National Defense articles from April 2005

National Defense archives from April 2005

Consistency, consensus needed on industry profits.(President's Perspective)(defense contracts)
April 1, 2005... At a time when defense programs are under growing pressure to control costs and increase efficiency, it is important for the industry to be attuned not only to customers' needs but also to the way government officials view contractors' profits....

Army grunts will be 'million-dollar' men.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The cost of equipping soldiers has escalated dramatically since the beginning of the war in Iraq, says the Army's top deputy for acquisition. Some troops in specialized jobs today carry more than $100,000 in gear. Equipping a soldier with...

'Thought police' displeased by general's memo.(Washington Pulse)(media coverage of memo to army reserve forces)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Senior Pentagon officials were not amused when a memo written by the U.S. general in charge of Army Reserve forces was leaked to the news media last December. The memo by Lt. Gen. James R. Helmly criticized the current reserve mobilization...

Artillery vs. air power dispute continues.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The turf feud between the Air Force and the Army on how best to destroy targets on the ground continues unabated. A rivalry between supporters of ground-based artillery and those who favor air-delivered firepower surfaced in open debates...

Fixing army trucks almost as costly as buying new.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The steep price tag for repairing Army trucks is fueling debate among service leaders on whether it makes more sense to buy new vehicles, rather than fix them. A Humvee shipped back from Iraq, for example, costs $39,000 to refurbish at...

Federal smart ID cards come with disruptions.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)(identification cards standards)
April 1, 2005... An effort to strengthen and standardize identification cards will bring headaches to federal agencies, but those in charge of steering the process vow to make it as smooth as possible. The creation of the ID cards, mandated in August by...

Report: hate tracts imported to America's mosques.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)
April 1, 2005... Saudi Arabia's government is disseminating "hate propaganda" in its textbooks and reading materials, and some of that material is flowing into the United States, said a newly released study from a Washington think tank. The report,...

Defense net falls short in homeland missions.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)(Global Information Grid)
April 1, 2005... The Defense Department's computer network, the Global Information Grid, is not adept at connecting homeland security missions. This shortcoming is leading Pentagon planners to find ways to improve interconnectivity during defensive missions....

Coast Guard unveils new port security tech.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)(underwater security system)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Coast Guard has unveiled its first-ever underwater port security system, a network of sensors and divers that are intended to thwart underwater bombers. The system is designed to protect port infrastructure and vessels from underwater...

Hemisphere anti-terror effort gets increase.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The United States has pledged an additional $1.6 million to strengthen and expand counter-terrorism coordination in the Western Hemisphere, officials announced at a meeting of the Organization of American States. The message was delivered...

BRAC 2005 could help fix training, housing shortages.(Defense Watch)(Base Realignment and Closure)
April 1, 2005... It's that time again: that periodic base closing drill that pits the Defense Department against military commanders who need ever so much housing and training facilities. Added to the mix is an array of politicians and business interests...

Army struggles with weight of future combat systems.(Up Front)
April 1, 2005... Only weeks before a crucial Pentagon review, officials overseeing the Army's Future Combat Systems continue to search for ways to lower the weight of new vehicle designs. FCS is envisioned as a family of high-tech combat vehicles intended...

Technologies rushed to war: and then what?(Up Front)(specialized military equipment timely deployment to Iraq war)
April 1, 2005... Hasty deployment of specialized military equipment to forces under fire in Iraq and Afghanistan have saved the day more than once for Army troops. Materiel has ranged from bomb-detection robots to handheld language translators to...

Air Force kicks off staff reorganization.(Up Front)
April 1, 2005... Air Force officials intend to have in place by October nine new war-fighting headquarters--one for each of the unified command's geographic area of responsibility. Unlike the current setup, which varies from one command to another, the new...

Strategy to blame for radio woes, says acquisition deputy.(Up Front)(Joint Tactical Radio System)
April 1, 2005... The Army's decision to suspend the development of the Joint Tactical Radio System is a necessary step to get the program on track, said Lt. Gen. Joseph Yakovac, military deputy for Army acquisition. Yakovac described JTRS as an important...

Homeland Security: proposed budget boosts technology spending.
April 1, 2005... The proposed 2006 Department of Homeland Security budget has two persistent themes: consolidation and technology. By controlling the money flow, the Bush administration is attempting to change the way the federal government develops new...

Shields of steel: U.S. army leaders contemplate options to improve truck armor.
April 1, 2005... In fits and starts, the Army so far has outfitted more than 22,000 trucks with protective armor for troops in Iraq. While Army officials cite this accomplishment as proof that depots and suppliers can be mobilized rapidly it times of need, they...

Army cutbacks prompt questions about vulnerabilities to air threats.
April 1, 2005... A sizeable reduction planned for the Army's air-and-missile-defense force is touted by proponents as a necessary move that reflects the realities of current conflicts. But critics worry that the cutbacks will leave ground combat units more...

Army installs windshield coatings on Humvees destined for Iraq.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A peel-away coating used to protect Humvee windshields, earlier reported as a failure by the U.S Army's Tank and Automotive and Armaments Command, is now moving forward. TACOM officials told National Defense last fall there would be no...

Elusive targets: Navy in pursuit of smart weapons for five-inch guns.(extended range guided munition)
April 1, 2005... At a time when high-tech precision weapons are commonplace throughout the military services, the Navy concedes that one of its flagship efforts to equip the fleet with extended range, "smart" five-inch shells so far has failed. The program...

Aviation force gets smaller, but new aircraft spending on course.
April 1, 2005... Both Navy and Marine Corps aviation forces will see a slight drop in the size of the fleet, but production of new aircraft will continue at a healthy pace, said Rear Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline Jr., director of the Navy Air Warfare Division. ...

Carrier overhaul: USS Enterprise gets $200 million renovation.
April 1, 2005... The Navy's oldest nuclear aircraft carrier just back from the war in Iraq--is undergoing a $200 million overhaul that will help her last at least another decade. The USS Enterprise (CVN-65) sailed into the Northrop Grumman Newport News,...

Navy seeks to simplify ship maintenance.
April 1, 2005... The U.S. Navy is working to reduce the time that its ships spend in maintenance, said Rear Adm. Mark A. Hugel, deputy director for fleet readiness. It's a key part of the Navy's "fleet response plan," Hugel told National Defense. The...

Navy creates a new command to centralize force protection.(Maritime Force Protection Command to manage maritime security)
April 1, 2005... The U.S. Navy has consolidated the management of all force-protection units deployed around the world into a single new organization. The Maritime Force Protection Command was established in October to manage the training and equipping of...

Taking off: helicopter market to enjoy decade of growth.(helicopter industry forecast)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2005... UPGRADES AND A SURGE OF NEW U.S. MILITARY orders should make the next 10 years a busy decade for rotorcraft manufacturers, according to a recent study by Forecast International Inc. By 2012, manufacturers will fill $11.1 billion worth of...

V-22 aims toward full-rate production.(tiltrotor aircraft )
April 1, 2005... The troubled V-22 tiltrotor Osprey aircraft continues to encounter problems even as it lurches toward full-rate production, possibly as early as November of this year. The V-22 is intended to replace the U.S. Marine Corps' 40-year-old....

Personnel locator system helps rescue downed pilots.
April 1, 2005... Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Special operations pilots are receiving an upgraded personnel locator system that relies on voice and text messaging to rescue downed pilots and aircrews. The system is Cubic Defense's V12, which is being...

Unmanned aircraft 'roadmap' reflects changing priorities.(unmanned aircraft systems)
April 1, 2005... The Defense Department is dispensing with the descriptive "unmanned aerial vehicles," in favor of a new term: unmanned aircraft systems. Officials assert this name change reflects the increasingly complex nature of unmanned-aircraft programs,...

Army developing tactics for armed robotic aircraft.(weaponized unmanned aerial vehicle )
April 1, 2005... One of the Army's oldest unmanned aerial vehicles is being outfitted with precision-guided weapons for operations in Iraq, officials say. The armed aircraft, called the Hunter, is viewed as a potentially valuable weapon for urban warfare. ...

Marines refine tactics for unmanned aircraft.
April 1, 2005... The Marine Corps' Dragon Eye is now a veteran of the military's young unmanned aircraft fleet. Lessons from the battlefield are driving the second generation of these machines, including integrating them with ground assets, teaming them in...

Gulf nation poised to lead region in production of unmanned aircraft.
April 1, 2005... Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates--Amid heightened security risks in the Persian Gulf region, this nation's military is pushing aggressively to develop its own surveillance and reconnaissance assets. Crown Prince General Sheikh Mohammed Bin...

Irregular warfare: counterinsurgency in Iraq provides template for fighting terrorism.
April 1, 2005... The anti-insurgency tactics the U.S. military is learning in Iraq could be applied globally, which would turn the war on terrorism into a "war on insurgency," said Lt. Gen. William Boykin, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and...

Special operations command plans for expanded role in U.S. war on terrorism.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The expanding role of the U.S. Special Operations Command in planning and executing the U.S. war on terrorism will not necessarily take resources away from the conventional military services, said U.S. SOCOM Commander Gen. Bryan D. Brown. ...

Coalition training: U.S. special operations forces step up collaboration with allies.
April 1, 2005... Efforts by the U.S. Special Operations Command to cooperate with allies and help train other nation's military forces are getting a significant boost in the administration's 2006 defense budget proposal. The command is slated to receive...

Marines to take over responsibilities for training foreign forces.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Marine Corps will set up a specialized unit dedicated to training foreign troops. The unit-scheduled to begin operations on October 1-will be staffed by up to 400 Marines. It will supplement the training program that had been solely the...

