Australia has announced plans to boost defense spending and procure several combat-ready warships. Canberra wants to build up its naval capabilities due to concerns over tensions with China and Russia. Australia announced Tuesday it will more than double the Royal Australian Navy surface combatant fleet, spending AU$11.1 billion (roughly $7.25 billion, €6.7 billion) over the next decade. The plan will see Australia increase its current fleet of combat-ready warships from 11 to 26 alongside 25 minor war vessels to contribute to civil maritime security operations. "It is the largest fleet that we will have since the end of the Second World War," said Defense Minister Richard Marles. Concerns over China and Russia  Canberra has for years been looking to build up its naval defense capabilities in response to a massive build-up of firepower by rivals China and Russia. Australia's 2023 strategic review said that competition between the US and China was defining the Pacific region, leading to the "potential for conflict." "What is critically important to understand is that as we look forward, with an uncertain world in terms of great power contest, we'll have a dramatically different capability in the mid-2030s to what we have now," the defense minister said. "That is what we are planning for and that is what we are building," Marles added.  In 2021, Australia announced plans to buy at least three US-designed nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS security pact with Washington and London. What do we know about Australia's plan to buy new warships? Australia will get six Hunter class frigates, 11 general-purpose frigates, three air warfare destroyers and six state-of-the-art surface warships that do not need to be crewed. The plan would see Australia increase its defense spending to 2.4% of GDP by the mid-2030s, up from current expectations of 2.1%. "This decision we are making right now sees a significant increase in defense spending ... and it is needed, given the complexity of the strategic circumstances that our country faces," Marles said. Some of the ships will be built in the southern city of Adelaide, ensuring more than 3,000 jobs, but others will be sourced from US designs, and a still undecided design to come from Spain, Germany, South Korea, or Japan.

India plans to deploy warships in the Arabian sea after a recent attack on a merchant ship. The US alleged the attack was by Iran, which Tehran has denied. India's navy said Monday it will deploy three guided-missile destroyer ships in the Arabian Sea to "maintain a deterrent presence," after a merchant vessel was struck off its coast over the weekend.  The Liberian-flagged and Japanese-owned MV Chem Pluto which was attacked docked in the west Indian coastal city of Mumbai on Monday. Authorities said initial reports suggested a drone attack, and that the navy was investigating further. The crew included 21 Indians and one Vietnamese citizen. New Delhi is also boosting its anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden after Somali pirates this month hijacked the bulk carrier MV Ruen. What are India's plans for the ships? "Further forensic and technical analysis will be required to establish the vector of attack, including type and amount of explosive used," the navy said in a statement. The navy said the explosive ordnance team had completed its analysis, and a joint investigation into the attack would be carried out by various other departments. "Considering the recent spate of attacks in the Arabian Sea, Indian Navy has deployed Guided Missile Destroyers, INS Mormugao, INS Kochi and INS Kolkata ...in various areas to maintain a deterrent presence," the statement said. India had also sent a guided-missile destroyer to the region as part of "augmenting the anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden", the navy added. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said his country would strive to ensure security for maritime trade in the region. "India plays the role of a net security provider in the  entire Indian Ocean region," he said.  The US had claimed Iran attacked the Israel-affiliated MV Chem Pluto near India. A spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry called this accusation "baseless." Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have carried out several drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has launched attacks on Hamas militants.    

Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen said, Bangladesh is going to buy five warships from United Kingdom. He delivered the information through a virtual press conference on Friday. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Bangladesh Ambassador to UK Syeda Mona Tasneem were present at the press conference. The Foreign Minister said, UK wants to send some ships from its naval forces. Though the decision would be taken later, but we have decided in principle that we will procure five ships. Of those three will be made in UK and the rest two will be made in Bangladesh. While speaking about the meeting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her counterpart Boris Johnson the foreign minister said, discussions were held on different matters. Next year the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and UK will be celebrated jointly. Discussion was also held to bring back the convicted criminals residing in UK. We have said that criminals and killers have to be sent back to establish rule of law. AH      

