Rapid Fire 2011-01-19: Inside NORAD

* Crunch time for General Dynamics and Boeing cases. They argue that the government improperly invoked the state secrets privilege, in order to hide information that would help them prove their side of cases surrounding the A-12 naval stealth fighter’s program cancellation liabilities. * Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system is a “stupid idea” driven by the French military, according to OHB-System CEO Berry Smutny. Sorry, former CEO. * Lockheed Martin says the Chinese J-20 unveiling has added urgency to F-35 sales discussions with JSF consortium partner Singapore, plus Japan and South Korea – with all 3 countries in active discussions with US officials. * EADS CEO offers a rosy outlook on life, including the A400M and Talarion UAV programs. Time will tell, but Airbus is raising commercial aircraft prices as a sign of general confidence, and recent huge A320 orders cannot hurt his disposition. * Defense firms still irritated by the Pentagon’s proposed 5%/2% withholding rule for contractors whose accounting and pricing systems don’t meet desired standards. The move was proposed in response to significant Pentagon bookkeeping issues. * British firm Meggitt is paying Danaher $685 million to acquire Pacific Scientific Aerospace, which includes military ball screw and electro-mechanical actuator […]