Museum Assistant Manager and former tank commander, Jason, takes us through the Aussie Leopard AS1 Follow the progress of our workshop restorations every Workshop Wednesday! A must watch for students of history, engineering, mechanics and metalworking!

Denmark’s Defence Minister issued a stark warning on Friday, suggesting that recent intelligence points to the possibility of Russia launching an attack on a NATO member nation within the next three to five years. Troels Lund Poulsen emphasized that while there’s no direct threat to Denmark, Russia’s significant advancements in military equipment production raise concerns.

Poulsen stated, “There’s a plausible scenario where Russia might challenge Article 5 and NATO’s solidarity within the next few years, a notion that wasn’t prevalent in NATO’s assessments just last year. This emerging understanding is cause for heightened vigilance.”

Highlighting Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, now surpassing 700 days, Poulsen’s sentiments echo those of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who recently advised NATO to prepare for a potential Russian aggression within the next five to eight years.

NATO’s Article 5 stipulates that an attack on any member nation is considered an attack on all members, warranting collective defence measures. This principle underscores the importance of readiness and unity within the alliance.

In response to these perceived threats, NATO has initiated its most extensive military exercises in years. Dubbed Steadfast Defender 24, these drills involve around 90,000 personnel and aim to demonstrate NATO’s capability to defend its territories, including those bordering Russia, in various operational scenarios.

The exercises, scheduled to run for several months until the end of May, simulate a range of conflict scenarios with a focus on countering near-peer adversaries like Russia and combating terrorist organizations. NATO’s evolving defence strategies reflect the shifting geopolitical landscape and the need for a robust response to emerging security challenges.

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THE Australian Army has rarely been proactive to technological developments, preferring historical adjustment over radical change.

A classic example occurred in the early 1980s after its Signal Corps performed abysmally in a major international exercise held at Queensland’s Shoalwater Bay.

The ADF then relied on World War II era electromagnetic teleprinters to prepare formal messages, similar to the ubiquitous Telex machines used in private enterprise.

Except they were old and well used, requiring painstaking regular disassembly, cleaning, servicing and reassembly to keep operating.

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Essence of command remains leadership | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

Boeing MH-6M Little Bird or known as the Killer Egg and its attack variant, the AH-6, are light helicopters deployed by the United States Army for special operations. Originally based on a modified OH-6A, it was later based on the MD 500E, with a single five-bladed main rotor. The newest version of the MH-6M is based on the MD 530F with features a single six-bladed main rotor and four-bladed tail rotor. The AH-6 Little Bird can carry a limitation number of weapons, including the 30mm M230 Chain Gun, .50 cal GAU-19 Gatling gun, 7.62mm M134 minigun, LAU-68D/A rocker pods for Hydra 70 rockets, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and even FIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles. The MH-6 Little Bird is very greatly to manoeuvre. It has a maximum cruising speed of 126 knots and a maximum range of 205 miles or about two hours of straight flight. The aircraft has a ceiling of 20,000 feet but is at its best when flying close to the ground.

In 1965, tens of thousands of US troops are heading for war in Vietnam. Backed up by B-52 bombers, helicopters and napalm, many expect the Viet Cong guerillas to crumble in the face of unstoppable US firepower. Instead, in the jungles and swamps of Vietnam, the Americans discover combat is an exhausting slog in which casualties are high and they rarely get to fire first.

Australia possesses the capability, ingenuity, and expertise to manufacture defence equipment, including a domestically produced service rifle, asserts local firearms designer Ron Owen. Based in Gympie and holding a firearms dealer license, Owen is credited with designing the Genesis One straight-pull rifle, purportedly the first rifle designed and manufactured in Queensland in the past 25 years.

The rifle, available in .223, 6.5mm, or .308 chamberings, was developed and produced by Enfield Arms in Queensland in 2023, targeting the recreational hunting and target shooting market. Owen advocates for Australia’s potential to support the domestic production of service rifles and other defence equipment as a strategic imperative.

“We possess the necessary capability, and we always have,” Owen stated. “We have the determination, creativity, and expertise to create anything. The output during World War II demonstrates our potential. However, bureaucratic restrictions hinder our progress.”

“Australia could swiftly manufacture its own firearms within six months if it chose to,” Owen continued. “We could emulate Switzerland, well-equipped and formidable, deterring any potential adversaries. Yet, the decision rests with political entities.”

Owen highlighted Australia’s history of successful domestic military equipment innovation, citing the renowned 9mm Owen submachine gun, designed by Evelyn Owen of Wollongong in 1938. Despite initial rejection by the Australian Army, the design was later adopted and produced in significant quantities for use in conflicts such as Korea, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Despite past inquiries from the Department of Defence and the Australian Army regarding the creation of a domestic anti-material rifle, progress has been impeded. Owen recounted an instance where a contract for such a rifle was cancelled by the Ministry of Defence in 2023, despite prior interest and visits from defence experts.

Numerous companies, including Oceania Precision, Wedgetail Industries, Eureka Gun Company, Southern Cross Small Arms, and Warwick Firearms Australia, are striving to gain a larger share of Australia’s firearms market, typically dominated by established American and other international brands.

In a bid to advance domestic development efforts, Owen has announced the Straight Pull Challenge 2024, inviting manufacturers to compete in showcasing the nations best domestically produced straight-pull rifle. The competition involves a four-round shooting contest against targets at various distances, aiming to promote the adoption of Australian-made firearms in competitive shooting.

“Never before has Australia seen such a variety of locally manufactured firearm options, particularly in the straight-pull, pump, and lever-release styles,” Owen remarked. “However, these rifles have yet to gain traction in Australian competitive shooting. This event aims to showcase the products of all Australian firearm manufacturers and integrate them into the future of Australian competition shooting.”

Photo: Officer school training is being trialled as just a year-long course. (Jarrod Moreels/Defence)

It’s a shift towards efficiency over extended duration, aptly termed as ‘working smarter, not longer’.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is embarking on a trial program to condense officer training from 18 months to just 12 months, aiming to accelerate and intensify cadet preparation.

Since July 2023, the Royal Military College-Australia and Combined Arms Training Centre have merged into the Land Combat College (LCC), headquartered in Canberra and Puckapunyal, streamlining operations to serve as the singular training authority for foundational training and combat capabilities for land specialists.

This new approach, implemented at the start of the year and trialled from January 2024 to December 2025, represents a significant step forward in the army’s pursuit of a unified, adaptable force.

Brigadier Jason Groat, Commandant of the Land Combat College, emphasized the continuous evaluation of trainees throughout the program, with adjustments made as necessary.

The trial Officer Commissioning Program comprises six modules focusing on leadership, command, foundation warfighting, and military planning, aiming to cultivate essential skills uniformly across all officers.

The primary goal of this accelerated training initiative is to expedite the readiness of Service Category 7 generalist officers, setting a precedent for enhancing training across other categories.

Lieutenant Colonel Brian Hickey, Commanding Officer of RMC-D, stressed the retention of core performance elements and critical skills in the revamped training approach, incorporating technological advancements and innovative instructional methods to eliminate redundancy and maximize efficiency.

In essence, this streamlined training regimen aims to sharpen focus and effectiveness, ensuring optimal readiness with fewer resources.

Australian and Filipino armed forces, backed by US Marines, have practiced retaking an island seized by hostile forces in a large military drill on the north-western Philippine coast facing the disputed South China Sea.