National Defense articles from August 2007

National Defense archives from August 2007

Energy security: impact on the war on terror.(PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE)
August 1, 2007... The crucial link between national security and energy has been the subject of much debate and several blue-ribbon studies in recent months. There is a growing consensus that the United States has to find ways to bring along alternative and...

Pentagon's new jet fighter epitomizes budget dilemmas.(DEFENSE WATCH)
August 1, 2007... Beltway prognosticators warn that the military's priciest procurement programs will be the biggest casualties of the looming Pentagon budget wars expected to erupt following the draw-down of U.S. forces in Iraq. Among the Pentagon's...

Arms suppliers to get tighter scrutiny.(Washington PULSE)
August 1, 2007... In another sign of the times, the Justice Department appointed its first federal prosecutor in charge of export control enforcement. Stepping into this job is Steven W. Pelak, a U.S. attorney, who will be responsible for investigating illegal...

Chairman decides to finally ditch 'metrics'.(Washington PULSE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... While at the helm of the Defense Department, Donald Rumsfeld obsessed about hat "metrics" should be applied to measure progress in Iraq. The military leadership at the Pentagon also tried to come up with various methods for gauging success....

Massive volumes of 'lessons learned' not put to use.(Washington PULSE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... The Defense Department compiles huge databases of "lessons learned" from every military engagement. Enormous amounts of resources are spent collecting and archiving the data. For various reasons, however, Pentagon planners fail to apply past...

Air Force strikes quickly, but not quickly enough.(Washington PULSE)
August 1, 2007... The Air Force has spent decades and billions of dollars perfecting its abilities to locate, identify and strike targets immediately after getting the go-ahead orders. Under the "time-sensitive targeting" rubric, the Air Force has acquired a...

Pentagon more oil dependent than previously thought.(Washington PULSE)
August 1, 2007... One of the most widely circulated statistics about U.S. military dependence on foreign oil is that the Pentagon only consumes 1.5 percent of the 20 million barrels the nation expends each day. But that share may be grossly underestimated,...

Their finest hour: documentary aims to boost Coast Guard's public image.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)
August 1, 2007... As the Coast Guard reels from criticism of its mishandling of the Deepwater acquisitions program, one filmmaker hopes to counteract that negative publicity and bring some positive exposure back to the service. Her answer is a documentary...

Hayden: war on terrorism requires new intelligence techniques.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)(Michael Hayden)
August 1, 2007... The United States is trying to fight 21st century wars using World War II intelligence approaches, said Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, director of the CIA. "We have started to recognize that intelligence is inherently operational," he said...

Equipment shortfalls compromise disaster preparedness, guard says.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)
August 1, 2007... NATIONAL GUARD EQUIPMENT readiness has plummeted in recent years, hampering the service's ability to respond to domestic emergencies, Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on...

Coordination needed for food emergencies.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)
August 1, 2007... There is no way to guarantee the safety of U.S. food and agricultural products, and confusion within governmental agencies may slow down response time should supply chains be attacked, said one expert. "I think there's a perception out...

Defense technologies for an uncertain future.(INSIDE Science AND Technology)
August 1, 2007... The United States is at a crossroads when it comes to developing defense technologies for a future that seems obscure at best. The U.S. military, the world's most technologically advanced fighting force, is pouring billions of dollars into...

Army must embrace unconventional fight.(VIEWPOINT)
August 1, 2007... The U.S. military campaign ill Iraq ha, raised difficult and thought-provoking questions about the future or the Army as a counterinsurgency force. Many observers are confused because conventional weapons and tactics are used in Iraq. And...

Closest of allies, but not when it comes radios.(UPFRONT)
August 1, 2007... British and U.S. military commanders for years have been told that they would soon be able to talk and share data over a joint radio network. Despite considerable advances in tactical communications technology--particularly in...

Equipment requests raise procurement integrity questions.(UPFRONT)
August 1, 2007... The increasingly frequent practice of tagging combat equipment requests as "urgent" needs has resulted in widespread abuse of the system, military officials and congressional investigators said. Because the Pentagon's acquisition...

Small businesses unable to exploit research grants.(Bridging the Gap)
August 1, 2007... For a majority of the small businesses that have received government funding for their high-risk research and development efforts, crossing the so-called "valley of death" to bring products to market remains a futile effort. Experts have...

