Rapid Fire: Evening 2011-06-28
- At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on President Obama’s unilateral decision to engage US forces in Libya, State Department Advisor Harold Koh stated that Congressional approval was not required due to the ‘limited’ nature of military operations. Ranking Member Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) responded that the United States’ roles in Libya are significant as it provides the majority of intelligence and air refueling.
- The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a confirmation hearing for the commander chosen to replace General David Petraeus in Afghanistan, Lieutenant General John Allen.
- The US Army issues a Request for Information (RFI) to support the development of the Medium Range Multi-Purpose (MRMP) Vertical Take Off and Landing UAS acquisition strategy. The RFI also covers the Army and Navy Medium Range Maritime UAS (MRMUAS) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) program.
- The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) orders 12,500 rugged encrypted tablet personal computers from Software Box Ltd. The £30 million ($48 million) five-year contract also includes maintenance support and forms part of the Joint Asset Management and Engineering Solutions (JAMES) project.
- Speculation mounts that Textron may follow L-3 and become a target for activist investors.
- Northrop Grumman signs a Global Supply Chain (GSC) Deed with the Australian Ministry of Defence. The deed forms part of a program designed to increase the presence of Australia’s defense industry within global supply chains.
- Russia announces the successful test-firing of its Bulava (SS-NX-30) submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Prior to today only seven of the fourteen previous test launches of the Bulava were deemed a success.
- Italy takes delivery of its first NH90 NFH naval helicopter, making it the 2nd delivery customer after the Netherlands. But when will the type be fully operational?
- The US DoD announces that recruitment and retention levels for all four active services and five of six reserve components met or exceeded their year-to-end accession goals.
Categories: Australia & S. Pacific, Britain/U.K., Daily Rapid Fire, IT - General, IT - Software & Integration, L3 Communications, Leadership & People, Missiles - Ballistic, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Policy - Doctrine, Pre-RFP, Russia, Submarines, Textron, UAVs, USA
