Rapid Fire 2011-10-17: New MoD Secretary | Korea’s Exports

Oct 17, 2011 12:27 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff
  • Former Secretary of Transport Philip Hammond is replacing Liam Fox as the UK’s Minister of Defence, a position that has seen a lot of turnover in past years. Fox resigned under pressure because of the access he gave to his friend Adam Werritty. FT, Guardian, BBC.
  • The ADS British trade association surveyed Britain’s security sector. It found domestic sales to account for 81% of the total. 91% of the ~$235M goods and services exported to the US were for cyber security.
  • The AP reported on Saturday that all US troops would leave Iraq by year’s end but Defense Department press secretary George Little then denied such a decision had been made. At stake is the number of troops that would remain involved in training the Iraqi military, if any.

  • SAIC to add 200 jobs in Utah.

  • After 2 failed attempts earlier this month, Oshkosh made a deal with UAW Local 578 for their 5-year contract that 77% of union members approved.

  • Boeing consolidates its DRT, Argon, and ISR assets into an Electronic & Mission Systems (E&MS) division to go after the C4ISR market. DRT and Argon ST were acquired in 2008 and 2010 respectively.

  • South Korea’s military exports to grow strongly through the rest of the decade.

  • China is expanding its military reach, says Aviation Week.

  • Defining a new “Air Sea Battle” strategy for Asia is in the works at the Pentagon, but it seems to shun the role of ground forces in coastal warfare.

  • The US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was expecting significant savings throughout the federal government thanks to data center consolidation, but agencies came back with much smaller projected numbers.

  • US Marine science advisor Franz Gayl saw his indefinite suspension put on hold. In 2007 Gayl released information on tardy MRAP procurement, then he had his security clearance revoked last year in what some describe as retaliation for his whistle-blowing.

    • Categories: Asia - Other, Boeing, Britain/U.K., Budgets, C4ISR, China, Daily Rapid Fire, IT - Cyber-Security, IT - Networks & Bandwidth, Oshkosh, People, Policy - Doctrine, Scandals & Investigations, Warfare - Trends

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