Rapid Fire Jan. 21, 2013: You’re Grounded!
- The US Marines’ F-35Bs are grounded because of a glitch in a fuel line used in the exhaust system.
- The US Navy and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) are investigating whether a faulty digital nautical chart might be the reason why the USS Guardian (MCM 5) minesweeper ran into reef in Philippine waters last Thursday, where it remains grounded.
- Embraer and AgustaWestland signed a Memorandum of Understanding “aiming at establishing a joint-venture which could lead to the production of AgustaWestland helicopters in Brazil to be marketed for both commercial and military use in Brazil and Latin America.” As the phrasing indicates [emphasis: DID], this is not a finalized, operating deal yet.
- Stan Collender, who knows a thing or two about the US federal budget: sequester and government shutdown more likely than fight over debt ceiling.