Australian industry has more insight into expected opportunities within major Defence capability contracts, following the release of the first Australian Industry Capability Plans. In late February a further three AIC plans were released publicly.

Vipac Engineers and Scientists has announced the MIL-S-901D medium weight test capability acquired as part of the former ADI test Laboratories is available again to the defence industry.

In late 2012 the Australian Business Defence Industry Unit sourced data on contracts placed by the DMO from the Austender website with the intention of analysing the data to discern any apparent trends.

Aviation Australia and Hawker Pacific have signed an agreement to formalise their previous Memorandum of Understanding for a specialised training program in Cairns.

Five Australian innovators have been presented with the inaugural Aerospace Australia Industry Innovation Awards at Avalon2013.

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James Fisher and Sons plc has purchased Divex Limited for an initial consideration of 20 million pounds in cash plus a further maximum additional consideration of 13 million pounds linked to future profitability targets.

Rheinmetall has formally transferred its new IdZ-ES future soldier system to the German Bundeswehr.

The MDA is involved with US Navy development of high-powered lasers and may become more involved in the electromagnetic railgun project as it tries to add more sophisticated ballistic missile defence capabilities to ships with a finite amount of space on board.

The US Navy's plan to issue its largest-ever shipbuilding contract, a US$27 billion, five-year deal to buy nine Virginia-class submarines, now has a viable way forward via legislation the House adopted this week approving a new multiyear deal - and a down payment on a 10th boat.

The US Army predicts that the automatic cuts imposed by sequestration and the possibility of a yearlong continuing resolution will ultimately delay its GCV development time line, but remains confident it can deliver an affordable GCV because it can still trade away existing requirements.

Defence leaders should assign US Strategic Command the vital task of ensuring nuclear weapons are ready for use in the face of cyber-attacks, which continue to outpace the Defense Department's countermeasures, according to a new Defense Science Board report.

DCNS has recently established a partnership with Colombia, the Group contributed to carry out the refit of the four Almirante Padilla frigates for the Colombian Navy.

The EADS Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of Lutz Bertling as Chief Executive Officer of Eurocopter and Member of the EADS Group Executive Committee, effective April 30, 2013.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.244 of 14 March 2013 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

Sydney-based defence equipment design specialist Tricon Defence Pty Ltd has won the inaugural Aerospace Australia Limited Defence Industry SME Innovation Grant for 2013.