Interesting humpy - in some areas of defense the local product gets an inside running ie clothing webbing etc despite continual complaints and RODUM's but in other areas the local product is locked out - I understand your point about " missing the boat" however using the same logic the Owen gun would never have appeared as there was an "existing product" in place - no b---dy good but there!
My point is this - all those US contracts were to explore the potential of the system - none have so far led to a contract for volume but they allowed the coy to develop and mature the system to the point where they are now one of two in the Marine evaluation for the MAUL "capability area". Whereas the AUST DOD seems to have gone the other way by demanding "substantial overseas commitment' in May 2007 before even providing development grants on similar lines. Which may well have been the critical time for the contract area you are highlighting.
Further when a markedly superior product comes to market with obvious and public overseas interest how long before Aust DOD does something other than take a flight to Brisbane for a demo to support the product?
Makes you wonder at times - especially when there seems to be a demand from the pointy end for some capability to lay down some close indirect fire in volume early in a fire fight, unless I got the argument about the lack of air support by one of our allies wrong.
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