The Commanding Officer of the Multi National Base Command at Tarin Kowt in Afghanistan is urging women in the Australian Defence Forces to celebrate their achievements by entering the 2013 Telstra Business Women's Awards.

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Further to the above articles on space, US Defense officials have embarked on a systematic review of threats to US military spacecraft while at the same time investing in capabilities to "deny" adversaries the use space, according to Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.

Defence Week readers will recall our previous reports on criticism of the US Army's proposed Ground Combat Vehicle Project when first the Congressional Budget Office reported that buying off-the-shelf vehicles from foreign allies, upgrading Bradley infantry carriers and killing the GCV altogether was less risky and more affordable than the Army's current path.

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, has delivered the first NH90 TTH in FOC (Final Operational Capability) configuration to the Italian Army.

ViaSat has named Ken Peterman as general manager of its Government Systems segment.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.251 of 2 May 2013 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

While the timing may seem strange - an award for contributions to a tear down manual for an aircraft long gone from RAAF service - it appears that the work performed by DSTO engineers John Boyce and Kevin Watters will help all TTCP member countries justify, plan, cost and undertake aircraft structural teardown programs in future.

Selex ES has partnered with BAE Systems in a bid to replace radar surveillance sensors for Australia's Defence Air Traffic Control.

A prototype bomb disposal system providing operators with a realistic 'grasp and feel' of remote objects could become an important force protection capability for Australian troops during operations.

Despite the RFT for the Collins communications upgrade project under Sea 1439 being flagged as 'imminent' contenders for this important project have now been informed that the project has been further delayed.

The first shipset of parts from BAE Systems advanced manufacturing facility at Edinburgh Parks was delivered to Marand's F-35 vertical tail fin assembly line in Victoria today.

The Australian guided missile frigate HMAS Sydney has successfully completed a replenishment at sea with the Spanish tanker ESPS Cantabria off the coast of Cairns, while on passage to Japan, where the Australian warship will embed with the US Navy's 7th Fleet.

Dr Mike Kelly, Minister for Defence Materiel, Michelle Rowland, Greenway MP and Ed Husic, Federal Member for Chifley have recently visited the Seven Hills RPC factory.

Upgrading access to Holsworthy Barracks as part of the $870 million Moorebank Units Relocation (MUR) Project has begun.

While the 'strategic mafia' wring their hands over the decline in defence capability and a force structure perennially unsuited to the unknown, we were struck by an article in a recent issue of the Australian Army Journal describing how the German Army was transformed from its impoverished state at the end of World War 1 to its brilliance in World War 2.