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Lockheed Martin has announced the appointment of its new Australia and New Zealand chief executive, taking over the role from interim CEO Scott Thompson.

Defence Connect can confirm that Joe North has been appointed chief executive, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, with Thompson assuming the newly created position of deputy country executive, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand. 

Over a career that has spanned 30 years with Lockheed Martin, North has a proven record of leading the delivery of capability platforms, most recently as vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) operations for Australia and New Zealand. 

During his time with Lockheed Martin, he has provided an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship for employees, leading major capability programs for the US Navy. In recent years he has led the Lockheed Martin LCS program, supporting new construction (of 14 ships), class services, sustainment and international efforts, including five years spent in Japan focusing on delivering Japanese self defence capability in the maritime domain. 

North said he was proud to have the opportunity to lead Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand at what is a critical period for the modernisation of Australia’s defence capability.

"Lockheed Martin is at the forefront of delivering state-of-the-art defence capabilities for Australia in the air, sea and space domains, and I am proud to be able to contribute to this critical transformation. I am also extremely privileged to have the opportunity to lead such an exemplary team as we focus on delivering for our customers and support the continued development of a sovereign defence capability for Australia," he said. 

As CEO, North will lead the growth of Lockheed Martin’s Australian and New Zealand businesses both domestically and for international export, as well as serving as the lead representative in the delivery of Lockheed Martin’s programs, products and services. North will report to executive vice president for Lockheed International, Rick Edwards. 

A former Royal Australian Navy officer, Thompson joined Lockheed Martin in 2004 and has had a distinguished career, most recently as director of strategic engagement for Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand. 

In that role, Thompson had oversight of Australian business growth activities and managing the corporation’s Australian community engagement initiatives.

Immediately prior to this appointment, Thompson was interim CEO of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand. As deputy country executive, he will continue his focus on government and customer relations, reporting to North. 

Edwards said the appointments were a clear indication of Lockheed Martin’s ongoing customer focus and commitment to program delivery in Australia and New Zealand. 

"Joe has proven himself in leadership roles on significant programs and his appointment as chief executive demonstrates we remain committed to delivering for our customers in Australia and New Zealand. With his experience, Joe will provide a critical link to our US technological backbone and expertise which is critical to ensuring we can continue to support the development of a future sovereign defence capability for Australia," Edwards said. 

Commenting on his appointment, Thompson confirmed his core focus would remain on ensuring Lockheed Martin remained Australia’s partner of choice for defence, aerospace, sustainment and technology solutions.

"Lockheed Martin has continued to grow its presence in Australia and New Zealand through a focus on putting the needs of our customers first and delivering the innovative ‘future generation’ technologies these nations need to secure their national interests. We will continue to partner with local industry and research organisations, and we remain committed to delivering sustainable development in the regions and investing in local communities," Thompson said. 

Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,000 people in Australia working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence and civil sectors. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, alongside Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, has announced a renewed Australian commitment to freedom of navigation and maritime security operations in the Middle East.

The Morrison government is reaffirming its commitment to freedom of navigation and safe passage through the Persian Gulf by announcing it will support an international maritime security mission.

This mission will see the Australian Defence Force work alongside its international partners to assure the security of merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Australia’s contribution will include the deployment of:

• a P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft to the Middle East for one month before the end of 2019;
• an Australian frigate in January 2020 for six months; and
• ADF personnel to the International Maritime Security Construct headquarters in Bahrain.

The joint media statement said, "The government has been concerned with incidents involving shipping in the Strait of Hormuz over the past few months. This destabilising behaviour is a threat to Australian interests in the region.

"We have been working closely with our allies and partners, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, on this issue, which impacts global security and stability. Freedom of navigation through international waters is a fundamental right of all states under international law. All states have a right to expect safe passage of their maritime trade consistent with international law."

The statement said Australian forces will always conduct themselves in accordance with their international legal obligations.

This will be an enhancement of Australia's existing and longstanding contribution to counter-piracy and counter-terrorism missions in the waters of the Middle East.

