Afleveringen
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When Opposition Leader Angus Taylor announced a Coalition government would develop and implement a national security strategy, many shouted, "Finally!", but delivering a strategy that is fit for purpose is more political than most would think. Since the release of the nation's first whole-of-nation national security strategy in 2013, successive Australian governments have sought to mask the nation's lack of preparedness with individual but isolated strategies from across government. Championed tirelessly but ultimately unsuccessfully by the late Jim Molan, a national security strategy has often been viewed as solely the remit of a narrow clique of public policy professionals with access to security briefings and the levers of power. But as host Steve Kuper and geostrategic analyst Marc Ablong unpack, a truly encompassing, whole-of-nation national security strategy presents immense opportunities not just for the nation but also for the political party that recognises the challenges we face need to be overcome. This conversation comes at a time when political upheaval, atomisation and social cohesion continue to challenge established and insurgent political movements at home and across the broader Western world. The pair discuss the immense opportunity for the political party that understands and develops a strategy incorporating a distinct and inescapable but seemingly forgotten factor: national security begins with the individual. They discuss just what makes a "good" national security strategy in the modern context, the lessons Australia can learn from the Scandinavian nations, the United States and other like-minded countries that have recognised the challenges and opportunities presented by the return of multipolar, great power competition. Finally, they discuss a question, only just starting to re-emerge in the public and political consciousness: "What sort of country do we want Australia to be?" Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
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ThreatLocker's APAC director of operations, Emile Barakat, joins Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth to discuss what makes the Essential Eight so essential, the federal government's budget spend on cyber security, and the Australian outlook on cyber crime and why it happens here.
This week on the Cyber Uncut podcast, Cyber Daily deputy editor David Hollingworth speaks with Emile Barakat, the head of cyber security firm ThreatLocker's operations in the Asia-Pacific region.ThreatLocker – and its boss, Danny Jenkins – is a big fan of Australia's Essential Eight cyber security standard, but what really makes that tick, and why is it so important? The pair discuss just why it's one of the gold standards of cyber protection and why other countries should take note.
Then it's time to consider this year's budget and the role of government in securing businesses, economies, and consumers in a world of growing cyber threats.
Finally, Hollingworth and Barakat get to grips with the local threat landscape and the human challenges of cyber security.
"Typically, an organisation will run security awareness training every quarter. Some will do it less frequently, unfortunately," Barakat says.
"Even with that training, you'll see compromises and, at times, the same employees make the same mistakes."
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Many critics often describe Australia's glaring lack of industrial and economic complexity as a major national security challenge, while others see it as a glass jaw impacting our ability to sustain ourselves in a fight or crisis. So, what is needed?
This glaring gap in our national resilience and survivability has increasingly figured in commentary and analysis as the Indo-Pacific emerges as the epicentre of the 21st century's great game between great powers.Increasingly, this issue has also figured strongly in our broader conversations with allies, most notably the United States, which is demanding that allies lift their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Of that total, 3.5 per cent should be spent on military capabilities and the remaining 1.5 per cent on "enabling capabilities", including industrial capacity and infrastructure.
With Australia's defence spending in the crosshairs in more ways than one, shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability Andrew Hastie has ramped up his advocacy for Australia to reindustrialise to better enhance its national resilience and long-term economic and industrial capability and competitiveness.
Following his recent Anzac oration address to the University of Melbourne's Robert Menzies Institute, Hastie spoke with host Steve Kuper. The pair unpack the unique and intimate relationship between the US and Australia from the perspective of a special forces operator and how that relates to what the United States is now asking of us.
As part of this conversation, they discuss the need for a more considered industrial policy, unpacking the key hurdles that are limiting our industrial and economic competitiveness on the global stage and the pressures being faced by the allied industrial base.
The pair also unpack the economic and political opportunities that come from being a nation that, as Hastie describes, "makes things again" and how successive Australian governments have failed to capitalise on these opportunities to boost productivity, competitiveness and industrial capacity.
Additionally, they examine models of success, what Australia can learn from friends and foes alike, and embracing serious, considered and agile economic reform, including building and rewarding a more risk-accepting culture as a means of propelling the nation forward and finally breaking the shackles of the cultural dominance of tall poppy syndrome.
