National Defense articles from February 2005

National Defense archives from February 2005

U.S. must not lose manufacturing edge.(President's Perspective)(Editorial)
February 1, 2005... In business, competition is the name of the game. Many U.S companies, including major defense contractors, have enjoyed much success in the global marketplace, but there are reasons to be concerned about the future of our nation's industrial...

Truck armor.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... I enjoyed the December 2004 article, "Survival in Combat Zones Requires 'Layers' of Protection," but I can't resist two comments: It is not the value of the vehicle to be protected that dictates the type of armor but the allowable weight...

Electronic warfare.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2005... I have read with interest the article "Air Force rethinks approach to electronic attack", October 2004, by Eric Gons. Desert Storm was fought in 1991, and at that time the U.S. Air Force had learned the lessons of Vietnam and Yore Kippur...

Media blamed for Pentagon 'groupthink'.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Asked to comment on news reports that the Defense Department plans to cut weapons program budgets, the Army's top acquisition executive, Claude M. Bolton, replied that he does not react newspapers and he shuns the Pentagon's daily "Early Bird"...

Industrial 'surge' capacity worries army.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... In early December, Bolton summoned selected industry executives to discuss contracting issues and to hear the industry's position on improving the Army's ability to meet unforeseen needs for weapons systems, parts and services. A major problem...

Shortages of aircraft parts haunt commanders.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... When it comes to industrial readiness, much work remains to be done in the aviation sector, notes Maj. Gen. James H. Pillsbury, head of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command. Although contractors in general have "stepped up" to meet the...

Marine vessel shines in Asian relief operation.(Washington Pulse)(WestPac Express)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... A Catamaran leased by the Marine Corps in Okinawa, Japan, operated in relative obscurity for 18 months. When Marines were called to assist the victims of the Asian Tsunami in late December, the so-called WestPac Express high-speed vessel got...

Britain and U.S. agree to share security tech.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The United States and United Kingdom are attempting to bridge their homeland security efforts. Late last year, then-U.K. Home Secretary David Blunkett and U.S. Homeland Security Deputy Secretary James Loy signed a memorandum of agreement...

Container initiative gains toehold in Middle East.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The first Middle East organization to participate in a global port security program has just signed up, the Department of Homeland Security announced. Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corp. joined the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's...

Report calls for transparent bio-attack funding.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)
February 1, 2005... The effort to protect the United States from biological attacks has received considerable attention and money from the federal government, but those funds could be much better applied, according to a report by the Chemical and Biological Arms...

NSF funds handheld radio prototype.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)(National Science Foundation)(Audiopack Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The National Science Foundation recently granted a small business innovation research award for the development of a new radio system that is capable of transmitting data between first responders in and outside buildings. Emergency radio...

Ports pursuing high-tech security.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)(Northrop Grumman Centurion)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Northrop Grumman unveiled a port security system in December that provides a glimpse of the requirements the Navy is eyeing to harden harbors and waterways--above and below the surface. Northrop's product, called Centurion, features an...

Web-based WMD tool kit unveiled.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)(weapons of mass destruction)
February 1, 2005... The Defense Threat Reduction Agency recently released a web-based program that incorporates a handful of weapons of mass destruction related simulations and modeling programs into a one-stop location, officials said. "The goal is to push...

Military rivalries rekindled over 'roles and missions'.(Defense Watch)
February 1, 2005... The military services have proved that they can be team players in combat and work together toward common goals. The collegial spirit seen on the front lines, however, typically does not translate into affable negotiations at the Pentagon's...

Aerial prowess tested at 'Virtual Flag'.(Upfront)
February 1, 2005... The U.S. Air Force is entering the last preparation phase for a mammoth weeklong training exercise, called Virtual Flag. Scheduled to take place in March, the event is intended to bring together simulations and live exercises conducted by...

Army boosts production of security vehicle.(Upfront)
February 1, 2005... Responding to the growing insurgency in Iraq, the Army is accelerating production of an armored car that originally was designed for military police patrols. The Army has increased its purchases of the M1117 Guardian Armored Security...

Strategists learn non-violent warfare tactics.(Upfront)
February 1, 2005... A Pro-democracy group has sponsored a free video game designed to teach political activists how to plan and execute strategic non-violent warfare. Strategic non-violent warfare sounds like an oxymoron, but its practitioners say it is the...

Soldiers learn hazards of war in virtual reality.(Upfront)
February 1, 2005... The U.S. Army is testing the utility of a web-based training technology that lets soldiers share their combat experiences with troops preparing to deploy. The so-called "asymmetric warfare virtual training technology" is the military...

Retiring Kiowas will find home in law enforcement.(Upfront)
February 1, 2005... The Army's OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter will see an active retirement when it is replaced by a future armed reconnaissance helicopter, according to the program manager for scout and attack helicopters. After the war, they could end up in...

