In this News Review episode, Grant McHerron, Ewen Levick and Kirra Davey review and discuss some of the news of interest that's occurred recently in the world of Defence.
We start the episode discussing Boeing's MQ-28A Ghost Bat which is being displayed at the ILA Berlin Air Show as it's in consideration for Germany's Collaborative Combat Aircraft role. Boeing announced at the event a series of upgraded capabilities for the MQ-28 along with the addition of Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz to the Ghost Bat industry team. From there we move on to the announcement that PMB Defence and TKMS have partnered on the Canadian submarine bid which, if successful, will see PMB supplying batteries for each boat.
After those news items, it's over to the UK where the British Defence Secretary has abruptly resigned in protest of the government's failure to spend sufficient funds on Defence. In addition to throwing a spanner in the plans for Richard Marles and Penny Wong who are there for the AUKMIN meetings, this also raises the question of what effect are the billions of dollars Australia is sending to the UK Defence Industry actually having? Also, the UK's Defence spend as % GDP is higher than Australia's yet so if the UK's can be considered insufficient, what are the implications for Australia?
We wrap up with a look at the need for a bridging submarine capability that could be done instead of Collins LOTE, given that program is doing less and costing more than planned. With the very real chance of delays, both in receiving Virginia class submarines and production of SSN AUKUS, it is becoming clearer that extending the aging Collins class into the 2040s may not be the best solution.
Links:
Boeing reveals advanced Ghost Bat capabilities
https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/boeing-reveals-advanced-ghost-bat-capabilities
Boeing German MQ-28 Ghost Bat team expanded
https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/boeing-german-mq-28-ghost-bat-team-expanded
PMB Defence and TKMS partner on Canadian submarine bid
https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/pmb-defence-and-tkms-partner-on-canadian-submarine-bid
British Defence Secretary quits
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-11/richard-marles-blindsided-after-uk-counterpart-john-healey-quits/106788486
https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/uk-politics/british-defence-secretary-resigns-hours-before-aukus-media-event-with-defence-minister-richard-marles/news-story/28f300c3acdd4174cc516e5b6c288a04
Submarines sail troubled waters
https://www.australiandefence.com.au/defence/sea/submarines-sail-troubled-waters
ANAO report on Collins LOTE
https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/defences-collins-class-submarines-life-of-type-extension-planning-and-implementation
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