"Our contribution will be modest, meaningful and time limited – and it will be part of an international mission. Australia will defend our interests wherever they may be under threat," the joint release said. 

"Working with partners, we will play our part in shaping a better future for Australia and Australians, as well as our region and the world."

A group of diverse contenders have launched their final bids to replace and, in some cases, enhance the Australian Army’s armed reconnaissance helicopter capability.

The Australian Army is planning to replace the current fleet of EC665 Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters (ARH) from the mid-2020s as identified in the 2016 Defence White Paper: "The government will replace the 22 Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters with a new armed reconnaissance capability from the
mid-2020s."

The acquisition strategy aims to reduce operational and in-service risk, and to allow the Australian Army to rapidly achieve operational milestones for the replacement armed reconnaissance capability, while achieving value for money.

LAND 4503's program of delivery aims to support the Australian Army and is designed to contribute to the creation of the modernisation and development of a 'networked and hardened' Army, the acquisition is broken down into three delivery stages beginning with projected IOC in 2026 and FOC in 2028, including: 

1. Up to 24 aircraft would be based at one primary location and another five are intended at a training location. The aircraft fleet may also be co-located in one primary location, however this is yet to be determined.
2. IOC for LAND 4503 is based on a squadron of up to 12 aircraft. This organisation would be capable of generating a deployable troop of four aircraft, continued force generation of four aircraft, and an initial build-up training element of four aircraft. IOC will be supported by trained personnel and support systems.
3. FOC for LAND 4503 is based on a regiment of up to 24 aircraft. This organisation would be capable of generating multiple concurrent deployed forces of up to squadron size. FOC will also be supported by a mature training system of up to five aircraft, with trained personnel and support systems.

Bell's Viper prepared to strike

Bell, a subsidiary of Textron, is presenting the AH-1Z Viper, currently in service with the US Marine Corps, which has been designed and built to support the expeditionary and maritime-centric focus of operations conducted by the US Marines.

A Bell spokesperson told Defence Connect, "The AH-1Z Viper is the only marinised attack helicopter that offers:

1. An increase in capability – can conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground on the same sortie simultaneously; and can operate equally well afloat or ashore without any degradation in capabilities;
2. An increase in safety - specifically designed for overwater missions, and for shipboard and expeditionary environments;
3. A decrease in risk – made to operate on board ship with proven capabilities and without any degradation in capability, thus providing low cost options to government; and
4. A decrease in acquisition costs and total cost of ownership – significantly lowest cost per flight hour and total life cycle cost, no requirement for expensive contractor maintenance."

Marinisation also includes all new advanced composite rotor blades and yoke style main rotor hubs that significantly outperform legacy “strap-pack” type systems, which are prone to corrosion and failure.

It also includes semi-automatic blade folding for quick stowage either on board ship or for rapid C-17 deployment, rotor brakes, ease of maintenance, electromagnetic environmental effects (E3) hardening, which provides safety against the ship’s powerful radars and other sensors from interfering with aircraft on board weapons and systems.  

"The combat proven Bell AH-1Z Viper is the only marinised attack helicopter in the world that is specifically designed and built for expeditionary and maritime operations. Marinisation is more than just corrosion protection against saltwater. Unlike unproven and costly add-ons, Bell’s marinisation begins at aircraft design and is built into the aircraft at point of manufacture to ensure conformity to shipboard operations," explained Javier 'Nerf' Ball, international campaign manager, Asia, global military sales and strategy.

The government has brought the LAND 4503 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Replacement program forward and aims to acquire a proven and mature, off-the-shelf manned armed helicopter to deliver armed reconnaissance effects in the close and deep contested battlespace in support of the Australian Defence Force.  

The work horse – Boeing's Apache

Boeing has confirmed the AH-64E Apache as its offering for LAND 4503 – Apache is flown by the US and 15 other countries, has recorded more than 4.5 million flight hours with the US Army alone. There are currently 1,180 Apaches in service today.

