Rapid Fire Dec. 21, 2012: New US Senate Appropriations Chair

• David Cameron’s Middle East November 2012 Tour paid off with a deal with Oman for 20 aircraft including 12 Typhoons. Details to follow in our own coverage. As Britain and France compete for several fighter export contracts, Cameron’s personal involvement may remind of former French president Sarkozy’s hands-on approach, in contrast to François Hollande’s more distant involvement – if any – in such deals.

• On the other hand BAE Systems is having a setback in Australia and is withdrawing from the JP2072 Phase 2B tender process a C4ISR land project. Australian Defence | The Australian.

• Senator Barbara Mikulski [D-MD-3] has been confirmed by the Democratic Caucus as the Chairwoman of the US Senate’s Appropriations Committee, after senator Leahy turned down the opportunity. Mikulski, 76, was already a member of the SAC and its defense subcommittee, which still needs a new chairman to replace Daniel Inouye.