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Navy/USMC

South Korea’s Hanwha Buys Nearly 10 Percent Shareholding In Australia’s Austal, Seeks 20 Percent

Thursday, March 20th, 2025

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South Korea’s Hanwha Buys Nearly 10 Percent Shareholding In Australia’s Austal, Seeks 20 Percent

The USS Mobile (LCS-26) rolled out of its assembly bay and was launched in early 2020 at shipyard Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.. (Photo: Austal USA)

A major South Korean conglomerate this week purchased a significant stake in Australian shipbuilder Austal, with hopes of expansion. On March 18 Hanwha Group said it acquired a 9.9 percent stake in Austal as a “strategic investment” to become a long-term strategic partner in developing Australian defense capabilities. The company on Tuesday also said it officially applied for approval by the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) to add another 9.9 percent stake via a total return swap, which if…

Congress

House Republicans’ Blueprint For Reconciliation 3.0 Includes $60 Billion For Defense

House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a blueprint for a third reconciliation bill that includes $60 billion for defense, a figure slightly below the Trump administration’s request to cover Iran war […]

Congress

Senate Dems Block Consideration Of FY ‘27 NDAA Over Iran War Concerns

Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a vote to advance consideration of the chamber’s $1.14 trillion fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization (NDAA). The procedural vote was 46-50, failing to reach […]

Congress

Concerns Raised At SASC Hearing On Unobligated Reconciliation Funds And Lack Of Updates On Iran War Cost

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Unmanned Systems

CBO Says Upfront Costs To Protect Military Installations From Drones Between $1 Million And $74 Million

The initial costs to acquire and deploy counter-small unmanned aircraft system (C-sUAS) defenses at individual Defense Department installations are estimated at between $1.2 million and $73.6 million depending on the […]