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday hoped that Bangladesh Navy will be able to be a commercial manufacturer of warships in the future and thus earn foreign currencies alongside creating jobs. “Bangladesh Navy will be able to be a commercial manufacturer of warships in the days to come. This, in turn, will flourish the home-grown technologies by which we may earn foreign currencies. This will eventually create jobs and establish Bangladesh as a self-reliant nation in the world,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while addressing the President Parade-2019 marking the passing out of the Midshipman-2017/A Batch and the Direct Entry Officers (DEO) 2019/Bravo Batches of Bangladesh Naval Academy (BNA) at the academy parade ground in Chattogram in the morning. With support from the government, Khulna Shipyard Limited has set a milestone in warship-building through manufacturing five patrol and two large patrol crafts under the expert management of Bangladesh Navy, she said adding that the now work on building more five patrol crafts is underway. The Prime Minister said decision has already been taken to build six more well-equipped large frigates at BN-administered Chattogram Dry Dock Limited. Navy is also making IFF (Identification of Friend and Foe) systems for the three forces, she said. Talking about blue economy, she said, “Our Sea is a source of vast resources. We’ll have to utilize our marine resources for our economic development.” The Prime Minister urged the newly-commissioned officers of Bangladesh Navy to discharge their responsibilities with honesty, sincerity and devotion as they are oath-bound to do so. Sheikh Hasina also asked them to brighten the country’s image performing their duties with proper leadership and sacrifice. Greeting the newly-commissioned officers, she said, “You’ll be the future leaders of this Navy to safeguard our motherland.” The Prime Minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman developed Bangladesh Navy soon after the country’s independence as its official journey started with two patrol crafts procured on Bangabandhu’s personal initiative. The Father of the Nation commissioned all the major bases of the Navy in 1974. Bangabandhu formulated the ‘Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act, 1974’ to establish the country’s rights in the vast sea area, said Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu. She said her government, assuming office in 2009, formulated ‘Forces Goal 2030’ in light with Bangabandhu’s "Defense Policy" and started implementation accordingly as the government's goal is to develop the armed forces as a modern and time-befitting force having the knowledge of technology. She said her government added a total of 27 warships to Bangladesh Navy, established the Navy’s special commando wing named ‘Special Warfare, Diving and Salvage Command’ and the Navy’s aviation wing named ‘Naval Aviation’. Inclusion of the long-cherished two submarines in 2017 has truly transformed Bangladesh Navy into a full-fledged three-dimensional force, she added. To cope up with the challenges of 21st century, she said the government is taking various measures to strengthen Navy into a technology-based efficient force considering the regional and geo-political realities. “So, the Navy is getting strengthened gradually.” She said a new base named BNS Sheikh Mujib has recently been commissioned at Khilkhet in Dhaka. The construction of two large bases -- BNS Sher-e-Bangla and submarine base ‘BNS Sheikh Hasina’-- is progressing fast, she said. With a view to developing training facilities and living standard, 22 multi-storey buildings in different naval areas and a Navy township project in Savar have been inaugurated, she added. Out of the military sphere, the Navy is also working in a wide-range of sectors like women empowerment, construction of structures for accommodating forcibly-displaced Myanmar nationals, and expansion of blue economy which plays important role in country’s security and economic development, she said. Sheikh Hasina extended her sincere thanks to the Navy for standing beside people during any natural disaster and other tough time. Earlier, the Prime Minister inspected the smartly turned-out parade from on an open jeep. She distributed various prizes among 72 promising young officers, including 61 midshipmen and 11 direct entry officers, who are stepping out of the Academy and entering naval career upon successful completion of their courses. Among them, seven are women and two midshipmen from the Maldives. Midshipman Raiyan Rahman was awarded ‘Sword of Honour’ as he has achieved the highest standard at all sectors. Besides, Midshipman Md Saidis Sacline Miran has got the second highest award ‘Navy Chief Gold Medal’ and acting sub-lieutenant Md Kamruzzaman (from batch of direct entry officers) got the third highest award ‘Bir Shrestha Ruhul Amin Gold Medal’ for their outstanding performances. Ministers, parliament members, the chiefs of the three services, senior military and civil officials and guardians of the newly-commissioned midshipmen were, among others, present on the occasion. Source: UNB AH

Two Chinese made warships — ‘Sanggram’ and ‘Protthasha’ –- arrived at Chattogram Naval jetty on Saturday. Area Commander of Chittagong Naval Rear Admiral M Abu Ashraf welcomed the two warships as the chief guest while senior officers and sailors were present on the occasion, said an ISPR press release. Reports BSS. The 90 meter long and 11 meter width warships will increase the capacity of Bangladesh Navy in coastal areas. The ships have 25 knots sailing speed, anti-radar design, highly adaptable to weather and oceanic conditions, and decked out with powerful weapons. Besides, they are equipped with powerful missiles, latest 3D-radar, fire control system and radar jamming system. Bangladesh Navy signed an agreement with China’s Ship building and Offshore International Company Limited on September 29, 2015 to build the ships. AH