Rapid Fire Oct. 18, 2012: Continuing CASD

• Kongberg’s stealthy, sub-sonic Naval Strike Missile has just finished its 1st shipboard launch tests, and performed successfully. The market for naval missiles is crowded, but Kongsberg believes that the new F-35 fighter may give it an important edge.

• The US Army has test-flown a civilian Eurocopter EC145-T2, as part of its evaluations for the next Armed Aerial Scout helicopter. All of the models it will test have a tough job ahead of them, as the Army could just keep rebuilding and modernizing its Vietnam-era Kiowa fleet.

• The hull for the future HMAS Canberra amphibious aviation and assault ship has arrived in Australia, aboard the FLO/FLO ship MV Blue Marlin. Australian firms will now attach the superstructure “island,” and get the ship ready for delivery.