Rapid Fire 2010-06-01: Information Superiority

• US to help South Korea plug gaps in naval defense.

• UK coalition government announces new defense ministers.

• Project H-XBR: Eurocopter, Brazil open Brazilian center of excellence, hold first EC725 test flight.

• DoD’s Operationally Responsive Space Office launches satellite data-gathering payload built in a week.

• RAND: Study examines how the US can use information superiority against insurgents.

• US Army begins BRAC-mandated move of its Armor School and 180 M1 Abrams tanks to Fort Benning, GA, from Fort Knox, TN.

• Curtiss-Wright to pay $19 million in cash for Hybricon, a maker of electronic subcomponents for the US military.

Holographic Sights for SOCOM M4s

M4 SOPMOD

L-3 Communications subsidiary EOTech, Inc. in Ann Arbor, MI received a $25 million sole-source, firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract, to provide their optical sighting system for U.S. Special Operations Command’s M4A1 carbines. Work will be performed in Ann Arbor, MI and is expected to be complete by May 2015. $262,636 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/10. The US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division in Crane, IN manages this contract (N00164-10-D-JN68).

EOTech HWS

EOTech offers a unique technology, thanks to its Holographic Weapon Sight. The firm says that their night-vision compatible sight combines ranging and aiming in one image, which is not affected by problems like mud on the sight, or even a cracked sight window. This simple simulator demonstrates the basic sight picture.