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.

Thales Australia has strengthened its relationship with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, having been named the US based company's representative for ammunition products in Australia and New Zealand.

The Royal Australian Navy's recently acquired Bay-class amphibious ship HMAS Choules will be out of action until at least the end of 2012 because of the transformer defect, a Defence spokesperson confirmed to IHS Jane's this month.

Raytheon has been awarded a US$23.9 million contract to provide 24 AAS-44C Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems for the Royal Australian Navy's fleet of 24 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multirole maritime helicopters.

Australia's involvement in Pacific Partnership 2012 has drawn to a successful conclusion following the return of Australia's contingent.

The Department of Defence is seeking tenders for the conservation of a field gun and two cannons which are located at DSTO's Scottsdale facility in north-east Tasmania.

The RAAF Super Hornets of No. 1 Squadron have made their Exercise Pitch Black debut appearance.

Many commentators have expressed dismay at the recent cuts to defence spending. The fear is that the government's long-term commitment to strengthen Australia's defence has evaporated. Find the link to an ASPI Policy Analysis written by Mark Thomson here.

Lieutenant General (retired) Ken Gillespie, AC, DSC, CSM, has joined the Board of Directors of Australian Aerospace Limited.

Naval Air Systems Command last week completed its first test flight with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter dropping a bomb over water in an Atlantic test range while travelling at 400 knots at an altitude of 4,200 feet.