* Russia: No more gas-for-military base deals.
* China looks to strengthen its nuclear retaliatory capability.
* US House Armed Services Committee approves the IMPROVE Acquisition Act, which would reform the defense acquisition process.
* House Armed Services Air and Land Forces ranking member Rep. Bartlett [R-MD] expresses concern about the USAF’s plans for its force structure, especially Air National Guard C-130 plans.
* USAF unveils first HC-130J Super Hercules special forces search and rescue/ tanker aircraft. USAF | Lockheed Martin.
* Atlas V rocket launches with X-37 spaceplane on board.
* L-3 posts 11% rise in net income on slightly higher sales.
* Israel Military Industries completes Turkey’s $688 million M-60T “Sabra” tank upgrade project. Procurement relations are stable, though political ties remain strained. See IMI [PDF] | AvWeek Ares.
* How’s your Farsi? Video of Iran’s military exercises in Persian Gulf.
* Case to supply thousands of M400W skid steers and M400T compact track loaders to US Army for use in Afghanistan under $160 million contract.