Rapid Fire 2011-03-07: FY2011 Continuing Resolution

* US Senate appropriators unveil a 7-month FY 2011 continuing resolution (CR) with $514 billion proposed for the defense base budget, $26 billion below what DoD wants and $2.1 billion less than the House-passed CR. * On the other hand, China is expanding its defense spending by a robust 12.7% in 2011. * USAF launches 2nd X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-2) from Cape Canaveral aboard an Atlas V rocket. * Perhaps the OTV will help the Air Force get out of the 20th century, a recommendation Pentagon chief Robert Gates offered to cadets. * GAO estimates [PDF] the US Navy would incur a 1-time cost of between $258.7 million and $356.0 million to homeport a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at Naval Station Mayport, FL, a move called for in the 2010 QDR and approved in the FY 2011 defense authorization law. * Brazil continues to receive new UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters from Sikorsky. * Is the UK military going to the dogs?