PODCAST: How naval shipbuilding is shaping the future of Australian defence, Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, Royal Australian Navy

Naval
|
By:
Jonathan Mead, Royal Australian Navy, RADM

2018 has been a year dominated by naval shipbuilding in Australia. Defence Connect Podcast host Phil Tarrant is joined by Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, Commander of the Australian Fleet, for an in-depth conversation about the $90 billion naval shipbuilding plan, industry opportunities and the operational utility of a larger fleet.

2018 has been a year dominated by naval shipbuilding in Australia. Defence Connect Podcast host Phil Tarrant is joined by Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, Commander of the Australian Fleet, for an in-depth conversation about the $90 billion naval shipbuilding plan, industry opportunities and the operational utility of a larger fleet.

RADM Mead will unpack his experience across Navy’s growing procurement agenda, his current role and responsibilities within the service, and a focus on attracting and retaining the right talent within the broader ADF.

He will also address the media scrutiny surrounding shipbuilding programs, including the Hunter Class frigates and Attack Class submarines, and how the upcoming ventures will shape Australia’s naval shipbuilding sector going forward.

Finally, the pair will also discuss how Navy is committed to improving relationships with industry to increase the speed and efficiency of the procurement process while ensuring that Navy maintains its technological edge now and into the future.

Enjoy the podcast,

The Defence Connect team

Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Defence Connect a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Defence Connect as a preferred news source.

Tags:

Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: SPOTLIGHT: Lockheed Martin Australia’s priorities, leadership and life after service, with Jeremy King
Episode 10: THE PROGRESS REPORT: Leadership, mentorship and life at sea – Commander Melanie Lennard on 17 years in the Royal Australian Navy
Episode 9: PODCAST: Australia’s munitions manufacturing push at Land Forces 2026, with NIOA Group’s Robert Nioa
Episode 8: PODCAST: EOS showcases new interceptor and layered drone defence at Land Forces 2026, with Lee Kormany
Episode 7: CONTESTED GROUND: The information advantage – how AI is reshaping influence, competition and power
Episode 6: PODCAST: Next-generation equipment at Land Forces 2026, with Aquaterro’s Graeme Bulte
Episode 5: SPOTLIGHT: Defence electronics supply chains, counterfeit components and shortages
Episode 4: PODCAST: AUKUS, China and Australia’s defence industrial future, with former prime minister Scott Morrison
Episode 3: CONTESTED GROUND: When AI goes rogue – the emerging threat Australia isn’t ready for
Episode 2: PODCAST: Frontier AI, cyber warfare, and defending Australia’s military networks, with Wendi Whitmore and Tom Scully