SAN DIEGO (May 2, 2012) The first of class littoral combat ships USS Freedom (LCS 1), rear, and USS Independence (LCS 2) maneuver together during an exercise off the coast of Southern California. The littoral combat ship is a fast, agile, networked surface combatant designed to operate in the near-shore environment, while capable of open-ocean tasking, and win against 21st-century coastal threats such as submarines, mines, and swarming small craft. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Jan Shultis/Released)
CATO: The Future Of The US Navy Surface Fleet -- Information Dissemination
The Policy Forum on the US Navy Surface Fleet at CATO has turned out to be a hugely successful event. It was informative and stayed interesting from start to end. In fact, I can only find one problem with the event - they used some crappy Java movie app that is terrible on mobile devices and several browsers instead of YouTube for the video of the event. Thus - I won't be embedding the video, so you'll have to go here and download it.
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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS
Clinton, military leaders plead for sea treaty -- AP
£500m jump jets may melt the decks of aircraft carriers: Latest MoD plan shambles -- The Mirror
Australia's defence at crossroads after cuts -- Sydney Morning Herald
Report: Iran holds military maneuvers -- FOX News/AP
Iran face-off drives new naval small ship focus -- Reuters
Russia Turns on New Missile Warning Radar -- RIA Novosti
Russia tests 'fifth generation' missile that can penetrate Nato defence system -- The Telegraph
Russian Defense Ministry Civilians to be Cut by Third -- RIA Novosti
Pakistan Acknowledges Sea-Based Nuclear Deterrent -- Defense News
BAE Systems wins £328m submarine contract -- The Telegraph
Russian jet crash in Czech Republic injures 6 -- Mercury News/AP
US senators cut funds for Iraq police training program -- Reuters
Saudi Arabia signs $3 billion deal with Britain to buy trainer jets -- Al Arabiya
Clinton Outlines Partnership Between State Dept., Special Ops -- Defense News
Clinton Goes Commando, Sells Diplomats as Shadow Warriors -- Danger Room
Female soldiers sue to lift combat ban -- Reuters
Combat Exoskeleton Marches Toward Afghanistan Deployment -- The Danger Room
All Of These US Weapons May Contain Counterfeit Electronic Parts -- Business Insider
Guard, Reserve Fight For Modern Hardware; JLTV, C-5A, C-17 At Stake -- Aol Defense
Fire Strikes Nuke Sub USS Miami In Portsmouth Dry Dock -- Aol Defense
Elgin’s F-35Bs Take to the Skies -- Defense Tech
Q&A with the first military test pilot to fly the X-35 and F-35 -- Naval Air Systems Command
Why Doesn't The F-35 Program Follow The Rules? -- Rep. Todd Akin, Aol Defense
New Study Outlines How the Military Could Create a Leaner, Less Expensive Force -- New York Times
Think Tank Calls for Major U.S. Defense Reductions -- Defense News
Combat ‘Burn Pits’ Ruin Immune Systems, Study Shows -- Danger Room