Gordon Arthur

Asia-Pacific Editor at Naval Warfare (Shephard Media)

Freelance defence photojournalist and editor focusing on Asia-Pacific. Keeping you up to date on military goings-on in the region.

Articles

New Zealand releases overdue Defence Capability Plan

1 week ago | janes.com | Gordon Arthur

New Zealand has two Anzac-class frigates and they will need incremental modernisation till their replacement in the early 2030s. (Gordon Arthur)New Zealand has released its delayed Defence Capability Plan (DCP). The government blueprint lists priorities and investments in the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) over the coming 14 years. The previous DCP was released in 2019, but the plan will now be updated every two years.
LVC Training Moves Closer to Supporting Op-Tempo Requirements

1 week ago | asianmilitaryreview.com | Gordon Arthur

Australia becoming Indo-Pacific standard for military live, virtual and constructive training. Military training has taken on new urgency as the Indo-Pacific region reacts to sterner security threats such as a more aggressive China, and as lessons are absorbed from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. A prime example of the valuable combination of live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training was Talisman Sabre 2023, a massive multilateral exercise held in Australia.
Train like you fight: Taiwan comes to grips with an old military adage

1 week ago | defensenews.com | Gordon Arthur

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — A new report by Taiwan’s government pledges to refocus military training on realistic threat scenarios, as the island nation contends with fresh Chinese saber-rattling close to home. Taipei is aware of the threat posed by Beijing’s forces forces, but officials acknowledge more must be done to deter and, if need be, fight an invasion.
New Zealand navy receives a boost under 2025 Defence Capability Plan

1 week ago | navalnews.com | Gordon Arthur |Scottish-born Gordon Arthur

At the launch of the DCP, Prime Minister Chris Luxon said, “Global tensions are increasing rapidly, and New Zealand has stepped up on the world stage, but our current defence spending is simply too low.” The plan thus promises NZ$12 billion (US$6.65 billion) in defence spending over the coming four years, of which NZ$9 billion is new expenditure. The result will see defence as a proportion of GDP rise from the current 1% to slightly more than 2% within eight years.
Train like you fight: Taiwan comes to grips with an old military adage

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Gordon Arthur

Gordon ArthurFri, April 11, 2025 at 11:27 AM UTC4 min readCHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — A new report by Taiwan’s government pledges to refocus military training on realistic threat scenarios, as the island nation contends with fresh Chinese saber-rattling close to home. Taipei is aware of the threat posed by Beijing’s forces forces, but officials acknowledge more must be done to deter and, if need be, fight an invasion.
ST Engineering promotes GDAMS mortar to foreign markets

2 weeks ago | asianmilitaryreview.com | Gordon Arthur

After unveiling its Ground Deployed Advanced Mortar System (GDAMS) at the DSEI 2023 exhibition in London, Singaporean defence company ST Engineering continues to develop and test this mortar system. Meanwhile, a decision over whether the Singapore Army’s new Titan 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle will be an ST Engineering platform is yet to be made. The GDAMS is a mortar system that can be mounted on just about any SUV-type vehicle.
Australia: “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”

2 weeks ago | navalnews.com | Gordon Arthur

In one sense, this is a good problem to have – a surfeit of capable naval helicopters. But the other side of the coin is alarming – Australia has an insufficient number of warships. So perhaps the title of this article would more aptly be “O warships, warships, wherefore art thou warships”!Naval News asked Australia’s Department of Defence about this worrying equation, but the Defence spokesperson deemed the number of helicopters to not be an issue.
Australia inducts new QinetiQ EOD robots and 9mm pistols into service

2 weeks ago | shephardmedia.com | Gordon Arthur

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has begun using two new technologies in service, the Squad Packable Utility Robot (SPUR) from QinetiQ and the new SIG Sauer P320 X-Carry Pro 9mm pistols. QinetiQ is supplying the SPUR to all three ADF services for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) missions under an A$16 million (US$10 million) contract signed by prime vendor Babcock Australasia. While in service with the ADF, the SPUR will be known as the Remote Positioning Vehicle - Light (RPV-L).
Canada lines up over-the-horizon radar purchase from Australia

2 weeks ago | shephardmedia.com | Gordon Arthur

Mark Carney, Canada’s new prime minister, last month announced that his country intended to partner with Australia to develop OTHR technology. BAE Systems, which maintains and improves JORN, spoke to Shephard about the system’s potential.
Desan Shipyard to build Malaysia’s largest ever coast guard vessel

3 weeks ago | shephardmedia.com | Gordon Arthur

Turkish shipbuilder Desan Shipyard has won a contract to build a multipurpose mission ship for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which functions as Malaysia’s coast guard. The letter of acceptance was signed in Istanbul on 21 March. The deal, which the MMEA said was worth almost US$69 million, outlined a vessel to be delivered in Q1 2027.