Operation Okra is the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the international effort to combat the ISIL terrorist threat in Iraq.

An Australian designed 60-metre Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) is generating interest from Asia-Pacific nations, after proving itself in its first three years of service with the Iraqi Navy.

Australian commercial pilot and inventor Rowan Watkins isn’t the first to envisage an aircraft with a wing that rotates like a helicopter rotor for vertical landing and take-off, and locks to become a fixed wing for faster forward flight.

Research on the Italian defence industry is an exercise in historic names, and a lesson in how a nation can support an industry capable of making just about anything the military may need.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.344 of 16 April 2015 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.343 of 9 April 2015 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

In defence terms, the Republic of Ireland is a dichotomy on many fronts. On the doorstep of the European Union, but not technically part of it, Ireland has a standing military force of around 15,000, engaged mainly on policing duties, but has declared its neutrality in both major World Wars

As a primer to the April edition of ADM which should be hitting your desk any day now, this week’s edition of Defence Week Premium has a framing piece about the strategic context that Land 400 will face from Senior Correspondent Tom Muir.

Kaman Aerospace may soon restart production of its twin-rotor KMAX “Aerial Truck” utility helicopter, as logging and utility requirements are supplemented by a new interest in fire-fighting and unmanned military cargo helicopters.

Soldier On has partnered with Northrop Grumman and a variety of service providers to launch a suite of education and employment services to help our wounded men and women as they battle with the transition to civilian life.

Melbourne based Trakkacorp will provide its Trakka A800 multi-mission searchlights for the California Highway Patrol’s new fleet of 15 Airbus AS350 Squirrel helicopters, the latest in a series of selections by US law enforcement agencies.

The Giles Government has appointed a new Strategic Defence Advisory Board to help ensure the NT is making the most of future Defence opportunities.

The First Principles Review (FPR) hit the streets on April Fools, a fact not lost on many readers I think.

A continuous build strategy for new naval ships is being considered by government but this will require a major improvement in productivity to be feasible, Defence Minister Kevin Andrews told ASPI’s future surface fleet conference in Canberra on 31 March.

The unexpected stars of last week’s national Sub Summit were undoubtedly two retired Japanese admirals, who, in the words of summit organiser Mark Ryan, provided the “missing link” in the debate over Australia’s possible acquisition of Japanese submarines.

The keyword for this century must be “digital”.