Rapid Fire 2011-07-12: DOD IG on Contracting
- The Inspector General of the Department of Defense (DoD) releases Contract Management of Joint Logistics Integrator Services in Support of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles Needs Improvement [PDF]. The report criticizes officials for allowing contractors to perform ‘inherently government functions’ such as disciplining DoD staff. Concerns are also raised that contractors worked with the Joint Program Office to prepare for the follow-on contract.
- As part of Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s visit to Iraq, a US Forces spokesman reveals to journalists that ‘improvised rocket assisted mortars’ (IRAM) and ‘explosively formed penetrators’ (EFP) used by insurgents originate from Iran.
- The AntiSec online hacking movement claims it has broken into a server run by military contractor Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) and stolen military email addresses and passwords. BAH refused to comment.
- Following the recent announcement that the United States is to suspend $800 million worth of military aid to Pakistan, an official claims that increasingly close military ties with China will allow Islamabad to ‘fill the gap’.
- The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) awards Guident Technologies a $20.2 million contract to provide Data Management, Business Intelligence and additional services for the Defense Commissary Agency.
- HDT Global subsidiary Airborne Systems announces that it has been awarded a joint contract with Zodiac International by France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) to provide its Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System (MCADS). The product will be used to airdrop Zodiac’s new multi-purpose commando boat (ECUME) [PDF].
- Harris Corporation receives a $12.2 million order to supply the Department of Defense (DoD) with additional Falcon III AN/PRC-117G multiband manpack radio systems.
- Canada signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kuwait to provide access to an airport and sea terminal for the transshipment of materiel returning from Afghanistan.
- China may have deployed a communications UAV called Silver Eagle in a recent exercise. The UAV is considered all but identical to the ASN Technology ASN-209 and may be deployed as part of China’s ‘access denial’[PDF] strategy for naval conflict in home waters.
- Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirms that the country has been incorporating anti-aircraft carrier strategies in its annual military drills since 2008. The MND refused to confirm if a Chinese aircraft carrier will form part of computer simulated exercises due to start on July 18th.
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