Two senior leaders at the Air Force argued that fifth generation aircraft like the F-22 and the F-35 are needed for anti-access operations, AOL Defense reported. Lt. Gen. Christopher Miller, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs, and Maj. Gen. Noel "Tom" Jones, director for operation capability requirements, told reporters that improving anti-aircraft missile systems require fifth-gen planes. The two senior Air Force leaders also referenced "anti-access" environments, a term which is closely associated with China and the AirSea Battle concept.

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Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, a privately held biotechnology company, plans to launch an IPO next week, raising up to $166.7 million, according to regulatory filings and IPO tracker Renaissance Capital. The Cambridge, Mass. company filed with the SEC to sell 16,666,667 shares of common stock at an estimated initial offering price of between $8 and $10. The company is also granting underwriters the option to purchase up to 2.5 million additional shares for 30 days. Merrimack, which was founded in 2000, plans to list on the Nasdaq under the symbol MACK…

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Revitalization Partners LLC, the receiver for Skyway Luggage Co., has sold the luggage maker’s office building at 2501 Western Ave. to Music Group Services U.S. Inc. in Bothell for $2.1 million. Prominent Seattle businessman Henry “Skip” Kotkins put the longtime family business into receivership last summer and has since become embroiled in a multimillion-dollar dispute with the receiver over the company’s management during its decline. Al Davis of Seattle-based Revitalization Partners said there were several parties seriously interested in the company’s headquarters and that the $2…

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AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) activated 7.6 million iPhones in the latest quarter, accounting for one out of every five sold around the world and driving AT&T's smartphone business, The Washington Post reports. The iPhone has accounted for about 80 percent of the smartphones AT&T activated in the fourth quarter of 2011, up from 70 percent. AT&T did, however, see a nearly 80 percent drop in profit in 2011 following a pre-tax charge of about $4 billion for its failed acquisition of T-Mobile USA and other charges…

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It was a packed house at the State of St. Louis event this morning at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel, hosted by the St. Louis Business Journal. Key speakers including, Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern were all in attendance. What was the overall theme of event? For me it was an increased partnership across the region. On the Illinois side, in St. Clair Country, Kern said economic progress is being made…

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Earlier this month, we hosted our annual Economic Forecast panel discussion at Samford University. As you can read in this recap, panelists expect a lot more of the same in the new year, including uncertainty, slow growth and debate about government regulation. Use the slideshow on the right to check out photos from the event.

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OneBlood Inc. has been chosen as the name of the organization created in the merger of three Florida blood centers. Don Doddridge was named chief executive officer of OneBlood, which will have shared corporate leadership and a virtual headquarters, with centers of excellence statewide. Doddridge was CEO of Florida Blood Services Inc. in St. Petersburg for the past 10 years. Flood Blood Services merged with Community Blood Centers of Florida Inc. in Lauderhill and Florida’s Blood Centers Inc. in Orlando, effective today…

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US Airways Group Inc.'s CEO Doug Parker confirmed Wednesday that the airline is studying possible deals to acquire American Airlines Tempe-based US Airways is the No. 1 carrier at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and Dallas-based American Airlines is also a major carrier there. During a conference call with analysts, Parker said the carrier has hired Millstein & Co., Barclays PLC and law firm Latham & Watkins to explore its options. US Airways' (NYSE: LCC) Parker confirmed the airline's interest in American during a conference call on US Airways fourth-quarter earnings…

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This week’s edition of the Phoenix Business Journal, due out today, is ranking the largest Phoenix-area commercial real estate appraisers by the number of appraisal jobs completed in 2011. First on the list was CBRE of Phoenix, which completed 1,042 jobs last year. For a sneak peek at the rest of the top five, click here. The commercial real estate appraisers list, along with the list of LEED-certified buildings, is available to subscribers. Check out pages 15 and 17 of today’s paper. If you don’t subscribe, click here…

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Sometimes, less is more. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra hopes so with its cost-reduction strategy that cuts next season's number of classical concerts in the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center next year to 62 from 82 and the number of pops performances to 24 from 36. "We hope for a greater level of energy and a greater level of enthusiasm," Dallas Symphony Board Chairman Blaine Nelson told me this week. "When you fill a hall, frankly, the concerts get better as well."' Currently, the Meyerson is running at about 65 percent full most nights…

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