Buried poison: abandoned chemical weapons pose continual threat.(CHEMICAL WEAPONS)
August 1, 2007... TACOMA, Wash. -- Hidden chemical weapons are scattered across the globe, in rivers, bays, lakes and oceans, and buried in the ground at current and former military bases. Lost and abandoned chemical weapons are known as non-stockpile...

Mercury contamination could slow down destruction of chemical stockpile.(CHEMICAL WEAPONS)
August 1, 2007... THE ARMY HAS destroyed nearly half of the nation's chemical weapons stockpile during the past decade. But completing the second half of the job by the mandated deadline of April 2012 will be tougher than previously expected. The $36...

Fighting tactics: special operators criticized for snubbing unconventional approaches.(SPECIAL OPERATIONS)
August 1, 2007... TACOMA, Wash. -- As U.S. special operations forces undergo a shift in responsibilities and a surge in personnel, a heated debate has developed about their future priorities. On the one hand are supporters of the "direct action" role of...

Fiber optic cables help special operators stay concealed.(SPECIAL OPERATIONS)
August 1, 2007... TACOMA, WASH. -- Fiber optic cables that connect tactical radios to antennas up to 10 kilometers away or farther can be useful tools in covert operations, said an industry expert. The technology replaces shorter, heavier cables that can be...

Irregular warfare group dissects terrorist strategy.(SPECIAL OPERATIONS)
August 1, 2007... TACOMA, Wash. -- Al-Qaida's strategy for establishing a grand caliphate is laid out in seven specific steps. But without a clear understanding of this plan, the U.S. military will fail to counteract it, said Brian Berrey, a retired Navy SEAL...

Stormbound: Littoral combat ship could slip behind schedule as price tag nears $500 million.(NAVY)
August 1, 2007... In the midst of a contentious debate about the Navy's embattled littoral combat ship program, the service's coveted warship has come under fire by its own supporters on Capitol Hill. A combination of escalating costs and uncertain...

Littoral combat ship troubles: opportunity for small boat companies.(NAVY)
August 1, 2007... WITH THE COST OF THE NAVY'S littoral combat ship skyrocketing and its funding in peril of repercussions from Congress, some say the sea service ought to give serious consideration to acquiring cheaper boats that could complement a reduced fleet...

Future fleet: inefficient shipbuilding jeopardizes Navy's expansion goals.(NAVY)
August 1, 2007... The Navy owns 277 ships, but somehow manages to keep 551 different engines in its inventory. It has a fleet of 57 submarines, but maintains an array of 161 periscopes and masts. Such inefficiencies partly explain why the cost of buying and...

Army aviation: 'sandblaster' gives helicopter pilots hope for safer landings.(Cover story)
August 1, 2007... Landing a helicopter in sandstorms, dust, or snow typically produces a dense cloud that can disorient and blind pilots. In military operations, these treacherous brownout conditions often are to blame for costly mishaps. The Army has for...

Army helos can thwart missiles, but remain vulnerable.(ARMY AVIATION)
August 1, 2007... THE ARMY HAS MADE progress protecting helicopters flying in Iraq from shoulder-fired missiles, but its crews and aircraft routinely are the targets of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. "The primary threat from the enemy that we...

On the line: National Guard plugs gaps for Border Patrol in the Southwest.(NATIONAL GUARD)
August 1, 2007... SAN LUIS, Ariz. -- Sgt. Elgin Cofield, and two other National Guard members stood under a canopy along a dusty road overlooking a road leading to the U.S.-Mexico border. It was 107 degrees and the three were dressed in full body armor. ...

Border patrol receives unexpected technology boost.(NATIONAL GUARD)
August 1, 2007... NOGALES, Ariz. -- Hundreds of obsolete Javelin missile weapon sights collecting dust in a warehouse have been given new life with the U.S. Border Patrol. The Javelin is an anti-tank missile that is used by the Army and Marine Corps and...

Border patrol still looking for the ultimate tough truck.(NATIONAL GUARD)
August 1, 2007... TUCSON, Ariz. -- If a manufacturer has built an off-road truck tough enough to withstand the punishment the Border Patrol inflicts on its vehicles, the agency would like to see it. Agent Jim Hawkins, Tucson sector spokesman, said the Border...

National guard, reserves get help, but need more.(POINT OF VIEW)
August 1, 2007... It has been widely recognized that the National Guard is over-committed and under-equipped. Many members of Congress also acknowledge that the challenges facing the National Guard go beyond equipment and personnel to include a lack of...

Small wonder: tiny building roving robot carries sensors, weapons.(TECH TALK)
August 1, 2007... A multi-mission compact robot that is able to negotiate stairs and other obstacles has been configured especially for action in buildings and other confined spaces, according to Elbit Systems of Haifa, Israel. The 25-pound robot may be...

System monitors toxic agents.(TECH TALK)(Guardian Blue Early Warning System)(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... THE GUARDIAN BLUE Early Warning System, which monitors municipal water supplies for contaminants, has received certification from the Department of Homeland Security. Hatch Co. of Loveland, Colo., says the system can detect a full spectrum of...

Enhanced battle dressing perfected.(TECH TALK)
August 1, 2007... H&H ASSOCIATES, a company in Gloucester, Va. that specializes in first-aid products for the military, has developed a triple valve design dressing with a hydrogel adhesive that is designed specifically for sucking chest wounds. Called the Bolin...

Non-lethal projectile hurts, then stings.(TECH TALK)(PepperBall Technologies Inc. of San Diego introduces a non-lethal weapon )(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, guards and other security personnel have another non-lethal solution in their arsenal to stop bad guys quick. PepperBall Technologies Inc. of San Diego has put together a semiautomatic pepper ball gun, which is called...

Singapore civil servant invents casualty evacuation scooter.(TECH TALK)
August 1, 2007... The Singapore Civil Defence Force has come up with an in-house solution to evacuating mass casualties in the event of a man-made or natural disaster. Rather than having two first responders carry one litter, the Motorized Casualty Scooter...

Heart monitoring for soldiers on the move.(TECH TALK)
August 1, 2007... Improved capacitive sensors that can be integrated with clothing--a chest belt or shirt--are providing accurate electrocardiogram measurements in a variety of circumstances. For example, the system can be incorporated on stretchers or gurneys...

Advanced satellite modem fielded.(TECH TALK)
August 1, 2007... Scientists at Fort Monmouth, N.J., are fielding a cheaper, more reliable and vastly more efficient single channel per carrier modem for military satellite communications. Tagged as the enhanced bandwidth efficient modem, it has a transmission...

Rapid deployable buoy geared for multiple missions.(TECH TALK)
August 1, 2007... A COMPACT AUTONOMOUS mooring buoy that can be equipped with a variety of sensor packages for military and scientific missions is being produced by Florida Atlantic University at Boca Raton, Fla., and Lockheed Martin Corp. Among its many...

Building an ethical culture from the top.(ETHICS CORNER)(Lockheed Martin Corp.)(Company overview)
August 1, 2007... The NDIA ethics code encourages companies always to aspire to and implement best practices in all dealings with the government and other businesses. Lockheed Martin Corp. has approached its goal of advancing its ethics program beyond the...

Association leaders experience life aboard the 'Big E'.(NDIA NEWS)
August 1, 2007... A recent visit to the USS Enterprise, the first nuclear-powered carrier in the U.S. Navy, became an unforgettable experience for Rear Adm. Fred Lewis, USN (Ret.), president of the National Training and Simulation Association, and for Dave...

NDIA events calendar.(National Defense Industrial Association )(Calendar)
August 1, 2007... AUGUST 2007 20-23 Beyond SBIR Phase II Conference & Exhibition Arlington, VA POC: Britt Bommelje @ (703) 247-2587 Exhibits: Allison Burns @ (703) 247-2584 27-29 Land & Maritime Supply Chains Business...

Affiliate events.(Brief article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2007... SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2007 Enterprise Security Management Sheraton Premiere, Tyson's Corner NOVEMBER 1-2, 2007 Cyber Deterrence McLean, Virginia DECEMBER 11-12, 2007 Open Source Sheraton Premiere, Tyson's Corner...

Chapter events.(NDIA EVENTS CALENDAR)(Brief article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2007... AUGUST 13-16 Tennessee Valley Chapter Space & Missile Defense Conference, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL 14-15 San Diego Chapter Navy Gold Coast Conference San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA 20 Delaware Valley Chapter...

Defense Department acquisition directory.(2007 MEGA DIRECTORY)(Directory)
August 1, 2007... The 2007 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...

