Morning Coffee 8-3-11

Ashton Carter

A robust blend of news from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, NAVAIR, the Pentagon and beyond:

• Ashton Carter nominated as deputy defense secretary.
• “Revenge of the Nerd?”
• Defense secretary Leon Panetta’s statement on Carter’s  nomination.
• Senators question accuracy of the JSF’s trillion-dollar lifespan cost.
• Debt deal kicks DoD budget decisions down the road.
• Did DoD dodge the bullet in debt negotiations?
• Defense playing defense in debt deal.
• Supporters warn against cutting DoD’s alternative energy programs. (subscription required)
• Debt deal could extract $850 billion in cuts over next decade.
• Video: Lockheed pledges to sharpen focus on JSF.
• Video: AP’s take on last week’s VSTOL JSF show.
• Super Hornet contract roundup.
• Japan warns of China’s growing navy.
• An Osprey carried bin Laden’s body to the USS Vinson.