Defence & Security Podcast Network

The Australian Defence Force offers more than 200 rewarding career paths spanning from aviation to hospitality and everything in between. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Director of General Defence Force Recruiting with the Department of Defence Sue McCready CSC joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss the defence industry professionals of tomorrow. She will discuss the recruitment proce...

Having doubled their employees since 2016 and further growth expected in the coming years, partly as a result of the pending arrival of the F-35 in Australia, Lockheed Martin is continuing to add to Australia's thriving defence sector while still holding strong to their Australian identity. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, chief executive of Lockheed Australia Vince Di Pietro and bu...

With developments in place that will see Australia build and develop its own space agency, the Defence Connect Podcast again analyses how this will impact the defence sector and the opportunities that it presents to us as a country. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, manager and CTO of PlusComms and head of ThunderStruck Aerospace Robert Brand joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss both A...

Following the announcement in the May budget that Australia would be forming its own space agency, there has been heavy debate as to which state would be best suited for its location. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Dr Jason Held of Saber Astronautics joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss the recent opportunities that have presented themselves, while also looking at the current state...

Social media and the digital age has given a voice to many who may have previously gone unheard and while some organisations are making an active effort to try to minimise the impact that this can have on their public image, it is those that are embracing this changing landscape that are noticing the full potential it offers for their brand awareness. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast...

US Border Patrol's top priority is to keep terrorists and their weapons from entering the US while welcoming all legitimate travellers and commerce. A role aided by the implementation of geospatial imagery, mobile technology and consistent systems. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Assistant Chief of the US Border Patrol Patrick Stewart joins host Phil Tarrant following his address a...

Legacy has a strong history of providing services to Australian families suffering after the injury or death of a spouse or parent during or after their time within the Defence Force. This service is currently being utilised by 65,000 widow(er)s and 1,800 children and disabled dependants throughout Australia. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, CEO of Legacy NSW Associated Clubs John H...

John Lonergan last joined the Defence Connect team at the 2017 Avalon Airshow, where we got our first look at the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.  In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, CEO and managing director of Milskil John Lonergan joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss the arrival of two F-35s in Australia later this year, and to unpack the company's recent contract with Lockhee...

The battle of Hamel is remembered for introducing tactics that dramatically turned the tide against the Germans and changed the way that war is fought. A story noted for its speed, tactics, bravery, and the fact that for the first time in history American troops fought under Australian command. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, author Stephen Dando – Collins joins host Phil Tarrant t...

The Battle of Le Hamel on 4 July 1918 was an Allied triumph, and strategically very important in the closing stages of WWI. A largely Australian force, commanded by Sir John Monash, fought what has been described as the first modern battle - where infantry, tanks, artillery and planes operated together as a coordinated force with every detail planned meticulously. In this episode of the Defence Co...

The SEA 5000 Future Frigate announcement has been hotly anticipated in recent months with those bidding for the contract joining the Defence Connect Podcast to discuss their submissions. The announcement has today been made with BAE securing the $35b contract. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Andy Keough managing director for SAAB Australia joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss their i...

Submarine technology continues to advance, with new threats being the driving force behind this development. Thales believes its previous experience with Australian submarine fleets enables it to embrace this changing landscape and create a superior product in the SEA 1000 program. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Adam Waldie, SEA 1000 capture leader for Thales, joins host Phil Tarr...

Low underwater radiating noise is an important attribute for a defence vessel where undetectability in the underwater battlespace is key. Rolls-Royce have previously had success with the Type 23 frigate and now have further plans within the Australian defence industry. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, program director of Rolls-Royce Australia Services Rob Madders joins host Phil Tar...

Western Australia has attracted some negativity surrounding their potential for shipbuilding capability and their aptitude as a key participant in the defence supply chain. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by senator Linda Reynolds CSC to discuss this criticism and WA's relationship with South Australia. She will unpack how her history in defence has aide...

With 36 years in the Air Force before his transition into corporate, Warren Ludwig, director of international strategic development Australia, NZ and south-east Asia at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss General Atomics' bid and the partnerships that they have created within the AIR 7003 proposal. He will share his thoughts on the current state of the Air Forc...

Having recently returned from Washington after attending the G'Day USA gala Defence dialogue, Karen Stanton, director of corporate and strategy at HTA Group, joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss the transformation of the Australian defence industry. She will share outcomes from G'Day USA, including why she considers it to be such an important event and look at the exceptional representation of SMEs...

With 25 years in service with the Royal Navy and now a captain in Navy Command HQ, Captain Tim Green has seen the underwater battlespace from both sides of the periscope. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, ahead of the upcoming announcement surrounding the SEA 5000 Future Frigate program, Capt Green joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss the nature of the ASW work that he is currently com...

International in relevance, but with focus on Australia and the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, CIVSEC 2018 offered key insights into the evolving national and social security sectors – and how threats will be combatted in the future. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant records from CIVSEC 2018 with a number of key industry leaders – receiving insights that are alarming in...

The recently-released Defence Industrial Capability Plan has outlined the government's vision to build a robust, resilient and internationally-competitive defence industry that meets defence capability requirements. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant discusses the plan with Dr Sheridan Kearnan, first assistant secretary for Defence industry policy with the Department...

Aircraft maintenance is an area where process and regimented guidelines are for obvious reasons of great importance, however it is also an area which some believe should be open to innovations which in many cases could be classed as violations. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant chats with one such supporter of that theory. Former RAAF Officer Tony Bannister-Tyrrell,...

The veteran community will converge on Sydney in October for the Invictus Games, an international sporting challenge that will include 500 competitors, supported by over 1,500 family and friends. Broadcast around the world and watched in 40 different countries, the spirit of competition and participation will be at its core while showcasing the talent, resilience and dedication of our wounded, inj...

While drones are growing in popularity for recreational and commercial applications, Australia is currently one of the leaders in utilising this game-changing capability in defence. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant chats with Australian Army Lieutenant Colonel Keirin Joyce – one of the key officers driving the development of the unmanned aerial system (UAS) program...

For over 100 years, Lithgow in NSW has been a centerpiece to Australia's sovereign arms manufacturing capabilities – with the armament factory equipping our military since WW1. Now under the stewardship of a leading prime, the Thales Lithgow Facility – which started its life as the Lithgow Small Arms Factory producing SMLE III rifles – continues to not only support employment in the regional hub,...

"We are de-risking a lot of the Type 26 equipment on the Type 23 in the UK, which gives us confidence. But I think... with the Australian program running five years behind the UK program, it really won't be an issue, because it will be de-risked in the UK." This week on the Defence Connect Podcast, we follow up with BAE Systems SEA 5000 managing director Nigel Stewart about the progress of the com...

Minster for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne MP is tasked at enhancing collaboration and connectivity between defence and industry, and overseeing the delivery of capability acquisition and sustainment programs – and the defence industry agenda. With an excess of $200 billion to be spent of capability acquisition and sustainment over the coming decade, delivery of defence spending is critical to...