Erratum.(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2005... In the January 2005 story, "Sensors Aboard Helicopters Can Help Predict Parts Failures," the company Smiths Aerospace was incorrectly referred to as Smiths Industries. In a separate reference, it should have been stated that Dutch and British...

Speed of light: advanced communications net debuts with 3rd Infantry Division.
February 1, 2005... An obsolete analog communications network--plagued by spotty coverage, limited bandwidth and poor connectivity--is being replaced by a more capable commercial system in reorganized Army divisions. At the same time, Army planners are seeking...

Force under stress: Gen. Griffin: Army procurement in need of sweeping changes.
February 1, 2005... The Army's procurement apparatus is undergoing a major reorganization designed to anticipate and satisfy equipment requirements. So says the four-star general who is responsible for supplying troops around the world with everything from...

Transportation command searches for ways to expedite troop rotations.
February 1, 2005... In an attempt to accelerate the movement of troops in and out of Iraq, the U.S. Transportation Command is reorganizing its operations and adopting new web-based technology to help synchronize the complex logistics effort. With thousands of...

Seek and destroy: military officials warn al Qaeda determined to attack with WMD.(Special OPS)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2005... AL QAEDA AND OTHER EXTREMIST groups are seeking to acquire and use a variety of weapons of mass destruction against the United States, U.S. military officials asserted. Most attacks probably would be small-scale, incorporating improvised...

Commandos help stop weapons smugglers on high seas.(Special OPS)
February 1, 2005... Special operators are playing an active, but low-key part in the proliferation security initiative, which the United States launched in 2003 to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Initially, the initiative included the United...

Wars taking air commandos into uncharted territory.(Special OPS)
February 1, 2005... Air Force Commandos Are Adapting To The emerging difficulties of fighting counterinsurgency wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the U.S. global war on terrorism, said Lt. Gen. Michael W. Wooley. Wooley, who heads the Air Force...

Efforts to deploy sea bases could draw lessons from special warfare.(Special OPS)
February 1, 2005... AS THE U.S. MILITARY ATTEMPTS TO DEVELOP THE technology and doctrine that will allow it to launch and sustain missions solely from the sea, special operations forces have been carrying out such operations on a smaller scale for more than two...

Iraqi special forces need more training, equipment.(Special OPS)
February 1, 2005... IRAQI COMMANDO UNITS, KNOWN AS SPECIAL FORCES, continue to be hampered by equipment and training shortcomings, a Washington think tank expert contends. "The effort to create special forces in Iraq was rather slow," Anthony Cordesman, with...

Sharper focus on special operators seen worldwide.(Special OPS)
February 1, 2005... SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES AROUND THE world are being molded in the image of the elite military units of the United States, a development that is likely to shape future coalitions. Critics warn, however, that U.S. commando units may not make an...

Simulator helps aircraft recognize missile threats.(Special OPS)
February 1, 2005... THE THREAT OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES IN IRAQ AND Afghanistan has not only spurred development of cargo aircraft countermeasures, but also has prompted the deployment of a simulator that is winning the praise of aircrews who have trained on the...

Special operators' training relies on high-quality images.(Special OPS)
February 1, 2005... SPECIAL OPERATORS INCREASINGLY ARE RELYING ON simulations to rehearse missions at the drop of a hat, but technology is not yet up to par with their need for fast processors and high-fidelity images. Therefore, the U.S. Special Operations...

Special operations recreated in Afghanistan battle simulation.(Special OPS)
February 1, 2005... SPECIAL FORCES' INFLUENCE ON COMBAT OPERATIONS is taking center stage as simulation designers reconstruct one of the century's first "transformational" battles--the fight for Mazar e-Sharif. During the campaign, an initial insertion of a...

Army allots additional funds to fix, modernize truck fleet.(Tactical Vehicles)
February 1, 2005... With a boost of at least $2 billion in the Army's budget for tactical trucks, officials are grappling with how best to strike the right balance between immediate and future needs. Military trucks once were the redheaded stepchildren of the...

Truck armor kits could be improved, says Army tester.(Tactical Vehicles)
February 1, 2005... The dramatic surge in the number and intensity of attacks against U.S. military vehicles in Iraq has prompted a rethinking of the Army's approach to armoring trucks, officials said. While the Army continues to apply steel armor to thousands...

Army not sold on commercial trucks.(Tactical Vehicles)
February 1, 2005... The Army's Detroit-based research branch for years has tried to convince service leaders that they should purchase rugged commercial pickup trucks to supplement the aging fleet of Humvees. Although the Army so far has rejected these...

Helicopter overhaul: Army's war-weary choppers get repairs.
February 1, 2005... To tackle a growing backlog of damaged and worn-out helicopters, the U.S. Army's aviation depots and contractors are operating at full tilt. By early December, at least 464 helicopters back from Iraq and Afghanistan had been returned to...

