Rapid Fire: 2011-01-26

* Former Northrop Grumman engineer Noshir Gowadia gets 32 years in prison for assisting China in developing a low-signature cruise missile exhaust system and providing classified information on the B-2 Spirit bomber. * When Aviation Week is writing editorials called “Get Real on National Security,” change is definitely in the air. * Portland, OR-based Vigor Industrial expects to complete its $130 million purchase [PDF] of Seattle, WA-based military and civilian shipbuilder Todd Shipyards on Jan. 28/11, after Todd allows “go shop” period to expire. * RAND report [PDF] says there is no “direct benefit” to the US military’s use of alternative fuels for tactical operations. It recommends that the military stick to proven tech, and focus on efficiency rather than cutting edge commercialization. * ABI Research: Military spending and Gallium Nitride adoption is fueling demand for RF power semiconductors used in radar and military communication and electronics equipment. * Thermacore gets $3 million contract extension to continue development of active heat sink technologies used to cool military electronics systems, under DARPA’s Micro-technologies for Air-Cooled Exchangers (MACE) program. * US Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn meets with NATO counterparts about implementing cyber shield plan approved at the Lisbon Summit. * Cpl. […]