From my inbox from Ernie Chamberlain – Thanks once again Ernie.

We are still in the celebratory week of the “Chinese/Vietnamese” Lunar New Year – ie Tết  in Vietnam – that began on 10 February.

For Vietnamese, this is now the Year of the Tiger (Giáp Thìn) – that lasts until 28 January 2025.

Some readers of your FRONTLINE website might have Vietnamese friends that they would like to wish “Happy New Year!”.

If so, they could perhaps email the following Vietnamese-language New Year greeting to them – see below:

Title of the email: Chức Mừng Năm Mới – Tết Giáp Thìn 2024!

Kính chào ((insert friend’s first name)) –

– Chức Mừng Năm Mới !

Kính chúc ((insert friend’s first name)) và gia đình năm mới hạnh phúc và an lành ! ((ie meaning: “wishing  you and your family happiness and peace)).

Kính ((insert your name))

Best wishes, Ernie

1. For “enthusiasts”, I have recently written a five-page article on: “The Vietnamese Language – and Names” – an emailed copy is available on request.

Ernie’s email address is:  [email protected]

Australia’s Defence Force chief was caught off guard by revelations that a Fijian officer, who ascended to the role of deputy commander overseeing 3000 troops, was implicated in allegations of torture.

Colonel Penioni Naliva was designated as the deputy commander of the 7th Brigade stationed in Brisbane, as part of an initiative to integrate Pacific officers into the ADF.

Acknowledging a breakdown in standard procedures, Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell conceded his lack of awareness regarding the allegations and accepted responsibility for the oversight.

In a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday, General Campbell admitted to shortcomings in the vetting process and pledged to conduct a thorough review to fortify the system.

Despite the allegations, Colonel Naliva has not been suspended; instead, he has been allowed to work remotely to support his family during what General Campbell described as a “fairly stressful circumstance.”

General Campbell emphasized that the allegations were unconfirmed, and no formal complaint had been lodged with authorities. He revealed that the appointment of embedded personnel, including Colonel Naliva, is under review to prevent similar oversights in the future.

Colonel Naliva was recommended for the position by the Fijian military, and he assumed his role in late January. The ADF had relied on assurances from the Fijian government regarding the colonel’s clean record in terms of police and national security clearance.

During the inquiry, Susan Bodell, a department official, acknowledged the failure to present crucial information to the Chief of the Defence Force during the appointment process, attributing it to an oversight that they are striving to rectify.

She explained that when a person resides in their home country, the ADF relies on the local authorities to certify their criminal record status, highlighting a gap in information that was not addressed during Colonel Naliva’s appointment.

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Photo: Provided by Hanwha Defence Australia

Hanwha Defence Australia’s training team recently conducted Redback IFV driver training in South Korea, marking a significant step in skill development and knowledge transfer. This initiative took place at Hanwha Aerospace Land Systems Business Group’s training area, showcasing ongoing collaboration between the two countries.

During the training, instructors received comprehensive education covering basic operator and maintenance tasks for the Redback IFV. Practical driver training sessions were held on HAS’ Driver Circuit, emphasizing the mastery of vehicle control, maintenance, and performance understanding in combat scenarios.

Phil Whitehead, the training manager at HDA, expressed satisfaction with the outcomes, noting, “We successfully met all objectives outlined during the training, thanks to the invaluable support from our counterparts at HAS.” He emphasized that this activity laid a strong foundation of platform knowledge for the team, facilitating future instructor development endeavours.

The Redback IFV program is set to produce 129 vehicles in Australia, with deliveries scheduled to commence in 2027 and conclude by 2028. Additionally, eight prototype vehicles will be manufactured in both South Korea and Australia as the program progresses. The contract encompasses the development and delivery of training and support system components, extending until final acceptance in 2029, with initial support provisions for the first five years post-delivery.

Jae-il Son, president and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace, highlighted the significance of this contract, stating, “The Redback IFV contract underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge capabilities. It further solidifies Hanwha’s presence in Australia alongside other defence projects like the AS9 and AS10 Huntsman vehicles.”

The collaboration between Australia and South Korea continues to strengthen, with opportunities for further growth on the horizon. Manufacturing all 129 vehicles at the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) facility in Geelong is expected to bolster high-tech vehicle manufacturing in the region and provide a potential export platform for Australian firms.

With China and India gridlocked over their border disputes, a peaceful resolution isn’t in sight. In fact, both nations are bolstering their military presence, which can easily spill over into an all-out war. If these nuclear superpowers clash, the military strength of both nations will decide the extent of the conflict. So, which nation has a stronger army: China or India? Check out today’s epic new video to find out which country holds an edge in military and army advantage.

Photo: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Since 2006, Hamas has exercised control over the governance of the State of Palestine, particularly in Gaza City, which stands as the largest city within the Gaza Strip. For a comprehensive understanding of Hamas’ fundamental objectives and principles, you may find it helpful to watch the concluding segment of the provided video.

RTX’s Raytheon has combined two of its advanced technologies, the KuRFS radar and the Coyote effector, into a single system called LIDS. This system, which stands for Low, slow, small, unmanned aircraft Integrated Defeat System, is the latest advancement in defending against unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Here’s what this means in simpler terms: imagine you have two powerful tools – one that helps you detect threats in all directions and another that helps you take out those threats. Raytheon has now put these tools together into one system called LIDS, making it even more effective in dealing with different kinds of drone threats.

They’ve also added some important parts from other companies like Northrop Grumman and Syracuse Research Corporation, which makes the whole system even better at protecting against drone attacks.

Richard Marles and Pat Conroy are currently under intense scrutiny for their perceived mishandling of Australia’s defence affairs, with The Australian’s Foreign Editor, Greg Sheridan, characterizing their stewardship as an “absolute debacle.” Sheridan contends that both Marles, serving as Defence Minister, and Conroy, as Defence Industry Minister, bear responsibility for the current state of affairs.

In a recent discussion with Sky News host Andrew Bolt, Sheridan delved into the contentious issues plaguing the relationship between the defence department and the government. He highlighted the fundamental grievances from both sides, illustrating a deep-seated rift.

According to Sheridan, the defence establishment holds Marles accountable for failing to secure additional funding, leaving them without the resources necessary to fulfill their expanding array of responsibilities. Conversely, Marles believes the defence establishment is out of touch with the evolving strategic landscape, clinging to outdated programs and disregarding the findings of the Defence Strategic Review.

This discord has created a stalemate, with neither party effectively advancing the interests of the Australian Defence Force. Sheridan concludes that the current trajectory falls short of establishing a robust and autonomous military force capable of wielding significant strategic influence or serving as a credible deterrent.

We have received advice of the death on Saturday 10 February 2024 of Adrian Parry.

Adrian was involved in a vehicle accident north of Armidale, NSW. Adrian was appointed an officer upon entry to the Royal Military College in January 2010 and was allocated to the Regiment upon graduation in June 2011. He had postings to 1st Regiment, 53rd Battery, and 4th Regiment before transferring to the Army Reserve and ultimately retiring in 2020. He also had a short corps transfer to the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps in 2015.

Further details will be advised as they come to hand.

RIP Adrian Parry

Peter Bruce, OAM
Obituary Resource Officer
RAAHC
[email protected]