* The US and the UK have finalized a bilateral defense trade treaty that puts in place a new exemption (§126.17- the UK Exemption) to ITAR(International Traffic in Arms Regulations). See Frequently Asked Questions.
* QinetiQ touts BAE’s use of its Paramarine advanced marine design software for the Type 26 frigate’s early stage design and trade-off studies. It helps that the Royal Navy has designated Paramarine as its stability software, and uses it for certification.
* Canada’s DND published a backgrounder on their forces in the Arctic.
* Dutch defense minister Hans Hillen said on TV yesterday that his country may end up buying less than the planned 85 F-35s, reports Reuters.
* The draft environmental impact assessment (EIS) for USAF F-35A operational basing has been released.
* The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and Coast Guard want tablet computers from Apple – “brand name or equivalent.” Whereas Apple’s Mac personal computers have a well-deserved reputation for being significantly more expensive than Wintel PCs, Apple has been leading on price since it launched $500 iPads. AFSOC RFP on FBO.
* Financial and economic data [PDF] underpinning NATO defense. Most members are far from NATO’s spending goals, and with fiscal problems far from over in the Euro zone, it will get worse before it gets better.
* Hawker Beechcraft filed is 2011 annual report [PDF]. They’re not in good shape: sales have decreased by almost a third in 4 years, debt is high, there’s just $1.1B left of backlog and a history of losses.
* The Booz Allen Hamilton San Antonio office that got in trouble with the Air Force two months ago is no longer on the Excluded Parties list.