Rapid Fire 2011-11-14: MANPADS Threat Assessment | UAV Growth

• In the latest issue of Joint Aircraft Survivability Program Office (JASPO)’s Aircraft Survivability: a threat model development for Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), a study of how much of a threat their are to the large engines of transport aircraft, and notes on the USAF’s efforts to improve its combat damage data collection and analysis. PDF.

• USN tests its new APKWS laser-guided 70mm rockets with the new Mk152 warhead, as part of low-rate production.

• Britain about to confirm it will sell its 74 Harrier jets to the US. The initial reporting on this deal that first surfaced back in June was denied by the UK MOD at the time.

• Is the huge 2010 Saudi arms request stalled?

• Northrop Grumman sees sustained demand for UAVs says Jim Zortman, site manager for Northrop’s unmanned systems business in San Diego County.

• More Q3 ’11 results: Huntington Ingalls Industries: $1.59B revenue (-4.3% vs. same period last year), $248M loss because of a $300M noncash goodwill charge | CSC: $3.97B revenue (+1%), $2.69B goodwill impairment charge.

• After watching Italy’s AMX light attack planes vs. its expensive Eurofighters over Libya, and tallying up their own bills, NATO Countries are beginning to realize the need for low-cost light attack aircraft. Hate to say we told you so, but…

• Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin committed to significant naval spending last week.

• US Army soldiers are starting to use the Carl Gustav M3 Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-tank Weapon System (MAAWS) in Afghanistan. So far this Swede 84mm recoilless weapon introduced in 1948 was mostly used by Special Forces, as far as the US military goes. Video below: