* Russia’s state-run Rosoboronexport reveals that it has lost $4 billion-worth of defense export contracts with Libya.
* Defense Secretary Leon Panetta tells the National Defense University that the United States can enact budget cuts without compromising national security.
* Protests across Israel have prompted a rethink of defense expenditure plans. The Government is considering starting its five-year spending plan in 2013. Investment in training, missile and rocket interception systems are expected to compensate for troop reductions.
* The Technical Director of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory says at AUVSI North America 2011 that the US Marines see the AeroVironment Switchblade unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as a suitable armed platform for top-down attack capability.
* The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force claims its re-equipment program is steadily progressing despite problems with delivery and funding. Col General Alexander Zelin added that Russia’s T-50 stealth fighter will be delivered by 2014-15.
* Russia’s Aviastar reveals at the MAKS 2011 air show that it plans to test fly its first production Il-76MD transport aircraft by 2012. Meanwhile, the state-owned aircraft and air defense manufacturer United Industrial Corporation (Oboronprom) announced plans to boost its contract portfolio to $21 billion by the end of 2011.
* China labels rumors that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency provided access to the US Black Hawk stealth helicopter destroyed in the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound as ‘groundless and ridiculous’.