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Australia and U.S. are planning to sign an International Trade in Arms Regulations treaty for building good relationship between them in defense trade.

Executives would be paid according to their performance with corporate boards setting CEO pay through a complex formula that considers short and long-term performance, company goals and shareholder expectations. The process does not create uniform CEO salaries in the industry, as each company would adopt different approaches towards CEO pay that would depend on the state the company is in, its goals, and how they are achieved.

European Commission, the European Union's (EU) executive branch, would unveil a 12-page document that lays out a framework for discussing approaches to many aspects of defense contracting. An effort by Europe's six leading defense industrial nations to develop common rules governing technology transfers, arms exports and security guarantees to encourage cross-border defense teaming and bidding would be pursued by the EU.

Additional funds for war related acquisitions are sanctioned despite differences of opinion between Democrats and Republicans over continuing involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The author examines the use of security systems in the private sector. Topics include avoiding right of privacy violations, use of security systems and cameras, and access control systems.

The author examines U.S. President Bush's request of Congress to allow him to sell weapons and defense equipment to Iraq. Topics include export laws, military aid laws, and necessary consent of Congress.

Analysts and intelligence officials are saying that U.S. intelligence agencies must improve their ability to store and share the data they collect. Technology must be upgraded and cultural change must take place leading to a different way of doing business.

The new 10-year defense policy of Japan calls for more submarines and fighter jets to be procured, while at the same time reducing the number of tanks. The same is being looked at as a response of perceived threats from China, North Korea and Russia.

The new proposed draft regulations released by the U.S. White House could greatly help U.S. weapon makers and defense companies by easing export license requirements for many weapons and parts. However, the proposals still need to be passed by the U.S. Congress, which is a tough job.

Extra funding has been approved by the South Korean National Assembly for acquiring weapons in 2011 to defend four of its islands in the western waters of the peninsula. Approval has been given following an attack by North Korea on South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island, near the de facto sea border between the two countries earlier in 2010.

Brett Lambert, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) industrial policy chief has said that the Pentagon is thinking about the kind of deals they want to see with defense contractors planning a new wave of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The importance of the DoD sharing its vision of the future industrial landscape with defense companies is crucial.

The article discusses the methodology and the process employed in the passing and approval of the Defense Appropriations Act and the Defense Authorization Act bills by the U.S. senate. A complete analysis of the recent bills passed by the country's government is presented.

The article discusses the new acquisitions plans and policies that are being implemented by the Minister of Defense of Italy. The new reforms are shown to be extremely beneficial for facilitating and enhancing the procurement process of the country.

The author discusses the new guidelines that have been issued by the Ministry of Defense of Israel for facilitating defense exports. The guidelines are shown to be extremely beneficial but yet are being criticized because of the stricter rules and policies.

The new acquisition guidelines of the Pentagon are aimed at improving Pentagon program management, while at the same time, providing incentives for defense companies to lower new platform costs. However, the defense industry is worried that such changes will bring about a big reduction in the profit margins of companies.

The U.S. House has passed the Implementing Management for Performance and Related Reforms to Obtain Value in Every (IMPROVE) Acquisition Act. The main purpose of the Act is to curtail and force the military to be more cost effective when procuring goods and services.

The Obama administration is planning to reverse the age-old followed policy of outsourcing of government work, and is planning to insource the same. The U.S. industry along with several key organizations will be offering advice on the guidance to be issued by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP).

Defense officials have said that South Korea plans to strip some of the powers of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) following arms-procurement scandals. The Ministry of National Defense (MND) is being looked upon to take charge; however, exact changes are still being debated.

The article discusses the contentious issue facing U.S. defense contractors, which is an anticipated rule on organizational conflicts of interest drawn up by order of the acquisition reform law enacted in 2009. The main drawback of the order is that it will prohibit companies from selling hardware and doing systems and engineering work on the same program.

The main issue in the 2010 European Union's (EU's) defense cooperation appears to be the speeding of the flow of spare parts across national boundaries. Each international export order currently requires an export license; however, plans are on to create licenses for multiple orders to help save red tape and time.

The Pentagon's director of industrial policy Brett Lambert stated November 2009 that the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) would protect the industrial base that supplies the Defense Department. Lambert asserted the QDR would focus specifically on companies below the prime contracting level.

The U.S. President Barack Obama has managed to achieve partial victory as the 2010 Defense Authorization bill putting an end to wasteful defense programs has been approved. The major casualties include the F-22 stealth fighter, the presidential helicopter, the Future Combat Systems (FCS), the Airborne Laser and the combat search-and-rescue helicopter.

The defense cooperation between Turkey and Israel appears to be declining mainly due to the growing Israel-Turkey rift, which led to the cancellation of the Israeli participation in a multinational exercise. Israel is planning to hold back export licenses for the sale of defense items as well as downgrade the preferred nation status given to Turkey.

All efforts are on to help put an end to the ban on female crew members serving aboard U.S. submarines. The Navy is all for making the integration happen; however, some issues still need to be worked through in order to achieve the best for the Navy.

