Rapid Fire 2011-08-22: Indian Naval Launches

* While the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) seeks to develop Mission-oriented Resilient Clouds (MRC), the Department of Defense (DoD) drags its heels over the implementation of ‘cloud computing’ initiatives. * Concerns are raised that General Electric’s proposal to build a a $1 billion plant in North Carolina to support laser enrichment efforts may have implications for nuclear proliferation. * South Korean media raises concerns that the country has insufficient radar systems to track long-range artillery attacks by North Korea. This is compounded by reports that six Swedish-made Arthur radars broke down 78 times last year, alongside ThalesRaytheon-made TPQ-36 and 37s malfunctioning on 98 and 60 times respectively over the past five years. * India launches the frigate INS Satpura, the second indigenously-built stealth warship of the Shivalik class. * The Israeli defense budget dispute continues unabated. The Defense Ministry claims that the budget is already ILS6.2 billion ($1.6 billion) under 2011/12 estimates. The Finance Ministry wants greater efficiencies within the defense establishment. * Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) deployment of Rafael’s Iron Dome air defense system has prompted a change of tactics by militants in the Gaza Strip. * Russia delays the next test-firing of the Bulava (SS-NX-30) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) until the end of August. * As China’s profile in the UAV sector rises, state-run media shows the hand-held ASN-15 in action, supporting a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) main battle tank […]