Rapid Fire: 2011-01-05

* After a bit of a panic, US immigration has extended a deadline for American companies to certify, under penalty of perjury, that they’re not improperly sharing “sensitive” information with foreign workers. The new deadline is Feb 20/11. * Meanwhile, the Pentagon has issued new guidance re: organizational conflicts of interest and competition, such as performing a requirements study and then supplying the weapons system that the study addressed. Washington Post. * Speaking of the Post, its piece on China’s military industry, while interesting and sometimes informative, would be more credible without basic factual mistakes (there is no IL-478, SU-35 not a carrier-based fighter…). See also Japan’s Asahi Shimbun for its interview with USN Pacific Command’s Adm. Robert Willard. * The Washington Post did a better job reporting on the new “Gorgon Stare” pod, which is being deployed to Afghanistan. It has been tested with the MQ-9 Reaper UAV, but can also be carried by other aircraft. * Allied forces target supply networks of IEDs in Afghanistan. * US Army fields SPARKS II mine roller kit that attaches to the front of vehicles and detonates roadside bombs. Wonder if they’re related to these… * Research and Markets: Ukraine’s defense expenditure […]