The timing looked perfect in 2002, when Australia decided it would buy the Lockheed Martin F-35. The stealth fighter would be operational with the U.S. Air Force by 2011, before it began taking over the roles of Australia's F-111 strike bombers and F/A-18A/B Hornet fighters.

BEIJING — China’s Avic and its partners have test flown a pilotless version of the Brantly B-2B helicopter, promoting it as having military and civilian uses including surveillance, searching for disaster survivors and scientific research. Dubbed the V750, the helicopter has a gross weight of 757 kg (1,670 lb.), payload of 80 kg and a range of 500 km (310 mi.), according to Chinese companies Weifang Tianxiang Aerospace Industry, Qingdao Haili Helicopters and Avic’s trading company, Catic.

BEIJING — The fall of the U.S. dollar is helping Australia to lop A$4.3 billion ($4 billion) from its defense spending over the next four years. Capital spending, determined by the timing of acquisitions as well as the lower price resulting from changes in exchange rates, will be A$2.4 billion lower than previously planned, says Defense Minister Stephen Smith. Because some spending has only been delayed, some of the money will return to the defense department in future budgets.