After a very long gestation period, the ADF’s Pilot Training System, Project AIR 5428, finally gained momentum in the early part of 2012 with the release of a draft RFT to industry.

More than a decade after Australia ordered 22 Eurocopter Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters (ARH), the model has yet to be declared fully capable of operations, although that’s likely soon.

While many of the HATS contenders broke cover at the Avalon Air show last year in the expectation of an imminent RFT, KBR, Elbit Systems and Qantas Defence Services (QDS) spoke to ADM in late December 2011 about the details of their partnership.

With a draft Request for Tender submitted to industry last September and the final RFT was released as ADM went to press, the ADF’s Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) requirement is finally making significant progress.

Underway and anticipated enhancements to the Jindalee Over The Horizon Radar Network (JORN), one of Defence’s quiet achievers, will improve performance while new multi-year contracts negotiated with Lockheed Martin Australia and BAE Systems Australia as part of the Strategic Reform Program (SRP) are set to cut system operating costs by $100 million over the next decade.

2011 was a pivotal year for the RAAF which is deep into a renewal and re-equipment program that will see it transformed by the end of this decade. New capabilities are maturing, with others yet to enter service.

Quickstep Holdings Limited has received an Export Finance Guarantee from the Federal Government’s export credit agency, to underpin its involvement in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

The last of the RAAF’s 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets arrived at RAAF Base Amberley in October, ahead of schedule.

Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, and Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, have announced the next step in the program to replace the DHC4 Caribou transport aircraft under Project Air 8000 Ph.2.

Australia’s MRH90 helicopter program has received a boost with an agreement between the Commonwealth and manufacturer, Australian Aerospace, on a collaborative approach to continue delivery of the helicopter.

Raytheon has completed testing and development of a new wireless method of integrating its combat-proven Enhanced Paveway precision-guided bomb on aircraft.

Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, released last week the Request for Offer for six of Australia's Iroquois helicopters reserved for sale to historical organisations.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia for one C-17 GLOBEMASTER III aircraft.

The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators presented its Grand Master's Australian Medal to the Air Mobility Control Centre for coordinating the ADF's air lift responses to a series of natural disasters in early 2011.

Raytheon has completed a fit check of the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) in the internal carriage bay of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft.

Three ex-33SQN Boeing 707-338Cs retired by Air Force in 2007 and 2008 have departed RAAF Base Richmond with their new owners, Omega, for the US.