* The US Department of Justice announced that ATK Launch Systems Inc. agreed to a $37M settlement to resolve allegations that ATK sold dangerous and defective illumination flares to the Army and the Air Force.
* Machinists from Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, TX, voted to go on strike on Sunday and have started picketing. Representatives of the International Association of Machinists union say they reject changes in retirement and healthcare benefits. In October last year Oshkosh faced a strike for about two weeks.
* Cobham plc appointed [PDF] Robert (Bob) Murphy as its CEO, effective as of June 25. Murphy comes from BAE and previous worked at GE Aircraft Engines.
* The Defense Business Board released two briefs last week on veteran employment and linking the defense Requirements, Acquisition, and Budget processes [both PDFs]. The task group that worked on the second memo reviewed *300* studies from DoD, Congress, think tanks et. al. on DoD’s acquisition. Aside from finding the whole thing way too ponderous, they assess that the acquisition workforce does not understand operational needs well enough and lacks organic engineering capabilities.
* From the Congressional Research Service: Army Drawdown and Restructuring [PDF]: “Potential issues for Congress include the strategic risk posed by a smaller and restructured Army; the ‘health’ of the Army given the impending downsizing; where the force will be based; the role of the National Guard and Reserves; and should the enrollment at the service academies (West Point) be reduced to pre-9/11 levels.”
* So far in 2012 US defense contractors have made political donations roughly in line with the 60%-40% mix in favor of Republican candidates seen on average in the past 2 decades.
* In the latest Army Sustainment, an article on how to improve intermodal operations, in a context of complex logistics that involve cargo transfers from sea to air to land transportation.
* The British MoD released its (redacted) report [PDF] into the grounding of HMS Astute in October 2010. Among recommendations: improve the internal communications system between the bridge and ship control.
* India’s parliamentary committee on defence is worried about military readiness because of ammunition shortages and aging materiel.