National Defense articles from August 2004

National Defense archives from August 2004

Soldiers benefit from 'rapid fielding' mentality.(President's Perspective)(RDECOM)
August 1, 2004... The U.S. Army faces enormous challenges today, as it continues to fight wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and other theaters. With an overstretched force--currently 165,000 soldiers in 120 countries--and unforeseen future threats, the Army deserves...

'Don't get so joint so fast,' cautions general.(Washington Pulse)(Hal Hornburg)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Defense Department may be going too far in pushing the notion that the military services should be more closely integrated, said a senior official. The inter-service cooperation seen recently in Iraq proves the value of joint warfare, but...

Naval aviators told to tighten belt.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... With the cost of operating aircraft rising at a whopping 12 percent a year, U.S. Navy aviation leaders are under growing pressure to cut expenses. This is not welcome news to aviators who traditionally have not had to worry about penny...

Marines shifting non-combat jobs to civilians.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Marine Corps will reassign up to 4,000 jobs currently performed by active-duty troops to government employees and contractors. The move is intended to free up more Marines for combat duty, said Lt. Gen. Robert Magnus, deputy commandant for...

Military training programs could see cutbacks.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Inter-service and coalition training exercises, as well as training-related hardware projects are expected to see funding cuts in the 2005 defense budget. Many of these projects are becoming "bill payers" of war-related expenses, sources...

Congress rejects post-disaster continuity amendment.(Homeland Defense Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Planning for the unthinkable, but rejecting the abandonment of direct elections, the House of Representatives voted against changing the Constitution to allow appointments if half or more of its members are killed. The House voted 63-353,...

Homeland defense war game tests interoperability.(Homeland Defense Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The U.S. Coast Guard and National Guard participated for the first time in a homeland defense war game that melded domestic and international participants. The exercise, called the joint warrior interoperability demonstration, tested...

Truck detector test program underway in El Paso.(Homeland Defense Briefs)(Transportation Systems Laboratory)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... A truck screening system designed to inspect containers for illicit cargo is being tested at the Ysleta Border Station in El Paso. The system will use pulsed fast neutron analysis to inspect the cargo, according to Joseph Gotto of the...

Intelligence center collates transportation data.(Homeland Defense Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... An operations center that collects and collates intelligence between industry and government officials in the transportation sector is nearing completion at the Department of Homeland Security, officials said. "For the first time, we're...

Gilmore urges rational response to terror.(Homeland Defense Briefs)(James Gilmore)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The danger of terrorism is real but requires a rational response, said James Gilmore, former Virginia governor and chairman of the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction. ...

Justice Dept. crafts standards for robots.(Homeland Defense Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The National Institute of Justice is in the process of developing voluntary standards for robots used in law enforcement applications, according to Justice Department officials. "We expect to have the robot standard completed in 2006,"...

Guard eyes changes in military liaison program.(Homeland Defense Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The National Guard's effort to create joint forces headquarters may include permanently assigned military liaison officers from each service, according to National Guard officials. The emergency preparedness liaison officers would be...

Pentagon takes another shot at enforcing joint thinking.(Defense Watch)(joint capabilities integration and development system)
August 1, 2004... For nearly two decades, the civilian leadership of the Defense Department and the joint chiefs of staff have tried various ways to impose adult supervision on the buying power of the military services. The latest attempt to bring about more...

Navy downsizing could weaken Marine Corps expeditionary posture.(Up Front)
August 1, 2004... As the U.S. Navy's investments and planning point towards a shrinking fleet, it remains unclear how the downsizing will affect the Marine Corps and its ability to carry out expeditionary warfare missions. Cutbacks in the number of...

Marine Harriers, Hornets headed to Iraq this fall.(Up Front)
August 1, 2004... The Marine Corps will be deploying fighter jets to Iraq, not necessarily to drop bombs, bur to take over reconnaissance and surveillance missions previously performed by helicopters. Commanders have no other choice, officials said, because...

