Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 3, 2011

Despite its robotic nature, the X-37B space plane received a warm welcome from Air Force crews at Vandenberg. Here, the vehicle appears to be undergoing safing procedures after landing on Dec. 3 at 1:16 a.m. PST (0916 GMT). Significant weathering, or discoloration, can be seen on the spacecraft's upper thermal blanket insulation. CREDIT: USAF/Vandenberg Air Force Base

Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Launching On Secret Mission Friday -- Space.com

The U.S. Air Force's secretive X-37B space plane is poised to launch on its second mission Friday (March 4), though what exactly it will be doing once it leaves the ground remains a mystery.

The robotic X-37B mini-shuttle is slated to lift off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Friday atop an Atlas 5 rocket, weather permitting. Its launch window opens at 3:39 p.m. EST (2039 GMT), according to the launch provider United Launch Alliance, which is overseeing the flight.

This will mark the second space mission for the Air Force's X-37B space plane program — but the first for this particular plane. It is the second X-37B spacecraft built for the Air Force by Boeing and carries the name Orbital Test Vehicle 2, or OTV-2.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

China to unveil defense budget to nervous region -- Reuters

Analysis of Chinese Military Doctrine Indicates China Could Pose Serious Challenge to U.S. and Allied Air Forces -- RAND

Typhoon 'spiralling out of control' -- Defence Management

De Maizière Becomes New German Defence Minister in Berlin Reshuffle -- Defpro

Airbus military transport clears testing milestone -- Washington Post/AP

'Iran warships passing through Suez' -- Press TV

Seoul accelerates stealth fighter program -- Asia One

Military Drops Crazy ‘ICBMs vs. Terrorists’ Plan -- The Danger Room

Is the State Department Ready For The U.S. Military To Leave Iraq? -- ABC News

U.S. Senior Lawmakers Wary of Nuclear Agency Budget Increase -- Global Security Newswire

Over the Horizon: Sea Power and the Arab Spring -- Robert Farley, World Politics Review (commentary)

CNO: Fighter Gap? Don’t Worry About It -- Defense Tech

Pentagon wants price cut on next F-35 contract -- Reuters

U.S. Air Force to Wring 5 Percent From Buying Plans -- Defense News

U.S. Army Modernization Enters New Phase -- Ares/Aviation Week

Conventional ICBM Still an Option: Schwartz -- Defense News

U.S. House Panel Holds Up Anti-IED Funds -- Defense News

Military Shrinks Not Shrinking -- Time Magazine

CR Harm ‘May Take Years’ to Fix -- DoD Buzz

New Military Mission: Invent Better Batteries -- Tech News Daily

Effectiveness of DOD school funding questioned -- Stars And Stripes

Defense Agency Awarded Contract to Director’s Father's Company -- AllGov

Jihadis’ Next Online Buddy Could Be a Soldier -- The Danger Room

Sad, but true: Americans are out of touch with wars -- Jonathan Capehart, Washington Post (commentary)