Major defence contractors attended a special industry briefing on Geelong's Land 400 bid to learn more about the bid and Geelong's capability to deliver the project.

We were somewhat mystified by the report in this week's ADM Headlines regarding the purchase of a Supacat Multi-purpose Vessel 24 by James Fisher Marine Services.

The pilot training systems offered by teams led by BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin Australia each feature somewhat similar training aircraft, the Beechcraft T-6C Texan based on a modified PC-9 and the latest Pilatus PC-21.

Last week we learned that Lockheed Martin Australia and Pilatus Aircraft, supported by Hawker Pacific, had jointly launched a bid to provide a new pilot training system for the ADF.

Calls for proposals in DSTO's CTD programs have provided fascinating insights into those technologies that may provide capability advantages for Defence and allow industry to position itself to provide in-service capabilities and through-life-support.

According to Comtech Systems, advances are continuing to be made in tropo technology, particularly with high power solid state amplifiers which now operate at up to 2 kilowatts transmitted power in the 4.4-5 GHz band.

QinetiQ Australia has launched an internship program that gives university students the opportunity to learn from engineers and consultants solving today's most complex problems for the ADF.

The RAN is seeking to replace its existing shore based FFG communications Centre simulator to support the generation of trained and qualified CIS Sailors.

Hunter manufacturer, RPC Technologies, hosted delegates from Composite Australia's conference in Newcastle with a tour of its Broadmeadow facilities.

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Officials are stepping up preparations for the first-of-its-kind integrated and pooled pilot training system set to open at Luke Air Force Base, next year.

The US Navy does not have the time to develop a wholly new design for a small surface combatant, one of the options being looked at by a Navy task force set up to address survivability and lethality gaps associated with the LCS program.

The USN's Independence-class LCS shipbuilder said that the seaframe's flexible design will accommodate any changes resulting from the navy's ongoing program review.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.295 of 10 April 2014 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

Defence Minister David Johnston has confirmed the government's desire, but not its firm decision, to assemble the Collins class replacement in South Australia, while skirting any discussion on submarine numbers and stressing Defence's interest in Japanese technology.

Key recommendations in the 'Study Into the Business of Sustaining Australia's Strategic Collins Class Submarine Capability' were designed to ensure commercial, operational, sustainment and management issues that hindered the Collins Class submarines through the 1990s, would be solved.