National Defense articles from February 2008

National Defense archives from February 2008

U.S. has strategy for homeland security, but are we ready?(PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE)
February 1, 2008... One big question in many people's mind is whether, despite repeated assurances from public officials, the U.S. government is really prepared to cope with these threats. In October, the White House issued an updated "National Strategy for...

Preventive care prescribed for Pentagon big-ticket programs.(DEFENSE WATCH)
February 1, 2008... * At triage stations on the battlefield, medics take care of patients on the basis of need. At the Pentagon, acquisition officials engage in their own version of triage, when they must decide which programs get to live and which ones get...

Drone wars: Army, Air Force UAV spat far from over.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * The bureaucratic brawl that began last year at the Pentagon o the control of unmanned aircraft programs is not about to be settled any time soon. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England directed the Air Force and...

Pentagon cracking down on technology leakers.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... * The crackdown on unauthorized transfers of U.S. military technology is gaining strength, and it will continue to intensify, warns the Defense Department inspector general in its latest semiannual report to Congress. The "technology...

Army not ready to surrender heavy chopper.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... * Helicopter manufacturers have patiently been waiting for two decades for the Army to make up its mind on whether and when it will build a new heavy-lift chopper. This big-ticket acquisition--estimated to cost as much as $85 billion for 500...

We told you so: warships ain't corporations.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)
February 1, 2008... * Navy leaders finally have acknowledged that military commanders should not be expected to think and operate like business executives. As a result of a drastic post-Cold War downsizing in the Navy, the service began to send officers to the...

We cannot stay in a position where other nations can produce a ship.
February 1, 2008... "We cannot stay in a position where other nations can produce a ship for less than what it costs us to procure the materials." Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, speaking about the service's current financial struggle as a result...

My acceleration rate is just a little bit better.
February 1, 2008... "My acceleration rate is just a little bit better than a Volkswagen." Lt. Gen. John Castellaw, deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for programs and resources, relating his past experiences piloting Vietnam-era CH-46 helicopters, which...

We can surge combat power....
February 1, 2008... "We can surge combat power... But how do you surge the trust?" Vice Adm. Terrance T. Etnyre, commander of naval surface forces, speaking about the Navy's plans to deploy more ships on humanitarian missions, in order to "win hearts and...

ID delays: 9/11 Commission recommendations are tough sells.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * The implementation of two of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations in strengthening the verification of individuals' identities are getting pushed back. Slipped in among the massive omnibus spending bill...

Communicating with DHS officials still a problem, states say.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)(Department of Homeland Security)
February 1, 2008... * More than half of the nation's 56 state and territorial homeland security directors or advisors reported being dissatisfied with their overall communications with the Department of Homeland Security, according to an annual survey that was...

Not so fast on fast response cutters, Coast Guard says.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)
February 1, 2008... * The Coast Guard has slowed down awarding the contract for its fast response cutters after its initial request for proposals proved to be too confusing, said Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, assistant commandant for acquisition. The contract will...

Chertoff complains of heavy congressional oversight.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)(Michael Chertoff)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * During 2007, Department of Homeland Security officials testified before Congress 224 times. That averages to about four times a week, Secretary Michael Chertoff pointed out in his annual end of the year speech...

Exploring virtual worlds through the sense of touch.(INSIDE SCIENCE + TECHNOLOGY)
February 1, 2008... * Millions of receptors and sensory cells lie beneath the skin to help us discern the physical world that we live in. Of our five senses, only the sense of touch extends throughout our bodies and allows us to detect the temperature, pressure,...

Federal contractors set sights on health care business.(VIEWPOINT)
February 1, 2008... * Information technology spending on defense, intelligence and homeland security continues its upward trajectory, but contractors are setting their sights on potentially even more lucrative opportunities in health care information technology....

Numbers game: more amphibious ships are needed, Marines contend.(IN FOCUS: DEFENSE AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS)
February 1, 2008... * PANAMA CITY, Fla. -- Marine Corps leaders have stepped up pressure on the Navy to increase the size of the amphibious vessel fleet. They contend that the Navy is not buying sufficient numbers of ships to meet the Corps' future needs. ...

Directed energy: low power weapons on the rise.(IN FOCUS: DEFENSE AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * As a result of growing demand in Iraq for handheld lasers, the Defense Department is reevaluating its long-term funding priorities for non-lethal weapons. Low-power laser dazzlers are being used throughout Iraq...

Hard landing: challenges ahead for U.S. aircraft manufacturers.(Industry Study)
February 1, 2008... * The U.S. aviation industry plays a key role in today's global economy. It makes up about 9 percent of the country's gross domestic product and generates more than 11 million U.S. jobs. But the industry must prepare to face several major...

Forces afloat: Marine Corps makes strong pitch for 'sea bases'.(Sea Bases)
February 1, 2008... * PANAMA CITY, Fla. -- Senior Marine Corps officials are asking Navy leaders to commit to a plan to deploy floating military bases within the next decade. Since 2002, the Navy and Marine Corps have debated "sea basing" options as...

iPods at war: armed with music players, soldiers hunt for insurgents.(Training and Simulation)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * ORLANDO -- As they prepare for their daily patrols around Baghdad, soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division sync up their iPods, not with songs and movies, but with a laundry list of missions and audio files...

