Under Project Air 5440 the RAAF has bought into the joint user group approach to sustaining and expanding the C-130J Hercules operational capability with the OEM, Lockheed Martin, leading development.

Contenders for the ADF’s two pilot training contracts, Air 5428 and Air 9000 Ph.7 are still awaiting the draft RFTs promised earlier this year.

The introduction to service of HMNZS Canterbury hasn’t been trouble-free, but the Royal New Zealand Navy is getting closer to achieving the capability it (and now the RAN) wants.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann and Federal Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare have signed a land agreement that reaffirms Defence’s commitment to assemble the Navy’s Future Submarines in Adelaide.

One week after the Hawkei experience, Mercedes Benz Australia/Pacific took the opportunity at the same Anglesea test ground to show off its two contenders for the medium and heavy elements of Phase 3.

A new training device at RAAF Base Richmond will assist Air Force C-130 Hercules crews in preparing for the threats that they can face on operations.

This year’s D+I Conference was as interesting for what Defence speakers didn’t say at the time as for what they did say. The spoken message was one of cost control, of efficient budgeting and achieving project schedules; the body language spoke of major changes in defence acquisition, with further announcements to follow.

After flying below the radar in Australia for much of the past decade KBR is finally emerging into the light to stake its own claim on a number of emerging defence opportunities.

Perth-based simulation specialist Calytrix used the ITEC-Germany event in May this year to showcase the fruits of 18 months of development work with its local and international partners.

A recent study of the defence industry’s Systems Engineering and Systems Integration capabilities warns Australia needs to grow in these areas – as does Defence itself, which needs to take a strategic approach to this essential component of operational capability.

The Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare signed a Global Supply Chain Deed in June with US firm Northrop Grumman. This is the first step in helping Australian companies access more opportunities through Northrop Grumman’s global supply chain, he said.

By the time General Dynamics Land Systems Australia (GDLSA), as the OEM, sat down with the DMO to negotiate their proposal for through life support (TLS) of the Army’s armoured vehicles, other aspiring contenders had dwindled in the face of the complex requirements and GDLS’s Canadian knowhow on performance-based contracts.

A team at UNSW Canberra led by Associate Professor Hans Riesen has developed a radiation monitoring (dosimetry) system that is by far the most portable and lightest globally available to this date.

Thales Australia and Norwegian firm Nammo have signed a long-term strategic teaming agreement to cooperate in the ordnance market.

BAE Systems Australia has won an extension to its existing Hawk Lead-In Fighter support contract, which will reduce the cost to Defence. The company says this shows smart sustainment and LEAN practices can deliver the SRP savings Defence seeks.

Defence has extended until the end of 2012 its contract with Canadian firm MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates to operate the Heron UAV on behalf of the ADF.