Rapid Fire 2011-03-21: Russia’s 5th Gen Nuclear Subs

* US general says international forces control skies over Libya after weekend Tomahawk cruise missile and US, French and British fighter jet and bomber strikes.

* Russia’s 5th generation nuclear subs will be armed with both ballistic and cruise missiles, say Navy sources.

* Russian Navy plans to order up to 10 Graney-class nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine by 2020, Navy official says.

* Thales Canada gets C$11 million contract to supply Canada’s Navy and Coast Guard with the Interdepartmental Maritime Integrated Command, Control and Communications (IMIC3) system, which will be integrated into 12 Kingston-class coastal defense ships, as well as other vessels, onshore stations, and portable units.

* The Canadian Department of National Defense is building a C$4.2 million 662-square-meter facility to house an Integrated Personnel Support Centre at Canadian Force Base Halifax.

* VA, unions reach collective bargaining agreement – the first since 1997 – that changes rules on teleworking and expands the use of IT in labor-management relations; Army agrees not to outsource military health care billing to contractors.