National Defense articles from July 2004

National Defense archives from July 2004

Global industry key to defense preparedness.(President's Perspective)(Editorial)
July 1, 2004... At a time of heightened tension around the world and ongoing challenges to our national security, it is important to reinforce the need for increased industrial cooperation between the United States and its allies. Despite calls for trade...

Army munitions batteries.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... The Excalibur Program Office would like to add some points to the article in the May 2004 issue entitled "Battery Hitches Hamper Performance of Army Smart Munitions Programs." We agree that the power supply often is left out of initial...

More on batteries ...(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... I read with very great interest Michael Peck's article on the Army's munitions battery programs and the problems the service is having. I retired from "Army Research Labs" (Harry Diamond Laboratories) after 39 years developing reserve...

Army nearing breaking point.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Army officials worry that an extended presence in Iraq cannot be sustained with an all-volunteer Army unless troops can be relieved from permanent duty in other parts of the world, such as Western Europe and the Korean peninsula. Negative vibes...

... Third rotation into Iraq begins in September.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Meanwhile, the third major rotation of U.S. troops into Iraq--known as Operation Iraqi Freedom III--will be stretched out over six months, beginning in September 2004. The second rotation, OIF II, took four months, but this time around, the...

War stress mounting in the Marine Corps.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Protracted combat operations in Iraq also are taking a toll on the Marine Corps. The deployment of two Marine expeditionary units--each comprising about 2,400 troops--that was scheduled for October now is being moved up to July or August, said...

'Security of supply' treaties exclude vaccines, fuel.(Washington Pulse)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... In times of war, the United States can mandate that domestic and foreign allied industries redirect their commercial production lines to meet U.S. needs for defense supplies. But no such agreement exists for civilian emergencies, such as a...

Airport security programs a summer priority.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)
July 1, 2004... A senior Transportation Security Administration official outlined a slew of test programs for this summer, intended to protect airports using biometrics technologies. The pilot programs and operational tests reflect a desire to use eye,...

Data mining not yet ready to take on terror cells.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)
July 1, 2004... Despite advances in the science behind data mining--the use of software programs to sift through reams of data to find suspicious patterns--the practice may not be ready for full-scale use in homeland security and terrorist hunting, according...

Maritime test center off to rolling start.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)
July 1, 2004... The freshly opened Maritime Domain Awareness Center (MDAC), established to support the Coast Guards Deepwater transformation program, is already moving ahead and processing upgrades for three ships a month, according to officials who run the...

U.S. and Europe reach data-sharing accord.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)
July 1, 2004... The European Commission and the United States settled more than a year's worth of negotiations with an agreement for the Commission to share airline passenger data with the Department of Homeland Security. The agreement sought common...

Ridge promises interconnectivity by summer's end.(Security beat: homeland defense briefs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... An information network linking senior decision-makers will be available by the end of summer, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told the National Committee on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Speaking in New York City, Ridge...

Investment decisions haunting Army today.(Defense Watch)
July 1, 2004... The oversimplified explanation of why the U.S. Army did not have enough bulletproof vests and armored trucks for troops in Iraq is that suppliers could not keep up with the demand. The reality, however, is far more complicated. Many...

Army trying to catch up with demand for gear.(Up Front)
July 1, 2004... The U.S. Army has budgeted at least $3 billion for the next five years to equip soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan with new combat gear, ranging from helmets, gloves and boots to satellite receivers, radios and advanced rifle sights. Under a...

Navy will have 25,000 fewer sailors by 2007.(Up Front)
July 1, 2004... With retention rates at an all-time high, the U.S. Navy is trying to figure out how to go about downsizing its ranks by 25,000 people while simultaneously upgrading sailors' skills. The cutbacks are to be accomplished by 2007, said Chief of...

Tagging war shipments: far more complicated task than expected.(Up Front)
July 1, 2004... By January 2005, all shipments of military equipment and supplies destined for Iraq or other battle zones must be labeled with an electronic tag that helps track the content of each box or package. The Defense Department is requiring all of...

War experience provides rationale for Marine Corps logistics reform.(Up Front)
July 1, 2004... U.S. Marines in Iraq generally are having an easier time managing and distributing battlefield supplies than they did during the early phases of the conflict more than a year ago. But that does not mean the Marine Corps should slow down ongoing...

Army ponders new diesel engine for Humvee trucks.(Up Front)
July 1, 2004... The Army is considering retro-fitting Humvee trucks with new diesel engines that, according to proponents, would lessen the workload for soldiers in the field. Army officials have voiced frustration in recent months about maintenance...

Counter-terrorism research focused on military needs in Iraq, Afghanistan.(Up Front)
July 1, 2004... A small interagency group focused on antiterrorism technologies has seen its budget more than triple, mostly as a result of pressing demands for counter-explosive systems and other devices to help protect troops in Iraq. The Technical...

Revised rules for close air support.(Up Front)
July 1, 2004... Several instances of air-to-ground friendly fire by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan were attributed to misunderstandings between operators from different services, who may not necessarily speak the same language when it comes to close air...

Services need to share logistics information.
July 1, 2004... The lack of accurate information about supply requirements, shipments and deliveries has hurt military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Learning how to fix those information gaps is one of the most important lessons of the war, according to...

Logistics command extends reach of U.S. seventh fleet.
July 1, 2004... Tucked away behind blocks of concrete at the Sembawang Terminal on Singapore's northern tip is the small office of the Logistics Group, Western Pacific. It is the engine supporting the 7th Fleet--the Navy's largest forward-deployed force. ...

Multinational naval exercises welcome in Southeast Asia.
July 1, 2004... In an effort to increase force interoperability and security in Southeast Asia, the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet participates in a series of hi-lateral exercises with other navies in the region. The planner behind some of these exercises is the...

Navy tests coastal warfare systems aboard new Catamaran.
July 1, 2004... A new high-speed catamaran, just leased for $21.7 million, is helping the U.S. Navy decide what technologies will be most useful in coastal warfare. The Navy is seeking to develop a new class of littoral combat ships, which will feature an...

Lack of specificity in navy shipbuilding plans irks the industry.
July 1, 2004... Frustrated by perpetual fluctuations in U.S. Navy shipbuilding budgets, industry leaders are asking for funding stability. The Navy, for years, has said it would to nine new ships a year in its goal of a 300-vessel fleet and to keep key...

Navy gradually embracing composite materials in ships.
July 1, 2004... The U.S. Navy gradually plans to incorporate composite materials into the construction of new ships. Although experts agree that composites offer lighter-weight materials chat are easier to maintain, the Navy has been wary to pay the higher...

Scientists seek breakthoughs in biodetection.
July 1, 2004... The Department of Homeland Security is seeking to upgrade its biological sensor network with more encompassing and less costly systems. The current program, called Biowatch, has been established in more than 30 U.S. cities, but limits on...

Cloud recognition system watching over Pentagon.
July 1, 2004... A laser system designed to identify and track chemical or biological attacks on the Pentagon is providing a glimpse into the future of long-range threat detection equipment. Perched on top of a raised elevator shaft on the roof of the...

Emergency rooms unprepared for bio-attacks.
July 1, 2004... Of all the safety nets designed to cope with a biological attack in U.S. cities, emergency rooms are among the least prepared, lacking diagnostic tools and trained personnel, experts told a Senate panel. "Emergency rooms are overcrowded,...

Military bases getting protection against WMD attacks.
July 1, 2004... Up to 200 U.S. military bases will be equipped with chemical and biological detectors during the next several years, under a program that could cost as much as $1.3 billion. The plan is to use existing off-the-shelf detectors, rather than...

Heavy armor: gains clout in urban combat.
July 1, 2004... An ongoing debate within the U.S. Army is whether to revise its tactics and doctrine for the employment of heavy armored vehicles in urban areas. Operations in Iraq prove that the current doctrine, which specifically dissuades the Army...

Singapore company toys with concepts of the future.(Technology Watch)
July 1, 2004... While the U.S. Army is pegging its future on the ambitious future combat systems--a family of manned and unmanned vehicles and aircraft--a partly government-owned Singaporean company also is looking at a series of concepts to deploy faster and...

Units heading to Iraq equipped with upgraded technology.
July 1, 2004... The Army's 3rd Infantry Division is preparing to return to Iraq with a number of new technologies designed for urban fighting. Among them is an anti-sniper vehicle system that will be operated from a Humvee. It will be ready to deploy in late...

Israel's main battle tanks adapted for urban combat, low-intensity conflict.
July 1, 2004... Deadly attacks on light armored vehicles have prompted Israel Defense Forces to increase their use of main battle tanks in patrol roles or other types of low-intensity conflict normally assigned to smaller vehicles. In recent months, the IDF...

Army pilot training stresses water-survival.
July 1, 2004... In an effort to expand pilots' skills in joint-service operations, the U.S. Army is opening its own water-survival training facilities. Previously, Army pilots trained on U.S. Navy facilities, but now aircraft ditching skills have become...

Small precision bomb program on fast track.
July 1, 2004... Seeking to meet growing demands for small precision-guided bombs, the U.S. Air Force is rushing to develop a new weapon that is more accurate but with less destructive power than current systems, such as the 2,000-pound joint direct attack...

Air Force seeking funds to connect weapons in flight.
July 1, 2004... The Air Force expects to get approval later this year to begin a two-year $30 million program to evaluate the use of communication devices aboard precision-guided missiles and bombs. This technology would allow commanders to retarget smart...

