Current Events in the Americas

Topping Off a Carrier: GERALD R FORD (CVN 78) Island Landing (DefenseNews' Intercepts blog) Lots of pics.

The Pentagons Frankensteins (National Review Online)

MH-60S underpowered for MCM towing operations (Jane's)

Secret Nuclear Redesign Will Keep U.S. Subs Running Silently for 50 Years (Wired, Danger Room blog)

U.S. LCS Counts Down to Major Deployment (DefenseNews) Including a pic of the intended paint scheme for the deployment.

USAF talks up new, improved C-130 gunship (Defense Aerospace)

Congressional Chaos Costs U.S. Navy Millions, Leaves Ships in Limbo (DefenseNews) (Article includes reference to 10 Perry frigates intended for transfer)

UK prime minister rebuffs Argentina over Falklands (BBC News)

Biggest pieces of ZUMWALT (DDG 1000) come together in the night (DefenseNews' Intercepts blog) Lots of pics.

Pentagon's Global Strike Weapon Stuck In Limbo; Congress Fears Accidental WWIII (AOL Defense)

For use with Google Earth: UCS Nuclear Weapons Complex map

First pics: X-47B Unmanned Aircraft Aboard Carrier Truman (DefenseNews' Intercepts blog) Lots of high res pics.

Reading secret USAF bomber, ISR plans (Aviation Week)

A three part series from Time magazine's Battleland blog If more money buys a smaller fleet what will less money buy? More than the Navy's numbers could be sinking Is the fleet steaming forward or backward?

Lockheed working on new air-to-air hit-to-kill missile (Flight Global)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IuQDqM2M_k&feature=plcp

X-47B UCAS-D conducts first land-based catapult shot (Flight Global)

Venezuelan president's health deteriorates (Jane's)

Nobody has keep an eye in the Venezuelan flag in the Argentine ship embargoed in Ghana ?

US Navy's transition from Prowlers to Growlers proceeding smoothly Good DEW Line blog article on the transition, with photos.