The US Army is evaluating how it could include the other services in its next demonstration of a capability to integrate drones and manned aircraft, according to Army officials leading the effort.

Kongsberg has been awarded a new framework agreement from the US Army for production, system support and technical engineering support of the M153 CROWS Remote Weapon Stations which the company says was won in a full and open competition.

Next best thing to RWS would appear to be the Gunner Protective Kits and Shield Kits for which US-based BAE Systems has won a contract valued at US$11.4 million to provide 3,602 protective kits and 799 shield kits for the US Army's M1151 and M1114 military vehicles.

Indonesia is seeking to procure additional Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and F-16C/D fighters.

BAE Systems Australia has celebrated the opening of its new facility in Canberra. Officially opened by Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare the facility will consolidate its Canberra staff into a single building.

Former Treasury Secretary Dr Ken Henry and his team are finalising the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper, which is planned for release in a few weeks. In a Policy Analysis Peter Jennings explores some hard questions relating to this.

Many commentators have expressed dismay at the recent cuts to defence spending. In an ASPI Policy Analysis, Mark Thomson argues that Australia can get by with less.

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The US Navy and Raytheon have begun integrating the Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer variant into the USN's fleet of F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has awarded a contract to Science Applications International Corporation of McLean, Virginia to develop unmanned submarine hunters capable of operating for months on end without human intervention.

Cubic Defense Applications has received a contract from Northrop Grumman to produce a new multiband digital data link system for the MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter.

The US Army's materials science research effort has expanded to include a new US$120 million investment in basic research over 10 years that includes more than 12 university partners that want to change the way scientists look at designing advanced materials.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.218 of 16 August 2012 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

The government's decision to mothball an undisclosed number of Army's 59 M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks and at least 100 of its 350 newly upgraded M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers appears to have caught Defence on the hop.

According to Defence the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle will provide an enduring protected mobility capability for Army as operations draw down in Afghanistan.

Engineering consultancy Frazer-Nash has carried out an Operational Risk Assessment for the Capability Development Group - Maritime Development Branch on Submarine Escape, Rescue and Abandonment Systems.