Defence Minister Senator David Johnston has promised to deliver a new Defence White Paper within 18 months of the Coalition government gaining office, a move welcomed by industry. But what does the new government intend to do with industry policy?

Over 180 delegates from across Defence and industry gathered in Canberra on September 19th for the 2nd annual ADM Defence Support Services Summit.

For the first time in nine years, Simulation Australia hosted both SimTect and SimHealth as a joint event. This was most evident in the trade hall where more than half of the exhibitors were from the health domain.

The Global Supply Chain (GSC) program from the DMO has come ahead in leaps and bounds with the majority of international Primes now taking part. Since the inception of the program in 2009, the program has seen $556 million worth of business completed.

Since the Domestic Munitions Manufacturing Arrangements (DMMA) was last covered in depth in ADM in October last year, a few developments have occurred. The field of six has narrowed to four, the first RFP was answered at the end of March and remaining contenders are now hoping for a down select before the government goes into caretaker mode in August.

A record number of eight Defence Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) projects have just been approved. This is very welcome news for industry following last year’s cancellation of CTD Round 16.

As this edition of ADM came together, the government released a flurry of announcements in very short order on pretty much everything it seems. From an update to the Projects of Concern list to the possibility of more Super Hornets and a response to the second part of the Coles Review into submarine sustainment. But wait, there’s more!

Managing the Defence estate is not an easy undertaking, particularly when the landholding is arguably the largest and most complex in the country.

Since the US export reform initiative was announced by President Obama in 2009, the US has been moving quickly to ‘build a higher fence around a smaller yard’ and institute reforms that will make it easier for its allies, including Australia, to access US military technology.

Seldom do the words ‘extremely’ and ‘challenging’ find themselves partnered in an official document, but arguably the authors of the 2012 Annual Report of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) had little choice.

The annual ADM’s Workforce Participation Summit, the seventh in the series, began with some dire words from Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare. But there were positives as well!

Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce says it is seeking closer ties with the Australian Defence Force, building on experience gained in its’ UK and US markets.

For 483 Australian defence small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), one government program has been helping them to become more sustainable, innovative and globally competitive.

Often overlooked in stories about the Department of Defence, the civilian workforce plays an important part in the delivery and sustainment of military capability.

On 17 August 2012, after signing a $15.3 million support and services contract with the Australian Department of Defence, Harris opened the Harris Communications Logistic Centre (HCLC).

If you thought a credible defence force essentially involves teaching people to march, providing them with kit and, occasionally, food, you may be startled at the extent of training and education provided for the more than 8,600 strong New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).