The Pentagon is conducting a review to ensure program managers charged with developing and procuring the US military's portfolio of major weapon systems are also developing adequate termination contingency plans - including calculating potential government liability costs in the event a program is killed, according to a Defense Department official.

The UK Government has formed a partnership with nine domestic-based defence and security companies in an effort to boost the country's protection against cyberattacks.

South Korea was hit by a major cyberattack on March 20, 2013. This cyberattack known as the Dark Seoul Incident, caused a significant amount of damage to the affected organisations by wiping the hard drives of tens of thousands of computers.

Eurocopter has successfully demonstrated new landing procedures relying on augmented satellite guidance that can be tailored to more completely comply with the local environmental requirements.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.261 of 11 July 2013 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

Defence Materiel Minister Dr Mike Kelly has called on Australian companies to participate in complex capability problem solving for Australian warfighters by announcing the latest 'Invitation to Participate' in Defence's RPDE Program.

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation is now offering scholarships in science and engineering for female high school and undergraduate students through three of Australia's leading universities.

BAE Systems UK has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to upgrade the RAAF Lead-In Fighter Hawk fleet.

UK's Pearson Engineering showed its Super Light Weight Roller system for the first time at the 2013 Defence Vehicle Dynamics exhibition in mid-June.

Quickstep Holdings has appointed Nigel Ampherlaw as an independent non-executive director of the company.

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Back in 2008 David Mortimer presented his findings on Australian defence procurement having identified five principal areas of concern.

The UK Defence Reform Bill - which is intended to lead to legislation to reform both single-source procurement practices and the structure of the Defence Equipment & Support procurement body.

Poor management is by far the biggest cause of huge cost overruns in the Defense Department's major weapons programs, Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall writes in a new 126-page assessment.

The report notes that the time required to acquire next-generation capabilities is often longer than the strategic threat and technology cycles these capabilities are meant to address.

Included in the Pentagon's acquisition performance report is the following excerpt from an article by Col. Mark F. Cancian illustrates these larger external debates.