"M*A*S*H" meets "Star Trek" in Simulation for combat medics.(Training and simulation)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * WALTER REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, Md. -- Inspired by a concept found in the "Star Trek" television show, scientists and videogame designers have joined forces to build an immersive simulation that will replicate...

Weight watch: search continues for lighter alternatives to steel armor.(Tactical Vehicles)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Becoming a lighter and faster force--Army officials have iterated endlessly--is among the service's paramount goals. But the Army may have a tough time getting there as long as tons of heavy steel plates continue to...

Robo-convoy: army tests 'hands-free' driving for troop protection.(Tactical Vehicles)
February 1, 2008... * FORT A.P. HILL Va. -- The Army is in the process of testing a new system to allow drivers in truck convoys to keep their hands off steering wheels and their eyes open to spot roadside threats. The convoy active safety technologies (CAST)...

'Bird's eye view': Army to create 'hybrid' network of incompatible blue-force trackers.(Tactical Vehicles)
February 1, 2008... * A Chinook helicopter flies over a convoy of friendly troops in Afghanistan. Beyond the next bend, the pilot spots a couple of men digging holes on the side of the road. He quickly pulls up a digital map that displays several blue icons. He...

Inside simulators, soldiers learning to operate Strykers.(Tactical Vehicles)
February 1, 2008... * For years, the Army has taught soldiers how to operate its vehicles by putting them behind the wheels of tanks and trucks and letting them drive around in the motor pool. But as those vehicles become more technologically sophisticated,...

Soft power: U.S. special forces target hearts and minds.(Special Operations)(Cover story)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- The convoy was about to depart a free medical clinic when two pre-teen boys who spent their days picking through garbage ran up and told authorities about the suspicious looking rice...

Forgotten front: to counter terrorism, Philippine army takes lessons from U.S. forces.(Special Operations)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ZAMBOANGA, Philippines -- For the past six years, a little known special operations campaign in the Philippines' restive southern provinces has applied theoretical counterinsurgency models in a real-world scenario....

Commandos or communicators? Special operators ponder the right mix of roles and missions.(Special Operations)
February 1, 2008... * FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- U.S. Special Operations Command is growing. From 48,000 personnel today, its numbers are expected to increase to 58,000 in the coming years. But how will they be used? Since the so-caned global war on terrorism began...

Hands free: miniature video scores instant intelligence gathering for soldiers.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * A ruggedized, helmet mounted video system has been designed by V.I.O. Inc. of Marquette, Mich., for troops on the move. It includes a camera, organic video recorder with liquid crystal display, wireless remote and...

Say goodbye to carpal tunnel, hello to info security.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * A new ergonomic computer keyboard by Key Ovation of Austin, Texas, renders both comfort and security for authorized users. The SC 2.0 Ergo Secure foldable key board comes with an integral smart card reader that...

Lethal substance detector makes network debut.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS)
February 1, 2008... * Two firms have joined forces to provide quick identification of 118,000 hazardous materials, including radioactive, explosive, chemical and biological substances. Alltel Wireless of Little Rock. Ark., is making available the HazMasterG3 that...

AA battery pack boosts Nomad operation.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS)
February 1, 2008... * Trimble of Sunnyvale, Calif., has developed an ace in the hole for its high performance Nomad hand-held computer. Technicians have perfected an AA size battery module that allows the computer to run an extra four hours in the field after...

Poseidon takes bullet(s) for navy pilots.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Live-fire testing by The Boeing Company of St. Louis, Mo., is bringing the Navy a step closer to its goal of purchasing 108 new P-SA aircraft to replace its fleet of P-3C anti-submarine surveillance aircraft. ...

Breakthrough in golf cart technology.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... * A cutting edge fleet golf car--made by Textron's E-Z-Go of Atlanta, Ga.--is said to have lower energy and maintenance costs when compared to previously made models and up to 350 fewer parts. Ride and handling also have been improved, the...

Precision, light weight radiation meters unveiled.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... * Two pocket size detectors--the RadEye B20 and RadEye N--are providing a low power answer to pinpointing and measuring radiation. The RadEye B20 is an easy to use contamination meter for alpha, beta, gamma and x-ray radiation. The RadEye N,...

Unmanned aircraft not just for combat.(GOVERNMENT POLICY)
February 1, 2008... * The speed with which unmanned aircraft capabilities have advanced in recent years has been astonishing. The expanding applications of these systems are evidenced in the terminology change that has been ushered in over the last two years....

Leonard P. Gollobin scholarship announced.(GOVERNMENT POLICY)
February 1, 2008... * Leonard P. Gollobin, an NDIA Board Member and defense industry pioneer recently passed away. Prior to his death, he established a scholarship fund at NDIA in his name and provided an initial endowment in the amount of $100,000. The NDIA...

Congress to enact new accountability in contracting.(Ethics Corner)
February 1, 2008... * Congressional interest in oversight of government contracting began early last year with separate bills during the first three months of the 110th Congress in both the House and Senate that provided for contractor oversight and limited the...

NDIA calendar: upcoming exhibits, shows and events.(National Defense Industrial Association )(Calendar)
February 1, 2008... FEBRUARY [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 11-14 Warheads & Ballistics Classified Symposium (Secret NOFORN) Monterey, CA * The presentation of classified, export-controlled, and non-publicly releasable papers in the areas of...