Australia

Oct- 2026 -

30 October

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

Australian Kamikaze Drone Armed With Shotgun Approved for Pentagon’s Buy List

The US Department of Defense has added Skyborne Technologies’ Cerberus MI shotgun-armed suicide drone to its Blue UAS Cleared List.

30 October

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

EP-Φ family of VTOL unmanned aerial systems. Photo: Rocket Fast Drones

Rojoef Manuel

US-Australian Partnership Brings Field-Printable Counter-UAS Drones to American Market

US defense contractor MAG Aerospace has partnered with Australian tech firm Rocket Fast Drones to advance tube-launched, 3D-printable unmanned aerial systems for counter-drone operations, intelligence gathering, electronic warfare, and strike missions.

29 October

Sea

Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Colorado (SSN 788) arrives at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia, on Oct. 27, 2026, for a planned submarine maintenance period (SMP) supporting AUKUS, the trilateral security agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. During the SMP, more than 30 fully trained and certified Australian civilian technicians from ASC Pty Ltd. will perform routine maintenance on a Virginia-class submarine in Western Australia for the first time. The SMP, the third in the last 12 months, is an important step toward establishing Submarine Rotational Force-West. The Pacific Submarine Force provides strategic deterrence, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, precision land strike, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, early warning, and special warfare capabilities around the globe.

Rojoef Manuel

First US Navy Submarine Named for Australian AUKUS Rotation

Washington has designated the USS Colorado (SSN 788) as the first US Navy Virginia-class fast-attack submarine assigned to Submarine Rotational Force-West beginning in late 2027.

26 October

Americas

Representatives from the US Navy’s Team Submarine and the Australian Mission to the United States break ground on the third center of excellence at Fairbanks Morse Defense’s Bird-Johnson Propeller Company facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Jodesz Gavilan

US, Australia Break Ground on $60M Submarine Manufacturing Facility

The US and Australia have broken ground on a $60-million submarine manufacturing facility in Mississippi.

20 October

Asia Pacific

HMAS Brisbane fires a Tomahawk Weapon System off of the cost of San Diego, United States

Inder Singh Bisht

US Approves $300M Sale of Tomahawk Mission-Planning Systems to Australia

The US State Department has approved the potential $300-million sale of Tomahawk cruise missile mission-planning systems, communications equipment, and related support services to Australia.

15 October

Technology

Ethan M. Encarnacion

New Australian Mine Detector Skips the Metal and Detects the Explosive Itself

A new mine detector tested in Brisbane, Australia, takes a different approach to finding landmines by detecting the explosive compound itself rather than relying on the mine’s casing or metallic components.

9 October

Arms

Rojoef Manuel

Leonardo DRS Wraps Up Thermal Sight Supply, Training for Australian Snipers

Leonardo DRS has finalized deliveries and training for its INOD Block III thermal weapon sights distributed to the Australian Army as part of a deal signed in 2022.

8 October

Land

Rojoef Manuel

Australia Grounds Supacat Fleet After Accident Kills Troop

The Australian Department of Defence has issued a temporary stand-down on its Supacat High Mobility Transporter fleet following a fatal rollover during a training exercise.

8 October

Land

Two Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles bound for Ukraine wait to be loaded onto a C-17A Globemaster III aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. *** Local Caption *** The Australian Government has provided further support to the Government of Ukraine by gifting 20 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles, including two ambulance variants, to aid the Government of Ukraines response to Russias unrelenting and illegal aggression. Australias response follows a direct request from President Zelenskyy during his address to a joint sitting of the Parliament of Australia on 31 March 2022. The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle was built in Australia to provide protected mobility transport, safely moving soldiers to a battle area prior to dismounting for close combat. The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle is well suited to provide protection to the Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers and Ukrainian civilians against mines and improvised explosive devices, shrapnel from artillery and small arms fire. The vehicles have been painted olive green to suit the operating environment. Additionally, a Ukrainian flag is painted on either side with the words United with Ukraine stencilled in English and Ukrainian to acknowledge our commitment and support to the Government and people of Ukraine. The ambulances will have the traditional red cross emblem. The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles will be fitted with radios, a global positioning system and additional bolt-on armour increasing their protection.

Rojoef Manuel

L3Harris to Upgrade Deal for Australian Army Bushmasters

Australia has contracted L3Harris Technologies to supply an end-to-end command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence suite for its Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles.

6 October

Asia Pacific

Christine Casimiro

Shield AI, Innovaero Partner on Loitering Munitions for Australia

US firm Shield AI and Australian defense technology company Innovaero Technologies have teamed up to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s strike capabilities with autonomous loitering munitions.

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