Rapid Fire Feb. 1, 2013: State of NATO – Snow White and the Twenty Seven Dwarfs

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* NATO Secretary General Anders Rasmussen published his 2012 report, expressing his confidence in the Afghan security forces. However a chart shows the number of enemy-initiated attacks per month is still higher now than it was in 2009. A couple of Pac Man pie charts also show how US spending continues to dwarf European members of the alliance, most of which are significantly below NATO’s guidance set at 2% of GDP. * Here’s where you want to pay attention: in 2003 China’s (estimated) defense spending amounted to 4% of the world total (behind Japan) vs. 24% for NATO Europe+Canada. A decade later China and EURO/CAN account for 10% vs. 16% respectively. Since China has shown no sign of slowing its military spending growth while there’s no indication most European countries will either have the willingness or wherewithal to change their course, it is not too much of a stretch to project China at or above the Euro block within 5 to 10 years. Of course spending is not capability but this shows relative budget priorities and constraints. * The latest quarterly report [PDF] from the Special Inspector General For Afghanistan Reconstruction notes that border police facilities that had cost $26M […]

* NATO Secretary General Anders Rasmussen published his 2012 report, expressing his confidence in the Afghan security forces. However a chart shows the number of enemy-initiated attacks per month is still higher now than it was in 2009. A couple of Pac Man pie charts also show how US spending continues to dwarf European members of the alliance, most of which are significantly below NATO’s guidance set at 2% of GDP.

* Here’s where you want to pay attention: in 2003 China’s (estimated) defense spending amounted to 4% of the world total (behind Japan) vs. 24% for NATO Europe+Canada. A decade later China and EURO/CAN account for 10% vs. 16% respectively. Since China has shown no sign of slowing its military spending growth while there’s no indication most European countries will either have the willingness or wherewithal to change their course, it is not too much of a stretch to project China at or above the Euro block within 5 to 10 years. Of course spending is not capability but this shows relative budget priorities and constraints.

* The latest quarterly report [PDF] from the Special Inspector General For Afghanistan Reconstruction notes that border police facilities that had cost $26M where either empty or used for other purposes, such as raising chicken. Fuel contracts continue to come with significant fraud and waste risks.

* Government Executive reports that an (internal to the DOD) email from Kathleen Hicks, principal US deputy undersecretary of Defense for policy, states that “no decision has been taken to furlough DoD civilians.” Furloughs are a possibility, but not a done deal yet.

* Following the House of Representatives, the US Senate passed the HR.325 bill with a 64-34 vote to get the debt ceiling out of the equation until May. NYT.

* US Undersecretary for acquisition Frank Kendall is following up on his Better Buying Power 2.0 memo with an article [PDF] explaining when Fixed-Price Incentive Firm (FPIF) contracts are most likely to be the appropriate choice during Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and production.

* At an Industry Day this week, the US Air Force said FPIF may be used for the EMD phase of their T-X future trainer, but the acquisition strategy as not yet been approved and the RFP timeline is not set. Briefing presentation [PDF].

* The US Air Force and Navy have decided to work together on modernization of the FMU-152A/B Joint Programmable Fuze (JPF), which will be pursued as “FMU-139D/B.”

* DID will wrap up its annual reader survey soon. Your input can help shape the future of our publication.

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