Rapid Fire 2011-01-19: Inside NORAD

• Crunch time for General Dynamics and Boeing cases. They argue that the government improperly invoked the state secrets privilege, in order to hide information that would help them prove their side of cases surrounding the A-12 naval stealth fighter’s program cancellation liabilities.

• Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system is a “stupid idea” driven by the French military, according to OHB-System CEO Berry Smutny. Sorry, former CEO.

• Lockheed Martin says the Chinese J-20 unveiling has added urgency to F-35 sales discussions with JSF consortium partner Singapore, plus Japan and South Korea – with all 3 countries in active discussions with US officials.

Desert Chameleon APCs for Kuwait

Desert Chameleon

In mid-January 2011, Advanced Defense Vehicle Systems (ADVS) announced an initial delivery of their new 6×6 wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC) design to Kuwait’s Ministry of the Interior. The vehicle’s full size cannon may be unusual for policing forces, but it is not unusual for interior ministry troops around the world to use full-scale military equipment, and similar APC designs are already serving with police forces, including police forces in the USA.

There is no shortage of wheeled APC designs in the global marketplace, but Kuwait chose to develop its own, in conjunction with a new firm.

• ADVS, and the Desert Chameleon
  
• Contracts and Key Events
  
• Additional Readings
  

Maintaining France’s LaFayette Frigates

FS La Fayette

DCNS recently announced a EUR 60 million (about $80 million) contract for through-life support (TLS) services from 2011-2015 to the French Navy’s 5 La Fayette Class frigates: F710 La Fayette, F711 Surcouf, F712 Courbet, F713 Aconit, and F714 Guepratte.

The new TLS contract will come into effect in spring 2011, when the FS Surcouf is laid up for a scheduled refit…