Rapid Fire 2010-09-20: Optionally Manned UAVs

• Give Peace a Chance? Despite increasing belligerence coming from the north, including deployment of an additional 200 250mm MLRS rocket launchers along the border, South Korea is proposing holding inter-Korean military talks.

• A Scoop NZ story on the Indian arms export opportunity for the USA.

• Reports of BILL 2 anti-tank missile exports from Sweden to Saudi Arabia spark controversy.

• US Navy Cyclone Class patrol boat fleet sidelined for repairs; not surprising given their usage levels.

• A growing opportunity for “optionally manned” UAVs?

• Overseas Flight: Taiwan’s Army Aviation Special Forces Command recently flew a fleet of Army helicopters – including CH-47SD, AH-1W, OH-58D and UH-1H models – to the outlying Penghu Islands, 30 miles off Taiwan’s southwestern coast, the first ever cross-sea helicopter drill performed by the command.

• Renewed Interest: UK Defense Secretary appoints Lord Philip to head independent review of the 1994 crash of an RAF CH-47C Chinook helicopter on the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland, after discovery of a controversial pre-crash UK MoD internal document describing problems with engine software.

• Big Sky Country: Local ranchers, pilots oppose plans to quadruple the size of the Powder River Training Complex [PDF], based at Ellworth AFB in South Dakota, to accommodate training of B-1B Lancer bombers.

• General Dynamics Land Systems gets $68 million contract to provide technical support, including identifying improvements and replacing obsolete parts, for the US Army’s M1 Abrams main battle tank.

• Frost & Sullivan: US DoD expected to increase spending on enterprise IT products and services by $2 billion, to $8.8 billion, by 2015.