Rapid Fire 2010-08-24: YAL-1 747 Airborne Laser Postponed Again

* Virtual Success: The military simulation and virtual training market reached $8.4 billion in 2009; the market is expected to grow, particularly in the Middle East, China and India through 2020, according to CompaniesandMarkets.com. * That’s so Tubular: The market for microwave tubes, which make up a key component in specialized military communications equipment among other uses, is worth $1 billion, ABI Research reports. * The Congressional Budget Office projects that the US defense budget will reach $2 trillion by 2020. Report summary. * Meanwhile, US Army Vice Chief of Staff Chiarelli laments the difficulty of keeping up technologically with… the Taliban?!? Read about the acquisition process and see. * YAL-1 747 Airborne Laser test postponed for the 4th time, due to ongoing technical difficulties. * 10th Mountain division’s 4th BCT is the first unit to get the new MultiCam camouflage pattern. * An upgraded version of Lockheed Martin’s Desert Hawk mini-UAV arrives in Afghanistan for UK forces as part of a GBP 3 million urgent operational requirement order; Desert Hawks were originally deployed to UK troops in Afghanistan in 2006. * Bad for Business: US pullout from Iraq is a logistics challenge, involving moving 2.2 million piece of equipment […]