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The exercises are called Alon, meaning wave in the Philippine language Tagalog. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumAustralia and Philippines begin largest military drills

The largest military exercises between Australian and the Philippines have begun near the South China Sea, where Beijing's assertive actions have raised alarm.

Jim Gomez

VEEM manufacturing process in Canning Vale, WA.

ManufacturingPremiumVeem stock on the up after landing $65m subs contract

Shares in family-controlled manufacturing firm Veem have surged after landing another six years’ worth of work with Australian submarine builder ASC. 

Simone Grogan

A sharp drop in the population of males of enlistment age is impacting South Korea's military ranks. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumSouth Korea's military shrinks as male population drops

South Korea's military has shrunk by 20 per cent in six years in the wake of a sharp drop in the country's male population.

Jack Kim

An F-35A fighter jet put on a show over Sydney ahead of September's airshow. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumAir Force power to wow crowds in anniversary airshow

Fighter jets, cargo planes and aerobatic manoeuvres will be on display at an airshow celebrating the centenary of one of the country's oldest Air Force bases.

Tom Wark

Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy and Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond at a background briefing for journalists at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, August 5, 2025

DEFENCE INDUSTRYCommentsPremiumHenderson’s readiness questioned amid frigate fleet deal

Doubts have been raised over whether WA’s Henderson shipyard will be ready in time to build eight frigates under the Federal Government’s naval shipbuilding deal with Austal. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Japanese warship the JS Yahagi, a Mogami-class stealth frigate from Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, is docked in Darwin, Australia, on June 6, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)

analysis
analysis
Federal PoliticsCommentsPremium
analysis
Off-the-shelf frigate purchase a smart move

With its decision to buy Mogami-class frigates from Japan, the Government is getting the closest thing to an off-the-shelf product as exists in Defence procurement. That’s a good thing.

Katina Curtis

Nicola and Andrew Forrest.

ManufacturingPremiumThe Forrests’ investment in Austal is $400m in profit

Andrew and Nicola Forrest are the biggest beneficiaries of Austal’s emergence as a strategically important shipbuilder in Australia and the US, more than tripling their outlay since jumping aboard in 2021.

Sean Smith

Defence Minister Richard Marles has revealed details of the $10 billion shipbuilding agreement with Japan.

Federal PoliticsCommentsJapan wins massive $10b bid to build Australian Navy ships

Australia has picked Japan to build the Navy’s new $10 billion fleet of frontline warships in a decision that will shape the ADF’s capabilities as it faces a strategic regional challenge from China.

Nicola Smith

Australia has struck a contract with a Japanese company to replace its aging Anzac-class frigates. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumAustralia to boost navy firepower with Japanese design

Japanese Mogami-class frigates will replace aging Australian warships following a landmark review recommending a focus on long-range firepower.

Dominic Giannini

Anthony Albanese met with Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto on the first overseas trip of his second term (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumAustralia, Indonesia urged to deepen ties amid threats

Australia and Indonesia should take their relationship to the next level to combat a trio of key threats, with the aim to include other nations in the region.

Tess Ikonomou

The USS Ohio submarine's Captain Eric Hunter describes it as a deterrent and geopolitical force. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumClandestine US submarine flexes muscle at Aussie port

It's not hard to miss docked at a busy port but the USS Ohio secretly sailed into Australian waters before offering a rare glimpse inside.

Fraser Barton

UK-Australia AUKUS treaty unveiled.

AUSMINCommentsPentagon review raised at high-level Australia-UK talks

Australian and UK officials have downplayed concerns over US commitment to the AUKUS pact ahead of signing a 50-year agreement to cement the deal.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Under Friedrich Merz, Germany plans to boost defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2029. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumMerz's 'militarisation' of Germany concerning: Russia

Germany has pursued an openly hostile policy towards Russia in recent years, the Kremlin says.

Staff Writers

Australia has paid another $800 million to the US under the AUKUS nuclear submarines agreement. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumAustralia pays US second $800m for AUKUS amid review

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed Australia's second AUKUS payment to the United States.

Staff Writers

BAE Systems Anzac 154

ManufacturingCommentsPremiumHenderson to bear brunt of BAE’s Australian jobs cull

BAE Systems will shed 150 roles by November in a move that will largely impact its specialised trades workforce in Henderson as work on the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigates dries out.

Simone Grogan

Acciona Desal Plant Roger Cook Bede Noonan 15 July 2025

InfrastructurePremiumAcciona eyes WA power and defence builds

The national boss of contracting giant Acciona has knocked back worries about a Western Australian worker shortage as he reveals the company’s plans to chase AUKUS work and energy transition projects.

Matt Mckenzie

Air combat operations and live-fire drills are among the military exercises of Talisman Sabre. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumMilitary might on show as defence questions swirl

Troops from around the world are taking part in military drills in Australia coast as the US pressures its allies for plans should a real war break out.

Tess Ikonomou

The Australian government has reiterated its stance on troop deployments amid questions over Taiwan. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremiumAustralia resists US push to declare future war role

Australia is standing firm against US pressure to declare what part it could play in a broader conflict against the backdrop of a key trip to China.

Tess Ikonomou

A new navy agreement between Australia, the US and Japan has been signed on the USS America. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

DefencePremium'Free and safe' Indo-Pacific eyed in trilateral deal

Australia, the United States and Japan have signed a trilateral deal that "sends a message" to any nation threatening safety in the Indo-Pacific.

Fraser Barton

A B-52H strategic bomber was sent to the Korean Peninsula for a drill for the first time in 2025. (AP PHOTO)

DefencePremiumS.Korea, Japan and US conduct air drill as chiefs meet

Top South Korean, US and Japanese military officials have met as the nations flew advanced warplanes for a joint exercise in a show of force against the North.

Jack Kim and Joyce Lee

Taiwan's military drills will include regular service members and over 20,000 reservists. (EPA PHOTO)

DefencePremiumTaiwan begins military drills to counter China threats

Taiwan has launched annual military drills that are its longest yet, as regional tensions and harassment by China increase.

Staff Writers

PNG Defence Force soldier Lieutenant Heydan Chan is ready to soar after getting his pilot's wings. (HANDOUT/AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE)

DefencePremiumPNG pilot ready for take off after Aussie graduation

Heydan Chan says his faith got him through a 12 month pilot course but his mentor believes it was pure determination that earned him his wings.

Fraser Barton

Military experts say Australia's Defence bases are extremely vulnerable.

DEFENCE SECURITYVideoWhy these pictures have military experts worried: ‘Extraordinarily vulnerable’

There are calls for a shift in government spending, but analysts say Canberra is not listening.

Chris Maher and Bryce Luff

The Prime Minister is unlikely to get the chance to meet Donald Trump for at least another two months — and then it’ll probably be on the sidelines of a summit rather than at the White House.

Federal PoliticsCommentsWhy Albo thinks summit season best chance at talk with Trump

Anthony Albanese is looking towards a meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of a major summit and has raised the prospect of multiple conversations with the President.

Katina Curtis