Finally, they also discuss an important and often overlooked question, with Hastie asking: "What sort of country do we want to be?"
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team -
As AUKUS implementation accelerates, questions remain around Australia's role in the Indo-Pacific and how the nation should balance capability development with regional strategic priorities.
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper, Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro discuss a busy week across Australia's defence landscape, including the establishment of a new US Navy support activity in Perth to support personnel involved in Submarine Rotational Force-West under AUKUS.
The discussion explores the significance of the new naval support activity and what it means for the growing American military and defence industry presence in Western Australia.
The team also assesses $72 million of investment in a new large-calibre artillery forging facility in Queensland and the importance of expanding domestic ammunition production capacity.
Attention then turns to the delivery and testing of the AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzer and the increasing importance of mobile artillery systems.
On defence exports, the team discusses Thales' accelerated delivery of Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to the Netherlands and considers the future evolution of the iconic Australian platform.
Rounding out the episode, the panel dives into Australia's ongoing support for Ukraine through Operation Kudu and the debate surrounding Australia's role in maintaining security and stability across the Indo-Pacific.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team -
Australia's maritime estate is simply too vast for any conventionally manned fleet to patrol effectively – uncrewed and autonomous systems will prove key to maintaining Australia's maritime sovereignty.
With an exclusive economic zone stretching across roughly 8.2 million square kilometres and critical northern chokepoints through which virtually all the nation's fuel and essential imports flow, the conversation establishes from the outset that the case for autonomous maritime systems isn't about technological novelty, it's about geographic necessity.
In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Steve Kuper speaks with Elysium EPL director Michael "Mitch" Mitchell where they discuss the increasing proliferation of autonomous and uncrewed systems with the Royal Australian Navy.
Drawing on his experience as a submariner, Mitchell's first and most important argument is the persistence imperative. Manned patrol vessels, however capable, are constrained by crew welfare, logistics and port rotations. Autonomous platforms carry none of that overhead. They can loiter on station for days or weeks, consuming far fewer resources and requiring only remote oversight.
His second key argument is a conceptual reframe: stop thinking about platforms and start thinking about payloads. The hull, in Mitchell's framework, is just a delivery mechanism. What matters is the modularity of what it carries – sonar, radar, sonobuoys, acoustic modems, hydrographic sensors – and whether those payloads can be swapped rapidly to meet different mission requirements.
They also discuss Elysium EPL's dual-use certification approach, deliberately avoiding ITAR-restricted components, which is presented as proof of concept for this philosophy in practice.
Perhaps the most culturally challenging argument Mitchell makes concerns attritability. Australian defence procurement culture treats assets as things to be preserved.
Mitchell argues that small autonomous vessels need to be reconceptualised as expendable ordnance, drawing an explicit parallel with the Nulka active missile decoy deployed in numbers and postures that would be unthinkable for crewed platforms.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Spotlight team -
This week's essential cyber security podcast uncovers a new threat actor targeting a raft of Australian organisations and asks the important question: Is AI profitable yet? Hint – it is not.
Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft open the podcast with the good news that Anthropic's Mythos platform is, in fact, coming to Australia, and they talk to the man behind the website that asks – and illustrates – the question of our time: who is actually making money from AI?It's also been a shocker of a week for data breaches in Australia, and it looks like one threat actor is behind most of the activity. Organisations such as the ACMI, the Melbourne International Film Festival, and a corporate catering service have all been allegedly hacked.
Find out what's happening in cyber crime in Australia, right here.
Just another week in cyber security.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team -
What are One Nation's aspirations and policies for domestic manufacturing, infrastructure and military capability?
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Senator Malcolm Roberts, who is representing Pauline Hanson's One Nation political party.Senator Roberts holds a bachelor of engineering (honours) from the University of Queensland and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He previously worked as a mining engineer and general manager in the coal industry before entering federal politics.
