A Really Good Use of Russian Taxes: Russia plans to install a new “state-of-the-art” air defense system by the start of 2006, reports the Moscow Times. The newspaper links the announcement of the new S-400 missile system with talk by US and Poland over the possibility of installing a ballistic missile defense system in Poland. (DR 11/18/05)
The Air Force plans to start buying thousands of advanced new handheld radios in 2027 for downed aircrew to communicate with search-and-rescue forces, a capability spotlighted earlier this year during the recovery of two aviators shot down in Iran.