Unless the Defence White Paper ordains otherwise, the early and middle years of the coming decade will see the convergence of a range of high-cost Navy and Air Force platforms, with heavy demands on resources as they, and their systems, are introduced into service.

Project AIR5077 Wedgetail has not been the poster boy for high technology Defence acquisition over the last few years. But the end is in sight. The DMO and Boeing have reached an agreement on what will be delivered and when in light of the concerns about the integration of Northrop Grumman's MESA radar system.

Other than on a minor scale, Australia has been slow to introduce tactical data links into service and to participate in the development of emerging data link technologies. Efforts are underway to redress the situation and meet NCW milestones.

With the Australian Government likely to make its second pass commitment to acquisition of up to 75 Lockheed Martin F-35A ‘Lightning II' Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) sometime this year the professional defence community can expect increased national scrutiny of this capability.

Defence plans were to procure both fixed and rotary wing flying training projects (AIR 5428/Phase 1 and AIR 9000/Phase 7) using privately financed Public Private Partnership or a PPP arrangements. But the global economic downturn has led to concerns over the cost and availability of private funding for such long term programs.

The cancellation last year of the troubled SH-2G(A) Super Seasprite program has exposed some structural weaknesses in Australian naval aviation. Air 9000 Ph.8 represents an opportunity for transformational change.

With more than 800 of its Bushmaster 4x4 protected mobility vehicles either delivered or on order, Thales Australia is looking to new variants and more international sales to secure the longer-term future of the Bendigo production line.

While hedging is a term more commonly heard in the financial world, the concept has merit for how Defence could manage force structure in both the short and long term.

Air Marshal Mark Binskin started his military career in the RAN in 1978. He flew A-4G Skyhawks before beginning an exchange tour with the RAAF in 1982 which became a permanent transfer. In the RAAF he flew Mirage and Hornet fighters as part of a series of instructor, staff and command postings in Australia and the Middle East.

The US Air Force has approved Australia's US$234 million provision for the construction of a 6th Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite by prime contractor Boeing.

Basing of aviation assets around the world for various operational theatres is touchy matter. The locals don't really want you in their space, assets are scattered all over the region meaning round about trips and the jet lag is a downer too.

The Government of India has selected Boeing's P-8I Poseidon as its new maritime patrol aircraft (MPA).

The Joint Direct Attack Munition - Extended Range (JDAM-ER) successfully completed RAAF testing at Woomera last year.

Airbus Military and EADS have proposed a new program approach for the A400M to the Launch Nations through the European joint procurement agency, OCCAR.

At the time of writing, the air lift community was still awaiting publication of the new Defence White Paper. Like a number of critical ADF capabilities, air lift is an area where spending the right sort of money correctly could reap significant long-term savings.

The TP400 power plant being developed for the A400M airlifter by EuroProp International (EPI) made its maiden flight on 17th December installed on a Lockheed C-130K flight test-bed.