The podcast conversation includes the following topics:
One Nation's defence policy framework and its focus on national self-sufficiency, logistics and manufacturing capability. The importance of sovereign capability in food production, energy security and defence industry resilience. Defence infrastructure proposals, including northern rail logistics corridors and domestic steel production. The role of accountability, military culture and leadership within the Australian Defence Force. Debate surrounding diversity initiatives, recruitment challenges and "warrior culture" in defence. Australia's defence procurement strategy, including perspectives on AUKUS, submarine acquisition and foreign defence partnerships. The balance between supporting domestic defence manufacturing while ensuring access to proven military capability. Concerns regarding governance, bureaucracy and decision making within defence procurement and public administration.Finally, the discussion wraps up looking at the future of Australian defence preparedness, including the intersection of infrastructure, manufacturing and national sovereignty.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team -
How can Australia keep pace with the rapid proliferation of drones reshaping the character of warfare and creating new challenges for militaries, governments and critical infrastructure operators around the world?
In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Ben Westgarth, chief executive officer of Department 13, to discuss the evolution of counter-uncrewed aerial system technology and Australia's role in developing sovereign capability.
Dougherty and Westgarth examine the significance of Project LAND 156, the Australian Defence Force's program to establish a layered counter-drone capability capable of detecting, tracking and defeating emerging aerial threats.
The pair explore the role of radio frequency detection technologies in modern electronic warfare, highlighting how Department 13's capabilities contribute to situational awareness and threat detection across increasingly complex operating environments.
They discuss the changing nature of drone warfare, drawing lessons from contemporary conflicts where low-cost, rapidly adaptable drone systems are challenging traditional military capabilities.
Westgarth outlines how focusing on the fundamental characteristics of drone systems, rather than individual models, can provide a more enduring framework for counter-drone development.
Looking beyond defence applications, the pair discuss the importance of dual-use technologies, balancing commercial opportunities with national security requirements.
Westgarth highlights the growing need for layered detection, warning and response systems to defend military installations, government facilities and essential national assets against emerging drone threats.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Spotlight team -
Genetec's lead security architect joins the Cyber Uncut podcast to unpack the impact of AI on vulnerability hunting, prompt injection, and how to become invisible with one simple trick.
This week on the Cyber Uncut podcast, host David Hollingworth speaks with Genetec's lead security architect, Mathieu Chevalier, about how AI is dramatically impacting both physical and cyber security, the hidden costs of Anthropic's Claude Mythos, and why AI speed must always be matched with human intelligence.But first, Chevalier shares his simple trick to appear invisible to AI with the assistance of just one page of text – or maybe just a T-shirt!
The pair then dive into how AI empowers Genetec's security platforms, the rising costs of every AI prompt, and the true power of vulnerability hunting in a post-Mythos world.
"I would say the best practices are not established now. It's still so new, and changing so fast," Chevalier says.
"So we're kind of trying to learn all together, as a cyber security community, how to do this."
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team -
How can the new guard of Australian defence technology companies accelerate development of autonomous maritime capability through rapid manufacturing and AI-enabled uncrewed systems?
Development of the southern hemisphere's first 3D printed autonomous USV. The use of sovereign Australian autonomy software for navigation and mission control. Rapid manufacturing techniques and the role of additive manufacturing in accelerating defence capability delivery. Potential operational applications including ISR, persistent surveillance, logistics support and mine warfare. Lessons drawn from modern conflicts, including Ukraine, and the importance of adaptable autonomous systems. The role of sovereign supply chains, recycled materials and scalable production in Australia's future maritime capability.
In this special Indian Ocean Defence & Security Conference & Exhibition episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Hyperion Systems CEO Josh Wigley and Greenroom Robotics co-founder and chief operations officer Harry Hubbert.
Hyperion and Greenroom Robotics have partnered to develop the southern hemisphere's first 3D printed uncrewed surface vessel. The craft combines rapid additive manufacturing with Australian autonomy software to deliver a scalable and adaptable maritime platform.
Wigley and Hubbert discuss the rapid development of the 4.6-metre USV, including Hyperion's use of recycled Australian plastics and large-scale 3D printing technology alongside Greenroom Robotics' autonomous navigation and mission software.
The podcast conversation includes the following topics:Finally, the discussion explores the future role of autonomous and uncrewed maritime systems within the Royal Australian Navy, including how Australian industry can rapidly scale sovereign capability development to meet evolving strategic requirements.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team -
How is Australia's naval shipbuilding sector preparing for a new generation of landing craft, autonomous maritime systems and general purpose frigates?
