The Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne, has announced the signing of new Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program Agreements with Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Minister Pyne said Northrop Grumman joined the program in 2011 and BAE Systems in 2012. Both prime companies have since expanded their model to drive an increase in the number of defence and commercial opportunities provided to Australian Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs).