Rapid Fire 2012-05-13: HASC FY12 Authorization Bill | DoD Cost Overruns

* House Armed Services Committee approves $690 billion defense authorization bill for FY 2012: among other things, the bill would 1) allow GE and Rolls Royce to continue development of the F136 engine for the F-35 fighter at their own expense, 2) continue funding production of the General Dynamics-produced M1 Abrams tank despite Army’s plan to suspend production for 3 years to save money, and 3) require DLA to develop a plan for a competitive supply chain for rare earth metals used in advanced weaponry. #3 will get easier, as new sites are coming on-stream. * Pakistan launches an inquiry, tries to figure out how US Special Forces got within 40 km of Islamabad to kill Bin Laden, without being detected. This may offer a clue. * Meanwhile: “Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has warned that continuing to work with the United States could imperil his government, unless Washington takes drastic steps to restore trust and win the hearts of Pakistanis.” President Obama could say much the same thing, in reverse. * US must preserve defense industrial base in era of defense budget cuts, warns Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn. Easier said than done. * The DoD’s large space […]