With Prime Minister Tony Abbott's announcement that the government would follow through with the acquisition of Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton HALE, together with his previous announcement that eight Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft would be acquired, ends a journey that began a decade ago.

Under a five year contract extension signed recently Boeing will continue to support the RAAF's Wedgetail airborne early warning command-and-control fleet.

The defence division of marine engineer Birdon of Port Macquarie, has been awarded a contract worth up to $US259 million to supply the US Army with up to 374 specialised bridge erection boats.

South Australian based manufacturing firm, Castech, recently delivered its first order of specialised castings to defence ship building organisation, ASC.

In late 2013, Raytheon awarded the contract for 15 DIVOS 3 log Air Traffic Control recording systems for the RAAF Bases to Frequentis Australasia Pty. Ltd.

Integra Packaging has recently developed a robust solution for the encapsulation of the RAAFs Sea Kings.

HMAS Darwin has seized and destroyed more than three tonnes of cannabis resin with an estimated street value of $137 million.

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The US Navy has awarded contract modifications worth US$1.38 billion in total to Austal USA and Lockheed Martin for the construction of four Littoral Combat Ships.

Lockheed Martin has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Industrial Defender, a leading provider of cyber security solutions for control systems in the oil and gas, utility and chemical industries.

The Royal Navy's Lynx Wildcat maritime attack helicopter, is currently undergoing extensive trials with 700W Naval Air Squadron.

The first KC-130J Super Hercules tanker assigned to a US Marine Corps Reserve squadron was ferried from the Lockheed Martin facility.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence and Thales have signed a contract for the delivery of the integrated combat system and related acceptance activities on board the ORP ASLA"ZAK Patrol Vessel.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.291 of 13 March 2014 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

Australia has invited the UK to utilise its Defence facilities in Darwin much like the US is doing, as the allies increasingly focus on the Asia Pacific region.

In an article in the current Australian Army Journal, Major Nicholas Rose describes three tools, applicable to offensive cyber operations.