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2020 has been a big year for the nation, Defence and defence industry, with major projects reaching critical stages in the design, build and delivery phase transforming the Royal Australian Navy well into the next decade.

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper discuss the year that was for the Royal Australian Navy as it continues to embark on a generational transformation of its platforms and capabilities and the role\\xa0Australia\\u2019s\\xa0growing defence industry is playing in this transformation.

As part of an ongoing series of the Defence Connect podcast leading up to the end of the year, the pair discuss the top ranking stories in the Maritime & Undersea Warfare domains according to engagement by the Defence Connect\\xa0audience\\xa0\\u2013\\xa0this\\xa0includes a focus on programs like the Royal Australian\\xa0Navy\\u2019s\\xa0SEA 1180\\xa0Arafura\\xa0Class\\xa0offshore\\xa0patrol\\xa0vessels\\xa0and concerns around\\xa0\\u2018upgunning\\u2019\\xa0the vessels.

Building on this, the pair discuss the recent arrival of the\\xa0Navy\\u2019s\\xa0next-generation fleet replenishment ship NUSHIP\\xa0Supply\\xa0and the key capabilities it will deliver to the Royal Australian Navy and allies as they operate in the Indo-Pacific.

Tarrant and Kuper also discuss content covering the rising power of the\\xa0People\\u2019s\\xa0Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and its ongoing transformation as a carrier power,\\xa0as well as\\xa0the\\xa0ongoing French\\xa0Navy program\\xa0to replace and supplement the\\xa0force\\u2019s\\xa0aircraft carrier, the FNS\\xa0Charles de Gaulle,\\xa0with a design similar to the Royal\\xa0Navy\\u2019s Queen Elizabeth\\xa0Class\\xa0aircraft carrier.

Finally, the hosts\\xa0discuss US Marine Corps Commandant General David Berger\\u2019s\\xa0push to field a growing number of\\xa0\\u2018Lightning Carriers\\u2019\\xa0to support distributed operations with a growing number of F-35Bs\\xa0to complicate adversary decision making processes, the successful participation of Australian frigate\\xa0HMAS\\xa0Ballarat\\xa0in the US\\xa0Navy\\u2019s\\xa0Nimitz\\xa0carrier strike group,\\xa0and\\xa0US Navy\\xa0Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday\\u2019s\\xa0push to develop the US\\xa0Navy\\u2019s next-generation\\xa0destroyers.

Enjoy the podcast,

The Defence Connect team