For Australia, surveillance in the land domain ranges from satellite-based intelligence and a UAV circling high above a valley in Afghanistan, to the binoculars of a NORFORCE patrol slogging through the scrub in a remote area of the Northern Territory.

Following successful firings of the Javelin tank missile integrated with the Kongsberg CROWS II remote weapon system on US Army Stryker LAVs, the Javelin Joint Venture recently demonstrated the capability to launch Javelin missiles from a Kongsberg RWS equipped Piranha V vehicle in winter conditions at a test range in Norway.

The logistical side of the New Zealand Army is going through a raft of changes at the moment. Speaking to the new Logistics Commander (Land) Colonel Mike Shapland, ADM explores the issues facing the organisation.

With tactical communications equipment worth millions of dollars flowing in from contracts awarded over the past two years, the ADF’s aspirations for fully networked, deployable battlegroups, are approaching realisation.

With the selection of Hawkei as the preferred solution for the Manufactured and Supported in Australia (MSA) option of Land 121 Phase 4, Thales is focusing on the development of a production-ready vehicle for the Australian requirement, with export planning in the marketing phase.

Army has been working hard over the last decade in Afghanistan, East Timor, Iraq and the Solomon Islands just to name a few. But what will the organisation have to do to prepare for the coming decade of theatres?

British military vehicle company Supacat has announced plans to set up a new subsidiary in Australia to pursue further sales to the ADF under Project Redfin and emergent opportunities in the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney, and Commander 2nd Division, Major General Craig Williams AM, have announced major reforms for Army Reserve under Plan Beersheba at Simpson Barracks in Watsonia, Melbourne.

As always, the pre-Christmas flurry of project approvals has not failed to disappoint. From Chinooks to vehicles, the government has taken the chance to clear the decks before beginning 2012.

The next stage of Project Land 125 Ph.3C has got under way with approval for an $8 million investment in an upgraded Austeyr rifle design.

A program to upgrade Bushmaster vehicles with better protection against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) has been completed.

Thanks to a discovery while researching synthetic aperture radar, detecting improvised explosive devices will now be easier according to a group of US Navy scientists.

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare has announced upgrades worth a million dollars to combat helmets worn by soldiers in Afghanistan which includes new padding and harnesses.

A third Australian Police Force has requested an opportunity to trial the Metal Storm MAUL 12-gauge weapon system following an announcement that two other Forces had committed to trial the new weapon.

Reports indicate that Defence is seeking urgent requirement approval for the purchase of mine detecting vehicles under JP 154 Phase 3 for use in Afghanistan to counter roadside IEDs.

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare last week announced that four Bushmaster ambulances have been delivered to the Air Force Health Services Wing at RAAF Base Amberley.