To significantly increase Australia's submarine capability by 2030, the government must now make a number of critical decisions.

A team of 25 RAN officers and sailors led by Commodore Richard Menhinick has deployed to the Middle East to form the command group of a Coalition Naval Task Force engaged in maritime security operations throughout the region.

The RAN's upgraded FFG frigate HMAS Melbourne became the world's first FFG to fire an SM-2 missile during a test firing campaign in the East Australian Exercise Area off Jervis Bay.

Lockheed Martin has completed production of the first Aegis Weapon System for the RAN's Hobart class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Program.

ASC's $120-million Osborne shipyard, which will be the construction and consolidation site for the AWDs, has been officially opened.

The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced that the Austal-designed and built high-speed catamaran "Huakai" is being sent to Haiti.

Goodrich Corporation has received a contract from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding to provide composite components for the Virginia Class submarines.

When it comes to propulsion systems, hybrid solutions for navy surface vessels are now highly sought after, as evidenced by the trend of navy expenditure moving towards hybrid systems with electric propulsion motors.

Work on the assembly of Australia's biggest heavy lift crane will soon be the most visible sign of progress on Australia's $8 billion Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program, but this is just one element of a complex undertaking which as of December was running on schedule and on budget.

The LHD has the potential to be the poster project of the military off the shelf (MOTS) procurement model.

The SEA 1000 Project Team has a long road ahead of it.

An increased emphasis on expeditionary warfare has renewed the focus on the ability of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to provide mine countermeasures (MCM) support to task groups deployed well beyond Australian shores.

Potential players in the RAN's Future Submarine project, Sea 1000, are already jockeying for positional advantage, and none more so than the contenders to build the new boats' crucial combat system.

While the high-priority task of replacing the tactical component of their combat system with the US-sourced AN/BYG-1 tactical C2 system continues, various other enhancements and updates have been performed and more are planned, as part of the ongoing program of maintaining and improving the Collins class submarines.