Terry Jamison, global sales and marketing, defence, space and security at Boeing said, "Boeing’s AH-64E Apache is known for its survivability, sustainability, interoperability and reconnaissance capability. As an Apache operator, Australia would join coalition countries, including the US and UK, and regional partners Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and the Republic of Korea."

Boeing's media release identified a number of benefits for the Australian government, namely the modernisation process currently upgrading the US fleet of Apache's, which will see the platform upgraded through the late-2040s and beyond to ensure global fleet partners continue to operate the most advanced multi-role combat helicopter for decades to come.

Darren Edwards, vice president and managing director, Boeing Defence Australia, said, "The benefits of Apache for Australia are more significant than continued platform upgrades. Boeing plans to deliver support services in-country and engage local suppliers to maximise Australian industry involvement for the ARH replacement program."

The incumbent - ARH Tiger

Airbus Helicopters is offering a cost-effective approach for taking the Tiger platform beyond 2040, in response to the Australian government's request for information (RFI) for the Project LAND 4503 Armed Reconnaissance Capability.

Airbus is the manufacturer of the tandem seat Tiger helicopters introduced to the Australian Army in 2004. Eighteen of the 22 units were assembled at the Airbus site in Brisbane, Australia. The fleet has been supported in Australia for more than 15 years.

The Airbus Helicopters proposal will offer the Australian Army and taxpayer with more than $3 billion in savings against the expected budget for LAND 4503.

Andrew Mathewson, Airbus Australia Pacific managing director, explained, "Airbus proudly delivers a strong Australian industry capability, including more than 260 local staff supporting Tiger."

Globally, 181 Tigers have been delivered to Australia, France, Germany and Spain. First deployed by the French Army in Afghanistan in 2009, Tiger continues to demonstrate its essential role in theatres of operation as a highly versatile, stealthy and manoeuvrable attack helicopter.

Lead ship of the Hobart Class guided missile destroyers HMAS Hobart has become the first of the class to successfully fire a missile in Australian waters, which marks a major milestone in the capability of the class.

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the successful missile firing demonstrates the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy’s most advanced warships.

"HMAS Hobart is the most sophisticated and lethal warship ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy, and this missile firing is a demonstration of how she can fight and win at sea," Minister Reynolds said.

Australia's Hobart Class guided missile destroyers (DDG) are based on Navantia's F100 Alvaro De Bazan Class of frigates and incorporate the Lockheed Martin Aegis combat management system with Australian-specific equipment to ensure that the RAN is capable of defending Australia and its national interests well into the next two decades.

The Hobart Class' Spanish counterparts entered service with the Spanish Navy beginning in the early 2000s, working alongside key NATO and US maritime assets.

When deployed to the Persian Gulf, the F100s became the first foreign Aegis-equipped ships to fully integrate into a US Navy Carrier Strike Group, while the class has also successfully deployed as the flagship of NATO's Maritime Group Standing Reaction Force, highlighting the individual and interoperable capabilities of Navy's new destroyers.

The vessels will be capable across the full spectrum of joint maritime operations, from area air defence and escort duties, right through to peacetime national tasking and diplomatic missions.

The Hobart Class Combat System is built around the Aegis Weapon System, incorporating the state-of-the-art phased array radar, AN/SPY-1D(V), will provide an advanced air defence system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of 150 kilometres.

Hobart’s Commanding Officer, Commander Ryan Gaskin, said the successful firing was a significant step in progressing Navy’s high-end warfighting capability.

"The missile firing was an opportunity to test recent upgrades to the ship’s Aegis combat system and prepare the ship’s company for their upcoming deployment. Our advanced sensors provide a real-time picture of the tactical situation, which when combined with our weapons systems gives us a formidable defence capability," CMDR Gaskin explained.

HMAS Hobart carries a range of weapons systems, including a Mk41 Vertical Launch System containing SM-2 Standard Missiles and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles, a Mk 45 five-inch main gun, Phalanx close-in weapons system, two 25mm Typhoons guns, and MU90 and Mk54 light-weight torpedoes for subsurface defence.