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Paddy Gregg, chief executive officer of Austal, speaking directly from the Indian Ocean Defence & Security Conference in Perth.Austal is one of Australia's leading naval shipbuilders and is currently progressing the Landing Craft Medium and Landing Craft Heavy programs under the federal government's Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement alongside continued production of Evolved Cape Class patrol vessels for the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Border Force.
Gregg discusses the timeline for construction of the new landing craft fleet, developments in sovereign supply chains and workforce growth, and Austal's preparation for future involvement in the general purpose frigate program based on the Japanese Mogami Class design.
Construction timelines and design progress for the Landing Craft Medium and Landing Craft Heavy programs. Development of Australian supply chains and workforce expansion to support continuous naval shipbuilding. Austal's role in the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement and preparations for future frigate construction in Western Australia. The ongoing production and operational success of the Evolved Cape Class patrol vessel fleet. Hanwha's increased shareholding in Austal and the potential for future industrial and technology collaboration. Austal's growing experience in autonomous and uncrewed maritime systems, including projects conducted in both Australia and the United States.
The podcast conversation includes the following topics:Finally, the discussion explores the growing importance of autonomous vessels and uncrewed systems in future naval warfare and Australia's evolving maritime capability requirements.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team -
When the leaders of the world's two major powers meet, the world stops to take notice and nowhere is this clearer than in the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
There is no escaping the fact that the US–China relationship will be the defining factor of the 21st century, for good or for ill.
Join Contested Ground hosts, Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, as they deep dive into the real-world ramifications and fallout following the meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
The pair discuss the shared US–China interest in preventing a renewed trade war and keeping the fragile trade truce intact.
Strategically, Taiwan remains the most sensitive and unresolved issue. Xi Jinping frames it as the central risk in the bilateral relationship and warns of the consequences of mismanagement, while Trump largely avoids escalation during formal engagements, later suggesting continued engagement on the issue without committing to a clear stance.
Across the wider strategic agenda, the pair cover discussions on military posture, technology restrictions, sanctions and third-party conflicts such as Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East.
The pair also discuss the state mutual preference to avoid escalation amid broader global instability, including energy security concerns and supply chain fragility.
Finally, they discuss Xi's messaging, which emphasises long-term great-power coexistence, multipolar stability and opposition to bloc confrontation. This presents China as a steady global actor advocating managed competition alongside the traditional Trump approach of more transactional realpolitik, centred on trade, investment flows and market stability, with an emphasis on maintaining flexibility and direct leader-to-leader communication.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team -
Daniel Croft and David Hollingworth tackle the challenges of linking your finances to an AI agent, break down the Qilin ransomware group's Aussie rampage, the ransom payment dilemma, and round up a week of wins for fighting cyber crime.
Australians may soon be able to link their banking details directly with platforms like OpenAI, but is that wise? Croft has recently uncovered a stellar example of why you may want to think twice before clicking "Yes".The pair have been investigating a trio of Qilin ransomware attacks this week, and the victims are all investigating the hackers' claims – but Qilin is acting very strange and not sharing any details of the hacks themselves. Hollingworth and Croft have some suspicions, making this a threat intelligence assessment not to miss.
The podcast closes out with a week of law enforcement wins, with cyber criminals both abroad and at home getting their just deserts. You love to see it.
Just another week in cyber security.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team -
Can Australia's defence industrial base and military modernisation efforts keep pace with growing strategic pressures and capability demands?
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, journalist Bethany Alvaro and senior journalist Robert Dougherty discuss Kongsberg's missile manufacturing facility in Newcastle and plans to produce Naval Strike Missiles and Joint Strike Missiles in Australia.
The discussion also explores the federal government's launch of the Collins Class life of type extension program, designed to sustain Australia's submarine capability during the transition towards the future AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
Attention then turns to the delivery of additional AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the Australian Army.
The podcast also examines reports identifying Port Kembla as the preferred east coast base for Australia's future nuclear submarine fleet, as well as Operator XR securing its first European defence contract with the Swedish Armed Forces for virtual reality tactical training systems.
Rounding out the episode, the team analyses Russia's recent Victory Day parade, including the reduced display of military hardware and the growing influence of drone warfare.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team -
Daniel Croft and David Hollingworth analyse the Albanese government's budget, the Instructure breach and ransom payments, and Dan Marks from Austrade chats with SailPoint's federal chief technology officer.
