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The article reports that the U.S. Navy would push through with the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) unmanned air vehicle project despite Australia's announcement that it would not provide the $300 million required to participate in the project. The manned Boeing 737-based P-8A Poseidon aircraft is being examined by the Royal Australian Air Force as a replacement for its AP-3C fleet. According to Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon, introducing BAMS would have caused workforce pressures on the Australian Defense Force.

The article reports on the Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) development project. The MRTT is the first Airbus A330-based tanker for Australia. Although the MRTT will differ from the U.S. KC-45, much of the work on it and its CASA-designed refueling boom will provide risk reduction to the U.S. version of the program. A Northrop Grumman/EADS North America team won the $1.5-billion U.S. tanker development contract on February 29, 2008, the same day EADS announced the passage of fuel to an F-16 receiver in flight using the new boom on an A310 testbed.

This article discusses the state of global import and export contracts for the production of airlift aircraft in the wake of reduced defense budgets for many nations. Topics include U.S. aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Lockheed Martin's attempts to preserve their production lines through additional contracts, the emergence of European competitors such as Airbus Military with its A400M and Embraer with its KC-390, and Australia's contract with Italian aircraft manufacturer Alenia Aermacchi.

The article reports that confronted by a narrowing window of opportunity, Australia is moving quickly to acquire the Boeing C-17 to meet strategic airlift needs. The choice was driven in part by the looming end to C-17 production, as well as the need for an aircraft large enough to carry Australia's new M1 Abrams main battle tank. Australia is ordering three C-17s with an option on a fourth. Britain has until mid-year to firm up ambitions for a fifth Globemaster III to add to the four aircraft it already operates. New Defense Minister Brendan Nelson says the first aircraft could be delivered later this year, with the rest of the fleet to follow by mid-2008.

The article reports that the U.S. Department of Defense signed the heavy airframe and engine maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) work for F-35 fighter jets in the Pacific region to Japan and Australia. Topics include the statement of U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan regarding the MRO&U work to be started in 2018, final assembly and checkout (FACO) facility in Nagoya, and first four jets of Tokyo to be assembled in Fort Worth, Texas.