* The United Kingdom National Defence Association (UKNDA) think tank argues in a new report [PDF] that the country's defense spending should be a higher priority and consume 3% of GDP, a significant increase from current levels. The threat that registers most with the...
USA Articles
Israel: $280M to Modernize Communications Hardware
(click to enlarge) In September 2010, Elbit Systems Ltd. announced a $280 million communications modernization contract from the Israeli Ministry of Defense. About $140 million will be invested in new communications equipment over the next 5 years, with the other $140...
US Military: The DLA’s Prime Vendor MRO Contracts, FY 2006-2011
Around 1997/98, the Defense Logistics Agency changed their business practices, and entered into Prime Vendor long term sustainment contracts with various suppliers to provide materials needed to support the maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) of its facilities....
The USA’s 2009-11 HMMWV Orders
M1165 HMMWV(click to view full) The US military's Humvee jeeps have demonstrated severe payload and survivability limitations. Nevertheless, they remain a fixture in the fleet, and new orders continue. At one point, the US Marines' objective was to restrict Hummers to...
Rapid Fire 2011-09-28 | SK Defense Budget; DFARS Proposed Changes on Single Bids
* South Korea's 2012 defense budget: +5.6% or roughly in line with total budget growth, pending parliamentary approval. * British Secretary of State for Defence Dr Liam Fox says a 1% increase (in real terms) to the Defence Equipment and Support budget between 2015/16...
GD Building DDG-115 Destroyer
Latest updates: Contract for DDG 115, option for DDG 116. USS Stockdale [DDG 106](click to view full) In 2009, a deal was struck that shifted most DDG-1000 Zumwalt Class work to Bath Iron Works, in exchange for Northrop Grumman's Ingalls shipyard taking over lead-yard...
Rapid Fire: 2011-09-27 | Design for Reliability; Green Energy; US Senate Stopgap Deal
* Job cuts: 540 layoffs coming at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, as part of corporate plans to reduce their workforce ahead of budget squeezes. Meanwhile the BBC has new details about BAE's cuts in the UK. * Michael Gilmore, Director of Operational Test & Evaluation...
UAE Buying the Newest Hellfire Missile for its Choppers
Part-converted UH-60M(click to view full) Sept 22/11: The US DSCA announces [PDF] the United Arab Emirates' request to buy 500 AGM-114R3 Hellfire II missiles, plus containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, repair and return support, training...
Rapid Fire 2011-09-26 | UK MOD UAS Doctrine; Top 2010 Contractors
* British MoD publicly released its joint doctrine approach to UAS's [PDF]. Why define UAV doctrine? Well, from the introduction: "[i]n the absence of any higher level policy, all UAS currently used by UK armed forces have been procured or leased under the Urgent...

