Defence and National Security

During the 1972 election campaign, Gough Whitlam promised to lift the lid on Pine Gap and share its secrets. Ultimately, as prime minister, he was left out of the loop.  

Locals are alarmed that Chinese men dropped on a remote beach were able to enter an Australian airbase undetected, given the ramping up of surveillance along the crocodile-infested coastline.

The head of Israeli military intelligence, who last year accepted responsibility for the failures that allowed the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, has resigned, the military says.

The Kremlin warned that passage of the bill would "further ruin" Ukraine and cause more deaths.

The events of the past week have put the Middle East in a strange and uncertain space. Neither Iran, nor Israel would benefit from the prospect of an all-out war with the other, but equally, neither seems prepared to back down.

In the 1960s Alice Springs saw an economic lifeline when America promised to build a space base on the edge of town. But once its bizarre, oversized golf ball-like structures were built, mysterious things started happening.

Plans to purchase additional Joint Strike Fighter aircraft are being halted under sweeping defence changes unveiled by the Albanese government that would see Australia’s overall military budget almost double within a decade.

Australia will acquire more long-range missiles and autonomous vehicles while scrapping other programs.

Defence Minister Richard Marles launched the government's new defence strategy at a National Press Club address on Wednesday.

Australia's projected defence spending will increase by another $50 billion over the next decade, the defence minister has revealed in releasing Labor's long-awaited National Defence Strategy.

Israel's military chief vows that his country will respond to the Iranian attack that saw hundreds of drones and missiles fired at its territory.

Iran's deployment of drones and missiles towards Israel represented a big shift in what had been a shadow war fought through Iran's proxies. The big question now is, what will Israel do in response?

The warnings of potential action from both sides come as the world calls for restraint, with US President Joe Biden reportedly ruling his country out of any Israeli counter-attack against Iran.

Iran's mission to the United Nations warns the United States not to get involved and says its drone strike on Israel has concluded. Look back on the day's events. 

Major General Susan Coyle, who currently heads the army's Forces Command, is just the third woman promoted to a three-star rank in the ADF.

David Johnston joined the navy as a 16-year-old and will now oversee multi-billion dollar plans to build up Australia's maritime power. 

Vice Admiral David Johnston will lead Australia's armed forces as chief of the defence force, pending the approval of the governor-general. 

Details of an agreement struck between Australia and Israel on defence industry cooperation will not be released publicly over concerns the information could damage Australia's "international relations".

The Australian government appoints former ADF chief as special advisor to the Israeli investigation into the death of Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen colleagues.

A series of recent boat arrivals in WA's north has led a local shire president to believe the region's coastline is being specifically targeted, arriving in small communities near air bases.

The withdrawal comes amid heightened international pressure on Israel over its handling of the war.

The man, who police say arrived in an unknown vessel, was found on Sunday after the extensive search in rough terrain in the WA's Kimberley region.

From ending the war in Ukraine in a day, to encouraging Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to "delinquent" NATO members, Donald Trump's public proclamations on the foreign policy he'd pursue are alarming allies. 

One US official said Japan could be interested in cooperating in a number of spheres, including advanced robotics, cyber initiatives and anti-submarine warfare.

Groups opposing the military junta claim they launched a successful mass drone attack on the country's capital but the army insists there were no casualties.