Indo-Pacific 2023 - Day 1 Updates

The Indo Pacific 2023 International Maritime Exposition is taking place from 7-9 November 2023, with the theme, ‘Fleet 2035: Sea Power and the Future of Maritime Warfare’. Drawing military delegations from over 40 nations and more than 700 defence industry organisations, ADM is on the floor to report on new technology, partnerships and company updates.

From ADM journalists:

The new Speartooth Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle that has been under development for the RAN has completed trials and is ready for the next stage of development | Tim Fish

BAE Systems has unveiled a modification to its Hunter-class frigate design, which will increase the number of vertical launch system cells from 32 to 96 | Nigel Pittaway

As Australia embarks on its most complex industrial enterprise ever – the construction of nuclear-powered submarines - Navy Chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond has urged the nation to adopt “strategic patience” | Max Blenkin

Quickcasts:

 In this episode, Grant McHerron was at the Indo Pacific 2023 event opening's ministerial press conference, recording the full Q&A with the Acting Prime Minister & Minister for Defence, the Honorable Richard Marles MP, and the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark D. Hammond. This includes questions from the reporters present on topics such as China's lack of presence at the event, F-35s on the LHDs, recruitment, AUKUS, submarines, nuclear industry and funding the Defence budget.

Press Releases:

EOS has showcased the integration of their laser Dazzler, a non-ballistic countermeasure against uncrewed aerial and seaborne threats, with their R800 remote weapon system at Indo-Pac 23.

Lockheed Martin Australia has delivered the Sea 4000 Phase 6 Combat System Design Agent contract, resulting in updated design architecture that will support integration of the Aegis Combat System Baseline 9 capabilities, into the RAN's Hobart-class Guided Missile Destroyers.

Australian veteran-owned maritime company, The Whiskey Project Group (TWPG), and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (Rafael), has unveiled a collaborative reconnaissance and strike watercraft prototype; the Whiskey Bravo - Strike.

The Sentinel 1250 Littoral Manoeuvre Craft (LMC), Matawhā, is on display at Indo Pacific 2023, one of three LMC’s built by Tasmanian manufacturer Sentinel Boats for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

Australian business Cold Logic has been awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to construct and install cold and cool rooms for the first batch of three Hunter class frigates.

Saab Australia has partnered with United States autonomous maritime and undersea surveillance company, ThayerMahan, with an aim to strengthen Australia’s sovereign undersea warfare capabilities.

Aerojet Rocketdyne and NIOA have announced a strategic agreement to explore the manufacturing of critical guided weapons components in Australia.

Babcock and HII have partnered with the University of Adelaide, Curtin University, and the University of NSW to form the AUKUS Workforce Alliance.

archTIS has announced the signing of an agreement with Australian Naval Infrastructure to license Kojensi, a service platform that is designed to share sensitive information.