UK company Babcock International Group has been expanding its footprint in both Australia and NZ over the last few years, moving from a company purely with naval marine interests to aspirations in other Defence domains.

In his recent paper for the Kokoda Foundation, Professor Ross Babbage caused a minor stir by suggesting that Australia should seriously look at getting some USN Virginia class submarines instead of building our own.

A decade after they entered service with 6 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, the unit’s five Kaman SH-2G Seasprites have become renowned in several areas, including night operations and hours flown.

With first pass approval still at least four years away, the naval industry is cautious about the prospects for Sea 1180. The capability that Defence eventually buys may not be quite like the capability set out in the current DCP.

Defence Minister Steven Smith announced on 17 March that a formal bid to purchase the ex-RN ship Largs Bay has been made.

Austal-built high-speed ferries have recently been engaged to assist in relief efforts in Japan and Libya.

The hull of what will be Australia's largest warship - the Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Ship 1 - was launched last week at Ferrol Dockyard, Spain.

Thales Australia has built on its successful participation in Defence’s establishment of a Maritime Tactical Wide Area Network, with the in-service support contract under Sea 1442 Phase 3 becoming operative.

UK composite materials specialists Tods Defence have secured the order for three Bow Sonar Domes for the RAN’s Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyers.

As previously suggested in ADM’s Defence Week Premium newsletter, the RAN is considering buying or leasing one of Britain’s Bay-class Landing Ships Dock (LSD), confirmed minister for defence Stephen Smith.

The Government will appoint an independent team of experts to develop a plan to address problems in the repair and management of the amphibious and support ship fleet.

Tourism operator Mary D Enterprises has selected Austal to design and construct a 35-metre high-speed monohull passenger ferry.

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith has outlined a range of problems with the ADF's amphibious capability during a keynote address at the ADM2011 Congress.

Assembly of the Mk32 Mod 9 torpedo launchers for the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers is now underway at Babcock's Techport Australia premises.

New Zealand defence minister Wayne Mapp has met his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith in Wellington to discuss defence and security issues.

Austal has launched its largest catamaran to date, the Leonora Christina for Danish company Faergen (formerly Nordic Ferry Services).