Junior leader training emphasizes fast 'thinking' in defeating guerillas.
April 1, 2005... To better prepare junior officers and sergeants to fight urban guerillas, the Army is adopting a new training philosophy, one that is designed to "develop leaders who can think," a senior official said. While combating an insurgency in...

Simulations test army future combat systems.(Technology Report)
April 1, 2005... As the U.S. Army proceeds with the development of the Future Combat Systems, program officials increasingly will be relying on sophisticated models and simulation to test the performance of the technology. Much of this technology is being...

FBI garners command center on wheels.(Federal Bureau of Investigation)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The FBI has received a 34-foot long, stainless steel, expandable command vehicle that was used first at President Bush's January inauguration. Built by Pierce Manufacturing Inc. of Appleton, Wis., the diesel-powered mobile command post may see...

Unlimited, renewable power source for GIs.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Soldiers on the move may no longer have to tote a heavy load of batteries. Global Solar has developed the P3-a solar energized power generator that is light-weight and folds for easy storage. The power pack that relies on thin film photovoltaic...

Autonomous craft explores the deep.(Pennsylvania Applied Research Laboratory)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A 30-foot unmanned underwater vehicle developed by Penn State's Applied Research Laboratory is performing an array of underwater tasks for the Navy. This improved version of the Seahorse is powered by more than 9,000 standard D alkaline...

Machines tame defects on high speed lines.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... A 360-degree inspection and sorting machine now is available to help ensure the quality of fasteners, screw parts, ammunition and related cylindrical parts. The General Inspection LLC product line relies on a variety of sensors--laser, vision...

Goggles help Brits see better in Afghanistan.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... British troops in Afghanistan--assigned to the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters regiments--are receiving advanced protective eyewear from Revision Eyewear Inc. The Montreal, Canada-based company is offering two. The Sawfly and Bullet Ant...

Chinook off-load system rushed to troops.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan were having a hard time unloading supplies from Chinook helicopters. Not only was it hard work, but equipment tended to get banged up. The solution, inspired by a member of the Army's Rapid Equipping Force,...

Illegal gratuities and gifts: primer and reminder.(Ethics Corner)
April 1, 2005... As was reported in National Defense last month, the Army's Office of General Counsel reminded government executives about "the number one gift rule: Nothing requires a person to accept a gift--you may always decline." Rejection of a gift...

NDIA seeks applicants for model chapter designation.(NDIA News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Membership and Chapters Division of the National Defense industrial Association is seeking applications from its 51 local organizations around the country for recognition as model chapters in 2005. Those units that are designated as...

New York Chapter's Hy Medows gets Gold Medal.(NDIA News)(Hy Medows )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... The Greater New York-Connecticut Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association has awarded long-time member Hy Medows the NDIA Gold Medal for his 50 years of service to the organization. From 1974 to 2004, Medows served as chapter...

Tank-Auto division chair cited for 32 years' service.(NDIA News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2005... Lawrence P. Farrell Jr., president of the National Defense Industrial Association, presents the NDIA Gold Medal to Robert C. Sheridan for his 32 years of service as chairman of the association's Tank and Automotive Division at the 2005 Tactical...

WID member leads global tech security effort.(NDIA News)(Women In Defense)
April 1, 2005... K. Eileen Giglio, a longtime member of Women In Defense, is leading a major Pentagon effort to increase understanding the issues surrounding international technology security. Giglio, shown above, is director of special projects in the...

Defense industry groups issue 2005 recommendations.(Government Policy Notes)(Acquisition Reform Working Group)(Industry Logistics Coalition)(Industry Overview)
April 1, 2005... Since 1993, the National Defense Industrial Association has co-chaired two defense industry coalitions known as the Acquisition Reform Working Group (ARWG) and the Industry Logistics Coalition (ILC). The ARWG represents large and small...

NDIA events calendar.(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... APRIL 12-14 JSEM Tampa, Fla. POC: Britt Bommelje @ (703) 247-2587 Exhibits: Dawn Harper @ (703) 247-2584 19-20 Precision Strike Annual Programs Review Arlington, Va. POC: Dawn Campbell @ (703) 247-2590...

Affiliate events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... APRIL 12 DoD/AFEI Industry Day Lessons Learned Implementing the DaD Net-Centric Data Strategy Arlington, VA MAY 10-11 Net-Centric Operations 2005 Broadening the Base of Net-Centric Operations Ronald Reagan...

Chapter events.(Calendar)
April 1, 2005... APRIL 5-7 Greater Hampton Roads Chapter JFCOM Industry Symposium Portsmouth, Va. 22 Aberdeen Prov Ground Chapter Membership Dinner Aberdeen, Md. 25 Washington Chapter/USO ...