– USNI News – Australia is on track to select the Japanese Soryu-class submarines to replace its aging Collins-class submarines in a potential $20 billion deal for 10 to 12 boats.

– Royal Australian Navy – Japan & Australia consider submarine deal that could rattle China – Japan is considering selling submarine technology to Australia – perhaps even a fleet of fully engineered, stealthy vessels.

– War is Boring – Pretty soon, the Royal Australian Navy will take possession of HMAS Canberra, a 27,000-ton-displacement, flat-deck amphibious assault ship. The RAN plans to use Canberra and her sister HMAS Adelaide to manage crises across the South Pacific. But could the Canberras also give Australia an offensive naval air capability that it has lacked since the early 1980s? Could the assault ships, in other words, also be aircraft carriers?

– ABC – Indonesian authorities say the Australian Navy forced an asylum seeker boat back towards Indonesia, where it ran out of fuel and ran aground.

– Defense News – As the US pushes forward on the AirSea Battle doctrine and the so-called Asia Pivot, many in the Asia-Pacific are asking for clarification on a subject that could involve them in an unnecessary war with China.

– Financial Review – The United States has indicated for the first time it would be willing to lease or sell a nuclear submarine to Australia in a move that will inflame tensions with China and force the Coalition to declare its policy on ­bolstering regional defence.

– Daily Telegraph – The Australian navy plans to recruit up to 1,000 Royal Navy sailors facing redundancy under the Government’s defence cuts.

US Naval War College Review – Australia’s 2009 Defense White Paper – A Maritime Focus For Uncertain Times

As a significant medium power in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia inescapably is a participant in the most politically, economically, and strategically dynamic part of the world. The region is a vast and politically complex area, one that is increasingly prosperous, confident, volatile, and potentially dangerous in almost equal parts. Situated at the nexus of the Pacific and Indian oceans, Australia must share in both the opportunities and challenges thrown up by these two great maritime stages for geopolitical interaction.

Defense Technology International – Another Collins-class Submarine in Dry Dock

And the troubles in Australia’s submarine fleet continue: there is apparently now just one operational submarine after Navy chief Vice-Admiral Russ Crane confirmed in late January that a generator failure on board HMAS Farncomb meant the submarine had to be put into dry dock for urgent repairs.

Defense Technology International – Extreme concern in Australia over subs

Senior members of the Australian government are “extremely” concerned about the availability of their nation’s AU$6 billion ($5.5 billion) Collins-class submarines, which face serious operational restrictions because of chronic mechanical problems, notably the state of the diesel engines, and maintenance issues. The ship’s original combat system never worked and has already been changed at a cost of nearly AU$1 billion.

The Age – Navy to the rescue as pirates attack in the Gulf

Royal Australian Navy warships have raced to the aid of merchant vessels under fire from pirates in the Gulf of Aden, in the area commonly known as Pirate Alley.

AFP – Australian navy ship races to rescue French sailor

An Australian navy frigate was racing against deteriorating weather conditions Saturday to reach a French yachtsman badly injured during a solo round-the-world race.

Defense Technology International – RAN silent, RAN deep: Australia’s Submarine Plans Under Review

The Royal Australian Navy is undertaking a sweeping review of how it operates its submarines and what the next-generation hull may look like.

BBC – Australia navy off for Christmas

Most of Australia’s navy is to be given two months off over Christmas as part of a new strategy to cope with crew shortages, the defence minister says.

Defense Technology International – An ex-U.S. Navy destroyer was sunk for real (by an Australian sub) in the first-ever live test of the latest Mk 48 Mod 7 CBASS heavyweight torpedo variant.
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Defense Technology International – Australia’s Chief of Navy warns that “enormous strategic change” taking place at the moment will have major implications for the maritime forces of Australia and its allies.
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The Australian – A look at submarine rescue exercises in the Pacific.
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Aviation Week – Australia has formally completed the deal to spend A$3.1 billion on two amphibious ships from Tenix.The government has just inked the deal that should see the HMAS Canberra delivered in 2013, and its sister ship, the HMAS Adelaide, to follow in 2015. The 27,000 metric ton vessels are designed to offload 1,124 embarked troops and carry their artillery, Abrams tanks and other vehicles.
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AAP – Australia’s navy is to get new, advanced, Spanish-designed air warfare destroyers and large landing ships at a cost of as much as $11 billion.
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Radio New Zealand – Australian warships are sailing towards Fiji amid speculation of another coup. The amphibious support ship HMAS Kanimbla left Townsville last night and HMAS Newcastle, a frigate, began its journey to the area on Wednesday night.
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Christian Science Monitor – East Timor’s call for help Wednesday opened a new mission for an already stretched Australian military.
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ABC – The HMAS Kanimbla and the HMAS Manoora have been sent to Australia’s northern waters. The vessels are on stand-by in case East Timor requires assistance to quell any further rioting in the capital, Dili.
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Herald Sun – The Royal Australian Navy has denied two of its ships may have contributed to two mass whale strandings in Tasmania.
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The Advertiser – The frigate HMAS Parramatta has been deployed to the Gulf, becoming the 12th Royal Australian Navy ship to serve in support of operations in the Middle East.
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ABC – The Australian Navyís newest ship will be commissioned this weekend, and Brisbane will host the ceremony for the first time in many years. The 118-meter ANZAC class frigate will become the HMAS Toowoomba on Saturday.
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