HMAS Hobart is based at Garden Island in Sydney and will deploy for the first time next month as the lead ship in a task group deployment.

Following a renewed vision of the 1980’s-era Defence of Australia policy championed by Professor Hugh White, debate has been set alight, with former Army Ready Reserve NCO Reece Anthony raising serious concerns about the plans to limit the expeditionary capabilities of both the Army and Navy identified by White in his book, How to Defend Australia.

As a former soldier who was recruited into the inaugural intake of the Australian Army Ready Reserve in 1992, the “Defence of Australia” theme in Professor Hugh White’s How to Defend Australia sounds very familiar.

White’s work appears to rehash the DOA theme that was articulated in the 1987 “Defence of Australia” (DOA) white paper, prepared for White’s former boss, former Labor defence minister Kim Beazley. This is my view of the lessons that recent history has for us on DOA as a Defence strategy for Australia.

The Ready Reserves were largely recruited into Brisbane’s 6 Brigade in 1992 to replace mainly regular and some general reserve soldiers. The Ready Reserve part of the DOA reforms, which had the central tenant of defence self-reliance and focused on denying an enemy the ability to cross the “air-sea gap” to the north of Australia.

This entailed prioritising long-range surveillance capabilities, fighter aircraft and submarines, which would serve this purpose over the sorts of heavy ground forces, naval surface units and transports that would enable Australia to join its allies on operations abroad.

The Ready Reserve training was full-time for a year and then for 50 days a year part time for the next four. The theory was that most of a soldier’s learning was done in the first year of training, so after a year the Army would effectively get a regular soldier who they could pay as a reservist.

My observation was that this theory came up short, particularly with respect to training Ready Reserves as competent officers and NCOs, as well as maintaining military skills once we moved to part-time service. In reality, the scheme cut costs at the expense of capability, rather than being a way to increase efficiency.

It was lucky that the Ready Reserve never had to be relied on to go on operations before it was disbanded by the Howard Liberal government in 1996. Howard’s subsequent raising of an extra regular battalion and restructuring of the Defence Force to emphasise overseas deployments was timely, because the subsequent 30 years of military operations undertaken by the ADF have proven the assumptions underpinning DOA wrong.

The only significant operations in the air-sea gap has been to counter people smugglers, with the ADF mostly operating in a variety of overseas localities. The most important operations have included Australian-led peace keeping and enforcement missions in places like East Timor, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands. A stable region is clearly in our national interest and has become even more important with China’s increasing efforts to gain traction there.

China is central to the renovation of DOA by White, who argues that that Australia now faces a credible threat of an attack on the Australian mainland by China and cannot rely on the US or regional allies to help us defend ourselves in that instance. China is undeniably growing in wealth and power, and has used the threat of force pursue its interests.

However, China is surrounded by states that have an interest in it not being allowed hegemony over east Asia. Russia, India, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan have all had wars with China in the last century, so it is almost inconceivable that all of these nations would allow an expansionist Chinese superpower to control all the resources in east Asia unopposed.

In doing so, they would be betting on China agreeing to limit its influence to that region, not an acceptable risk. Even in the unlikely instance that US washed its hands of influence in the world’s fastest growing economic region, China is spread too thin to pose a serious risk to Australia with conventional military force.

However, China’s ability and willingness to engage in asymmetric conflict against Australia should be taken seriously. The most practical way that China could take military action against Australia is by proxy war in the developing island nations that surround us. Think of an intervention like East Timor in 1999 where the militia had been armed with modern portable anti-tank weapons and landmines. It would be cheap and easy for China to arm and train local groups with weapons like this and they would pose a great challenge to Australian forces.

Combat experience has proven that armour heavy enough to resist man-portable anti-tank weapons and mines is often the best way to counter well-armed light infantry. Australian forces demonstrated this with Centurion tanks in the overwhelmingly successful Battle of Binh Ba during the Vietnam War and foreign operations in recent wars have reinforced the lesson.

