* 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics winner Andre Geim explains why graphene is the stuff of the future. DARPA agrees, and so does the Pentagon’s MURI.
* A US NAVAIR PMA-202 employee shares her experiences deploying to Iraq.
* US government contractors will face more scrutiny re: their plans for including small business subcontractors in contracts.
* “China to conquer world arms market with poor quality rip-offs” complains Pravda, who says the new Type 41 Yuan Class submarine is actually a Kilo Class ripoff, after Russia sold the type to China. Gee, that has never happened before.
* Pentagon’s cyber warriors prepare to defend US civilian infrastructure, as Washington, DC-based defense contractors expand their cybersecurity offerings.
* Aviation Week reports that both Lockheed Martin and elements in the USAF are re-thinking the decision to terminate full C-5M RERP upgrades for the C-5A fleet – and even looking at placing some retired C-5As in the civilian market. At 55% mission readiness rates, though… read “Saving the Galaxy: The C-5 AMP/RERP Program” for more background.
* First C-130J-30 Special Forces transport for India takes wing.
* US Marines’ new AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter successfully completes Operational Evaluation.
* USS Harry S. Truman and FS Charles De Gaulle conduct joint exercises, including cross-carrier landings and a Rafale engine swap-out on the Truman.
* It’s Official: US, China defense heads will meet in Vietnam next week despite tensions over Taiwan arms sales.
* Odyssey Systems in Wakefield, MA racks up $36.4 million in consulting work for the US Air Force Space Command as part of the $450 million Contract for Space and Missile Capabilities.
* Kratos to sell $24.6 million in stock to pay for the $45 million purchase of Henry Bros Electronics, a provider of surveillance, thermal imaging, radar, and biometric technologies.
* BAE Systems gets $7 million order to supply armor kits for the US Army’s M915A5 military line haul tractors manufactured by Daimler Trucks.
