Rapid Fire 2010-06-28: Bad UAV Billing

Jun 27, 2010 20:54 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff
  • Anosognosia: What does a bank robber who smears lemon juice on his face to defeat video cameras, have to do with Donald Rumsfeld and the management of complex engineering projects?
  • Pentagon waking up to reality that having interest payments nearly the size of the defense budget just for America’s acknowledged debts might be a security problem; USAF debating cuts to existing fleets.
  • Doesn’t Add Up: AeroVironment, maker of the Raven, Wasp, and Dragon Eye UAVs, discloses that the US Department of Justice is investing its billing practices for government contracts going back to FY 2006.

  • Bagram Bribes: 2 Afghan trucking companies agree to pay $4.4 million in fines after pleading guilty to bribing US officials to get contracts at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

  • Iran’s Nukes: CIA Director Panetta says Iran has enough uranium for 2 nuclear weapons.

  • Losing Control: US, South Korea agree to extend deadline for US to relinquish wartime control of South Korean troops from 2012 to 2015.

  • Pakistan’s new F-16 Block 52 fighters, refurbished P-3C Orion sea control aircraft arrive.

  • Luxembourg chooses the RB57 NLAW shoulder-fired anti-armor missile.

  • France consolidating Rafale training, basing.

  • Britain’s new Hawk TMk2 trainers hit milestones.

  • Tajik Training: US to spend $10 million to build a military training center in Tajikistan, a Central Asian country NATO uses as an overland supply route for troops in Afghanistan.

  • Somebody’s Watching Me: Worldwide spending on military video surveillance is predicted to reach $7.7 billion this year.

    • Categories: Alliances, Asia - Central, Asia - Other, Daily Rapid Fire, Electronics - General, Industry & Trends, Issues - International, Middle East - Other, Nuclear Weapons, Other Corporation, Scandals & Investigations, Training & Exercises, UAVs, USA

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