Opportunities to drive, or be driven in, modern military vehicles are rare in Australia. ADM recently got the chance to experience Thales’s Hawkei contender for Project Land 121 Ph.4 as well as a range of Mercedes-Benz vehicles either offered to or ordered by the ADF.

Dr Stephen Gumley made an abrupt departure from the Dept of Defence when he retired on 7 July as CEO of the Defence Materiel Organisation. His deputy, Warren King, will take up the position of Acting CEO and the position of CEO will be advertised in coming weeks.

The RAAF has taken the opportunity presented by the arrival of its new KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) to introduce a totally new training environment.

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare used the D+I Conference to announce a range of procurement reform designed to increase opportunities for local firms to compete for Defence work.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has successfully participated in the 2011 Northern Edge joint military exercise in the US by demonstrating key F-35 Joint Strike Fighter sensor capabilities in a demanding operational environment.

Kim Gillis was appointed vice president and managing director of Boeing Defence Australia in June this year. Before joining Boeing Defence Space & Security in the US last year, he had been deputy CEO of the Defence Materiel Organisation.

The release last month of a tender for the Group Maintenance Contract (GMC) for the Navy’s eight Anzac-class frigates, along with the Rizzo Plan for support ship repair and management, is the trigger for an overhaul of Defence’s maritime sustainment arrangements.

An Australian-developed sustainment software tool offers the prospect of significant savings in sustainment management for both new and legacy platforms and equipment.

Registrations opened last month for the Safeskies Australia 2011 conference, to be held at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra on 25-27 October.

Contenders for the Phase 1 Bravo Digital Terminal Control System are looking forward to 2nd Pass approval later this year to learn which of their offerings has been selected as the preferred system

New Zealand’s 2011-12 defence budget continues to favour the Army, but the Navy and Air Force are getting a greater share; meanwhile the operational budget and civilian personnel numbers have fallen.

The Federal Government will contribute more than $9 million toward research for the protection of ADF personnel.

Barely a month after major cyber attacks on Lockheed Martin and Sony, stratsec CEO and Head of Cyber Security at BAE Systems Australia, Tim Scully, surveys the cyber threat and highlights the challenges we face .

The RAN has taken another tentative step towards developing a sea-going UAV requirement. Bit it took some engine and fuel development by the UAV manufacturer, InSitu Pacific, to make it possible.

With the ADF about to start looking for a new training helicopter under Project Air 9000 Ph.7, the RNZAF’s experience with its new AW109 training/light utility helicopter may be instructive. The AW109 is a contender for the ADF program.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Defence Minister Stephen Smith have named the new ADF and service Chiefs, whose appointments take effect from 4 July for a period of three years.