* For Gates’ future Pentagon blueprint, look to his past?
* Just say no: Pentagon chief wants president to veto defense spending bill if “unwanted” projects are funded.
* Air dominance challenges: US intelligence analyst predicts China will have J-XX F-22 Raptor-like fighter by 2018 – several years earlier than originally forecast. You can also watch this recent video of a 5th-generation Russian PAK-FA fighter test flight.
* Kratos Defense and Security Solutions closes $225 million note offering, completes $133 million acquisition of US military shelter maker Gichner.
* Giving Taliban the finger: enemies learning to fear GPS-guided 155mm Excalibur shell, aka. “The Finger of Death.”
* Following its maiden flight on March 30/10, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.’s new Dhruv-derived LCH scout/attack helicopter has its dedication ceremony.
* US Marines receive their first new UC-12W King Air 350 cargo aircraft.
* Hey, you’re not Santa… is that a sonobuoy through my roof?
* RAF will deploy its last Nimrod R1 signals intelligence aircraft to Afghanistan in 2010, before retiring it in 2011. But their successor KC-135s won’t arrive until 2014.
* Afghan Air Corps flight medics train with US forces on advanced treatment techniques, evacuation operations.
* Dick Tracy calling: HP develops high-tech solar-powered watch for US military.