Rapid Fire Sept. 30, 2013: Media Runs Out of Pithy Shutdown Headlines

by Editorial Staff | Sep 30, 2013 | Asia - Other, Budgets, China, Daily Rapid Fire, DARPA, Israel, Issues - Political, Launch Vehicles, Middle East - Other, Policy - Doctrine, Science - Basic Research, Submarines, USA

* With a 423-0 roll call, the US House of Representatives passed H.R. 3210, a bill making continuing appropriations for military pay in the event of a government shutdown. It looks likely to pass the Senate. Today is the final day for roundtrip(s) between the two...

Rapid Fire Sept. 27, 2013 – Arrested Development: US Fiscal Deal Elusive At Best

by Editorial Staff | Sep 27, 2013 | Asia - Central, Chemical Weapons, China, Daily Rapid Fire, Fighters & Attack, Industry & Trends, IT - Cyber-Security, Legal, Middle East - Other, Russia, UAVs, USA

It’s not an illusionit’s GOP, er, GOB The US Senate is expected to send back to the House a “clean” continuing resolution (i.e. without Obamacare defunding) later today, but House Speaker Boehner said they will not accept it, though some...

Rapid Fire Sept. 26, 2013: Continuing Resolution Likely to Lose Its Obamacare Poison Pill

by Editorial Staff | Sep 26, 2013 | Budgets, Daily Rapid Fire, DARPA, Europe - Other, Industry & Trends, Issues - Political, Legal, New Systems Tech, Tanks & Mechanized, Think Tanks, Trucks & Transport, USA

* House Republicans are considering postponing their attempt to decry/delay/derail/defang Obamacare to the soon-coming debt ceiling strong arm contest, which may ease the approval of a short-term continuing resolution in the meantime. The Senate has started...

Rapid Fire Sept. 25, 2013: Secular Trends May Force Diversification Onto Defense Businesses

by Editorial Staff | Sep 25, 2013 | Asia - Central, Budgets, Contracts - Awards, Daily Rapid Fire, France, Industry & Trends, Issues - Political, IT - Cyber-Security, Legal, Russia, Signals Radio & Wireless, Tanks & Mechanized, USA

* Industry consultant Loren Thompson is convinced defense contractors need to start serious diversification efforts into commercial sectors: “[E]very factor that moves military demand is signaling a prolonged downturn in the market for what defense companies...

Rapid Fire Sept. 24, 2013: Rotorcraft Marketshare Forecast

by Editorial Staff | Sep 24, 2013 | Africa - Other, Daily Rapid Fire, Europe - Other, Fighters & Attack, France, Helicopters & Rotary, Industry & Trends, Issues - International, Issues - Political, Legal, Logistics, Think Tanks, USA

10-year helo forecast * The Teal Group released an overview of the worldwide rotorcraft market at the opening of HeliTech 2013. The chart above looks at calculated shares for western manufacturers in the military market to 2022, based on concluded competitions. They...