At the last Avalon Air Show, Chemring opened their new facility at Lara. The company invested $35 million in the factory that is part of the 10-year $160 million contract from the Commonwealth to produce all countermeasures for the ADF. Two years on, the facility has ramped up significantly. With turnover jumping from $4 million to $40 million in the past six years, time has flown.

Project CH CAP, or Chinook (CH-47F) Capability Alignment Program, to give its full title is dedicated to ensuring Army’s seven new Boeing CH-47Fs remain aligned with the larger US Army fleet through to Life Of Type.

Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a strong contender for more than just the Norwegian Air Force.

As Defence prepares to upgrade the UHF/VHF/HF communications of the Australian Military Airspace Control Communications System (AMACCS) under Air 5397 Phase 2, it is anticipated that new developments in air-ground-air communications, including IP-based systems, may well be introduced.

In 2009 the ADF urgently acquired a persistent overland ISR capability to support ground operations in Afghanistan, bolstering the surveillance provided by a small detachment of AP-3C Orions which, until recently were, based in the Middle East Theatre of Operations.

One month after the rollout last June of Northrop Grumman’s first MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) UAV, the proposed acquisition for the ADF of up to seven high altitude, long endurance (HALE) UAVs for maritime patrol and other surveillance was advanced by four years in the 2012 Defence Capability Plan (DCP).

With the full fleet of 22 Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) now in the hands of the Army’s First Aviation Regiment thoughts are turning towards ensuring their combat effectiveness and sustainability throughout their life of type. Such thoughts should be turning also to the remediation of a particular deficiency in the ARH system.

One of the positive news stories in the wake of the 2012/13 Federal Budget was the announcement that the RAAF will get 10 Alenia C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifters to replace the long-retired Caribou.

The RAAF is in the process of bedding down a raft of new capabilities with more on the horizon. The decade long program of transition that began a few years ago is well underway with capability mostly on track. But there are challenges ahead for the organisation and the industry that supports it.

While two major events during 2012 have helped shape the future of Australia’s air combat capability, further decisions to be taken during the course of 2013 will provide more direction.

Introducing the RAAF’s Growler electronic attack capability into service involves careful juggling on the part of Air Force to ensure the continuing viability of the air combat force.

Model-Based Design continues to grow within the aerospace and defence industries. This article examines the reasons behind that growth and explores future trends in its adoption. Particular focus is given to its use in the development of certified systems and on large multi-organisation programs.

Many, many years ago, then-Premier of Queensland Peter Beattie saw an opportunity to help grow the future of aerospace in Australia, with a focus in Queensland. And he knew the best way to do this was to engage the young people, to excite their minds, and to let them take us where we need to go.

The Royal Australian Air Force’s biennial Pitch Black exercise played out over the Northern Territory in August, involving between 80-100 fast jets and supporting aircraft and 2,200 personnel from six countries.

Australian Army Aviation faces significant challenges over the next few years, as it copes with the introduction of two complex helicopter types, maintains operational deployments on rotation in Afghanistan and Timor Leste and prepares to operate off the new LHDs.

In December this year the RAAF will retire the last of its C-130H Hercules airlifters after 34 years of continuous service, including many deployments to the Middle East and participation in humanitarian relief operations around the globe.