* Contributing to a sudden, redoubled effort from interest groups to pressure the US government into starting significant reforms at the Pentagon, the conservative National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and R Street Institute released a report [PDF] outlining yet another non-parochial plan for Congress to ignore. Like pretty much everyone else, they see a potential for big savings in DoD (civilian) personnel, but also go more aggressively than most after weapon systems.
* The US Navy is introducing its Surface Connector Replacement program – SC(X)(R) for short – to replace the LCU 1610 class of amphibious landing craft.
* The British Army is getting their Terriers delivered. They’re pretty versatile combat engineering armored vehicles (video).
* NATO recently received the 1st element of its new Air Command and Control System (ACCS) in Poggio Renatico, Italy.
* As of late last week Germany and the Netherlands have agreed to extend their military cooperation with integration of the Dutch 11 Airmobile Brigade under German command.
* India updated its Defence Procurement Procedure to turn into regulation its recent emphasis on indigenous manufacturing.
* The US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and the company it contracted to dispose of decommissioned Navy ship USS Hassayampa‘s propeller shaft found it easier said than done. It took almost a month and a new cutting torch to dispose of a 120,000-pound piece of metal that had been sitting in Guam for decades.
* The University of Maryland’s Robotics Center is developing “Robo-Raven” robotic birds with the US Army, which hopes to turn them into micro-UAVs eventually, to blend in more easily for surveillance purposes. Of course this uses 3D-printed parts. Video below:
