security gathering

Top international security figures are meeting in Germany at a time when trans-Atlantic relations are in "a significant crisis of confidence and credibility".

Staff Writers

Austal’s Henderson shipyard.

Ship showCommentsPremiumAustal shares scuppered over horror profit blunder

Shares in shipbuilder Austal have been scuttled in the opening minutes of trade on Friday following reports of an embarrassing accounting blunder that looks set to sink its full-year profit result.

Sean Smith

Austal’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.

ManufacturingCommentsPremiumAustal slashes profit forecast after US accounting error

The Federal Government’s anointed naval shipbuilder of choice has revealed that its forecast of $135 million in annual earnings before interest and tax was overstated by $US17.1m ($24m).

Sean Smith

More than 2000 women have joined legal action alleging sexual abuse in the Australian Defence Force. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumADF sexual abuse class action 'not a test of loyalty'

The chief of the Australian Defence Force has reaffirmed his support for serving women to join a class action alleging sexual abuse and harassment.

Tess Ikonomou

Building 488 at HMAS Harman to the Florence McKenzie OBE Building, to recognise the pioneer of technical education. Jay Cronan

CanberraCommentsPremiumADF joins the space age with galactic recruitment drive

Australia’s defence force is taking a giant leap into space jobs, recruiting for more workers to join future space missions.

Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have signed a security treaty. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumAustralia backs defence collaboration with Indonesia

Anthony Albanese wants greater Australian "integration" into defence infrastructure in Indonesia following the signing of a landmark security treaty.

Tess Ikonomou