• JSF PEO Vice Admiral David J. Venlet said in an interview with AOL Defense that ramping up production quickly while completing tests was a “miscalculation” but he has to live with concurrency, though he questions the delivery pace.

• Northrop Grumman’s 3-year, $8.9M Microscale Power Conversion contract could lead to higher-power radars with wider frequency ranges, without increasing their size. It’s an outgrowth of DARPA’s R&D into Gallium Nitride (GaN) circuits, and is one of several GaN-related contracts Northrop has received.

• MASTERing the CHIRP. What goes with the USAF’s ground-breaking Commercial Hosted Infrared Payload? Why, a MASTER ground control architecture that can expand to hosted payloads on other commercial satellites.

• South Korea unveils a tilt-rotor UAV. Reports say it’s the 1st of its kind, but sharp eyed readers will note that it bears a resemblance to Bell Helicopter’s larger HV911 Eagle Eye. That had been the Korea Aerospace Research Institute partnership until the US Coast Guard program ended in 2005, and Bell dropped out of the partnership. KARI has worked on the “Smart UAV” for 9 years now, and recently partnered with Sikorsky.

• Dial-A-Boom: Lockheed Martin’s 227mm GMLRS+ rocket successfully tests its new variable effects warhead. The new GPS-guided rocket extends the firing range from 70km (GMLRS) to 120km (GMRLS+), and the new warhead allows the rockets to be used in a wider range of situations.

• ATK Awarded $20 Million UltraFlex Solar Array Contract from Orbital Sciences Corp. The destination is NASA’s Cygnus cargo vehicle.

• Meanwhile, Raytheon receives the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s 2011 Large Business Prime Contractor of the Year Award. Nice job.

• Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) posted a video about their Procurement Management System.

• The US Senate passed the FY12 defense authorization bill (S. 1867) after blinking in the face of White House veto threats and agreeing to an amendment on detainees accused of terrorism. Next step: conference with the lower chamber to agree on a common version of the bill. Don’t feel rushed, we’re only 2 months into the fiscal year. The House intends to adjourn on Dec. 16 so little will probably be done before early 2012 now.

• Huntington under pressure to keep its Avondale, LA yard open reports Bloomberg.

• The US House Committee on Transportation had a hearing about Coast Guard operations in the Arctic. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation and also a member of the Armed Services Committee, objects to decommissioning the Coast Guard’s two heavy icebreakers. GAO also released its latest observations on the topic.

• Speaking of the Coast Guard, here’s a DOD video about their National Security Cutters:
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• The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awards Lockheed Martin a $13 million contract to continue maintenance of the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS). Should NAVAIR exercise the three remaining options, the contract value could rise to $50.2 million.

• A leaked report prepared by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) says that the Royal Navy is ‘woefully unprepared’ for future operations within the Arctic Circle. There is particular concern that cold weather measures have not been built into warships, including the new Type 45 destroyers.

• The proposed merger between Israel Military Industries (IMI) and Rafael appears to have been cancelled by the Israeli Government, who will push instead for the privatization of IMI.

• Russia is to unveil its first strike UAV at next week’s MAKS 2011 air show. Vega will be showing a mock-up of the Lutch, a UAV based on the Sigma 5 piloted aircraft.

• Russia also announces the development of two new air defense systems. This includes the Vityaz [PDF] a further development of the S-300 medium-range air defense system already in service.

• Italian budget austerity looks set to hit its defense modernization hard, even as the country struggles to keep up with the demands of the war in Libya.

• Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will unveil its Ghost rotary mini UAV system at next week’s AUVSI Unmanned Air Systems North America 2011 show. The Ghost is designed to provide real-time intelligence to ground forces operating in urban areas.

• China ends months of intrigue and speculation by announcing that its first aircraft carrier has now left port to conduct sea trials.

• With $6,000 and a military surplus FMQ-117B target, you too can build a UAV that hacks phones and intercepts Wi-Fi signals. Bet the paparazzi will love that one. No word from Mr Murdoch yet.

• A recent meeting of the Defense Business Board at the Pentagon recommended the creation of a single Defense Logistics Organization (DLO) [PDF]. The Board argued that a single DLO with sole responsibility for supply, maintenance and transportation would increase logistics effectiveness and efficiency.

• The former Director of National Intelligence, Admiral (Ret.) Dennis Blair, tells the Aspen Security Forum that the United States should stop unilateral drone attacks and work in closer partnership with countries where unmanned campaigns are conducted. See embedded video at the bottom of this entry.

