The Grumpy Strategists

Latest Episodes:

Makin' missiles, a business insurgency & schedule as comedy - Episode 24 Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

Marcus and Michael catch up on news about makin' missiles, assess whether the secret to change in Defence is a cashed up billionaire, andare bemused by the new 'Schedule is King' for everyone but Defence itself. They wrap up with F-35Bs, now that the Army is taking itself littorally.

Disappearing tanks, million dollar missiles, SNAUKUS and the bear that's driving the US election - Episode 23 Aug 14, 2024

Show notes

SAA's Marcus Hellyer and Michael Shoebridge cover the Australian Army's tank gap, the Navy's celebration of missile test firings, and the fact free Frankenstein imagery on AUKUS subs out of Navy officials lately. The episode ends with animal-based analysis of the US elections and what the Trump-Vance or Harris-Walz options might mean for Australia.

The Great Debates: a civil nuclear debate Jul 26, 2024

Show notes

Episode 1 of the Great Debates -on topics in Australia that need discussion but are reduced to shouting matches from inside closed bubbles. Green shirted Marcus is Mr Renewables and black suited Michael is the pro-nuclear Darth Vader of the episode. Listen to hear if a civil chat about radioactive waste, windfarms and Australia's energy mix is possible.

Post-shot US election update, Ukrainian & Ozzie drones, spies and public money Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 22, Marcus and Michael discuss the US election & the alliance post debate and failed assassination, before covering Ukraine military assistance and the alternative realities in Australia's contribution to Ukraine and our own defence. The episode ends with the strange case of the alleged Russian signaller spy and the failed $160m vetting project that might have helped catch them earlier.....

Grumpy Strategist Makers' Series - the workforce edition with KINEXUS Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

SAA's Marcus Hellyer talks with Rob Kremer, Kinexus' Director and Defence Sector lead about defence industry prospects and pressures. Rob puts the workforce demands by Defence into a wider economic and societal perspective to set out effective strategies for government and companies. Australian cities have quite different skills concentrations and demographics that flavour the necessary approaches.

Consequences, consequences: budget settings starve the Air Force & a bureaucracy avoids scrutiny Jun 29, 2024

Show notes

The Grumpy Strategists outline the structural consequences for the Air Force from the new permanent spend on ships & subs in the Defence budget. They cover another structural issue damaging Australia's security - the growing secrecy and lack of accountability of the Defence bureaucracy at a time of record spending. Disturbingly, a new Parliamentary committee that should help seems set to result in more secrecy & less public knowledge.

Episode 20: Cringers, crawlers, walkers & runners with a dash of AI, cults, conspiracies, pyramids & portals. Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

The Grumpy Strategists look at the emerging cult of AUKUS & its faith-based arrangements. They also set out who is going to win the US election using very dubious 'psycho social analysis' from Michael, and end discussing crawling, walking & running when it comes to human development & the comparatively stunted speed of development of Australia's domestic guided weapons enterprise.

Episode 19 - Collins subs life extension realities & Permits for Everyone: the lazy new SAMS law Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

The Grumpy Strategists set out practical ways that the plans for keeping Australia's Collins class subs operating might need to change to enable the AUKUS Virginia class subs to be brought into Australian service. They also set out the deep flaws in the new 'Safeguarding Australia's Military Secrets' law - a badly crafted bureaucrat's dream, but a disaster for anyone wanting a career after the military or service in Defence. We may have needed a permit for this episode to avoid jail. Under the new law, it's hard to tell.

The Grumpy Strategist Makers' Series Episode - Austal May 29, 2024

Show notes

Michael Shoebridge talks with Paddy Gregg, CEO of Austal, about the company's history as a builder of commercial and military vessels for decades now. We discuss its stocked up order book both here & in the US, and the future, including Australia's general purpose frigates. Austal USA is making command modules for US Virginia Class submarines and is the biggest revenue earner for Austal, while at Henderson, Austal is ramping up fast with landing craft orders. Hanwha's bid is covered, with Paddy giving his perspective as the CEO of a publicly-listed company.

The post-Budget blues edition: Backloaded cash, unachievable plans and Collins dies young May 17, 2024

Show notes

In Episode 18, the Grumpy Strategists look at the challenges, contradictions and half truths the numbers in the 2024 Defence Budget reveal. The headline early $5.7 billion turns out not to turn up until mid-2027. Plans for acquisition are likely to fail because of unachievable targets, and the workforce crisis is worsening - meaning Australia's military just won't have the people it needs to operate what it buys. The episode ends with analysis of AUKUS sub crewing plans revealed by a US official. Spoiler alert: the Collins subs look like having an early end & Australian submariners are being 'utterly and completely' integrated into 25 US subs well before 2032.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected