* The Philippines and the US are signing today a 10-year military pact formalizing how American troops will be allowed to rotate in the former US colony. Video of the press conference with Presidents Aquino and Obama.
* President Aquino announced last Friday the purchase of 8 combat utility helicopters, six close air support aircraft, two-long range patrol aircraft, and radar systems, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
* WSJ: U.S. Beefs Up Military Options for China as Obama Reassures Allies in Asia.
* IHS Jane’s notes that three is a trend: attacks on oil tanker in the Malacca Straits indicate pirates’ increased organisational capability.
Competition in the US Defense Market
* The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) agrees with the Pentagon’s recent waivers of competitive prototype requirement for the US Army’s AMPV [GAO-14-521R] and the US Air Force’s B-2 Defensive Management System Modernization [GAO-14-522R].
* Politico: defense contractors fight for their slice since the pie has stopped growing.
Eastern Europe
* 4 Royal Air Force Typhoons have deployed in the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: video.
* Reuters: Latvia says Russia trying to use ‘provocateurs’ in Baltic state.
Indian BMD
* India’s DRDO announced [PDF] it successfully completed a ballistic missile defense test with the 1st flight of its Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) interceptor (video).
JLENS Demonstration
* Production may have ended, but the US Army is still testing its JLENS aerostats at the Utah Test and Training Range, as shown in the video below:
