Rapid Fire: 2010-08-17
Aug 16, 2010 22:50 EDTRelated Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Asia - China, Asia - Other, Bases & Infrastructure, Chemicals & HAZMAT, Contracts - Awards, DARPA, Daily Rapid Fire, Fighters & Attack, GE, Issues - Environmental, Issues - International, Leadership & People, Missiles - Ballistic, Other Weapons, Russia, Support & Maintenance, Surface Ships - Combat, Training & Exercises, WMD Detection
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- South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak lays out a 3-step process for reunification of the peninsula. It is not a return to his predecessor’s anti-American “sunshine policy,” and includes a reunification tax to begin preparing for the massive costs of either peaceful reunification, or regime collapse.
- China set to test DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile. USA finishes first test of the supersonic GQM-163 Coyote High Diver, which may help simulate those attacks for defensive systems.
- Exit, Stage Left: US Defense Secretary Gates plans to retire next year before the presidential election season heats up, after serving in the position since 2006.
- Canada’s frigate replacement program slammed as late and over budget – and it hasn’t even started yet.
- Lots of Green: DoD spent $29.8 billion on environmental cleanup from 1986 to 2008, but still hasn’t cleaned up Fort Meade, MD, and 2 other US military bases, according to a GAO study due out this week.
- Checking under the Hood: SAIC gets a DLA contract worth up to $241 million to provide logistics support for US military vehicle maintenance depots, including the Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, AL, and the Red River Army Depot in Texarkana, TX.
- Russian completes the MiG-31BM modernization program to enhance its interceptor fleet.
- Private Security, No Thanks: Afghan President Karzai said his government will disband private security companies that operate in his country within 4 months, a deadline that leaves NATO unsure how it will fill the personnel gap, the Washington Post reports.
- Good Morning, Vietnam: Is US attempt to strengthen ties with Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries to counter China a mistake? Wall Street Journal | Christian Science Monitor | Center for Research on Globalization.
- Chasing Butterflies: DARPA awards GE-led team a $6.3 million contract to develop butterfly-inspired nanostructured sensors to detect dangerous warfare agents and explosives.
