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In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, aircraft expert and Australian Aviation editor Adam Thorn joins senior journalist and host Robert Dougherty to discuss recent international military aviation news from the Middle East, over the South China Sea, and in Australia.
The pair discuss:
- The Australian Defence Force’s MH90 Taipan helicopter fleet at career’s end, with a recent fatal crash during Exercise Talisman Sabre and previous struggles with a number of technical issues.
- The United States Department of Defence reports detailing close encounters, release of flares, and dangerous manoeuvres of People’ Liberation Army fighter jets near US reconnaissance aircraft over international waters.
- Australia’s launch of repatriation flights in the Middle East as conflict continues between Hamas and Israel. The Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster heavy transport aircraft have both been deployed.
- Finally, the pair wrap up the podcast with some lighthearted analysis of the recently US-published 2023 Annual Report on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena from October this year.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:
Episode 522: PODCAST: Threats, theatre and tariffs in Trump’s world, with the Defence Connect team
Episode 521: CONTESTED GROUND: Regaining the qualitative advantage
Episode 520: CONTESTED GROUND: What’s in store for 2025? Part 2
Episode 519: PODCAST: Boosting women’s involvement in defence industry, with Rachel Falzon, Women in Defence Association
Episode 518: SPOTLIGHT: Delivering a sovereign small arms and load carriage capability, with Aquaterro’s Graeme Bulte
Episode 517: PODCAST: Royal Australian Navy minehunters’ new purpose after service, with Frank van der Linde
Episode 516: CONTESTED GROUND: What’s in store for 2025?
Episode 515: PODCAST: Building a robust, fit for purpose ADF, with Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh MP
Episode 514: CONTESTED GROUND: What Trump’s Panama Canal comments mean for maritime law
Episode 513: SPOTLIGHT: How AIR 6500 will defend Australia’s shores, with Lockheed Martin Australia’s Liam Catterson