The Conservative Party, on winning the upcoming elections in the United Kingdom in May 2010, is planning to boost defense exports as part of their defense strategy. The main purpose is to strengthen strategic alliances and also to develop simpler weapons for use in Afghanistan.

David Ahern and Zachary Lemnios, Pentagon's directors of portfolio systems acquisition and defense research and engineering, are working on the new acquisition guidance. However, industry officials are worried about possible extra costs that they may have to incur as a result of the new guidance.

Two of the U.S. arms export treaties that were earlier stalled for more than a year, are now once again being resumed. However, it is still unclear as to whether the treaties will actually manage to get ratified by the U.S. Senate.

The article discusses the key aspects to be covered under the upcoming 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). U.S. President Barack Obama is planning to bring about great reforms in the defense acquisition process and is depending on the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates to bring this about.

Pentagon is looking for ways to be able to sell large amounts of weapons and vehicles to Iraq without having to extend the 'dependable undertaking status' given to Iraq. The main reason for delay is that foreign governments that wish to make purchases under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) are required to show that they will follow through with payments.

The US President Barack Obama signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which is expected to reform the Pentagon's weapons-buying system. One of the main aims of this act is to put a stop to cost overruns and strengthen oversight and accountability by appointing officials to closely monitor the weapons being procured.

The U.S. President Barack Obama has issued a memo on March 4, 2009 regarding contracting reforms, which are expected to help save the government over $40 billion a year. The reforms are expected to impact the services sector, with contingency support and outsourcing getting affected the most.

The Pentagon has reported that the existing deadlock in negotiations between U.S. and Indian officials relevant to acquisition of American-made military equipment appears to have been resolved. Officials of the two sides met at the Aero India air show 2009 and discussed details of the End Use Monitoring (EUM) strictures.

China is establishing a strong position in Africa by sponsoring building programs for better infrastructure and schools, deploying United Nations peacekeeping forces and offering military training and cheap arms. China is in turn interested in the rich zinc and aluminum resources of Zimbabwe and in making arms sales to African nations.

The 2011-2015 Five Year Plan of China for defense procurement and modernization is bound to be affected by the global economic turmoil, leading to a delay or slowdown. China will try to stretch its procurement program and use military construction programs as part of an economic stimulus package.

The administration of the U.S. President Barack Obama is drafting a defense budget for 2010 which appears to be in line with that of his predecessor President George W. Bush. Defense spending will continue to be at its highest and provide more money to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Officials observe that India's interest in American defense goods appear to be dampened by America's restrictions on resale and other conditions. This could adversely impact India's purchase of Lockheed Martin's C-130s and Boeing's P-8I maritime reconnaissance planes.

The 'buy American' legislation proposed by the U.S. Senate, which requires the use of U.S.-made iron, steel and manufactured goods in government projects funded through the stimulus package has sparked a lot of controversy. Concerns are raised that the legislation could result in foreign retaliation and trade conflicts that would delay global economic recovery.

The 2010 defense budget written by the incoming Obama administration is unlikely to see major cuts in spending. Obama's preoccupation with domestic issues like economy and health care and the Iraq and Afghanistan war issues will make him less inclined to tackle defense spending in his initial days in office.

The nuclear isolation of India ended in September 2008 when it was granted permission by the Nuclear Suppliers Group to carry out nuclear trade for civil purposes. This paved the way for the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear cooperation agreement in October 2008, which is expected to strengthen their defense ties.

Israeli officials are concentrating on effectively enforcing the arms-export control law by fine-tuning regulatory control over exterritorial deals carried out by arms brokers and dealers. Export-control procedures are also being modified to minimize inconvenience to registered exporters.

Recent military activities in the Black Sea region have got Turkey worried over a threat to its dominant position controlling the passage of naval vessels in the Black Sea. Turkish officials have informed all of their decision to avoid any military and political conflicts in the Black Sea.

New bills introduced in the House and Senate impose a three-year ban on outsourcing of Defense Department civilian jobs as well as specifically outline jobs that can be outsourced.

Voters in Malaysia have voiced their anger over corruption that may exist in the procurement of military equipment. This has prompted the Malaysian government and the Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) to set up new anti-corruption policies that ensure transparency.

The officials of the department of defense (DoD) and Intel agencies are working out strategies for joint acquisitions. The joint acquisitions would clear inconsistencies existing in the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act.

The article discusses the existing confrontation between the Democrats and the Republicans over the passing of most of the U.S. bills including military funding.

The article discusses the election of Nicholas Sarkozy as the French President that has altered military and political patterns. Sarkozy is not much into supporting increased defense modernization efforts.

The unsatisfactory performance of lead systems integrators (LSIs) has prompted lawmakers to ban the use of LSIs in programs launched after October 1, 2010.

The advantages and disadvantages of a new policy proposed by DoD acquisition chief John Young is discussed. Young proposed policy relevant to funding of at least two prototypes before military acquisition, though it is still being debated.

The U.K.'s Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) has been delayed due to huge expected budgetary cuts in funding for military equipment programs.

Lawmakers are threatening the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization's funding if they do not show progress in IED technologies. This is because deaths by IED attacks are hitting an all time high.