The 2009 Defence White Paper foreshadows enhancements in Australia's defence capabilities, supported by defence budget increases and heroic internal reforms.

The new Defence White Paper Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 and the 2009 Budget are now both on the streets.

While the ADF has failed to introduce into service the wide-ranging ISR capabilities promised by JP129, Tactical UAVs, Australian forces in the MEAO are nevertheless gaining considerable experience in the employment of tactical UAVs.

The long-awaited announcement of the contractors selected to build the AWD hull and superstructure blocks was made last month, and contained a real surprise for naval industry observers and players.

The RAN's submarine service is suffering badly from shortages of personnel.

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) might justifiably claim to be the fastest growing Navy on the planet with four new ships arriving in less than two months.

Bankstown-based Turbomeca Australia has grown from a shop of 18 people producing 33 engines in 2000 to a plant of 130 people releasing over 220 engines in 2008.

The Future Submarine to be acquired under Project Sea 1000 will challenge Defence, DSTO and Defence Industry.

As foreshadowed in the Defence White Paper, large parts of DMO and Defence Industry will try to reduce out sourcing of many jobs currently performed by PSPs.

Bidders are waiting for the DMO to announce the names of the successful bidders for the expanded DMOSS Panel.

The new Defence White Paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, outlines and confirms a vast array of new capability that will come into service during the next two decades, shaping the ADF well into the 2030 time frame.

The budget this year was framed against some of the worst conditions the nation has seen for some time.

This year's defence budget is like a mirage in the desert.

As the Defence White Paper and Budget have been handed down for 2009 and the new Defence Capability Plan (DCP) is to be released at D+I, ADM invited head of the Defence Materiel Organisation's Industry Division Kerry Clarke to comment on how these three documents will shape the Australian defence industry.

By the time this is in your hands, the White Paper will have been out for almost two months, the Budget will have been released and the Defence Capability Plan is just around the corner at the D+I conference.

Twelve new top of the range submarines are in Australia's future thanks to the Defence White Paper but therein lies a problem.