Against a greater thereat, Australia must also be able to secure entry into the island nations in our region in the instance of conflict and the best way to do that is large, amphibious warships, like Australia’s Canberra Class. Using these types of ships in amphibious warfare is not a new idea, the Royal Navy and US Navy have used these types of ships for decades.

Yet these capabilities are exactly what White wants to deprive the Army and Navy of. His view is that Australia should only operate small amphibious ships and a lightly armed Army and simply avoid anything but the lowest of intensity land operations in our region. Essentially, White claims to be extremely worried about a Chinese attack on Australia, but proposes a policy that could allow them to change a regional government and obtain a base close to Australia, for the price of a couple of hundred rocket propelled grenades.

With White’s proposed ADF capabilities being dominated by fighter jets and submarines, all Australia would be able to do in response would be to bomb and blockade one of our developing neighbours into submission. This would most likely inflict even more suffering on the local population than they would experience from the internal conflict, which we would have abandoned them to.

I think that most Australians would be rightly appalled at White’s bad policy ideas if they were fully aware of the implications and I think they should be strenuously refuted before they gut the ADF’s vital regional deployment capabilities, like they did the last time.

Reece Anthony is an ex-Ready Reserve Non-Commissioned Officer and has subsequently worked as a public policy analyst across a variety of sectors. Reece has tertiary qualifications in economics, finance, project management and journalism

Noske-Kaeser and ENGIE Axima have officially opened their new manufacturing facility in South Australia, adding to the suite of national and international companies from across the defence sector choosing South Australia to establish their Australian presence.

The facility is producing air conditioning and ventilation systems for the 12 Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels. Seven workers are employed at the facility, and the company hopes to double the workforce in the next 12 months.

Premier Steven Marshall, who officially opened the new facility at Salisbury North, said the decision to locate themselves in South Australia shows the confidence major companies have in the state’s booming defence industry.

"When I see this sort of investment in our state, it fills me with confidence about where our defence industry is currently at, and the direction in which it’s heading. This facility will undertake critical work, manufacturing the HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems for the Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels being built at Osborne," Premier Marshall said.

Vice president of international business development for ENGIE Axima, Guillaume Weisrock, said ENGIE Axima’s investment in its Adelaide production and testing facility clearly marks the commitment to being part of Australia’s current and future naval programs.

"ENGIE Axima’s investment in an Adelaide production and testing facility marks our commitment to becoming a trusted and long-term participant in Australia’s current and future naval programs," Weisrock said. 

"It was obvious from the start to set up in Adelaide given its growing marine industrial environment and the support of South Australian authorities."

General manager of Noske-Kaeser Marine Australia, David Owen, said the opening of this new facility presents an exciting future for the business.

Owen added, "This facility refocuses our business operations from predominantly service and support back to our roots in Australia, which began with our involvement in the Anzac frigate program in 1992."

The primary role of the OPV will be to undertake constabulary missions and the OPV will be the primary ADF asset for maritime patrol and response duties. A competitive evaluation process (CEP) commenced in late 2015 and concluded with the signing of a contract with Lürssen Australia on 31 January 2018.

The project will move to Henderson in Western Australia in 2020 where 10 OPVs will be built by Civmec in partnership with Lürssen Australia. It’s estimated the $3.6 billion SEA 1180 project will create around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.

ASC serves Australia's naval defence capabilities, with more than 2,500 employees across three facilities in SA and WA. ASC has evolved into Australia's largest specialised defence shipbuilding organisation, with naval design and engineering resources unparalleled within Australia's defence industry.

Lürssen is a global leader in designing and building ships of the highest quality for demanding customers all over the world. Lürssen beat out bids from Dutch company Damen, which was also partnered with ASC and Civmec, as well as German company Fassmer, which was in a joint venture with Austal, for the SEA 1180 project.

Civmec is an integrated, multi-disciplinary construction and engineering services provider to the oil and gas, metals and minerals, infrastructure, and marine and defence sectors. Headquartered in Henderson, WA, Civmec has regional offices in Broome (WA), Darwin (Northern Territory), Newcastle and Sydney (NSW), and Gladstone (Queensland).