* EADS Astrium will market SpaceX’s Falcon 1e rockets as a lower-cost launch option for European customer to put small payloads into Low Earth Orbit. Agreement runs through to 2015.
* The German Air Force is grounding all 55 of its Eurofighters, made by EADS, out of concern for the functioning of the pilot ejector seats.
* Is the UAE about to ditch France’s Rafale as a Mirage 2000v9 replacement, and buy Super Hornets? Or are they just exercising some savvy negotiating?
* Chemring Group, a UK maker of countermeasures and IED detection and disposal systems, is bullish on its FY 2011 outlook after it reported surging revenue and order-book growth, which it attributed to diversification outside Europe; the firm also reported a fire at its Kilgore Flares plant in Tennessee.
* More US bases should be shut down to save money, says Gen. Brady, US Air Force commander in Europe.
* Open tender for Russia’s amphibious ships? Russia appears to be continuing talks with France in the background.
* NATO backs US on need for alliance-wide cybersecurity shield, US Deputy Defense Secretary Lynn says after visit to Brussels.
* First British FSTA A330 aerial tanker flight at Getafe, Spain.
* F-15 AESA radar replacement moves forward: 1st AN/APG-63v3 AESA radar installed and tested on USAF F-15C; 1st AN/APG-82v1 AESA radar delivered to Boeing for the USAF’s F-15E RMP program.
* Kyrgyzstan might double or triple the rent Russia pays for military facilities on Kyrgyz territory.