Rapid Fire 2010-02-11: QDR Defense

* Vietnam to pay $1 billion for 12 Russian SU-30MKK fighters. * Britain moves toward public-private partnership using S-92 Superhawks, for coastal search and rescue. * US QDR author shoots back at critics. * Taiwan still sees purchase of more diesel-electric submarines as essential to “effective deterrence.” * China pressures Indonesia to boycott Taiwanese shipbuilders. * New Russian military doctrine says NATO expansion threatens national security. But Lithuanian defense minister says NATO no threat to Russia. * Boeing delivers 1st 737 to South Korea for AWACS conversion. * Lockheed Martin gets $160 million contract to support US Navy Aegis BMD test facility. * Northrop Grumman kicks off full-rate production of infrared countermeasure system for US Navy’s heavy lift helicopters. * American APKWS laser-guided rockets go 8-for-8 in operational assessment. * Raytheon snags $37.9 million order to modify weapons data link equipment used in F-15 pilot training. * BAE Systems gets $10.7 million order to provide 1,197 Marine Corps Transparent Armored Gun Shield (MCTAGS) turret assemblies. * DARPA invests $4 million to create 3D maps of earth down to a depth of 3 miles.