Rapid Fire: 2010-07-12

* Boeing and Airbus submits KC-X aerial tanker bids, as World Trade Organization delays ruling on EU complaint against Boeing. * France’s ONERA lab thinks they have a revolution in coastal surveillance radar design (incl. video), with 80% effectiveness out to 400 km range. The rising importance of maritime surveillance would make this a big deal for Thales. * USAF’s T-38C supersonic trainers getting new “zero-zero” ejection seats. Biggest plus? Saving lives. Unlike the older seats, they’re very effective at low speeds and altitudes, where most ejections take place. * Money savers: Congrats Rick Griebel on your $10,000 USAF IDEA check, for saving more than $2 million over the next 15 years. His project? An on-demand, custom-size box and filler maker. British civil servant Stacey Cooper saves them GBP 6 million (about $9 million) at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, and gets… a nice award certificate. * Afghan Air Force’s new C-27As perform first airdrop. * Less hopeful: continued delays in Afghan pilot training – but good on Col. Craig Rice for switching in English and professional proficiency training while they wait. * Babcock completes its GBP 1.25 billion purchase of UK defense firm VT Group. * UK MOD scientists have developed […]