Jim Chalmers has handed down another Labor budget, and while it seems like not a lot for cyber security, Hollingworth thinks the heavy lifting has already been done – do you agree?Then it's on to a massive issue – do you pay a ransom to cyber criminals? That is possibly what learning platform provider Instructure may have done. The pair break that down, from the morality to the fact that sometimes, that may be the best choice. But can you trust a criminal? The jury, as they say, is out.
And once again, we are joined by Dan Marks, investment director and cyber security lead for Austrade, who sat down with Frank Briguglio, federal chief technology officer at SailPoint, at the recent RSA Conference.
Just another week in cyber security.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team -
What drives the passion behind flying and preserving some of the world's most iconic military aircraft?
And how can air shows inspire the next generation of aviators, engineers and defence personnel?
Find out in this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast as senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by aerobatic pilot and renowned warbird aviation enthusiast Paul Bennet, founder of Paul Bennet Airshows.
Fresh from preparation flights for Australia's largest regional air show, Wings Over Shellharbour 2026, Bennet discusses his lifelong passion for aviation, which began with model aircraft and evolving into flying aerobatic aircraft and some of the world's most recognisable warbirds.
Bennet operates and flies an extensive collection of historic and aerobatic aircraft, including the Hawker Sea Fury, de Havilland Vampire, F4U Corsair, CAC Wirraway, T-28 Trojan, Grumman Avenger and two Yak-52 aircraft. He maintains the collection while regularly flying Mustang, Kitty Hawk and Hurricane fighters alongside competing in aerobatics and performing internationally.
Drawing on decades of experience in aviation operations, aircraft ownership and international air show performances, Bennet discusses the engineering, maintenance and operational realities of preserving historic military aircraft while promoting aviation to future generations.
The podcast conversation includes the following topics:
The origins of Bennet's passion for aviation, aerobatics and warbird aircraft.
Flying characteristics and performance differences between aircraft, including the Sea Fury, Spitfire, Mustang and early jet aircraft such as the Vampire.
The operational challenges of maintaining historic military aircraft, including sourcing parts, engineering replacements and preserving authenticity.
Australia's warbird preservation community, aviation museums and the importance of supporting historic aircraft collections.
The rarity and restoration difficulties associated with Axis aircraft such as the Japanese Zero and German Bf 109.
The role of air shows in promoting aviation, defence recruitment and STEM education pathways for young Australians.
Comparisons between Australian, US and South Korean air show culture and military participation.
Opportunities for collaboration between the defence industry, aviation enthusiasts and advanced manufacturing supply chains in
Australia as well as the give and take of working with the Australian Defence Force.
Career pathways into aviation, including military aviation, commercial flying, aerobatics and flight instruction.Finally, the discussion explores the future of Australian air shows, the importance of growing aviation engagement nationally, and Bennet's ambitions to continue expanding both his aircraft collection and international air show presence.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team -
Each and every day, the world is becoming more unpredictable, yet Australia continues with the post-Cold War status quo. As things continue to deteriorate, we're going to have to ask ourselves some particularly confronting questions.
Australia and its allies are entering an "age of chaos" in which the assumptions that shaped the post-Cold War order are rapidly breaking down.
Rather than dealing with isolated crises that can be managed and resolved individually, governments, militaries, and societies are now confronting overlapping and mutually reinforcing disruptions, including strategic competition, technological upheaval, economic fragmentation, supply chain vulnerability, and the rise of networked authoritarian powers.
Central to Australia's response is understanding the distinction between traditional "crisis management" and "chaos management". Crisis management assumes stability will eventually return and institutions can revert to previous norms once a disruption passes. Chaos management, by contrast, accepts that instability, uncertainty, and persistent competition are now enduring features of the strategic environment.
In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by expert defence and security analyst and White House veteran Robbin Laird to discuss the impact of the emergence of the era of disruption.
This only becomes more important and pivotal as we grapple with the reality that the international system is no longer defined by uncontested Western dominance, nor is it returning to a simple Cold War-style bipolar structure.
