* USA DOE drawing up a strategic plan to deal with China’s dominance of key rare-earth mineral supplies.
* People as policy: Northrop Grumman appoints new head for X-47B N-UCAS stealth UAV program – but that’s just one piece of a bigger picture.
* Littoral Combat Ship Freedom (LCS 1) performs drug busts, but sharp debate escalates over the class’ lack of armament and suitability for its missions.
* Rocky Mountain Instrument (RMI) in Lafayette, CO fined $1 million for exporting defense-related optics to China, Russia and other nations without a license. US Justice Department release | RMI release | Denver Business Journal | Associated Press
* Low tech IEDs in Afghanistan vs. high-tech US counter IED devices: number of attacks double.
* Raytheon sets up new missile defense product line, gets $11.9 million order to support Patriot missile field surveillance program.
* UK MoD, Defence Industries Council offer tech exhibition at Yeomanry House.
* Can you hear me now? B-2 bomber gets EHF SATCOM hardware; system has been 3 years in development.