* The incoming U.S. Defense Secretary tells Congress that the challenge is to design budgets that eliminate wasteful and duplicative spending, while safeguarding the nation’s defense.
* Giovanni de Briganti’s report on the performance of French Rafale fighters over Libya also includes useful information concerning Sagem DS’ GPS-guided AASM bombs, the uses of MIDS/Link-16, and doctrinal/operational shifts underway within the Armée de l’Air.
* Meanwhile, bids are in, and final tests done for the US Army & Navy’s big JAGM missile program. It will become America’s future light strike missile, replacing Hellfire, TOW & Maverick, so the stakes are high.
* Lockheed Martin receives a $58.6 million contract from the U.S. Marine Corps to provide 110 VOSS II vehicle-mounted sensor systems and 30 PRDSS free-standing, portable, rapid deployment surveillance systems.
* Iridium NEXT satellite contractor Thales Alenia space tabs Boeing to provide system integration and testing support. Meanwhile, the legacy Iridium service just added a new wrinkle: free calls for ships attacked by pirates.
* Northrop Grumman announces the development and demonstration of a new lightweight processor that identifies, tracks and defeats infrared missiles launched against rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft. The processor forms part of Northrop Grumman’s U.S. Army Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) self-protection system offering.
* Ukraine’s Ukrspetsexport signs a $100 million contract with the Ethiopian Defense Ministry to supply over 200 T-72 tanks. The state-run company has a T-72 upgrade program that involves mounting a 120mm KBA-101 gun to the tank.
* India has successfully test-fired a Prithvi (P-II) surface-to-surface missile from a test range in Orissa. The missile failed a similar test in September 2010.
* Canada’s Minister of National Defence says the cost of extending the country’s mission in Libya until the end of September 2011 will be $60 million.