Rather, the world is evolving into a fragmented and highly interconnected environment where economic dependency and geopolitical rivalry coexist simultaneously, particularly between the United States and China. This creates strategic complexity for middle powers such as Australia, whose decisions on defence, trade, industrial policy, and alliances will increasingly shape the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
Australia's response to this is recognising the growing importance of resilience and sovereign capability. The author argues that efficiency and globalisation can no longer be the sole priorities for democratic nations if they undermine strategic security. Supply chains, industrial capacity, digital infrastructure, and technological innovation are increasingly viewed as national security issues rather than purely economic considerations.
In this context, adaptability, redundancy, and the ability to rapidly regenerate capability are presented as critical determinants of national power. Ultimately, democratic nations must rethink how they approach leadership, preparedness, and strategy in a world defined by accelerating disruption.
Rather than attempting to restore an increasingly obsolete status quo, governments and institutions must develop the capacity to operate effectively amid prolonged uncertainty, while strengthening alliances, industrial resilience, and societal cohesion to navigate an increasingly contested global order.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground Team -
Questions remain around Australia's defence modernisation efforts. Can the nation continue expanding advanced capabilities while balancing cost, readiness, and strategic priorities?
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro discuss concerns surrounding the Arafura Class offshore patrol vessel program, including delays, capability questions, and reductions to planned vessel numbers.The discussion also explores the Australian Army's UH-60M Black Hawk fleet, emerging technologies such as sonic weapons and autonomous underwater systems, as well as sustainability in defence capability development.
Attention then turns to proposals for Australia to consider B-21 Raider bombers as part of its long-range strike capability, alongside broader questions surrounding AUKUS, defence spending, and strategic alignment with the United States.
Rounding out the episode, the team examines expectations ahead of the upcoming federal budget and what it could mean for future defence priorities.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team -
Australian students and teachers have been compromised by an international data breach, with thousands of kids likely impacted. David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft break down how it happened, why it matters, and what schools need to do to protect themselves. PLUS! Cyber Daily partners with Austrade to bring you a series of interviews direct from the RSA Conference 2026.
Artificial intelligence is having an impact on almost every industry, and finance is no exception – that's why the US Federal Reserve is helping the sector navigate the global impact of AI. And while organisations are adopting the technology at pace, they're often too slow to secure it. Understand why that matters and what your organisation can do.The big news of the week stems from a breach of cloud education platform provider Instructure, and Aussie schools – and staff and students – have already been compromised. Find out what happened, who did the hacking, and what it means for the education sector at large. If you're a school CISO, this is vital information!
Finally, the podcast wraps up with a pair of special guests, as Austrade's investment director at the Australian embassy in Washington sits down with ThreatLocker's Rob Allen to talk about the company's philosophy, its operations in Australia, and the importance of application control in the modern enterprise.
Just another week in cyber security.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team -
How close can a modern reproduction come to the legendary Supermarine Spitfire from World War II? And what does preserving and flying these aircraft reveal about aviation engineering, military history and innovation?
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Keith Russell, owner and pilot of the Whitsunday Spitfire, a 90 per cent scale reproduction of the iconic World War II Mk26B Spitfire aircraft.Formerly known as the Port Hedland Spitfire and White Gum Spitfire, Russell's aircraft recently appeared at Warbirds Over Scone 2026 in NSW and Warbirds Over Wānaka in New Zealand.
Russell is also the former owner of Golden Eagle Airlines, a regional airline previously operating out of Derby, Western Australia, and has spent decades immersed in aviation operations and historic aircraft.
Drawing on his experiences flying both reproduction and original wartime Spitfires, including a two-seat Spitfire flight at Duxford in 2005, Russell discusses the engineering, handling and passion behind operating one of the world's most recognisable fighter aircraft.
The podcast conversation includes the following topics:
How the reproduction Spitfire compares to original wartime aircraft in handling, flight dynamics and pilot experience. The engineering evolution of the aircraft, including modern modifications, experimental aviation regulations and replica aircraft manufacturing. The strong international warbird community and the passion driving private ownership of historic military aircraft. Operational realities of flying tailwheel aircraft, aerobatics and maintaining aviation discipline and safety. Paint schemes, restoration authenticity and the challenges of balancing historical accuracy with personal customisation. The role of innovation in aviation, from handcrafted aircraft design through to CNC manufacturing and experimental engineering.Finally, the discussion explores the nature of warfare with older aircraft making a return to defeat drones and autonomous systems during the conflict in Ukraine.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team - Laat meer zien
