Rapid Fire 2011-04-29: Naval Undersea Naval Warfare Center

* President Obama names Leon Panetta as the new US defense secretary and Gen. David Petraeus as the new CIA director, replacing Panetta. Tom Ricks sees Panetta’s appointment as the precursor to large budget cuts. * The general’s shift to the CIA is especially interesting, given the growing intelligence role carved out by the US military and special forces since 2001. One early flashpoint: Petraeus’ optimism about Afghanistan reportedly isn’t shared at the CIA. * Middle East military air market is predicted to triple between 2011 and 2020, says Frost & Sullivan. * Contractors could take hit from US Navy’s decision to suspend the contracting authority of the Naval Undersea Naval Warfare Center (NUWC) in Newport, RI due to alleged bribery scandal involving a NUWC engineer. * DoD lacks plan to replace National Security Personnel System, GAO warns. * Boeing and the U.S. Navy celebrate the induction of the 500th Super Hornet family fighter (F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers) into the US Navy. It would have been ordered under the previous MYP-II multi-year contract, not the current MYP-III deal. * US Customs & Border Protection gets its 2nd re-winged P-3C, of 14 planned. Unlike Navy P-3s, some USCBP aircraft […]