Rapid Fire 2011-07-14: EDA Props COTS

* A European Defence Agency (EDA) official is confident that member states will have identified potential pilot cases for its Common Off The Shelf Procurement initiative by the end of 2011. * Diehl BGT and Israel’s RAFAEL have unveiled the PILUM long-range glide bomb concept. With a reported range of 60-100 miles, PILUM will use RAFAEL Spice’s combination of GPS/INS and imaging infrared, in Diehl’s HOSBO bomb system. This JSOW Block III competitor will be integrated on Tornado and Eurofighter aircraft – wonder if the Saudis, who fly both, will want any? * The Dixmude, France’s 3rd Mistral Class LHD/BPC, has arrived in Toulon for final fitting and testing. It was ordered with French economic stimulus funds in April 2009. * Britain’s 3rd Type 45 air defense destroyer, HMS Diamond, has officially joined the Royal Navy. * As part of its efforts to build a strong UAV industry in the state, Oklahoma is petitioning the US FAA to create an unrestricted UAV corridor in civil airspace. * Despite the presence of a Eurocopter EC645 at CANSEC, there is still little movement in Canada’s plans to replace the Griffon. * Lockheed Martin delivers its National Source Tracking System (NSTS) to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to assist in the tracking of radioactive source material. * Saab agrees to divest its shares in the 3D mapping company C3 Technologies AB. […]