Rapid Fire: 2010-06-02

• Australia details of A$ 1.1 billion in multi-year plans for equipment to protect deployed soldiers.

• Frost & Sullivan: Military demand for satellite capacity contributes to industry’s resurgence.

• As the military and intelligence turn to the web and wikis, scientists wonder: what effect does that have on brain activity and comprehension?

• HMAS Dechaineux returns to service, doubling Australia’s operational submarine fleet.

• Australian troops to get new “Tiered Body Armour System” soon.

• Software glitch highlights US military’s heavy reliance on GPS-based navigation systems used in weapons and vehicles, a reliance that could make these systems vulnerable to disruption, warns defense expert.

• A murder of CROWS: EOS, Northrop Grumman look to dethrone Kongsberg in coming CROWS-3 competition.

• US Marines train with Romanian troops using non-lethal weapons such as pepper spray and Tasers.

• USJFCOM meeting grapples with radiofrequency spectrum management issues posed by proliferation of UAVs.

Australia Upgrading its ASLAV APCs

ASLAV-25, Afghanistan

The ASLAV is a variant of General Dynamics Land Systems’ LAV-II/LAV-25 wheeled armored vehicles, which are in use by the US Marines, Canadian military and other customers. GD MOWAG markets a similar vehicle as the Piranha I/II. The first batch were bought in 1992 from GDLS Canada, and a total of 257 vehicles were eventually purchased in 7 variants: Reconnaissance, Ambulance, APC, Command, Fitter/Maintenance, Support, and Armored recovery. The type has served in many theaters abroad, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

On June 1/10, the Australian government has gave 2nd pass approval to upgrade many of the ADF’s Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV), under project LAND 112 Phase 4…