Rapid Fire Morning 2011-06-24: Tognum Engines

* Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen and Defense Under Secretary for Policy Michelle Flournoy testified at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on President Obama’s Afghanistan troop reduction plan – C-Span video. * The UK’s RUSI think tank and Cranfield University publish their joint paper [PDF] on reform of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Proposed changes outlined in The Defence Reform Agenda include military reorganization away from single service orientation and organizational change to stimulate greater financial accountability. * The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India (ASSOCHAM) calls for the raising of permissible limit of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the defense sector from 26% to 49%. ASSOCHAM believes that increased FDI will stimulate technology transfers and develop the Indian defense sector’s capabilities. * Reuters reports that Daimler and Rolls-Royce now have full control of the engine manufacturer Tognum AG. Over the past few weeks the Anglo-German partnership has increased its majority shareholder stake from 58% to 94% of the company. * Speculation regarding China’s stealth fighter program is now accompanied by intrigue over its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The Dew Line publishes a photograph of a UAV flying above a Chinese naval vessel on exercises near Okinawa which does not appear to resemble China’s ASN-209 or ASN-802 drones. […]