Rapid Fire 2010-08-03: Tactical Radios for Congo

• Alternate QDR: “We cannot reverse the decline of shipbuilding, buy enough naval aircraft, recapitalize Army equipment, buy the F-35 requirement, purchase a new aerial tanker, increase deep strike capability, and recapitalize the bomber fleet just by saving $10-15 billion dollars that the Department of Defense hopes to save through acquisition reform.”

• Oh My Gosh: Oshkosh’s defense segment sales nearly triple to $1.7 billion in the firm’s fiscal year 2010 third quarter fueled by M-ATV sales. Oshkosh release

• Meanwhile, Voice of America says that troops love them, but there’s at least one M-ATV design issue Oshkosh might want to look at.

BAE to Modernize Up to 11 Norfolk-based Destroyers

DDG-51 modernization

BAE Systems recently announced that they will modernize 11 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class guided missile destroyers that are home ported in Norfolk, VA, under a potential $365 million contract with the U.S. Navy. The contract includes an initial one-year award, plus 4 option years. When asked, a BAE Systems Ship Repair spokesman explained that: