SME XTEK has been propelled into the major league of local defence contractors, with the Commonwealth’s $101 million investment by far the largest in the company’s 40 year history.

If the Bremen based company is successful, ASC Shipbuilding/Forgacs will build a modified Luerssen OPV design.

The issue of sovereignty will be one of the highest profile issues, given the importance of Australia maintaining a sovereign submarine capability.

The Inquiry into the Defence Industry in NSW by the State Development Committee aims to investigate opportunities to grow the defence industry to boost economic development.

Engine testing verified the upgrade can provide a 5 to 6 per cent fuel burn improvement and a 6 to 10 per cent thrust increase across the F-35 flight envelope.

The proposed DMRT design is portable with low-power requirements and includes Boeing’s Weapons Tactics Trainer system, which incorporates sonobuoy and ocean acoustics modelling.

A new proximity fuse gives ground forces the ability to engage small, elusive targets such as Unmanned Aerial Systems.

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Boeing project director Lee Davis confirmed that the design phase had been completed, with formal testing underway and a field test for Army being planned for August this year.

The capital funding includes money for improving defence camps and bases throughout the country, including facility upgrades in Auckland, Manawatu and Canterbury.

The report touches on a number of facets connected to Defence Industry employment such as median wages, growth hotspots, desired job titles and programs to watch.

The aircraft flew between 25,000 and 35,000 feet for the duration of the mission and landed 48.2 hours later.

The worldwide migration of government, defence and commerce to digital connectivity was fuelling exponential growth in cybersecurity, highlighting a shallow talent pool.

A week earlier, Drake scooped top-prize in the Cyber & Security category of the prestigious Tel Aviv University's (TAU) Innovation Challenge.

Australia-US cooperation and collaboration in the Pacific and South East Asia will also be a key focus.

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