Duncan, the sixth and final Type-45 destroyer built by BAE Systems, has set sail from the company's Scotstoun shipyard to embark on her first stage of sea trials off the west coast of Scotland.

Thales Raytheon Systems has been awarded a US$44.9 million contract by the US Army to upgrade the Receiver Exciter in the Improved AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder radar.

Navistar Defense, one of the losing contenders for a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle contract, has filed a bid protest with the Government Accountability Office, Inside the Army has learned.

The Ministry of Defence and Thales UK have signed a new research contract for technology that will improve the resilience of future UK aircraft to anti-air threats.

The USN is completing a reduction-of-total-ownership cost study to scale back the operational support cost for Virginia-class submarines.

The US Missile Defense Agency awarded Raytheon a US$230 million contract for 14 Standard Missile-3 Block IA missiles and five SM-3 Block IB missiles.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.220 of 30 August 2012 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

Lockheed Martin and the Ground Telecommunications Equipment System Program Office have signed an agreement to novate the TPS-77 TADRS sustainment contract from the US to its Lockheed Martin Australia business.

The US Defense Department plans to sign a $1.2 billion deal with Australia to jointly develop new capabilities for P-8A Poseidon aircraft in response to evolving threats.

New technology is not anticipated under the project arrangement; instead, the focus is on adapting and incorporating technology developed in other programs.

Last week's announcement that the Australian Government had decided to acquire the Growler electronic warfare system for the Super Hornet, at a cost of around $1.5 billion, has attracted considerable comment in the blogosphere and in more formal statements.

With the announcement that the Government would purchase 10 Alenia C-27J Spartan Battlefield Airlift aircraft, the Shadow Minister for Defence wrote to the Auditor-General requesting the ANAO conduct an audit of the selection process for this acquisition.

Increased transparency and accountability on progress with major Defence equipment acquisitions has been a focus of parliamentary interest for some time.

In late July ADM reported that Raytheon had received an $81 million US Army contract to develop and produce a new version of the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System, which would focus on improving and simplifying the user interface while enhancing speed and capabilities.

The Finnish army is set to equip its fleet of RG-32M armoured patrol vehicles with new weapon mounts. Under a US$1.7 million contract, Australian company W&E Platt will supply 39 of its MR550 bi-metal ring mounts.

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