APDR News in Brief 20 May 2026

PWR recognised by Northrop Grumman: PWR has been recognised by Northrop Grumman Corporation as a top supplier at this year’s Supplier Excellence Awards. Northrop Grumman acknowledged PWR for Supplier Strategic Excellence, underscoring the vital role suppliers play in delivering next-generation capabilities in weapons, aircraft, missile defence and space systems. Collectively, Northrop Grumman’s suppliers support more than 100,000 jobs with an annual economic impact of more than $27.8 billion nationally. “Northrop Grumman has a legacy of fostering strong partnerships, a network of hard-working innovators and collaborators striving towards a mutual goal of protecting the United States and its allies,” said Ken Brown, vice president and chief supply chain officer, Northrop Grumman. “From putting the first humans on the moon to introducing stealth technology that revolutionized defence, Northrop Grumman and our partners have continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible. PWR’s recognition in this year’s Supplier Excellence Awards is a testament to their performance, innovation and commitment to excellence and its direct contribution to the capability we deliver to our customer.” AWM discovers last known images of Centaur crew: The Australian War Memorial has uncovered a significant historical discovery of negatives linked to the sinking of the hospital ship AHS Centaur, identifying what are believed to be among the last known photographs of several Australian crew members before the tragedy. The discovery, made while re-locating archival collection into the new CEW Bean Building, comes as Australia marks the anniversary of the sinking of AHS Centaur on 14 May 1943, one of the nation’s most devastating wartime maritime disasters of the Second World War. Australian War Memorial Collection Manager, Lauren Hewitt, said: “These kinds of discoveries are a curator’s dream. This transforms a loosely contextualised portrait into a precise historical record of a moment immediately preceding tragedy.” The re-discovered original photographic negatives have allowed expert identification of members of an Australian medical crew believed to have been photographed shortly before transferring to Centaur, which was torpedoed off the Queensland coast by a Japanese submarine. “The sinking of the Centaur on 14 May 1943 remains one of Australia’s most significant tragedies of the Second World War,” Australian War Memorial Director, Matt Anderson, said. “The discovery of this original photograph and negatives will help us tell this story of the 268 lives lost that day. This group portrait conveys the scale, shared experience and collective loss of innocent life,” he said. The first version of this photograph held by the AWM was a copy print supplied by Frederick Bessill Chidgey, himself a survivor of the Centaur sinking. Chidgey appears in the image and had identified most of the individuals pictured. “This is likely the last photo taken of the crew before they transferred to AHS Centaur from the Netherlands hospital ship Oranje,” Ms Hewitt said. The image is thought to be among the last known photographs of several crew members before the tragedy. “Another important find was a separate negative bearing a handwritten inscription with details of when it was taken,” Ms Hewitt said. Israel MOD signs deal with Elbit Systems for F-35 “Adir” work: The Defense Procurement Directorate (DPD) of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has signed a contract with Cyclone, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems, for the development of an extended-range capability for the F-35 “Adir” fighter jet, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The deal, valued at over $34 million (over NIS 100 million), covers the development and integration of external fuel tanks based on an existing Cyclone design originally developed for the F-16. The new capability is expected to extend the aircraft’s operational range, reduce reliance on aerial refuelling, and enhance operational flexibility across long-range missions. This contract is part of the IMOD’s broader force buildup strategy, led by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, to strengthen Israel’s readiness for an intense security decade ahead and maintain the country’s aerial and strategic superiority in the region. QinetiQ Australia appoints new advisory board member: QinetiQ Australia announced the appointment of Stephen Loosley to its Advisory Board. A lawyer and former Senator for New South Wales, Loosley served as Chair of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, where he developed a deep expertise in Australia’s global posture and partnerships. He has since continued to contribute to Australia’s defence and security sector through a range of academic and advisory roles, as Chair of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and as a Visiting Fellow of the United States Study Centre. Loosley said: “QinetiQ is playing a critical and growing role in strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities at a pivotal time for the region. I look forward to contributing to the company’s strategic direction and supporting its work in delivering certainty through high-quality capabilities to the Australian Defence Force.” Corry Neale, Chief Executive, QinetiQ Australia, said: “Stephen’s distinguished career in public service and his longstanding contribution to Australia’s national security conversation make him a valuable and welcome addition to our Advisory Board. As we invest in sovereign capability, advanced technology and highly skilled Australian jobs, Stephen’s counsel will help ensure we remain aligned with the nation’s strategic priorities and deliver enduring value to our customers and partners.” Kiwi-tech firm recognised for pioneering multiplayer defence training capability: New Zealand based defence technology company, Company-X, is continuing to expand its immersive training and simulation capability following last year’s agreement with global defence company Babcock International. The company’s latest work, recognised at the 2026 Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence to Industry, includes the development of multiplayer virtual reality training technology that supports Royal New Zealand Navy diver rescue training. The training is a first for the NZ Defence Force (NZDF). Company-X team member, Lance Bauerfeind, received the Auahatanga – Innovation Award for leading the development of an immersive training system that allows Navy divers to practise complex rescue scenarios in a virtual underwater environment, augmenting traditional pool and open water training with portable VR simulation. Lieutenant Commander Nick Davey, Programme Manager Maritime Simulation, said, “Navy Divers experience some of the biggest risks within the NZDF and it’s our job to reduce those risks as low as reasonably possible.” In a first for the Royal New Zealand Navy, this multiplayer simulation capability allows instructors to enter training scenarios alongside trainees in real time, helping monitor performance, correct poor habits immediately and improve preparedness in a controlled environment. “This is the first time that we’ve used virtual reality in a multiplayer environment”, said Davey. “Having an instructor/trainer alongside you in simulation to immediately course correct your mistakes rather than wait until after the training session is a gamechanger. It’s another step toward managing safety,” Bauerfeind said. KTEK Aerosystems goes public: KTEK Aerosystems has commenced trading on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), marking the Company’s transition from a high-growth private business to a publicly listed defence technology company with the capital and platform to accelerate its next phase of growth. KTEK is a Tier-2 supplier of composite airframes and electromechanical assemblies for military UAVs, operating an asset-light “Cordless Factory” model that enables rapid production scaling without the capital intensity of a traditional defence manufacturer. The Company supplies full-turnkey sub-assemblies – integrating mechanical, electrical and firmware components into ship-ready systems – directly into the production programs of some of the world’s leading Tier-1 defence contractors, in a market forecast to grow at approximately 17% CAGR through 2030. The IPO, managed by CPS Capital Group’s Nathan Barbarich, raised $10 million at A$0.20 per share – meeting its full subscription target in under 24 hours and ultimately attracting more than $30 million in investor bids. Institutional investors are expected to hold approximately 50% of KTEK’s free float, with the register anchored by Regal Funds Management, Thorney Investment Group, VP Capital, Cyan Investment Management, Scopus Ventures and TGI Holdings. Board and Management will retain approximately 44% of the Company, ensuring strong alignment between the founding team and shareholders as KTEK executes its growth strategy. KTEK is led by Founder and Managing Director Dekel Keisar, a former IDF officer and Mechanical Engineer (B.Sc., Tel Aviv University) with hands-on experience across more than 20 military UAV platforms, and previously Head of UAV Structural Engineering at Israeli Aerospace Industries – one of the world’s leading defence and aerospace companies. 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