Computer system helps lower spare parts shortages at Air Force depots.(Up Front)
August 1, 2004... On any given day, 15 percent of the Air Force fleet is grounded as a result of spare parts shortages. One possible way to fix the problem, officials said, is to replace outdated information systems that do not provide accurate data about supply...

Navy will build electromagnetic gun test site.(Up Front)
August 1, 2004... The U.S. Navy is preparing to break ground on a program dedicated to testing the science behind electromagnetic rail guns. The Navy will begin the construction of a new building devoted to the project will begin construction this summer at...

Israeli Defense Forces trying to perfect urban combat tactics, techniques.(Up Front)
August 1, 2004... Israel Defense Forces have been working to perfect their urban warfare tactics, in an effort to eliminate militant cells in the disputed zones of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The goal is to gradually shift from a defensive to an offensive...

Erratum.(Up Front)(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2004... A story in the July 2004 edition (Army Ponders New Diesel Engine for Humvee Trucks) contained incorrect information on the type of engines found in most Humvees. Most Humvees come with 6.2-or 6.5-liter V-8 diesel engines.

Pentagon chem-bio defense program is due for sweeping reform.(Up Front)(chemical and biological defense programs)
August 1, 2004... The Pentagon's chemical and biological defense programs need major changes in the way they field technology, cooperate with other government agencies and support the private sector, according to a senior official. "We are looking for new...

No quick fixes on the horizon for army logistics operations.(Up Front)
August 1, 2004... The Army intends to field quick-reaction brigades that can respond to contingencies and help facilitate the deployment of a larger force. The goal is to avoid the lengthy buildups that preceded the most recent conflicts in the Persian Gulf. ...

Tightening job market ahead for aviators.(Up Front)
August 1, 2004... U.S. Navy aviators will see far more scrutiny of their performance and considerably more intense competition for promotions as a result of unprecedented high levels of pilot retention, officials said. The soaring retention rates, combined...

Air Force strives to cope with delayed tanker lease.
August 1, 2004... U.S. Air Force officials are struggling to figure out how to proceed in the aftermath of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's decision to postpone a controversial plan to lease 100 Boeing KC-767A tanker transport aircraft as replacements for its...

European Defense Agency raising hackles in U.S.
August 1, 2004... The creation of the European Defense Agency is sending ripples across the Atlantic and raising questions about Europe diverting resources away from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Trans-Atlantic tensions over European commitments to...

International trade benefits U.S., says Pentagon acquisition chief.(Michael Wynne)
August 1, 2004... The U.S. Congress must be better educated on the benefits of International trade, according to the Pentagon's top procurement official. "There is a two-way flow that is necessary," Michael Wynne, acting undersecretary of defense for...

Multinational aircraft program tests transatlantic cooperation.
August 1, 2004... The Pentagon's international security office is sharpening its focus on the Joint Strike Fighter program, which is viewed as a litmus test for transatlantic cooperation. Troubles and delays in the JSF program--which has the United Kingdom...

In search of better gear: Army Research arm seeks to enhance armor protection, reduce combat load.(Cover Story)
August 1, 2004... The U.S. Army's research and development arm is reorganizing to better juggle immediate and far-term technology needs. On the short list are demands to reduce the weight of a soldier's combat load and to develop armor that protects exposed arms...

Researchers, manufacturers search for better body armor.
August 1, 2004... Demands for body armor improvements are driving the defense industry to create near- and far-term solutions to provide lightweight, reliable protection from a variety of ballistic threats. Long-range developments, drawn from anticipated...

Army researchers optimistic about 'liquid armor'.
August 1, 2004... After two decades of research, Army engineers may be getting closer to developing "liquid armor," which one day could be used to make military bulletproof garments. By combining a liquid composite substance-known as shear thickening...

Robotic 'exoskeletons' could help soldiers bear heavier loads.
August 1, 2004... Researchers are edging closer to fielding a gas-powered system that will permit soldiers to effortlessly carry hundreds of pounds of equipment on the battlefield. The program, sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency...

Army will boost supply of small cal ammo, weapons.
August 1, 2004... Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are consuming small caliber ammunition at rates the U.S. Army has not seen in years. Troops will be using approximately 1.5 billion small caliber rounds a year for the next several years, said Kevin Fahey,...