NDIA corporate index of capabilities.(2007 MEGA DIRECTORY)(National Defense Industrial Association )(Directory)
August 1, 2007... 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: First,...

NDIA corporate index of capabilities.(Access Control-Logistics Support/Management)(Directory)
August 1, 2007... ACCESS CONTROL 3M Acquired Data Solutions Inc. ADI Technologies Inc. Advantor Systems Corp. American Forensics Inc. AMERICAN SYSTEMS Analytical Graphics Inc. ARES Corp. ARINC Inc. Assurance...

Defense industry.(1Stpower, a Division of Energy Technologies Inc.-DCS Corp.)(Directory)
August 1, 2007... 1STPOWER, A DIVISION OF ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES INC. 219 Park Ave. E. Mansfield, OH 44902-1845 (419) 522-4444 (phone) Home Page: www.1stpower.com P D Madden General Manager Tim Lowe Vice President, Sales...

Defense industry.(DE Technologies Inc.-KM Systems Group LLC)(Directory)
August 1, 2007... DE TECHNOLOGIES INC. 3620 Horizon Drive King of Prussia, PA 19406-2647 (610) 270-9700 (phone) Home Page: http://www.detk.com George Chou President Robert Ciccarelli Vice President ciccarelli@detk.com...

Defense industry.(Knight's Armament Co.-San Diego Business Journal)(Directory)
August 1, 2007... KNIGHT'S ARMAMENT CO. 701 Columbia Blvd. Titusville, FL 32780 (321) 607-9900 (phone) Home Page: www.knightarmco.com C. Reed Knight, Jr. Owner groberge@knightarmco.com William Pryor Contracting ...

Defense industry.(San Diego State University Research Foundation-Zodiac of North America Inc.)(Directory)
August 1, 2007... SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION 5250 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-1933 (619) 594-4524 (phone) Home Page: www.foundation.sdsu.edu Barry Janov Director, S. R. Project Management ...

A word from NDIA's vice president of operations.(2007 MEGA DIRECTORY)
August 1, 2007... Dear NDIA Members: As you receive this year's issue of the Mega Directory, fiscal 2007 will be waning, but what a year it's been! NDIA member volunteers who generously contribute their time and talent to serve in Divisions, Industrial...

2007 mega directory.(Calendar)
August 1, 2007... July 2007 30-August 2 Naval S&T Industry Partnership Conference Washington, DC POC Kim Williams @ (703) 247-2578 Exhibits: Alden Davidson@ (703) 247-2582 Highlights will include: * Remarks from the senior...

NDIA points of contact.(National Defense Industrial Association )(Directory)
August 1, 2007... 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.(National Defense Industrial Association)(Organization overview)
August 1, 2007... DIVISION REVIEW COUNCIL ARMAMENTS DIVISION Chair David E. Broden Broden Resource Solutions Mission: To provide a forum for industry, government and the military services to address issues which ensure a superior armament...

Government policy.(2007 MEGA DIRECTORY)
August 1, 2007... 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...

Chapters officers and directors.(2007 MEGA DIRECTORY)(Directory)
August 1, 2007... ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND CHAPTER (Central Maryland) Chartered 16 August 1944 Website: http://www.ndiaapg.org/ President John F. Roth Jr., U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Vice President ...

Association for Enterprise Integration.(AFFILIATES)
August 1, 2007... PEOPLE--PROCESS-TECHNOLOGY--INFORMATION Corporations, universities, government agencies and individuals join AFEI to: Network with government and industry. * Shape requirements, strategy and policy. * Demonstrate...

National Training and Simulation Association.(AFFILIATES)
August 1, 2007... Companies in the simulation, training, mission planning/rehearsal and support services industry are represented through membership in the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA), an affiliate of NDIA since 1992. NTSA provides the...

Precision Strike Association.(AFFILIATES)(Organization overview)(Calendar)
August 1, 2007... The Precision Strike Association is the premier professional organization dedicated to advancing the art and science of precision engagement concepts and technologies. The Association focuses on the Kill Chain by supporting the development of...

Women In Defense, a National Security 0rganization.(AFFILIATES)
August 1, 2007... Cultivating and supporting the advancement and recognition of women in all aspects of national security is the mission of Women In Defense, A National Security Organization (WID). A non-profit organization, WID was established to provide women...