NAVY PEOPLE: SPORT AND SEAMANSHIP

Alice Springs boy Luke Ettridge has managed to mix the sea and his passion for sport. He joined the Navy in 2004 and has specialised as a physical trainer. He’s already been promoted to Leading Seaman.

Aboard Anzac Class frigate HMAS Parramatta Luke is responsible for fitness classes, testing and recreational activities, as well as keeping watch on the bridge of the ship.

“I love that my job is based around sport and fitness. I am the only physical trainer onboard and, because of that, I have a lot of social interaction with the crew, “he said.

Luke is now based in Sydney with his brother and girlfriend, who are both in the Navy, while his parents are still at home in ‘the Alice’.

Perth hints at the shape of the future

HMAS Perth (Captain Malcolm Wise) has emerged from her Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade with a truly unique profile and has proven her mettle in the last two months of sea acceptance testing trials in the West Australian Exercise Area.

Perth was farewelled from Fleet Base West on the 27^th of April by a crowd of family and friends and is now heading east to complete the trials in the East Australian Exercise Area and conduct rangings on the US Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility off the coast of Hawaii.

Perth’s Commanding officer, CAPT Mal Wise said that his crew had worked hard to establish the new system in the previous months.

F/A-18F Super Hornets will join Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom

Air Force multi-role F/A-18F Super Hornets, Navy guided-missile frigates and a Collins class submarine will join the armed forces of Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom in a major military exercise designed to enhance regional security.

The exercise called BERSAMA SHIELD 2011 (BS11) will bring together the member countries of the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) as they exercise in various locations on the Malaysian Peninsula and in the South China Sea between 2 and 13 May.

ANTI-SHIP MISSILE DEFENCE TRIALS HEAD TO SEA

With little fanfare but great expectations, HMAS Perth (Captain Malcolm Wise) proceeded into the sea-phase of her Anzac Class Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) trials program.

Perth has undertaken major modifications as part of the ASMD upgrade project, SEA 1448 Phase 2, being undertaken by the Defence Materiel Organisation.

Perth completed her initial phase of the upgrade on 14 October last year, with a cold move from the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson to Fleet Base West (FBW).

She underwent her second phase of system set to work and harbour acceptance trials alongside FBW and has since successfully completed Combat Systems Certification and Mariner Skills Evaluation, allowing her to start sea trials on 21 February.

First Pass Approval for Three Major Australian Defence Capability Projects

The Australian Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith MP, and the Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare MP, announced today that the Government has given First Pass Approval for three major Defence capability projects: upgrades to the Anzac class frigates’ electronic support systems; enhancements to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) telecommunications networks; and enhancements to the ADF’s Special Operations vehicles and communications.

These three projects combined are estimated to involve expenditure of between $500 million and around $1 billion by the time they are complete.