• Raytheon’s Second Quarter Results show net sales of approximately $6.2 billion, a slight increase on corresponding figures for 2010. The company’s Chairman and CEO attributes a strong second quarter performance to its ‘focus on execution and cost reduction strategies’.

• A US Marine Corps Officer tells the Lexington Institute’s Capitol Hill Electronic Attack Conference that the service is preparing to undertake tests on the new Intrepid Tiger II [PDF] communications intelligence and jamming pod.

• Israel and India are reportedly negotiating to buy 3 more IL-76 Phalcon AWACs aircraft, to follow the current order of 3. IAI had been touting the long-range G550 CAEW used by Israel and Singapore as an even better follow up.

• EADS attributes its ‘solid results’ for the first half year 2011 to strong demand in the commercial aviation sector. The company reports that revenues increased in the first six months of 2011 by 8% to €21.9 billion ($31.2 billion).

• Dassault accuses Safran of holding up talks in relation to the French Government-backed deal to swap assets with Thales.

• The US Army awards Olin Corporation a $29 million contract to provide Small Caliber Ammunition for Caliber .50, 7.62mm and 5.56mm.

• Russia is studying the possibility of deploying paratroopers as part of its multi-branch Arctic contingent.  This may be extended to helicopter regiments by 2020, when Russia’s arms procurement program is due to be completed.

• A number of blog articles have highlighted the problems the Indian Air Force faces in keeping its ageing fleet of Soviet-built fighters airworthy. This may have proved influential upon recent decisions taken in relation to India’s Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (M-MRCA) competition.
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• Airborne Mobility Command point to the increase in airdrops over Afghanistan over the past five years as evidence of the growing importance of  Joint Precision Aerial Delivery Systems (JPADS) to operations.

• The French Government’s agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Dassault for the production and purchase of Heron TP long range UAVs is expected to cost $500 million.

• Elbit announces that the Israeli Ministry of Defence has awarded the company with a $40 million follow-on order for the Digital Army Program (DAP) [PDF].  The announcement comes as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announces that it has embarked upon the follow-up phase of the DAP.

• A leaked memo written by the UK’s Chief of the General Staff appears to contradict assurances made by the Government that no more troops will be made redundant before the end of the Afghan campaign in 2015. The news comes after the United Kingdom National Defence Association (UKNDA) branded recent memo leaks as examples of deliberate disinformation from within the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

• Ahead of next month’s Operation Nanook 2011, Canada’s annual arctic military exercises, Defence Minister Peter MacKay reveals that the number of Canadian Rangers has increased since 2007.

• The US Navy deployment to Libya, counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and budget issues make a similar response to the growing problem of West African piracy problematic.

• Taiwan reveals that a People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Su-27 fighter crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait in late June. The Su-27 was in pursuit of a US U-2 reconnaissance plane. Taiwan responded by scrambling two F-16s to the area.

• Meanwhile China and South Korea will hold an inaugural defense dialogue in Seoul this week. News that Pyongyang tested its intercontinental ballistic missile prior to the attack on Yongpyeong Island may force North Korea onto the agenda.

• Reportlinker adds iCD Research’s Global Aerospace Industry Outlook Survey 2011-2012: Industry Dynamics, Market Trends and Opportunities, Buyer Spend and Procurement Strategies to its list of publications.

• Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s first message to DoD staff emphasizes the importance of discipline in the management of taxpayer resources. This will underpin the DoD’s commitment to preserving the ‘excellence and superiority’ of the military while looking for savings.

• Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says that one of Panetta’s biggest challenges will be fending off White House and congressional initiatives to reduce defense expenditure. Rumsfeld also echoed former Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ opinion that defense spending was not responsible for the budget deficit, before offering his own solutions to reducing expenditure.

• Russia’s Defense Minister, Anatoly Serdyukov, pours cold water over United Shipbuilding Corporation’s claims that the country has plans to build aircraft carriers over the next 10 years. According to Serdyukov, the Defense Ministry has requested a draft design of an aircraft carrier to consider its ‘conceptual and technical solutions’.

• Serdyukov also reveals that the military will deploy two brigades to protect Russia’s interests in the Arctic region.

• French Prime Minister François Fillon, and Indonesia’s President Yudhoyono vow to increase defense ties between the two states. Cooperation will include exchange visits and production of weapons systems, primarily by Indonesia. Fillon and Yudhoyono also oversaw the signing of a new teaming agreement between Eurocopter and PT. Dirgantara Indonesia.

• Pictures emerge of China’s new carrier jet trainer. The JT-9 is the first step in training pilots to fly off China’s first aircraft carrier.

• Reuters reports that the Chinese language Liberation Army Daily newspaper has published an article advocating that China builds up cyber warfare capabilities to counter American attempts to “seize the commanding military heights on the Internet”.

• Boeing will lay off up to 225 people at its Wichita, KS facility,  as the civilian and military demand cycle drops for certain programs. The Wichita facility is involved in programs like the C-40 Clipper executive and transport fleet, E-4B and E-6B national command aircraft, ongoing support for the B-52H bomber, and soon, final conversion of the KC-46A aerial tankers.

• The French  Directorate General of Armaments awards Zodiac Milpro [PDF] a contract for 20 multi-purpose commando RIBs (ECUME) and four air delivery systems (SLE).

• Rheinmetall unveils new HE DM-11 secondary ammunition for MBT 120mm smoothbore guns. The HE DM-11 can be fired from any in-service 120 mm smoothbore gun and is deemed safe to fire in all climate zones.

• As the Arctic continues to increase in strategic significance Defence Watch considers the Canadian Armed Forces’ procurement requirements.

• Now a former U.S. defense industry CEO joins the debate regarding China’s J-20 fighter.

• Danger Room ponders over the topics to be covered by DARPA’s 100 Years Starship conference. The program ties ethical and moral concerns to DARPA’s quest to achieve interstellar flight by 2111. If Jack Kirby’s - the creator of the Silver Surfer cartoon – comments are anything to go by, then the defense industry will be more than welcome to attend.

• Run down: The Balisle Report offers an alarming picture of a US Navy whose readiness and reliability issues extend far beyond just its new multi-billion dollar LPD-17 program.

• Help Wanted: President Obama calls on the private sector to take on more of the civilian tasks in Afghanistan and Iraq, such as building schools and establishing a justice system. Perhaps one day they’ll also get to take on more civilian tasks in America.

• Yard Sale: US military sells surplus items to Iraqis, such as trailers, refrigerators, and latrines, as US troops prepare to withdraw. A slew of more serious military stuff is also on the way.

• Early Warning: Iran has sent advanced radar systems to Syria to provide early warning for Israeli air sorties against Iranian nuclear facilities, the WSJ reports. That won’t help much if they go through Saudi Arabia.

• On the Block?: Applied Signal Technology, a Sunnyvale, CA-based C4ISR supplier to the US military, is seen as the next possible takeover target following Boeing’s agreement to buy Argon ST.

• Eurohawk UAV: First flight for Northrop Grumman/EADS RQ-4 ELINT variant.

• Laser mine-hunter: ALMDS flight tests have begun.

• Can You Hear Me Now?: iGov snags contract worth up to $25 million to supply an expeditionary computer network that can be used for collaboration by US Marines in the field.

• Chillin’: Todd Shipyards in Seattle, WA gets $12.9 million contract modification to support reactivation of the icebreaker USCG Cutter Polar Star (WAGB-10); last year the shipyard got a similar order to repair the icebreaker USCG Cutter Healey (WAGB-20).

US Coast Guard Cutter Healy

The US Coast Guard awarded Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, WA a $12.5 million modification to a previously awarded contract (HSCG85-05-C-625306) in support of repairs and alterations performed during the triennial Dry-Docking Planned Maintenance Availability (DPMA) of the icebreaker USCG Cutter Healy (WAGB-20).

The contract modification provides for repair and maintenance of the ship’s main propulsion system, auxiliary systems, and other structural, mechanical, and electrical features aboard the ship, including underwater hull inspection and renewal.

The USCG Cutter Healy is the USA’s largest icebreaker…

On the list again

Naval Open Source Intelligence is a good set of quick links to international navy-related stories in the news. Each year, they also add a summary of their take on the most significant trends and items to their “Naval Year in Review” set.

They’ve added the 2008 list, which includes piracy, the continuing crisis in US Navy shipbuilding (4 of last 5 years, see DID), environmental groups’ lawfare against the US Navy (2 of last 3 years, see DID), the steady growth of the Chinese Navy, the use of semi-submersibles to smuggle drugs into the USA (see readings), humanitarian operations, arctic sovereignty, and more.

Small business qualifier Nana Pacific LLC in Anchorage, AK received a $6.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a new antenna addition and a weather vestibule between existing buildings, relocation of a fuel storage tank, and expansion of the area within the security fence at Fort Greely, Alaska, an existing defense satellite communications system facility.

Fort Greely is a launch site for anti-ballistic missiles and home of the Cold Regions Test Center (CRTC), as it is one of the coldest areas in Alaska (get the current forecast). Imagine the fun experience in store, with work lasting through fall and winter and ending on March 15, 2008. This was a sole source contract initiated on Nov. 13, 2006 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK (W911KB-07-C-0002).