Future of Army's 'Rapid Equipping Force' still uncertain.
August 1, 2004... The U.S. Army's Rapid Equipping Force-which was created to meet soldiers' urgent technology needs-still is an experiment that keeps growing, according to service officials. Led by Co. Bruce Jette, the REF has expanded from 14 to 40...

Protection of Army truck requires tradeoffs.
August 1, 2004... Military truck makers are grappling with how to best satisfy seemingly incompatible goals: building relatively uncomplicated vehicles that can both sustain the rigors of combat and, when needed, effortlessly be plated with thousands of pounds...

Army labs, contractors respond to soaring demand for vehicle armor.
August 1, 2004... The U.S. Army is hastening development and deployment of armor kits to Iraq and planning new systems to harden logistics vehicles. The task of armoring vehicles at a rapid rate is made easier by the fact that most of the engineering work...

Humvee armor suppliers working around the clock.
August 1, 2004... The now familiar sight of Humvees struck by mines and roadside bombs in Iraq are driving the industry to pursue short-term fixes and long-range changes in the way they produce vehicles. The attacks prompted a frantic effort to send armor...

Truck armor testing at Aberdeen saving soldiers in combat zones.
August 1, 2004... Before new vehicle armor systems are deployed to soldiers in the field, they must first graduate from the Army's test center at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Conditions on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan have kept engineers at the test center...

Army eyeing new artillery systems.
August 1, 2004... The U.S. Army gradually plans to modernize its field artillery systems, in an effort to replace aging platforms and introduce advanced technology. In anticipation of increased spending on new weaponry, companies have in recent months unveiled a...

Diesel submarines becoming a main irritant to U.S. Navy.(diesel-electric submarines)
August 1, 2004... Following several years of relative inaction, the U.S. Navy is charging ahead with plans to neutralize what it sees as the growing menace of enemy diesel-electric submarines. Diesel-electric boats, although relatively low-tech are emerging...

Navy special operators test advanced high-speed craft.(United States. Navy)
August 1, 2004... The U.S. Navy is putting through its paces a sleek, fast, shallow-draft technology demonstrator that promises to reduce crew and passenger injuries caused by a combination of speed and choppy water. Current craft operating in comparable...

Navy searches for ways to lower injuries aboard special ops boats.
August 1, 2004... In an effort to reduce serious injuries, the U.S. Navy is retrofitting its special warfare high-speed boats with new shock-absorbing seats. The high-speed crafts, called Mark Vs, have been in operation since the mid-1990s, but it took...

U.S.-Mexico: rapport transformed by terrorist threat.
August 1, 2004... Efforts are under way on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border to reform the national security relationship between the two nations in response to increased terrorism fears. Experts agree on two points: the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 signaled...

Asa Hutchinson watchful of the diplomacy of security.
August 1, 2004... The border between Mexico and the United States is more than a massive stretch of arid land. It's also the 2,000-mile long nexus of homeland security and international diplomacy. Straddling the line of diplomat and defender is Asa...

State, locals on the ground taking security steps.
August 1, 2004... On the state and local levels, law enforcement and first responders know that cooperation is essential to saving lives. That principle is particularly relevant along the U.S.-Mexico border, where joint endeavors help to enhance security,...

'Virtual supply chains' could help bridge manufacturing gaps.(Industry Forum)
August 1, 2004... The Defense Department has immediate needs for thousands of products for which no domestic supplier can be found. Further, about a third of spare-parts shortages for Navy and Air Force aircraft and engines are attributed to "manufacturing...

Research center assisting domestic manufacturers.
August 1, 2004... In response to growing concerns about the state of U.S. manufacturing industries, Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) created the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining. The federally funded, non-profit research center, based in...

Unmanned aircraft killer proposed.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... It is inevitable: develop a stronger shield and someone will invent a sharper sword. Two British firms--QinetiQ and Sula Systems--are proposing the fielding of a relatively low cost device to counter the proliferation of unmanned aerial...

