Defence has signed a $124.8 million contract for maintenance and engineering support for the Black Hawk and Seahawk fleet of helicopters with Sikorsky Helitech.

Further to our previous report the 2012 Defence Capability Plan has been released containing priority projects planned for either first or second pass approval over the four-year Forward Estimates period.

L-3 WESCAM has received an order from Austal for 10 shipborne versions of the MX-10 systems, which will be fitted to new Cape Class patrol boats.

As ADM noted in a previous issue the recently acquired ex-RN RFA HMAS Choules suffered a defect while on her way to Queensland to support Exercise Hamel causing her to return to Sydney.

C4i Pty Ltd has signed a $2.2 million Priority Industry Capability grant with the Defence Materiel Organisation.

Thales Australia has signed a contract with prime contractor Rockwell Collins Australia to deliver its optronics systems as part of a Department of Defence indirect fire support upgrade program.

Perhaps the newly established Australian Military Sales Office should take careful note of Professor White who points out that Indonesia's gross domestic product at purchasing parity rates has already overtaken Australia's.

Reports that 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.

Cassidian will supply the French Armed Forces with advanced identification systems used to prevent friendly fire.

AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems has received a $US358 million award from the US Army for engineering support and system upgrades for 45 RQ-7B Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Alenia Aermacchi and ATK have introduced a new version of the C-27J battlefield airlifter, the MC-27J, a multi-mission, armed, derivative of the C-27J Spartan.

The latest round of Defence Tenders have been released and can be downloaded as a PDF here. Also if you would prefer to read DWP as a PDF Newsletter you can download it here.

Future public versions of the Defence Capability Plan are to include only those projects approaching either first or second pass in the four year Forward Estimates period.

An Australian Military Sales Office has been established for Australian defence manufacturers seeking to export their products.

The government have confirmed the acquisition of a further 214 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles. Thales Australia is currently manufacturing Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles at its factory in Bendigo.

A new maintenance and support contract for the Collins submarines has been signed following negotiations between the Defence Materiel Organisation and ASC Pty Ltd.