* Pentagon directive hopes to cut up to $100 billion in support costs over 5 years, by looking at personnel policies, medical costs & Tricare, organizational restructuring, acquisition practices and logistical efficiencies. They might want to look at how security policies affect buying office space.
* Germany retires 60% of its submarine fleet, 6 years ahead of schedule. Think it might be related to EUR 1 billion in planned defense cuts?
* Canada announces shipbuilding strategy. Now it has to start picking winners, and approving programs. Major ministry participants include Defense, Public Works, and the Coast Guard. Plus Industry Canada. Not a recipe for speed.
* Russian military analyst questions abilities of China’s J-15 Flying Shark carrier-based fighter, believed to be clone of Russia’s Su-33.
* India, French joint military exercises at Istres Air Base in France to include India’s Sukhoi-30 MKI jet fighter, Ilushin-78 aerial refueling aircraft, and Ilushin-76 heavy lift transport aircraft.
* Pentagon chief Gates visits Azerbaijan to shore up supply route to Afghanistan, expand joint military exercises.
* Israel Aerospace Industries touts $33 million order for EL/M-2022A airborne Maritime Surveillance Radars; won’t say who customer is.
* URS secures up to $190 million in US Army contracts to provide logistics and maintenance support to Fort Hood, TX, and Fort Carson, CO.
* SAIC gets Seaport-e task order worth up to $80 million to provide systems engineering to the US Navy’s Center for Surface Combat Systems