* 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 upgraded Osprey Mark 4 body armor for UK soldiers; the first suits will be worn by the 16 Air Assault Brigade set to deploy to Afghanistan in October.
* In addition, those clever MOD scientists have developed a lightweight battery recharging system intended to reduce the number of batteries dismounted soldiers will have to carry.
* The US Navy has awarded ViaSat a contract worth up to $30 million to provide tactical data links and satellite communications equipment and support to SPAWAR Atlantic and the Turkish government under a Foreign Military Sales program.
* The US Navy has also awarded an $80 million contact to Northrop Grumman to provide infrared missile warning systems and processors for medium and heavy lift helicopters.