Rapid Fire 2010-12-17: Interagency Collaboration

* Pretty please: Pentagon chief Gates says failure of Congress to pass $1.1 trillion FY 2011 omnibus spending bill (which includes defense) would jeopardize “vital military requirements.” FY 2010 ended Sept 30/10. * US GAO releases “National Security: An Overview of Professional Development Activities Intended to Improve Interagency Collaboration.” Boring topic, critical focus. * Raytheon’s upgrade to the USAF’s Distributed Common Ground System begins operation at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. * BAE System snags GBP 5.5 million UK MoD contract to supply 4,000 rounds of the Luma IR infrared artillery shell for the 105mm Light Gun currently in service with UK forces in Afghanistan. * Earlier reports had Turkey looking to join the KF-X fighter project, with South Korea and Indonesia. The Eurofighter is also an option. Then again, it may choose to try going it alone. * People watching: The Pentagon’s top acquisition chief, Ashton Carter, is among a number of defense executives named to the top 20 people to watch in government contracting by ExecutiveBiz. * The US Joint Forces Command validates readiness of the Deployable Joint Command and Control (DJC2) system, which can support up to 1,500 users with mobile C4ISR capability.