Defence Alert

QinetiQ made a pre-tax loss of £137m in the last financial year as the company struggled against reduced defence spending in the US, it has been revealed.

The military technology giant, based at Farnborough in Hampshire, posted pre-tax losses of £137m in the 12 months to 31 March 2013 – a dramatic turnaround from the £316.3m profit recorded a year earlier.

THE Australian Defence Force has launched an urgent security review in the wake of the brutal murder of a soldier in London.

The brazen attack in broad daylight on a busy street has also prompted officers to demand an examination of security at Defence Headquarters in Canberra where the public has unrestricted access to top brass and key buildings.

THE Territory is making an audacious bid to get a piece of royal action when Prince Harry visits Australia in October.

The playboy Prince - who flew Apache attack helicopters during two tours in Afghanistan - is being offered the chance to fly one of the army's Darwin-based Tiger attack choppers as a sweetener.

US President Obama has outlined plans to limit the use of US drones, saying they must be targeted against terrorists when a threat was "imminent." Responsibility for launching a drone has been transferred from the CIA to the US Department of Defence. He said:

"To say a military tactic is legal, or even effective, is not to say it is wise or moral in every instance.

The Department of Defence says a training exercise underway near Townsville in north Queensland will test a new way Army brigades are structured.

The 3rd Brigade Combined Arms Training Activity involves infantry, artillery, engineers, signals and logistics.

It is being supported by Darwin's Armoured Cavalry Regiment.

This Friday 1233 ABC Newcastle will be broadcasting live all morning from Williamtown RAAF Base.

Aaron Kearney will be having Breakfast at the Base from 5.30am, followed by Jill, Live from your Base, from 8.30.

They'll be speaking to the men and women of the Royal Australian Air Force and finding out what a working week is like at Wiliamtown.

A TASMANIAN mother has spoken of the heartbreak of watching her only son's constant struggle to breathe, seven years after he succumbed to poisonous gas during a navy exercise.

Jan MacKenzie is demanding answers and has condemned years of "lies and deceit" over the incident which has ruined the life of her son Kurt MacKenzie, now 44, who is on a liquid diet and is slowly dying from his injuries.

Military vehicle repairs are about to become easier, thanks to one Victoria company.

Clegg Industries is transforming four 20-foot shipping containers into mobile fabrication shops for ManTech International Corp., said John Clegg, Clegg Industries' vice president. These shops on wheels mean on-the-spot repairs for military vehicles such as RG-33s and M-ATVs damaged by explosives in Afghanistan, said Pat Milton, ManTech's program manager.

A man has been hacked to death and possibly beheaded in an apparent terrorist attack outside a military base in south-east London.

Eyewitnesses say two men used a car to run the victim over in broad daylight on a street about 200 metres from the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich. The men then attacked him with knives and a gun and then remained at the scene, asking passers-by to photograph and film them.

The Phantom Badger isn't a children's cartoon superhero, or something that creeps up to your house at night and messes up your garbage. No, it's the latest ground tactical vehicle from Boeing, and it looks downright awesome, in a butch golf cart sort of way.

Chief of the Defence Force General David Hurley will visit his home town of Wollongong this morning to help the Flagstaff Group recognise many of its employees with disabilities.

General Hurley grew up in Warrawong and still has family living in the city, including his sister Denise, who encouraged him to find time in his schedule to visit Flagstaff today for the important mission.

It's ironic that one of the few growth areas in the U.S. defense industry these days involves making things smaller, but this is the world we live in. While demand for military aircraft, tanks, and ships appears to be on a steady decline, small is where it's at.

I know you're dreading it, but I'll say it anyway: SWAP (you can uncover your ears now). It's that ubiquitous term you can't escape that refers to electronic systems that are small in size, weight, and power consumption. Strange that SWAP never seems to mean electronics that are large, heavy, and use a lot of power, but I digress.

"G'day, mate! You wouldn't happen to have a few sub-hunting airplanes we could throw on the barbie, now, would you?"

I doubt that's exactly how Australia phrased its recent request to the U.S. government, when it asked for a price quote on some new drones for the Royal Australian Air Force. But that's at least the upshot.

After two decades defined by the nuclear free standoff there is a new buzzword to describe relations between New Zealand and the United State - the "new normal".

New Zealand and US officials, analysts and long-term observers agreed yesterday that short of calling the relationship a formal alliance, relations were nearly back to where they were before the Anzus bust-up over New Zealand's nuclear free legislation.

Faced with the threat of sequestration and a generally muted government spending ability here at home, U.S. defense contractors might be well-advised to seek new revenue streams... Down Under.

Last week, the government of Australia published its defense budget (actually, they called it a "defence budget") for fiscal 2013-2014. In it, investors can find a number of items that suggest U.S. companies have significant revenue opportunities in Australia.

The Pentagon handed out $717.7 million worth of defense contracts on Monday, with Boeing (NYSE: BA  ) capturing 10% (two) of the 20 contracts awarded. Specifically, Boeing won:

• a $52.9 million modification of a previously awarded firm-fixed-price Navy contract to supply jumper bundles, pylons, and bomb racks for installation on F/A-18E/F fighter jets and EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft. The named parts are hardware to which ordnance is attached on a warplane. Boeing's estimated delivery date on the hardware is May 2016.

LONDON -- According to weekend newspaper reports, Sir Roger Carr -- currently chairman of Centrica -- is being lined up as the next chairman of BAE Systems . If true, it will be another good reason to hold the high-yielding shares.

The current incumbent, Dick Olver, is expected to step down this year, with more than a little push from shareholders after BAE's plan to merger with Airbus manufacturer EADS fell apart. Fund manager Neil Woodford of Invesco Perpetual, BAE's largest shareholder with 13%, campaigned for Olver to go and is said to support Sir Roger's candidature.

Australia's defence minister says the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan next year will mean a greater focus for Australia on the Asia Pacific.

Australia's defence minister says the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan next year will mean a greater focus for Australia on the Asia Pacific.

Vancouver, BC, Canada -OSI Maritime Systems is pleased to announce the provision of an advanced Command, Control and Situational Awareness system to the Royal Australian Navy Amphibious Task Group.

OSI’s Tactical Asset Control and Tracking System (T-ACT) will be equipped on two Mother Ships and 12 Landing Craft.  Designed for close C2 between the mother ships and landing craft, T-ACT will leverage information gained through the use of Warship-AIS, and support the coordination of assets in overt and covert tactical situations.

THE defence industry is a crucial component of the Hunter economy.

The region is home to a strong concentration of innovative defence manufacturers and service providers, both large and small, that have established themselves as industry leaders.

Despite this, the capacity to further develop the sector remains unrealised and the time is right for a commitment to build and promote the Hunter as a centre of excellence for defence.