* Sikorsky remains upbeat on the chances that the Pentagon will fund Combat Rescue Helicopters as well as a “Future Vertical Lift” combat helo program. US Defense Undersecretary Frank Kendall told investors gathered at a Credit Suisse event that he would indeed like to fund at least initial development work in that area, if only to sustain the industrial base.
* China’s Wanxiang Group would like to acquire A123 Systems Inc, a bankrupt manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries that can be used in civilian and military vehicles. But they are facing objections from several sources, from the US federal government – because of pending grants to the company – to the Strategic Materials Advisory Council, an advocacy group for the American industry which fears [PDF] that dual-use technology will end up being reverse-engineered in China.
* CNIM delivered [in French] its 4th EDA-R landing catamaran to the French Navy. This completes an order from 2009 though the contract includes an option for up to 4 more units. Russia is interested in this design which was self-funded by CNIM.
* Tim Huxkley at the International Institute for Strategic Studies at the Australian National University recommends [PDF] that Australia tightens its defense relations with Indonesia.
* Harry Kazianis from the CSIS think tank: To Counter China’s Military Build-Up, Taiwan Must Go Asymmetric.
* An officer from the US Navy admitted in a federal court that he had ordered parts with DoD funds to build a plane for his own personal use. After moving from the base where he had done so (and relocating the plane to a hangar near his new assignment), his former colleagues noticed the missing parts and warned the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.