Rapid Fire: 2011-01-17 | Ike’s Military-Industrial Complex

• I like Ike: New book sheds light on President Eisenhower’s warning about the “military-industrial complex” on the 50th anniversary of his farewell speech.

• Chinese fortune: Former USAF intelligence officer provides insight into how US should deal with China’s growing military might.

• Now you see it…: Can BAE Systems’ “electronic ink” technology make tanks invisible?

• DARPA’s NEW-HIP program aims to replace aircraft copper wiring with photonic transmitters and receivers in a fiber optic network.

• DISA picks up pace of BRAC-mandated move from Arlington, VA to Fort Meade, MD, moving 4,272 workers between January and July [PDF].

• Up to $300 million to Harris for Falcon II RF-5800M multiband, RF-5800V very high-frequency, and RF-5800H high-frequency radios for an international customer.

The USA’s SBInet Border Security Project

Back in June 2006, Boeing and Raytheon teams were preparing for a big border surveillance contract. It was all part of the USA’s Secure Border Initiative (SBI), a comprehensive plan to secure U.S. borders and reduce illegal immigration, including an array of technical aids and elements on both the northern Canadian border and the southern border with Mexico. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency would lead and execute both the SBI and related SBInet “virtual fence” efforts, mirroring similar programs underway around the world.

As promised, a winner was announced in September 2006 – and it was Team Boeing. In March 2010, however, funding was frozen. In January 2011, the program was canceled.