We’re wrapping up our 2012 reader survey tomorrow. If you haven’t given us your feedback yet this year, please consider doing so now. Thank you – DID.

• The Pentagon is considering updating Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to incorporate a “proposal adequacy checklist” for proposals in response to solicitations that require submission of certified cost or pricing data. Comments should be sent to DoD in writing before January 31, 2012, to be considered in the formation of the final rule.

• Switzerland’s largest socialist party (SPS) passes a resolution saying that they’ll try to stop the deal for 22 Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters. We aren’t surprised, either.

• Photos of a Japanese ATD-X stealth fighter mock-up. Which seems to be re-using a Mitsubishi F1 canopy. Still waiting for cool transforming robots…

• Eurocopter subsidiary Australian Aerospace has delivered the final EC665 Tiger ARH scout/attack helicopter to Australia.

• The British government has hired a BAE-led team to give HMS Victory her biggest restoration since the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.

• Defense contractors at a conference held by Credit Suisse lat week sounded cautiously optimistic, though they might not sustain the same level of mergers and acquisitions seen in 2011.

• Finmeccanica SpA said on last Thursday it had appointed its CEO Giuseppe Orsi as CEO & Chairman after Pier Francesco Guarguaglini resigned in the wake of corruption allegations involving the Selex Sistemi Integrati subsidiary.

• Gannett’s Army Times is publishing a 6-part series on the US “secret war” in Eastern Africa.

• The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has a wrap-up on the Super Committee fallout and the implications for defense, in case you haven’t followed recent developments reported in this space. Remember that “automatic cuts are far from a foregone conclusion. Sequestration is simply the result of a law, and laws are always subject to change. Congress has tried to legislate long-term budget levels before, including through sequestration (e.g., the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985), but each time, the original law has not lasted long.”

On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, in 1918, the guns ceased. During Remembrance Day, the British Commonwealth countries remember those who came before, and those who came after, and all who have given in their nation’s service. John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields” is a common accompaniment at ceremonies, where the wearing of poppies is customary (on the left lapel, or as close to the heart as possible), and organizations like the Royal British Legion, Royal Canadian Legion, et. al. are supported.

A number of European countries know it as Armistice Day. Americans celebrate it as Veteran’s Day.

Per DID tradition and policy, we remind our readers that we do not publish on this day. We hope you have a meaningful day at the commemorative event of your choice.

MH-6M’s NASCAR visit

US Special Operations Command’s helicopters are some of its most important assets. The service will need new helicopters in the near future, but meanwhile, they’re busy modernizing the helicopters they have. Sensor and targeting system improvements offer a lot of operational bang for the buck, as August 2011 contracts to improve the MH-60 and MH-47 fleets show. Now FLIR Systems, Inc. in North Billerica, MA has received a sole-source $24.6 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract under FAR 6.302-1, for new production or retrofit of AN/ZSQ-3 (V1 Assault) and AN/ZSQ-3 (V2 Attack), Electro-Optic Sensor Systems with laser rangefinder/designator units. Order 0001 is for $497,092, with the rest to be awarded as requested by US SOCOM’s Technology Applications Contracting Office until Sept 22/16 (H92241-11-D-0007).

The turrets will equip the 160th SOAR’s A/H-6M “Little Birds” at Fort Campbell, KY. These MD 530 derivatives serve in versatile roles with the Night Stalkers, quickly moving special forces troops into confined areas, or acting as light helicopter gunships. They were especially useful during Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu, 18 years ago today, when they flew the only close air support available to the trapped Rangers and Delta force soldiers, sometimes even landing in narrow streets. The battle is known as the “Day of the Rangers” in Somalia, but it’s best known to most Americans by the movie/book name: “Blackhawk Down”.

• KMW introduces a new variant of their blast-resistant Dingo vehicle. The Dingo-2 Heavy Duty increases payload carriage to 3 tonnes.

• Immersive simulation: not just for fighter pilots any more. Quantum 3D and Intelligent Decisions partner [PDF] to provide the US Army with its wearable ExpeditionDI platform, as the Close Combat Tactical Training – Dismounted Soldier Training System (CCTT-DSTS).

• More attacks in Libya, still, by MBDA’s stealthy Storm Shadow/ Scalp cruise missiles. They’re dropped by RAF Tornados, but the effect may be to help sell Scalp-compatible French Rafale fighters to Qatar and the UAE.

• If you haven’t seen “Inside the Ghost Ships of the Mothball Fleet,” with accounts and photos from infiltrations aboard US MARAD’s rusting National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF, incl. the stealth Sea Shadow and the battleship Iowa), it’s worth your time.

• In the latest Advanced Materials, Manufacturing, and Testing Information Analysis Center (AMMTIAC) Quarterly [PDF]: how to accelerate the transition to new advanced materials within DOD programs; blast resistant fenestration design and testing; and clean halon fire extinguishants.

• UK Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox advocates cooperation between the ministry he heads and industry to drive British exports.

• Among the US Senate DOD Appropriations subcommittee (SAC-D) recommendations in its FY12 markup: an almost $1B increase in defense healthcare, $4B+ in reductions to Army operation and maintenance, MRAP survivability and Abrams upgrades, a 2nd MLP, a $695M reduction to JSF (an earlier statement erroneously stated $1.2B), and no JLTV. As stated last week, the topline numbers are a flat $513B baseline and $117.6B overseas contingency operations (OCO).

• The Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Ashton Carter to deputy secretary of Defense (video). The future of the F-35 program is front and center in the discussion surrounding Carter’s promotion from his role as chief of acquisitions. The subject of the jet’s single or dual-engine sourcing also came up: Carter is willing to meet team F136. In his opening remarks, John McCain (R-AZ) emphasized the need to tackle cost overruns, reprogramming requests and sheer waste. McCain said it would be “unacceptable” to delay the DOD’s comprehensive strategic review to next year. John Cornyn (R-TX) said this morning he’ll vote in approval. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) said F/A-18 MYP procurement is the “poster child of good”, in stark contrast to JSF.

• The deficit reduction committee had a hearing yesterday on the drivers behind American debt (video embedded below). The Aerospace Industries Association gave an award to Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) who co-chairs the supercommittee. AIA insisted these two events were entirely coincidental. OK. Murray, a member of the Appropriations Defense subcommittee and a founding member of the Aerospace Caucus, is well known as a strong Boeing supporter – and vice versa.
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• On the 10th anniversary of the attacks that came as the first shots in the current war with al-Qaeda and its allies, see: Pentagon mini-site | Britain’s PM | Canadian MND statement | French PM (video).

• The Long War Journal asks: How many al Qaeda fighters are in Afghanistan again? The numbers don’t seem to add.

• Meanwhile, ISVG points out that “open-source information indicates that while the United States and its allies have been highly effective at killing or capturing high-level members of [al Qaeda Central], the central leadership of [al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula] remains largely intact.”

• At WIRED’s Danger Room, David Axe chronicles 10 (American) military jobs that barely existed on Sept 10, 2001 – but do now.

• The US military’s 1st JHSV catamaran is launched and christened at Austal’s Mobile, AL shipyard. Meanwhile, the Austal-built USS Independence Littoral Combat Ship has finished repairs for its corrosion issues, and steamed into St. Petersburg.

• India’s 5th stretched C-130J special operations transport flies out to AFS Hindan.

• Boeing is cooperating with Dalhaousie University in Halifax, NS, Canada, as part of its required industrial offsets for sales of C-17A Globemaster heavy aerial transports, CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, and ScanEagle UAVs. Foci include advanced materials development, engineering graphics on mobile electronics, and visual and text analytics.

• House Armed Services Committee hearings coming up this week: The Future of National Defense and the U.S. Military Ten Years After 9/11 (today), Organizational Challenges in Achieving Sound Financial Management and Audit Readiness and Sustaining GPS for National Security (both on 9/15/11).

• Ronald O’Rourke at the Congressional Research Service releases the latest version of “Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress”, based on information in the proposed FY12 budget, the Navy’s 30-year plan and CBO’s costing of it. Older versions are available for free thanks to Open CRS.

• Andrew S. Erickson of the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) gave a book lecture at the Naval War College museum on Chinese aerospace power and maritime roles. 1-hour video embedded below:
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• ASDReports’ latest publication says that the value of the Russian defense market in 2010 was $47.1 billion. The Russian Defense Market 2011-2021 also predicts that President Medvedev’s economic liberalization plans will encourage greater investment in the domestic defense sector.

• The Government Accountability Office publishes its report [PDF] on the military buildup on Guam. Despite making savings to program costs, the report raises concerns over the timeline of the project, as well as the Department of Defense’s (DoD) failure to develop cost estimates for air and missile defenses. The failure to develop the Guam Joint Military Master Plan is also a concern, prompting Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) to press the DoD for its finalization.

• Almost 24 hours after Defense Secretary Robert Gates called upon NATO’s European members to pool resources, Germany announces that it is ready to provide military ordnance to the mission in Libya. However, the announcement means that Germany will still not be taking a direct part in operations.

• The Mexican state of Jalisco becomes the second customer for Sikorsky’s S-70i Black Hawk, after Turkey. Mexico’s Black Hawk pool is rising fast…

• After nine years in development, Urban Aeronautics’ X-Hawk/Air Mule lift-fan vehicle is attracting interest with Israel’s IDF for unmanned cargo hauling. Elbit’s Flying Elephant is a much simpler idea and options like the A160T VTUAV are more versatile. On the other hand, neither can descend under control while in contact with a wall.

• Requests from two bidders asking for an extension to the bid period for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy have been poorly received by politicians and shipbuilders.

• Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) have established a new division within their C4I Directorate to defend military networks from hackers.

• Recent criticisms branding China’s fifth-generation fighter program as being ‘just for show’ are now complemented by comments that its aircraft carrier is a ‘highly vulnerable extravagance’.

• The US Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) report [PDF] on policy options for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) estimates that DoD plans to acquire 730 UAS based on designs currently in operation, while also improving the unmanned aircraft already in service will cost $36.9 billion through 2020. The CBO also analyzed options that would cost from $3.7 billion less than the DoD’s plans through 2020 to $2.9 billion more.

• An independent review of 40 major programs concludes that the Pentagon’s Operational Test & Evaluation teams are not the cause of delays in all the weapons programs. Instead the report revealed that delays in 37 programs were caused by problems discovered during testing.

• Lockheed Martin will provide its Prepar3D visual simulation software to power the National Flight Academy’s (NFA) immersive aviation experience as part of the academy’s hands-on approach to teaching the principles of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

• Flight Global reports that Israel’s Aeronautics Defense Systems’ Orbiter Mini UAV and BlueBird’s SpyLite Multi Configuration Tactical UAS are two final contenders in the Finnish military’s unmanned air system contest.

• Intelligent Software Solutions (ISS) wins a contract from the the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) for software that will use predictive reasoning and pattern-analysis to improve situational awareness for British warfighters and help determine the level of risk for various missions.

• UAS Vision says the first meeting of the Netherlands’ new unmanned aerial sector (UAS) network attracted 70 individuals representing 40 different companies and organizations. One of the principal aims of the network is to advance the development and deployment of unmanned aircraft systems in the Netherlands.

• India’s Home Ministry to evaluate unmanned aerial system (UAS) technologies for law enforcement purposes.

• Cubic Global Tracking Solutions announces that it has received certification from Iridium Communications Inc. for its Global Sentinel System. The product tracks and monitors high-risk assets utilizing a variety of transmission links.

• Wired’s Danger Room reports on the evidence that Russia may have revived the Soviet-era Falcon-Echelon laser project. Potential targets include U.S. satellites.

Honor & Reflect
(click to view cartoon)

Monday, May 30th is Memorial Day in the USA. DID honors those who have given all of their tomorrows in American military service; we will not be publishing.

Readers are reminded that in America, the Memorial Day moment of silence takes place at 3:00 pm. It seems that lots of reminders are needed elsewhere in America; a survey commissioned by The National WWII Museum in Washington had only 20% say they were very familiar with the day’s purpose, which is to honor those who have fallen in America’s wars. This function is served by Remembrance Day/ Armistice Day (Nov. 11th) in the British Commonwealth and elsewhere, but in America, that day is Veteran’s Day, and honors all who served in the military.

For additional resources, USAA has a full video that includes Hugh Ambrose (Band of Brothers, The Pacific, etc.), and the American National WWII Museum’s MyMemorialDay.org offers some ideas for honoring this day. One more idea might to be teach our fellow Americans. Email a good treatment of the day to people you know outside the national security field, and encourage them to forward it on.

• Afghan poppy production down by half, creating heroin shortages on Britain’s streets. Pity. That pleospora papaveracea sure is potent. Nothing like having a lot of Taliban foreigners traipsing through the poppy fields, to ensure that outbreaks spread…

• Closing the barn door: DoD tightens information security controls in the wake of WikiLeaks data breach.

• Pentagon chief Gates seeks to trim US military health care costs, which total $50 billion per year. TRICARE has a number of serious problems, which must be solved to keep the service sustainable, and avoid gutting the future defense procurement budget.

• Cybersecurity Down Under: BAE Systems acquires Australian cybersecurity firm stratsec.net for A$24 million.

• Israel’s armor firm Plasan and Britain’s Q-Flo collaborate on TorTech Nano Fibers Ltd., a joint venture to produce carbon nanotube fibers.

• Research and Markets: The 100 largest contractors account for 70% of US government contract spending.

• MBDA/Eurosam’s SAMP/T air defense system uses Aster-30 missile, Arabel radar for Europe’s first ballistic missile interception. SAMP/T entered French service in October 2010.

• Raytheon gets $43 million delivery order to supply 57 Common Sensor Payload electro-optical and sensor systems to the US Army.

• L-3 gets $24.1 million contract to supply flight trainers for F/A-18C fighters to Kuwait.

• USMC Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly’s Nov 13/10 speech to the Semper Fi Society [HTML | PDF], 4 days after his son, 2nd Lt. Robert M. Kelly, was killed in action in Afghanistan during his 3rd combat tour with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. It’s the men behind the weapons…

On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, in 1918, the guns ceased. During Remembrance Day, the British Commonwealth countries remember those who came before, and those who came after, and all who have given in their nation’s service. John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields” is a common accompaniment at ceremonies, where the wearing of poppies is customary (on the left lapel, or as close to the heart as possible), and organizations like the Royal British Legion, Royal Canadian Legion, et. al. are supported.

A number of European countries know it as Armistice Day. Americans celebrate it as Veteran’s Day.

Per DID tradition and policy, we remind our readers that we do not publish on this day. We hope you have a meaningful day at the commemorative event of your choice.