The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has cancelled a tender for 3,000 upgraded Steyr 5.56mm assault rifles, according to well-informed sources.

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced Wednesday 12th December that the Government has received the Future Submarine Industry Skills Plan.

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare have updated the Projects of Concern list with the removal of the Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Wedgetail Aircraft Project and the Lightweight Torpedo Project and the addition of the Mulwala Redevelopment and the Direct Fire Support Weapon Projects to the list.

Minister Smith and Minister Clare have also announced the signing of a contract with CEA for the In Service Support (ISS) of the Phased Array Radar currently being installed on the Royal Australian Navy's eight ANZAC Class Frigates.

NIOA has been appointed by ATK as their exclusive distributor in Australia and New Zealand for a broad range of products and services from the ATK Defence business group.

ITT Exelis has reached an agreement to bolster its air traffic management (ATM) and communications infrastructure capabilities in Australia with the acquisition of C4i Pty. Ltd, pending approvals.

Rohde & Schwarz has introduced the R&S SDTR, the first in a new generation of software defined radios, together with a family of network capable waveforms.

For those with an eye to the future (we're talking 2030 and beyond) there is a great deal of interest to be found in the paper* Brigadier Justin Kelly (rtd) presented at LWC2012.

Chief Defence Scientist Alex Zelinsky says a research program is focusing on developing electrochromic materials that change colour when different voltages are applied.

The first Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), was officially delivered by Austal to the United States Navy on 5 December

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith, Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare and the South Australian Minister for Defence Industry Jack Snelling have announced that the Defence and Industry Conference will be held in Adelaide in 2014.

Jessica White from high technology engineering solutions specialist MEMKO, along with finalists Paul Trigg, formerly with LMATS, and Lachlan Teague, Thales Australia, were recognised for their outstanding individual contributions to Defence and Industry as young ambassadors at the Australian Industry & Defence Network (Victoria) (AIDN-Vic) Special Awards dinner on Tuesday 11th December 2012.

Defence Minister Stephen Smith has announced the appointment of former Australian Foreign Minister, the Honourable Alexander Downer, to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) Council for a three year term.

Two new East Coast Tugs have arrived in Australia to replace MSA Bandicoot and Wallaro. The new tugs will be named Elwing and Waree following a tradition that they are named after tugs that previously served in the Royal Australian Navy.

Balikpapan Class Landing Craft Heavy (LCH), HMAS Wewak, has been decommissioned after almost 40 years of service.

The last two Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs) serving in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) completed their tour of duty with a range shoot at the Multi National Base - Tarin Kot heavy weapons range in November.