Drawing to a close on September 25, Exercise Northern Shield has tested the ADF’s short-notice security response arrangements.

Despite proposals to cut its defence budget by more than 6 per cent next year, the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) revealed to The Jakarta Post last week that it intended to purchase two Kilo class submarines from Russia to prop up its ageing submarine fleet.

Australian space scientists have raised nearly $80,000 through a crowdfunding website to complete a galaxy mapping project threatened by CSIRO budget cuts.

Representatives from the Joint Strike Fighter Division, the Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF), US based F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and JSF prime contractor Lockheed Martin have met in Canberra for the a JSF Site Activation Task Force (SATAF) planning session.

Thomas Global Systems has completed delivery of key components for the Integrated Ship Control Management and Monitoring System (ISCMMS) Remediation Project for the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarines

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.368 of 1 Oct 2015 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

In a surprise move, new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has appointed Senator Marise Payne as Defence Minister.

ADM's fourth Defence Estate and Base Services Summit was held in Canberra on Tuesday 22 September with a record attendance.

Japan's parliament has voted into law a defence policy shift that could let troops fight overseas for the first time since 1945.

The inaugural bilateral maritime exercise between India and Australia, AUSINDEX15, has concluded in Visakhapatnam, India.

Rheinmetall has delivered the first tranche of Australian built flatracks to the NZ Army as part of the company’s Medium and Heavy Operational Vehicle fleet contract.

The NSW division of the Australian Industry and Defence Network (AIDN) has awarded Christine Chen from Thales its Young Achiever of the Year award for 2015.

Two projects totalling $686 million have been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works.

Ceremonies were held on 23 September at the Lockheed Martin F-35 production facility celebrating the rollout of the first F-35A for the Norwegian Armed Forces.

Deakin University’s Centre for Intelligent Systems Research (CISR) will work with General Dynamics IT to help improve its advanced robotics and simulation capabilities.

In case you missed it we have a new Defence Minister in the form of Senator Marise Payne. Our Editor Katherine Ziesing welcomes her into the Defence fold.