Rapid Fire: 2010-05-27

• US Congressional Budget Office’s Analysis of the Navy’s FY 2011 Shipbuilding Plan: Not. Affordable.

• The German defense minister aims to cut EUR 1 billion per year in defense spending, including closing small military facilities. Germany currently spends less than 1.5% of GDP on defense; NATO members’ commitment is 2%.

• US Navy unveils Preferred Supplier Program to offer more favorable terms and financial incentives to government contractors who demonstrate good performance.

• The UK government discloses that it has 225 warheads in its nuclear arsenal.

• US DARPA tasks Lockheed Martin to develop high-tech rifle-scope attachment that adjusts to targets at ranges from 3 – 600 meters.

• USAF Electronic Systems Center working with DeVenCI (Defense Venture Catalyst Initiative) to solve difficult problems in 18 specific areas.

• German physicists developing a quantum interface between light and atoms, which has obvious implications for quantum crypto and quantum computing.

• Upgraded UK Army Lynx Mk9A helicopters arrive in Afghanistan via C-17 transports.

• US Marines deploying communications innovations during African Lion 2010 exercises in Morocco.

• US Navy publicly “reaffirms commitment” to 680 F-35Cs, with deployment by December 2016; while US Marines make their draft F-35B basing plans public.

• Citi Investment Research analyst upgrades General Dynamics stock because shares have fallen below value. Wonder how Citi stock is doing?

• CSC snags $25 million contract to support the US Navy’s ONE-NET network that provides communications to the US fleet bases and stations overseas.