Maritime Matters

Maritime Matters | RIMPAC 2026, Indonesia’s One-Way Attack USV & US Foreign-Built Warships In this episode of Maritime Matters, we look at some of the key maritime security and capability developments shaping the Indo-Pacific. We discuss: RIMPAC 2026 and the testing of AUKUS Pillar II undersea capabilities, including autonomous and remotely operated systems Operation Island Chief and Australia’s support to Pacific-led fisheries surveillance in Solomon Islands The recent Indonesia-China passing exercise east of Taiwan and the political reaction it generated The engineering casualty that left USS Benfold without power in the South China Sea The latest on Collins-class submarine sustainment and the move towards a revised maintenance model Indonesia’s demonstration of a one-way attack unmanned surface vessel and the wider debate over sea denial, geography and navigational rights The US decision to explore allied foreign-built warship designs as it tries to address shipbuilding delays and industrial capacity constraints We also look at what these developments tell us about the changing character of maritime competition, the growing role of uncrewed systems, and the pressure on naval industrial capacity across the region. Recorded 20 August 2026.

Maritime Matters Episode Title: Chinese Ballistic Missile Tests, Antelope Reef & Royal Navy Uncrewed Systems In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) discuss recent maritime events in the Indo-Pacific, including: Australia-India Defence Agreement Chinese Missile Tests Island Building at Antelope Reef Royal Navy Uncrewed Systems Australian IAMD tests Public Attitudes Towards the Australian Defence Force: 2026 Survey - https://www.unsw.edu.au/content/dam/pdfs/unsw-canberra/hass/2026-07-5253529-PublicAttitudeTowardsTheADFSurveyReport-Final.pdf

Maritime Matters Episode Title: Regional Presence Deployments, RIMPAC and North Korean Destroyers In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) discuss recent maritime events in the Indo-Pacific, including: Regional Presence Deployments RIMPAC PLA Navy Deployments North Korea Commissions its Destroyer India to get German Submarines

Maritime Matters Episode Title: Exercise Balikatan and the Collins Life-of-Type Extension In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard...) discuss recent martitime events in the Indo-Pacific, including: Exercise Balikatan HMAS Toowoomba’s Regional Presence Deployment US Marine Corps Rotational Deployment Collins Life-of-Type Extension Royal Australian Navy UAVs An Indonesian aircraft carrier

Maritime Matters Episode Title: National Defence Strategy, Indo-Pacific Tensions & Australia’s Future Fleet In this episode of Maritime Matters Jennifer Parker (https://www.jennifer-parker.com.au/) and Richard Dunley (https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/richard…) discuss key developments shaping maritime security, including: Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program New Zealand P-8 operations and China’s response Discovery of a Chinese undersea monitoring system in Indonesia Developments in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz Australia’s upgraded Mogami-class frigates and defence cooperation with Japan The Royal Australian Navy’s new Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit and uncrewed capabilities