* Bloomberg reports another month of weak contracting at the Pentagon, with February awards (of $6.5M+) down 48% Y/Y to $12B.
The Evolving US Defense Industry
* Congresswoman Kay Granger [R-TX]: How Women Are Reshaping the Defense Industry.
Lesson from Ukraine: Get Nukes and Keep ‘Em?
* The CSIS think tank reviewed at the missile and nuclear dimensions of the military “balance” in the Gulf.
* The Diplomat looks at the PR battle between China and Japan on nuclear issues, mentioned here on DID earlier this month. Next week’s Nuclear Security Summit will be interesting to follow.
Europe’s Self-Inflicted Powerlessness
* The German Deutche Welle news agency opines on the EU’s reaction to Russia annexation of Crimea: “A sign of helplessness.” Le Monde agrees [in French] by describing Europe as “without strength.”
* Germany’s federal government is reportedly mute about German utility RWE’s intent to sell its oil and gas unit to Russian investors.
* From earlier this month in Politico Magazine: Why Russia No Longer Fears the West.
Africa’s Widespread Lack of Basic Security
* France was expecting operational support from the EU for its peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic, but the Council of the European Union issued a statement [PDF] long on concern and short of any specifics about the deployment of EUFOR RCA.
* DPA: Gunmen Reportedly Kill 200 in Nigeria.
* The RAND Corporation ponders the lessons and future implications for Libya after Qaddafi:
“When Qaddafi was killed in October, the intervening powers abruptly wrapped up military operations. […] The essential tasks of establishing security, building political and administrative institutions, and restarting the economy were left almost entirely up to Libya’s new leaders. The results of this very limited international approach have been lackluster at best.”
Missing Data on Missing Flight
* The WSJ argues that the lack of useful radar data in the search for flight MH370 “exposed both the weaknesses of regional air-defense systems and also a deep-seated reluctance to share military information.”
* Thales is floating (aren’t we funny today) the idea of a UAV/satellite hybrid () dubbed StratoBus that could be used for various surveillance and communications purposes: