Staff reporter

Acting Flight Lieutenant Tom Carmody, who served in both world wars, was deemed eligible for both the Australian Service Medal 1939–1945 and War Medal 1939–1945 after it was confirmed that he had served in the RAAF and not the Air Training Corps (ATC) during World War II.

The company will now continue its Australian search-and-rescue operations until the end of 2030 across both land and maritime domains using its specialised fleet of Bombardier Challenger aircraft.

The team, which earlier this year clinched a fifth straight championship at the Military International Drone Racing Tournament in the UK, won the award for its “exceptional contributions to Defence”, as well as its broader mission.

Three people, including the pilot, were killed when the Cessna 208 Caravan, VH-WTY, hit the water during an attempted take-off from Thomson Bay on 7 January. According to the ATSB, survivability, the Cessna’s crashworthiness, and procedures and risk controls are all under the microscope.

Awarded as an undefinitised contract action, the deal covers a suite of essential sustainment activities for US and international operators. This includes depot-level maintenance and repair, replenishment of spare parts, material management, engineering and technical support, propulsion system integration and ongoing software sustainment.

Delivered by Space Connect with support of principal partner Space Centre Australia, the agenda is designed to interrogate the major policy decisions, capability challenges and commercial opportunities emerging across the sector.