Pilotless
aircraft
Australia
is set to get a squadron of pilotless aircraft of the Global Hawk
type, to watch our waters, support maritime and land operations
and even detect and monitor bushfires.
The project, to cost between $750 million and $1 billion, is part
of the Defence Capability Plan (DCP) 2004-2014.
Defence Minister, Senator Robert Hill, said that two Global Hawks
could do the work of five Orions.
The public version of the DCP was released by Senator Robert Hill
on February 4.
Excellent
rating
The
Navy’s Sexual Offence Support Network in HMAS Cerberus has
been highlighted in the Defence Workplace Equity and Diversity
Annual Report for 2002-2003. Navy was one of only two Defence
Groups to achieve an excellent rating (the highest rating possible)
which was an improvement over the previous year’s very good.
The report noted that Navy has a mature system for managing incidents
of unacceptable behaviour.
New DMO head
The
Defence Minister, Senator Robert Hill has announced the appointment
of Dr Stephen Gumley as the new chief executive of the Defence
Materiel Organisation.
The Minister has also announced that he has retained John Wylie
of Carnegie Wylie and Co. to provide commercial advice on a range
of issues including implementing the naval ship building program
contained in the Defence Capability Review, the sale of the Australian
Submarine Corporation and other matters.
Get in touch
Anyone
who served with Ian Hitchings on HMAS Ovens during the 1970s has
been asked to get in touch with his sister, Hazel Hancock. Mr
Hitchings currently lives in Brisbane and has been diagnosed with
terminal cancer.
He has just finished chemotherapy and radiation, but the treatment
was unsuccessful. People can contact him by email on vernhazel@adam.com.au
