Current Events in the Americas

http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/01/29/navy-set-to-accept-first-virginia-class-block-iii-submarine/ (DOD Buzz)

The Shocking Strategy That Dooms the LCS (Next Navy blog)

Carrier Cut Could Be Back on Table (DefenseNews)

Boeing Surveillance Plane Found Not Effective for Mission (Bloomberg)

Heat From F-35, MV-22 Continue to Plague Big Deck Amphibs (USNI News)

DDG 1000 Preps for Heavy Weather Trials (DOD Buzz) Fingers crossed ...

Reports: Brazil Picks Sweden's Gripen Fighter Jet (DefenseNews)

Yes, America Has Another Secret Spy DroneWe Pretty Much Already Knew That (War is Boring blog)

Ousted USAF chief continues controversial fight for F-22 production (Jane's)

Forbes Calls for Extending Super Hornet Production (USNI News)

US Navy Launches UAV from a Submarine (USNI News)

Brazil inches closer towards naval ambitions (Jane's)

Argentina threatens companies over Falklands oil drilling (CNN)

HMCS Chicoutimi ready for sea trials in Island waters after three years of repairs (Times Colonist)

War Over the Warthogs (Time, Swampland)

Navy Completes Initial Development of New Carrier Landing System (USNI News)

New big-deck amphib AMERICA (LHA 6) takes to the sea for the first time (DefenseNews, Intercepts blog)

Here's to hoping that they get built, without too much controversy or budgetary nightmare. Too much to ask? Joint Support Ships To Be Named HMCS Queenston and HMCS Chateauguay (Ottawa Citizen, Defence Watch blog)

Colombia says Russian bombers violated at least twice his airspace: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/06/us-colombia-russia-airspace-idUSBRE9A504020131106

US Navy Employment Options for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) (RAND, pdf)