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The battle beneath Australia’s seas
9 June 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in The Australian Defence Supplement on 2 June 2026 Image: The first Speartooth LUUV is handed over to the US Navy at C2 Robotics’ Melbourne site. From left, RAN Navy’s Directorate of Maritime Integrated Capabilities Captain Tony Miskelly, C2 Robotics chief executive Troy Duggan, and US defence attache in Canberra, Captain Josh Fagan, USN. Picture: C2 Robotics Australia is critically dependent on infrastructure lying on the
Why is Australia buying used submarines? A naval expert answers key AUKUS questions
5 June 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Conversation on 5 June 2026 Image: The Conversation (Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Minnesota, pictured here in Perth, is a Block II vessel.Colin Murty/AAP) Following the recent announcement that Australia would acquire three submarines already in US service rather than two used submarines and one new one, AUKUS has again dominated headlines. AUKUS is a defence capability agreement between the United States,
AUKUS Virginia-class switch is a fix, not a failure
4 June 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in the Lowy Institute's The Interpreter on 4 June 2026 The announcement this week changed the mix of submarines Australia will receive – it did not change the program’s purpose, or its prospects. Image: United States Navy Virginia Class submarine USS Mississippi arrives at Fleet Base West, Rockingham, Western Australia for a routine port visit. Defence Images. Much of the reaction to this week’s AUKUS announcement that Austr
Sea mines: Australia’s most dangerous blind spot
26 May 2026 | Jennifer Parker *Originally published in The Australian on 26 May 26 Image: 4.5 tons of Wold War II High Explosive is destroyed just off the coast of Bougainville during Operation RENDER SAFE 14. Defence Images. Australia is an island nation with one of the world’s largest maritime domains, and its prosperity and Âsecurity depends on seaborne trade, including fuel, fertiliser and pharmaceuticals. Yet as Australia invests heavily in nuclear-powered submarines and
The Indian Ocean is no longer secondary
22 May 2026 | Jennifer Parker & Dr Troy-Lee Brown *Originally published on 22 May by the Perth US Asia Centre The Iran war is again exposing a reality Australia has long overlooked: the Indian Ocean sits at the centre of the nation’s economic and strategic security. Image: United States forces prepare to board an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean in early February 2026 after the vessel violated a U.S. embargo of sanctioned ships in the Caribbean. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF WAR Key takea