Defence Alert

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.

ABOARD THE CARRIER USS BUSH, 15 May 2013. The X-47B unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) launched Tuesday from the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush off the coast of Virginia in an important test to demonstrate the viability of future carrier-based unmanned fighter-bomber aircraft.

The Australian Defence White Paper 2013 was not the only such document to be released recently: France's 2013 White Paper on Defence and National Security appeared the same week. But, as far as strategic perceptions of France in our region are concerned, there the symmetry ends.

New Zealand is preparing to increase its military presence in the South Pacific, in close collaboration with the Australian government. The moves further align the two regional imperialist powers with the US Obama administration’s “pivot” to the Asia-Pacific and its aggressive confrontation of China.

The New Zealand government announced its plans following an inaugural meeting of regional defence ministers and military chiefs in Tonga on May 2-3. The meeting covered cooperation on maritime security, disaster relief coordination and military exercises.

Before analyzing a company for investment, it's important to have a perspective on how well the business has performed. Because at the end of the day, if you are an investor, you are buying the business. The FAST Graphs™ presented with this article will focus first on the business behind the stock. The orange line on the graph plots earnings per share since 2003. A quick glance vividly reveals the historical operating record of the company.

The Queensland government has recently appointed a defence envoy to bolster defence industries in the state. In this it joins other states and the federal government in actively adopting defence industry sector strategies. But for strategies to be effective, they must be built on a clear understanding of the objectives sought. There are several different objectives that a defence industry strategy could be potentially optimised for. At the fundamental level this raises the question of what an Australian defence industry is for.

Devices built around Apple's iOS operating system have been approved by the U.S. Department of Defence for use on its networks, as the department moves to support multivendor mobile devices and operating systems.

The Defence Information Systems Agency (DISA), which certifies commercial technology for Defence use, said Friday it had approved the Apple iOS 6 Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG).

QinetiQ Group plc (LON: QQ)‘s stock had its “hold” rating reaffirmed by Liberum Capital in a research note issued on Monday, ARN reports. They currently have a GBX 180 ($2.77) price target on the stock.

A number of other firms have also recently commented on QQ. Analysts at JPMorgan Chase cut their price target on shares of QinetiQ Group plc from GBX 207.96 ($3.20) to GBX 203.01 ($3.12) in a research note to investors on Tuesday, April 2nd.

Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia (RMMVA) has been awarded a contract to supply New Zealand’s armed forces with up to 200 vehicles.

Under the contract, which is worth NZ$113 million, Rheinmetall will begin supplying the trucks this year, with all of the vehicles due to be delivered by the end of 2014.

Investigators at the Arms Commission of Inquiry, probing the controversial R70 billion arms deal, are awaiting crucial evidence from German law enforcement agencies that could shed light on bribes that several high profile ANC politicians allegedly received.

Separately, the probe will also investigate allegations that former president Thabo Mbeki received a 40 million Deutsche Mark payment into his personal bank account after confidential meetings with British arms manufacturer, BAE Systems.

Military police at Australia's detention centre in Afghanistan were pressured to make prisoners more "pliable" by gagging them, depriving them of sleep and denying them exercise.

Sources with first-hand knowledge of the detention centre at Tarin Kowt have said that senior officers from Australia's special forces, as well as the "force exploitation team" - defence intelligence - and the mentoring taskforce, pressed the detention management team to "condition" suspected insurgents before interrogation.

US President Barack Obama has summoned US military leaders to the White House to discuss the rising number of sexual assaults in the armed services.

Obama said he and Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel would have weekly meetings on the problem until it's under control.

THE 1100 workers at risk of losing their jobs if the Williamstown docks close need to look at their company, not the Federal Government, for support, Defence Materiel Minister Mike Kelly says.

BAE Systems and unions have warned that the shipyards will be shut down in 2015 unless the company gets more work.

The Defence White Paper is an uncosted fairy story. It reads well but there is no way in which Julia Gillard and her woeful Defence Minister Stephen Smith will ever see any of it through.

It’s another crutch for her government on which to limp through until September 14, when Australia goes to the polls and the burden of running Australia is lifted from shoulders quite inadequate for that task.

The twists and turns of Australian immigration policy grew even more complicated yesterday with the passage of legislation in parliament to excise the mainland of Australia from the “migration zone”.

The migration zone is any place in Australia where a person arriving without a valid visa – what is technically called “without lawful authority” – can still make a valid visa application.

US President Barack Obama is planning to boost spending in Australia and other Pacific and East Asian nations as the US refocuses on the region, and away from traditional hotspots Europe and the Middle East.

The request came as Defence Minister Stephen Smith and US ambassador Jeffrey Bleich exchanged diplomatic notes on Thursday in Canberra to formally bring the Australia-US Defence Trade Treaty into effect.

The invitations have gone out to air forces around the world and now Warbirds Over Wanaka is awaiting the replies.

Reporting to the annual meeting of the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust this week, general manager Ed Taylor said he had contacted the air forces of Australia, France, Singapore and the United States about the Easter 2014 show but had yet to hear which would attend.

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the new defence trade treaty between Australia and the US will expand the reach of, and help protect, both nations' interests across the world.

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith and US ambassador Jeffrey Bleich exchanged diplomatic notes on Thursday in Canberra to formally bring the Australia-US Defence Trade Treaty into effect.

MANAMA — As the interest in mine warfare floats to the top of navy agendas around the world, effective coordination remains one of the biggest challenges facing budget-conscious nations who now need to work together to stop the threat of mines blocking crucial waterways for trade.

On May 15, 2013, the shares of L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. ( LLL - Analyst Report ) climbed to its 52-week high of $85.29 primarily driven by strong results in the first quarter of 2013 on strong international and commercial operations. We believe that operational efficiency, few strategic acquisitions, innumerable sizeable contracts and an effective cash deployment strategy have also led the company’s share to attain this high.