Rapid Fire: 2010-10-28

• ASPI analyst Mark Thomson discusses the underlying economic realities that may cripple western military power, and what that means for Australia.

• French Groupement des Industries de Construction et d’Activités Navales (GICAN) Chairman Jean-Marie Poimboeuf offers some thoughts of his own in the naval sphere.

• The Managing Director of BAE Australia offers some thoughts on that country’s defense industry, and the government’s Strategic Reform Program

• Australia may end up cutting its Armidale Class replacement corvette/OPV project.

• AeroVironment’s Global Observer High Altitude, Extreme Endurance UAV completes initial flight testing at Edwards AFB, CA.

• Russia presses for limits to troop and equipment levels in NATO’s new members.

• Iranian Cyber Army offers botnets for rent to cyber criminals, after hacking Twitter and Chinese search engine Baidu.

• RAF unit puts out fires in Afghanistan, literally.

• General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman post higher third-quarter profits and boost earnings guidance for year.

• Boeing agrees to pay $4 million to settle US Department of Justice lawsuit alleging company overcharged the USAF for B-1 bomber towed decoy system kits.