Rapid Fire 2011-11-28: Field Networking Equipment

• Boeing begins shipping WGS-4 to Cape Canaveral, FL, in preparation for a January 2012 launch. It’s the first Block II Wideband Global Satcom satellite.

• The US Army is evaluating its latest build of field networking equipment, after the 3-week NIE 12.1 event. The spring 2012 event will test NIE 13, which will include the new WIN-T Increment 2 on-the-move networking system.

• Update on India’s aerial tanker plans.

• Point Trading’s misleading & deceptive conduct case against ITL Optronics and Elbit Systems will be heard solely in Australia, and is moving ahead under a recent Federal Court of Australia decision. The dispute concerns a long-term contract for the right to sell thermal vision devices to the Australian military. Key takeaway: “An exclusive jurisdiction clause does not deprive an Australian court of its jurisdiction to try the proceedings,” when the proceedings by their nature refer to Australian laws.

• The US Senate resumes debate on the FY12 authorization bill today.

• According to the Project on Government Oversight, DoD IG Gordon Heddell announced last week that he will step down on December 24.

• NATO’s strike on Pakistani troops is worsening an already tense situation.

• Japan would like China’s help in investigating the source of a cyber attack against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, but nobody is holding their breath. Meanwhile the British MoD is setting up a Joint Cyber Unit involving private contractors. Video below: