* The US Navy is increasing the frequency of its Inspection and Survey (INSURV) program: inspections will occur every 30 months instead of 5 years. They want reports to reflect a more granular understanding of ship’s readiness, and the goal is to measure material condition as a ship has been readying for deployment, rather than for the inspection itself. US Fleet Forces Command.
* Dawne Hickton, CEO of titanium producer RTI International Metals tells the WSJ she is diversifying away from defense into medical devices: “the elderly population [is] a growing market. We don’t know what the defense market is going to do.” A similar movement was afoot two decades ago during the post-Cold War defense slump, though contractors had mixed results at the time.
* The US Army is following up on its presolicitation for EMD phase of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) with meetings [PDF] with interested companies starting next Monday.
* The UK’s MOD shortlisted 10 companies for construction projects across its estate.
* Felix Seidler at the Institute for Security Policy argues that India not only has much more established carrier operational experience than China, they also benefit from lasting geostrategic advantages in the region.
