Two Australian bases in the north-west could be used for US Airforce deployments as the two nations hone their focus on China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Plans for a state-of-the-art US military space defence system in Exmouth have been shelved, with no funds forthcoming to expand the surveillance base's capability.
A deal between Adelaide-based Silentium Defence and Curtin University astronomers to develop technology tracking space junk is an example of WA's growing capability in matters extraterrestrial.
The man who famously led the sea rescue of yachtsmen Tony Bullimore and Thierry Dubois 20 years ago has been employed by the state government to fight to get more defence contract work for the state.
Negotiations between IT firm ASG Group and US defence giant Lockheed Martin have stopped following that latter's refusal to increase its initial proposal.
PERTH company Skunkworks has been celebrating this week after successfully beating legal action from one of the world's biggest military contractors, Lockheed Martin.