Professorial challenge yields a robot.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Physicist Carl V. Nelson, of the applied physics laboratory at The Johns Hopkins University, had a problem: he had developed several sensors to detect land mines, but he needed a vehicle to both transport the seekers through rough terrain and a...

Sea Fox: scouts enemy shoreline.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Navy's remote controlled, 16-foot Sea Fox boats are being equipped with a pair of wireless color television cameras and computer-driven network video equipment that will allow operators to receive sharp streaming video on computers up to a...

Flashlight casts powerful beam.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... A rugged flashlight relying on light-emitting diode technology is literally piercing the gloom. Produced by Pelican Products Inc, Torrance, Calif., the Recoil LED flashlights recently were put to the test by firefighters at two Air Force...

Academe invents 'brain' for Navy robots.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... U.S. and Russian scientists developed a brain-based controller for Navy unmanned underwater vehicles. Russia's Nizhny Novgorod State University and Institute for Applied Sciences, and New York Medical School are collaborating on the project....

Mini radio reprogrammed with software.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... A pocket sized communications device for infantry is now being produced by Raytheon, in McKinney, Tex. About the size of a personal digital assistant, the radio, called MicroLight, is software defined. This high speed, secure digital system is...

EPA recognizes and rewards environmental performance.(News)(Environmental Protection Agency)
August 1, 2004... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track Program recognizes and rewards top environmental performers. More than 300 U.S. manufacturers and other businesses, including a number of facilities in the...

Environmental Innovation Committee active at NDIA.(News)(National Defense Industrial Association)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The Army and the office of the secretary of defense are investigating participation in the EPA Performance Track program, which currently has more than 300 industry and government participants. The NDIA Environmental Division is perfectly...

WID becomes full affiliate with NDIA organization.(News)(Women In Defense, National Defense Industrial Association)
August 1, 2004... Women In Defense recently became a full affiliate of the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA). "The affiliation brings benefits to both entities. WID's membership, comprised of both women and men in government, military and...

NDIA events calendar.(National Defense Industrial Association )(Calendar)
August 1, 2004... AUGUST 3-6 SMART Tech Trends 2004 Symposium & Exhibition Pittsburgh, Pa. POC: Christina Buck @ (703) 247-9478 Exhibits: Karen Kane @ (703) 247-2573 9-12 Warheads & Ballistics Classified Symposium Monterey,...

Affiliate events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2004... SEPTEMBER 21-23 Enterprise Integration EXPO 2004 Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, Calif. Contact Nicole Peterson at: (703) 247-9474 or e-mail npeterson@afei.org AUGUST 23-26 Joint ADL Co-Lab Implementation Fest 2004...

Chapter events.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Calendar)
August 1, 2004... AUGUST 5 Rocky Mountain Chapter Luncheon w/NDIA/AFCEA/MAC/AFA Colorado Springs, Colo. 16-19 Tennessee Valley Chapter 7th Annual Space & Missile Defense Conference & ...

Defense Department acquisition directory.(2004 Mega Directory)(Directory)
August 1, 2004... The 2004 edition of National Defense Magazine's directory of military acquisition agencies and programs provides a comprehensive guide to the complex world of Pentagon procurement organizations. It begins with the top leadership of the Defense...

NDIA corporate index of capabilities.(2004 Mega Directory)(National Defense Industrial Association)(Directory)
August 1, 2004... This edition of National Defense Magazine--an annual directory of the corporate members of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)--is designed to be a useful and long-term business reference. It includes three sections: *...

Alphabetical Listing of Corporations.(AAI Corporation-EDS)(Directory)
August 1, 2004... AAI CORPORATION 124 Industry Lane PO Box 126 Hunt Valley, MD 21030-0126 (410) 628-3793 (phone) (410) 628-3968 (fax) Home Page: www.aaicorp.com Robert J. Peters Vice President, Business Development ...

