Although Australia has yet to decide whether to purchase the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), it has taken the lead in progressing a possible consortium buy by the eight international partners involved in the JSF development program.

Port Stephens-based SME, C-E Solutions, has installed a new a Weapon Impact Scoring System, dubbed Hawk-I on an air weapons range near Townsville for the Department of Defence.

As the window of opportunity for Australia to tale part in the development phase of the US BAMS projects begins to close, Carl Johnson project director for the Global Hawk project at Northrop Grumman explains how the Global Hawk already in service is different to the variant now under development.

Under the NZ Government's Long-Term Development Plan, the RNZAF's C-130H Hercules' will be given a new lease on life alongside the improved P-3K2's and the upgraded 757-200s.

FLIR Systems, Inc. will provide the RAAF with extra Star SAFIRE HD imaging systems for its AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

The DMO has signed contracts worth over $26 million with Rohde & Schwarz Australia for the acquisition and five years' through life support of three MX400 Transportable Air Operations Towers (TAOTs).

It seems no project is immune from delays; the RAAF's Multi-Role Tanker-Transport (MRTT) program will be some six months late entering service, which isn't serious compared with other developmental programs but still leaves a temporary capability gap.

BAE Systems has completed its purchase of the former Tenix defence businesses by acquiring Tenix Toll Defence Logistics Pty Limited (TTDL), formerly a joint venture by Tenix and Toll Holdings Limited, for $24 million.

With the 2nd Pass decision on the ADF's New Air Combat Capability due later this year, the RAAF, DMO, Lockheed Martin and Industry are close to establishing what in-service support capabilities will be required to sustain the F-35A in Australia.

Former Deputy Chief Defence Scientist Dr ‘Nanda' Nandagopal has been seconded to the DMO and appointed Chief Systems Integration Officer (CSIO) at the head of a new organisation designed to improve the management of complex defence projects.

While attention last month was focused on the prospect of further delays in the Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) program and of the initial acceptance of a reduced capability (see p.xx), Boeing has also reported two important project milestones.

Superiority in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) is a crucial element of the capabilities relied upon by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to successfully operate in complex environments.

The DMO and Boeing Australia Ltd have signed a Deed of Settlement, Release and Amendment to resolve long standing commercial issues associated with the RAAF's ground-based air defence command and control system, Project Air 5333 - Vigilare.

Specialising in training and combat systems, Meggitt Defence Systems initiated a long term strategy to increase their footprint and grow the business in the region.

Australia's last remaining Caribou aircraft will be decommissioned by year's end.

The high achievers in Australian Defence industry were recognised at the recent Australian Defence Magazine 2009 Congress Awards dinner in Canberra.