The recent article ‘Past sub mistakes make a case for going nuclear’ by Dr Babbage in The Weekend Australian arose from the recent release of 1985 Australian Government Cabinet papers including the Collins Class Submarine Program decision involving Kim Beazley, currently Australia’s Ambassador to the USA.

An sensor improvement to boost performance of the Nulka Active Missile Decoy has been given the green light. This is the first significant enhancement since production began in 1997.

The Light Weight Automatic Grenade Launcher should have already been providing a much-needed capability for our forces in Afghanistan. Instead, it has now been added to the Government’s projects of concern list.

After much anticipation the Defence Materiel Organisation has announced the release for industry comment of a draft request for tender for AIR5428 Pilot Training System (PTS) Phase 1.

Elbit Systems has been awarded various contracts by the Israel Ministry of Defense, in a number of fields of activity for a total value of approximately $315 million.

Airbus Military has been selected by the Government of India as the preferred bidder to supply its A330 MRTT Multi Role Tanker Transport to the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Aspen Medical’s delivery of healthcare professionals to Defence bases across Australia, as part of the Medibank Health Solutions (MHS) contract with Defence, has been formally accepted by Joint Health Command (JHC).

The Commonwealth of Australia has completed its acquisition of six Boeing 737 AEW&C aircraft and related mission systems by accepting the final design of the Wedgetail airborne mission segment.

Supacat Pty Ltd handed over the prototype Extenda Special Operations Vehicle – Direct Action (SOV-DA) to Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare on December 13th.

BAE Systems has withdrawn from the next phase of the tender process for the Australian Army's battlespace communications network.

A bi-partisan group of Pennslylvania Senators has written to US Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich to request his support in a bid to supply a high-performance human centrifuge to the New Air Combat Capability Project Office.

Swiss Technology Group RUAG has acquired Rosebank Engineering Pty Ltd, which specialises in maintenance, repair and overhaul services for the Royal Australian Air Force.

A five-year contract to provide Australian-based training for the operators and maintainers of the Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aerial System has been signed.

Jessica White recognised for her outstanding individual contributions to Defence and Industry as young ambassadors at the Australian Industry & Defence Network AIDN-Vic Branch

Defence officials have updated the Projects of Concern list with the removal of the AEW&C Wedgetail Aircraft Project and the Lightweight Torpedo Project and the addition of the Mulwala Redevelopment and the Direct Fire Support Weapon Projects to the list.

The National Executive of the Australian Industry & Defence Network Inc. (AIDN) recently held their Annual General Meeting where Graham Priestnall was re-elected AIDN National President and Alan Rankin from AIDN-NSW was elected as the new Vice President.