Rapid Fire 2011-01-25: Self-contained Mini-reactors

* Lockheed Martin agrees to pay $2 million to settle a DoJ lawsuit accusing the company, as well as partners SAIC and AES, of conspiring with former government employees Stephen Adamec and Robert Knesel to ensure the 3 companies were awarded a $115M contract in 2004 to support the Naval Oceanographic MSRC (now the Navy DSRC). * Iraqi Security Forces Order of Battle author DJ Elliott offers thoughts on Iraq’s military development, ability to defend itself, and 5 most pressing weaknesses against conventional invasion. * The Philippines is eying a used US Coast Guard Hamilton Class high endurance cutter. The 378 foot Hamilton Class is being replaced by the Bertholf Class National Security Cutters, but the USCG remains overstretched with its current fleet. * France’s DCNS is capitalizing on its nuclear submarine knowledge to offer a “FlexBlue” self-contained mini-reactor in the 50-250 MW range, to be installed underwater off the coast. It would be shipped out for maintenance, and use seawater for cooling. Areva, EDF and the CEA R&D organization are also involved. * Another fire on Britain’s S120 HMS Ambush, the second-of-class Astute fast attack submarine. HMS Astute has certainly had its own share of problems as well. The […]