Rapid Fire: 2010-02-25

• Pentagon officials brief Congress on terms of $35 billion aerial tanking competition, release final RFP.

• Spanish defense minister says 7 member governments backing the A400M military transport plane have reached agreement in principle. Details said to be forthcoming on Thursday.

• Israel’s “Iron Dome” rocket/artillery defense system faces skepticism in Israel.

• US Army’s new Afghan airdrop system: just heave it out the door…

• US Army Patriot missiles headed to Poland in April 2010.

• UK parliamentary panel criticizes Defense Ministry for losing track of sensitive equipment and wasting hundreds of millions of British pounds.

• BAE brings cutting edge “shake, rattle and roll” testing equipment to UK from USA; aimed at Warrior WCSP and FRES-Scout armored vehicle programs.

• New engine support contract for France’s Rafale – or just approval to negotiate one?

• USAF STRATCOM may have lifted its thumb drive ban – but the US Army hasn’t.