Kick starting deepwater: Coast Guard strives to move ahead on modernization.
February 1, 2005... Nearly three years after the U.S. Coast Guard launched the ambitious Deepwater program--aimed at modernizing its aging ships and aircraft--the service is struggling to pick up the pace of the enormous project. Deepwater is needed urgently,...

Maritime anti-terrorism at the crossroads of national security and homeland defense.(Commentary)
February 1, 2005... A Los Angeles-class attack submarine gets tinder way on a crisp winter morning from Naval Submarine Base New London, Conn., It is heading to sea for a deployment that will eventually take the boat into the Northern Atlantic. As the vessel...

Coast Guard's unmanned aircraft set for testing.(Commentary)
February 1, 2005... Prototypes of the Coast Guard's unmanned tilt-rotor aircraft are to be flown in February, according to officials, who add that a number of operational questions remain outstanding. Future use of the system, called Eagle Eye, depends on...

Low profile helmet makes anyone a hardhead.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Law enforcement personnel may be the recipients of an advanced ballistic protection helmet that is being produced by the Mine Safety Appliance (MSA) Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa. A company official explains the "helmet's low profile design reduces the...

Glass protector shields soldiers in war zones.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... An estimated 5,000 military vehicles in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan are now protected by a film that multiplies the strength of glass and, in the event of a bomb blast, tends to hold all of the broken shards together. Produced by...

Gripen pilots to train in agile simulator.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... Swedish aerospace company SAAB and visualization and display provider Barco of Kortrijk, Belgium, have partnered to provide a new mini-dome simulator for the most advanced version of the Gripen multi-role fighter. SAAB officials said the...

Israel's Navy acquires super fast patrol boats.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Israeli Navy has received the first of six fast patrol/interdiction craft from the AIA/Ramata division. Called the Super Dvora Mk-Ill, the new, nearly 50-knot craft is the result of a two-year joint development effort. Israel Navy...

Army scrutinizing stealthy, clean vehicle.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The U.S. Army in conjunction with Quantum Technologies, Irvine, Calif., has developed a speedy off-road vehicle that is powered by a compressed hydrogen fuel cell and is capable of producing electrical power for surveillance, targeting and...

New rules for clearances included in Intel reform.(Government Policy Notes)
February 1, 2005... The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004--which President Bush now is preparing to implement--mandates a comprehensive shake-up of the nation's intelligence community. The law is reflects many of the recommendations of...

Boeing strengthens, enhances ethics program.(Ethics Corner)
February 1, 2005... In November, NDIA published its newly approved code of ethics. One example of a corporation that has taken a comprehensive look at its entire ethics program is the Boeing Company. Boeing has strengthened and enhanced its ethics program,...

VP speaks at pentagon's maintenance meeting.(NDIA News)
February 1, 2005... NDIA's vice president for operations, retired Army Maj. Gen. Barry D. Bates, addresses the 2004 Defense Department Maintenance Conference in Houston, Texas. At the conference, the Office of the Secretary of Defense presents the Phoenix and OSD...

Top Pentagon leaders to participate in enterprise integration conference.(NDIA News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The Association for Enterprise Integration (AFEI) is working with the Defense Department's chief information office to provide government officials an industry perspective on a number of issues. Specifically, AFEI will assist in examining...

In memoriam--Paul Harry Scordas.(NDIA News)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 1, 2005... Paul Harry Scordas--a long-time staff member of the Army Ordnance Association, a predecessor to the National Defense Industrial Association--died in November at his home in Silver Spring, Md. He was 92 years old. Scordas served in the U.S....

Head of jet propulsion lab to get Bob Hope award.(NDIA News)(Charles Elachi)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2005... The National Defense Industrial Association's Greater Los Angeles Chapter will present the Bob Hope Distinguished Citizen Award to Charles Elachi, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, at its 55th West Coast Dinner. The black tie...

NDIA events calendar.(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... FEBRUARY 2-4 16th Annual NDIA SOLIC Symposium & Exhibition Washington, D.C. POC: Ann Saliski @ (703) 247-2577 Exhibits: Dawn Harper @ (703) 247-2584 6-8 Tactical Wheeled Vehicles Conference Monterey, Calif. POC: Angie DeKleine @ (703)...

Affiliate events.(NDIA Events Calendar)(National Defense Industrial Association)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... AFEI www.afei.org FEBRUARY 23-24 Enterprise Services Holiday Inn Rosslyn, Va. MARCH 14-16 W2Cog Conference Seminar George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia MAY 10-11 Net-Centric Operations 2005 Broadening the Base of Net-Centric...

Chapter events.(NDIA Events Calendar)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 1, 2005... FEBRUARY 25 Greater Los Angeles Chapter West Coast Dinner Los Angeles, Calif. MARCH 15-17 Michigan Chapter TACOM/Industry Logistics Symposium Dearborn, Mich. APRIL 6-8 Greater Hampton Roads Chapter JFCOM Industry Symposium Portsmouth,...