* DOD Comptroller Robert Hale spoke at the Brookings think tank, where he confirmed, between a couple decent jokes, that a delay in the FY14 budget request was likely. His number for the impact of sequestration on FY13 – starting on March 1st unless it is further delayed or cancelled – is $45B, vs. earlier estimates of $62B in cuts (back when the sequester was supposed to kick in on Jan. 1st). Hale does not rule out an extension of the current Continuing Resolution. Video embedded below.
* A timely 2014 President Budget is definitely not going to happen by its legal due date (i.e. next month), as the US government first needs to sort out – again – how to deal with its debt ceiling. The Bipartisan Policy Center offers a helpful analysis.
* NAK Browne, the Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force, is complaining that a recently-announced decrease in the defense budget will slow down modernization efforts.
* India’s Business Standard is accusing the Ministry of Defence of lowering its requirements for a forthcoming purchase of night vision devices in order to favor Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), despite the Army’s demands for equipment that works under practically no light.
* Israel’s State Comptroller published a report [in Hebrew] on the so-called Harpaz affair that shows how nasty power struggles unfolded between top IDF brass and their civilian bosses in recent years. Haaretz | Jerusalem Post.
* Lockheed Martin acquired assets from Aveos Fleet Performance in Canada at terms kept private. This provides them engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities to service CF34 and CFM56 engines. Press release | Global Mail.
* A former petty officer who worked at the US Coast Guard’s Surface Forces Logistics Center (SFLC) pleaded guilty to federal charges of wire fraud. He took bribes from a freight broker to award overpriced contracts for shipments between Coast Guard bases. Daily Press. He had been discharged in November 2011 and indicted in June last year.
Bob Dale speaking at at Brookings event