Army has high expectations for smart artillery rounds.
July 1, 2004... Past unsuccessful attempts to field precision-guided munitions have serves as hard lessons to U.S. Army developers, who are now trying re bring to fruition a new generation of smart weapons. Among the new weapons expected to enter service...

Sticker shock felt as new radios are acquired.
July 1, 2004... Despite suffering from sticker shock, the military services are proceeding with plans to install a new generation of software-based tactical radios that will be common across all weapon systems. The joint tactical radio system, known as...

Ground attack: Air Force seeks to upgrade close air support fleet.
July 1, 2004... As the Iraqi and Afghan conflicts evolve essentially into ground wars--with U.S. and coalition infantry units fighting small bands of guerrilla fighters--the Air Force is moving to improve its ability to provide close air support, according to...

Air Force, Navy to join forces on unmanned aircraft project.
July 1, 2004... Anascent Air Force-Navy program to develop a family of unmanned combat aircraft will seek to show military planners how this technology can help commanders gather intelligence, spot the enemy and ultimately destroy designated targets. This...

Pentagon setting guidelines for aircraft interoperability.
July 1, 2004... As the number and types of unmanned aircraft continues to grow in the U.S. military services, the Pentagon is pushing the notion that, even though there is no common operating system, UAVs should have standard interfaces so they can interact...

Sensor detects intruders on the move.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A deployable intrusion system featuring an invisible electromagnetic detection zone along a perimeter was on display at a recent trade show in Birmingham, England. Manufactured by Senstar-Stellar Corp. of Carp, Ontario, Repels offers a...

French Army acquires transport chambers.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A French company is producing a confinement chamber for the movement of biologically contaminated patients. Two of the chambers already are in use by the French Army, and seven more have been ordered. Applications Technologiques Avancees,...

Rugged laptop enters the market.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A Lake Forest, Calif., company is producing a military-rugged laptop that is predicated on a fanless design that permits operation in extreme temperatures ranging from -4 degrees F to more than 130 degrees F. Fabricated by Getac Inc., the...

Army, first responders getting the hook.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Soldiers and first responders soon will get the hook, literally. In this case, the hook is an Army Natick Soldier Center-designed device that will be used to scale walls and buildings and board boats. "This hook is soldier-tough," said Jim...

Bull's eye munition aimed at smugglers.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A new 76 mm round, tagged ART, or ammunition at reduced time of flight, is being touted as a non-lethal means of stopping oceangoing smugglers of weapons of mass destruction. Conceived by Italian company Oto Melara, the extended-range...

Troop carriers survive roadside bombs.(Tech Talk)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The U.S. Marine Corps is purchasing new armored vehicles to protect troops in convoys from the ravages of roadside bombs, mines, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. Among the latest acquisitions are 27 troop-transport armored...

2005 defense bill beginning to take shape.(Government Policy Notes)
July 1, 2004... Congress is making progress on the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2005. The Senate and the House Committees on Armed Services each completed differing versions of the legislation in mid-May and sent them on to their...

NDIA leader selected for new defense PEO job.(NDIA News)
July 1, 2004... Mary E. Lacey, a member of NDIA's board of trustees, has been named program executive officer for the National Security Personnel System. Lacey will report directly to Navy Secretary Gordon England, who serves as the system's senior executive....

Undersea Warfare Division honors awardees.(NDIA News)
July 1, 2004... NDIA's Undersea Warfare Division--meeting recently at the Naval Postgraduate School, in Monterey, Calif.--presented its annual awards to Rear Adm. Michael Sharp, John Schuster and Charles Fox. Sharp received the Vice Adm. Charles E. Weakley...

Procurement division hands cork award to Frank DeVito.(NDIA News)
July 1, 2004... Frank J. DeVito, of General Dynamics, has been awarded the NDIA Procurement Division's prestigious Howard H. Cork Memorial Award for 2003. This award, presented to DeVito in a recent ceremony in St. Petersburg Beach, Fla., has been given...

Industrial College of the Armed Forces turns 80.(NDIA News)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Department of Defense Industrial College of the Armed Forces. ICAF prepares students to deal "with national security strategy and the resource component of national power, with special emphasis on...

NDIA events calendar.(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... JULY 12-15 DHS: Homeland Security Technologies (U.S. only/Foreign Attendees by Prior Approval) San Diego, Calif. POC: Angie DeKleine @ (703) 247-2599 19-21 National Small Business Conference San Diego,...

Chapter events.(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... JULY 23 Michigan Chapter Annual Dinner Grosse Point, Mich. 26 Rocky Mountain Chapter Luncheon Colorado Springs, Colo. AUGUST 5 Rocky Mountain...