The AIDN National Committee met late last month to discuss concerns for the future prospects of the Australian defence industry.

The CSIRO and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), have signed a Strategic Relationship Agreement aimed at high-impact research priorities.

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Kongsberg has received two orders with a total value of AUD$34.2million for deliveries of rudders and vertical leading edges and centre fuselage parts for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

According to a recent Congressional Research Service report, the Littoral Combat Ship program has become controversial due to cost growth, design and construction issues.

Raytheon has introduced its upgraded 155mm Excalibur extended-range global positioning system guided projectile, as part of its internally funded program for enhancing Excalibur's ability to combat against swarming boat threats.

Researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have developed what could become low-cost, X-ray vision.

Cubic Defense Applications has acquired certain assets and foreign subsidiaries of Advanced Interactive Systems through a bankruptcy auction.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.259 of 27 June 2013 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

Following the release of an RFT offering the Royal Australian Navy's decommissioned ships HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla for sale in June last year, the Government has announced that contract negotiations with the preferred purchaser were completed by May this year with a disposal contract signed on 20 May 2013.

Five Australian defence companies will be offered a total of $9.4 million in funding through the second round of the Priority Industry Capability Innovation Program (PICIP).

Soldiers from 1RAR and 2RAR were exposed to the power and mobility of the new multi-role combat brigade formation in the combined arms training activity led by 3 Bde held in Townsville from May 9 to June 1.

While the previous article describes combines arms training activities within the context of the Army's multi role combat brigade formation under Plan Beersheba, the role of the land force in a maritime context, particularly in relation to Army's development of an amphibious capability and acquisition of two Landing Helicopter Docks is noticeably lacking.

In a post in ASPI's The Strategist this week, Andrew Davies suggests that business case conditions for rolling production might well exist in the case of the patrol boats.

A study has reinforced how the Department of Defence's Diggerworks initiative has improved the way Australian soldiers are equipped for combat.

SlingShot, an external applique which adds a beyond line-of-sight capability to a conventional combat net radio, is expected to complete its initial round of electromagnetic compatibility trials by the end of this month, according to the Spectra Group.