Alphabetical Listing of Corporations.(EG&G Technical Services Inc.-Naval Air Depot North Island)(Directory)
August 1, 2004... EG&G TECHNICAL SERVICES INC. Suite 100 200 Orchard Ridge Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20878-1360 (301) 258-6554 (phone) (301) 721-2202 (fax) Home Page: www.egginc.com Dave E. Wallace Vice President, Marketing ...

Alphabetical Listing of Corporations.(Navcom Defense Electronics Inc.-ZTI Inc. Eurenco SNPE Group)(Directory)
August 1, 2004... NAVCOM DEFENSE ELECTRONICS INC. 4323 Arden Drive El Monte, CA 91731-1905 (626) 579-8689 (phone) (626) 444-7619 (fax) Home Page: www.navcom.com NAVIGANT CONSULTING INC. 75 Federal St. 14th Floor Boston,...

A word from NDIA's Vice President of Operations.(2004 Mega Directory)(National Defense Industrial Association, Barry D. Bates)
August 1, 2004... Dear NDIA Members: I am pleased to report to you that NDIA is enjoying its most successful year as this Mega Directory arrives at your mailbox. This success is in no small part attributable to the member volunteers in industry and...

NDIA schedule of events.(2004 Mega Directory)(National Defense Industrial Association )(Directory)(Calendar)
August 1, 2004... AUGUST 2004 16-19 Joint Service Environment Management Conference & Exhibition (P2 & HWM) San Antonio, Texas POC Naomi Mundy @ (703) 247-9476 Exhibits: Dawn Harper @ (703) 247-2584 The 9th Annual JSEM Conference & Exhibition,...

NDIA points of contacts.(2004 Mega Directory)(National Defense Industrial Association )(Directory)
August 1, 2004... For further information regarding NDIA technical symposia and policy meetings, key professional staff contacts are: Maj. Gen. Barry Bates, USA (Ret.), vice president of operations. General Bates brings more than 32 years of experience in a...

NDIA committees & divisions.(2004 Mega Directory)(National Defense Industrial Association )
August 1, 2004... Division Review Council Members: Joseph S. Bravman Satellink Technologies, Inc Frank Cardile ACS Defense, Inc. Dale W. Church Mechanical Technology Inc. Timothy B. Fleischer Radian, Inc. Nathaniel...

Government Policy.(2004 Mega Directory)(Peter M. Steffes, National Defense Industrial Association )
August 1, 2004... The following divisions are overseen by NDIA's Vice President for Government Policy, Peter M. Steffes. Government Policy Advisory Division The Government Policy Advisory Division is responsible for developing and implementing the...

2004 NDIA chapters.(2004 Mega Directory)(National Defense Industrial Association)
August 1, 2004... Aberdeen Proving Ground Albuquerque Arizona Ark-La-Tex Capital Cities Central Florida Central New Jersey Chicago China Lake Cleveland Cumberland Valley Delaware Valley Florida...

Association for Enterprise Integration. (Affiliates)).(Association for Enterprise Integration. (Affiliates))
August 1, 2004... The Association for Enterprise Integration (AFEI) is a rapidly growing organization that focuses on the challenges, opportunities and benefits associated with enterprise integration and net-centric operations. The building blocks of enterprises...

National Correlation Working Group.(Affiliates)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... The National Correlation Working Group became an affiliate of NDIA on February 28, 2002. The mission of NCWG is to promote systems, processes and procedures leading to the correlation, dissemination and presentation of assured, relevant...

National Training Systems Association.(Affiliates)
August 1, 2004... Companies in the simulation, training, mission planning/rehearsal and support services industry are represented through membership in the National Training Systems Association (NTSA), an affiliate of NDIA since 1992. NTSA provides the...

Precision Strike Association.(Affiliates)
August 1, 2004... MISSION AND FUNCTIONS Mission The Precision Strike Association is dedicated to advancing the science of precision guided weapons systems and to educate the public and its government leaders about the benefits of a national defense...

Women in Defense, a National Security Organization.(Affiliates)
August 1, 2004... Cultivating and supporting the advancement and recognition of women in all aspects of national security is the purpose of Women In Defense, A National Security Organization. Members of this professional organization, including men and women,...