In this News Review episode, Grant McHerron, Ewen Levick, Nigel Pittaway and Kirra Davey review and discuss some of the news of interest that's occurred recently in the world of Defence.

We start with the government's announcement that they will be restructuring the Defence acquisition organisation with Capability Managers moving under VCDF while CASG, GWEO & NSSG get moved into a new Agency that will report directly to the Minister. Will this resolve the issue of late deliveries and scope creep? Lets watch this space and see.

We also note that Turkey claims that one of their Collaborative Combat Aircraft shot down an airborne target drone using a radar guided missile. They're saying this is a first in the world and it seems like they may be correct, pipping Boeing to the post as they're planning to perform the same feat in December or early 2026.

We wrap with a mention of the December/January issue of the magazine, tease Ewen's new podcast, and note that we're going on hiatus for the Summer break and will be back in late January.

Links:

Government undertakes major shake-up of Defence acquisition

https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/government-undertakes-major-shake-up-of-defence-acquisition

Turkish combat drone downs airborne target in global first

https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/turkish-combat-drone-downs-airborne-target-in-global-first

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The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via defmag@yaffa.com.au to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2025

In this episode, Grant McHerron talks with Nick Ross, Head of Defence for Pexip, about their secure video collaboration software platform.

We begin our discussion by exploring Pexip’s background specializing in video collaboration software for interoperability and security and its mission to provide communication tools irrespective of technology or security level. The conversation then delves into Pexip's focus on connecting diverse platforms and supporting self-hosted secure deployment. We learn about its partnerships with Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Nvidia to deliver AI features like language translation in meetings, and emphasize the importance of controlling data within firewalls in a defence context.

We wrap up by discussing future plans: expanding into tactical environments, leveraging new satellite connectivity with Project Kuiper, and enabling secure collaboration across the defense supply chain.

Links:

Pexip Secure Video Communications

www.pexip.com

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The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If you wish to use any of this podcast's audio, please contact Australian Defence Magazine via their website www.australiandefence.com.au or email them via defmag@yaffa.com.au to get involved.

ADM Podcasts are a blend of public interest journalism and sponsored content with a focus on the Defence community. Conversations with leaders and thinkers from a range of backgrounds including academia, Defence, industry, and associations. ADM Podcasts aims to educate, explain and explore some of the bigger issues around Defence.

For sponsored content opportunities, please contact ADM Associate Publisher Kylie Leonard and/or National Sales Manager Michael Flanagan.

Hosted by Grant McHerron

Producer: Steve Visscher

Australian Defence Magazine - © 2025

This episode collects a number of interviews recorded at the Indo Pacific 2025 event held in Sydney at the start of November. Starting with Grant McHerron and Max Blenkin talking with Marcus Hellyer, Strategic Advisor at C2 Robotics, to explore the company's guiding philosophy of generating mass affordably using autonomous systems. We delve into C2 Robotics' heritage in electro-optical sensors and machine learning for navigation within GPS-denied environments, and the development of their Large Uncrewed Underwater Vessel, Speartooth, We wrap up by reviewing the company's initial export success and participation in the Royal Australian Navy's Autonomous Warrior trials, and emphasizing the need for diverse systems across different missions and price points.

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Next up, Grant speaks with Phil Guy, Managing Director at Mellori Solutions, Christo Swanepoel, Structural Engineer and Michael Ashelford, Project Manager at Global Defence Solutions, and Jacob Hobbs, Systems Engineer and Adel Swanepoel, Testing and Technology Manager (NSW) at Mellori Solutions. We discuss their recent announcement of Blue Jay Horizon, a test and assurance system for electromagnetic sensors installed on helicopters, naval vessels, and land-based platforms. Built in regional NSW, the system’s target markets are the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces, as well as export markets including the UK, Europe, and the US. We wrap up by assessing the immense technological challenge involved in miniaturising powerful electronics for naval deployment, requiring innovative solutions for heat management, power conditioning, and operator interfaces.

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We then move to Fortinet's stand where we talk to Nicole Henry, Head of Government Affairs for Australia and New Zealand, and Istvan Takacs, Enterprise Solutions Architect, about cybersecurity's importance to national productivity, the risk that post-quantum cryptography poses, and how Fortinet has introduced quantum-safe features in its operating system. We wrap up by discussing ASD requirements and NIST standards for implementing post-quantum cryptographic systems to help assure security into the future.

=—-=

Grant was able to catch up with Mike Hanlin, Senior Director of International Strategy & Business Development at Shield AI, to talk about its mission to protect service members and civilians using intelligent systems. Our discussion examines V-BAT, their low-cost, long-range VTOL aircraft designed for search and strike missions in contested environments, highlighting its successes in Ukraine. We then turn to X-BAT, the world's first AI-piloted fighter jet leveraging proven GE F110 engines, advanced autonomy, and vertical landing capability. We wrap up by assessing Shield AI's role in the Indo-Pacific market, including Australia as a hub for expansion and strategic investments to address long logistics chains and enhance naval operations with their innovative autonomous solutions.

Links:

C2 Robotics' Speatooth LUUV

c2robotics.com.au/products/speartooth

Mellori Solutions' Blue Jay Horizon

mellori.com.au/products/blue-jay-horizon

Fortinet

www.fortinet.com

Shield AI

shield.ai

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The ADM Podcast is produced by Southern Skies Media on behalf of Australian Defence Magazine, a Yaffa Media title (www.australiandefence.com.au).

The views of the people appearing on this podcast do not necessarily represent the views of Australian Defence Magazine, the Department of Defence or the guests' employer.

If...