Rapid Fire 2011-05-11: Helo Brownout Mitigation

* The Australian government is cutting A$2.7 billion from its defense budget over the next four fiscal years, including a reduction in the costs of acquiring a 5th C-17 aircraft. * Russian President Dmitry Medvedev chastizes military for delaying tenders on major weapon systems. * Up to $450 million to Lockheed Martin to provide Instrumented Ranges/Digital Range Training Systems (IR/DRTS) to the US Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation. * General Dynamics snags contract worth up to $125 million to provide IT network services to the US Special Operations Command. * AAR gets $23 million contract to supply flat racks to the US Army for transportation of materials and containers via trucks and other ground equipment. * UK Ministry’s DSTL developing a display system to reduce helicopter “brownout” crashes when dust clouds kill visibility – and sometimes, landing helicopters.