by Peter Jennings | Aug 10, 2025 | China, Strategy & Capability
Two decades of bipartisan effort to deepen defence ties with Japan made it possible to select the Mogami-class frigate for our navy. This is not just the right technical choice, it’s a big step forward in relations with Tokyo. Do not underestimate what has...
by Michael Shoebridge | Aug 7, 2025 | Strategy & Capability
Japan’s Mogami class frigate bid has beaten the German alternative to win the Australian Navy’s general purpose frigate project, which has a budget over the ten years covered in Defence’s investment plan of some $10 billion (with more required beyond that to deliver...
by Michael Shoebridge | Aug 5, 2025 | China, Policy
Prime minister Albanese just got back from his fourth meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping telling us he’s established a strong personal relationship with China’s leader. His leadership meetings have apparently built mutual respect and trust. But it turns out...
by Marcus Hellyer and Michael Shoebridge | Aug 2, 2025 | AUKUS, Indo Pacific, Podcasts, Strategy & Capability
Episode 47 Ground truthing Australia’s drone journ | RSS.com The Grumpy Strategists drill into the facts behind Australian Govt announcements on drones to find disappointment: celebrating $16.9m on counter drone systems while spending $11m per day on AUKUS puts...
by Michael Shoebridge | Jul 29, 2025 | AUKUS, Strategy & Capability
So, is what we’ve just heard about the strength of Australian-UK relations and commitment to AUKUS fabulous news that reduces the risks and problems built into the nuclear sub pact? No. Does the new 50-year treaty, named after Geelong, a town in...
by Anthony Bergin | Jul 28, 2025 | Uncategorized
In one war Israel defeated Hamas, (it now has no clear chain of command or a formidable armed wing), Hezbollah, Assad’s Syria and Iran. It’s therefore disappointing that rather than acknowledge Israel’s achievements last week we joined 27 other countries in signing a...
by Michael Shoebridge | Jul 26, 2025 | AUKUS, Indo Pacific, Policy, Strategy & Capability
There’s been plenty of criticism and consternation about reports Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon official running the Trump Administration’s AUKUS review, had asked for some kind of commitment about Australian involvement if there were a conflict with China over Taiwan....
by Steve Baxter and Michael Shoebridge | Jul 22, 2025 | Podcasts, Policy, Strategy & Capability, Ukraine
Grumpy Strategist Makers Series – with Beaten Zone | RSS.com One Grumpy Strategist talks with Beaten Zone Venture Partners boss Steve Baxter. They set out Steve’s journey from the Army to business success in the tech world, to now running an outfit all...
by Marcus Hellyer and Michael Shoebridge | Jul 15, 2025 | AUKUS, China, Defence Budget, Indo Pacific, Podcasts, Policy, Strategy & Capability
Oh dear, what have you done to my fleet!? & Is Aus | RSS.com The Grumpies go over an Audit report revealing the comprehensive, systemic failures of Defence, the Navy and its contractors to maintain and operate the Navy’s two biggest ships. The obvious...
by Michael Shoebridge | Jul 15, 2025 | China, Policy
So, prime minister Albanese is in China for his fourth meeting with Xi Jinping, accompanied by a large Australian business delegation. We hear from the government that now they have ‘stabilised the relationship’ with Beijing, it’s time to grow our two way...
