Rapid Fire: 2010-08-04

• Chinese Exercises: China is conducting major air defense exercises in Shandong and Henan provinces involving more than 10,000 troops from the naval and army aviation units and land-based air defense forces, as well as 100 aircraft, including the J-10 fighter.

• How Many Is ‘Some’?: Boeing plans to keep only “some” of the employees when it moves its C-130 AMP and B-1B bomber modernization programs from Long Beach to Oklahoma City over the next 2 years to cut costs.

• Deeper Cuts: QinetiQ, formerly the state-owned UK Defense Research Agency, plans to cut 325 jobs, most of them at the firm’s Boscombe Down military aircraft testing facility, on top of 391 layoffs announced in July.

• Off-Limits: The 3,500-strong French army continent in Afghanistan is off-limits in terms of budget cuts, says French defense minister.

• Mantracker UK: TV show leads to a personal education from a Canadian cowboy for pre-deployment British troops.

• Bloodhound supersonic car unveiled. No, it won’t deploy to any front lines. But its driving force is an RAF Wing Commander. And it’s a freakin’ supersonic car! ‘Nuff said.

• It’s the human factor. British commando hit 3 times, continues to lead engagement and evacuates his wounded over 4+ hours. Just a reminder that the gear we cover isn’t everything – though Lt. Anrude is pretty chuffed about his helmet…

• When You Assume… : Boston University professor and former US Army colonel challenges assumptions of the US defense establishment in new book.

Italy Upgrades its Army with Shadow UAVs

RQ-7, Iraq
(click to view larger)

Textron subsidiary AAI Corporation recently announced that Italy’s Ministry of Defense Directorate of General Aeronautical Armament will buy 4 RQ-7B Shadow 200 systems for the Italian Army, under a EUR 51 million (about $64 million) contract. The systems are being bought “for deployment alongside NATO forces,” which presumably involves Italy’s sector in northwestern Afghanistan [PDF]. The buy was reportedly a multi-vendor competition, and AAI will partner with select Italian defense suppliers, including RIGEL International Engineering & Consultancy Agency. System deliveries are expected to begin in 2011.