National Defense articles from July 2005

National Defense archives from July 2005

Army meets tough procurement challenge head-on.(PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE)
July 1, 2005... The Army's ability to supply soldiers with armored vehicles has been the source of much debate. Key questions have emerged from this discussion, such as whether the military services were prepared to deal with escalating violence against U.S....

True cost of radio frequency Tags.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... In reference to your May 2005 story, "Electronic Tags," several points seem worthy of mention. The value of radio-frequency ID cards to our soldiers, sailors and Marines is important. Operations are hampered by not having the right things at...

Equipment users need training.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... With reference to your May story, "Trial by Combat," I was not surprised that the article did not address training as suggested by the subtitle "delivering technology to troops requires learning 'in real time.'" The technology focus was...

Why can't we defeat IEDs?(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2005... Since day one of the Iraq war, I've been reading of these "roadside bombs" that have killed scores of our soldiers. Yet, when aroused by my curiosity of what these "roadside bombs" actually look like, a Google image search revealed...

Pentagon criticized for management of simulations.(Washington PULSE)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Defense Department needs to better manage its simulation programs, said David W. Duma, the Pentagon's acting director for operational test and evaluation. "I think we've kind of lost our way as a department with modeling and...

Army will pour billions into truck fleet.(Washington PULSE)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Army is expected to budget between $18 billion to $20 billion during the next 12 years to revamp its war-torn truck fleet, which has been a prime target of insurgent attacks and roadside bombs in Iraq. Army officials are putting the...

Busy depot gets no mercy from Army.(Washington PULSE)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Despite a huge backlog of trucks awaiting repairs at the Red River Depot, in Texas, the Army opted to shut down the facility in the 2005 round of base closures. It was strictly a business decision, said Army Col. Kurt A. Weaver, who worked on...

Marines draft counterinsurgency strategy.(Washington PULSE)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Defense Department's Joint Staff directed the Marine Corps to draft a strategy for how U.S. military forces should fight insurgencies in foreign countries. A so-called "joint operating concept" for counterinsurgency operations is now in the...

New aircraft carrier comes with obsolete parts.(Washington PULSE)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Navy is almost three years away from introducing the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier to the fleet, but many of the parts and subsystems used aboard the ship already are out of production, said Rear Adm. Dennis Dwyer, program executive...

Acoustic systems enter homeland security market.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)(American Technology Corp.)
July 1, 2005... The use of amplifiers in homeland defense is going far beyond the simple bullhorns and bugle-shaped speakers mounted on towers. From public address systems to directed warnings to trespassers, the science of sound is being developed and...

National Guard tries to rehab its drug war mission.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)
July 1, 2005... National Guard officials said they are willing to step up efforts on the U.S. government's "war on drugs," even though the effort has faded from many radar screens during the chaos and fury of the "global war on terror." "The Department of...

Radiation detectors fall short of standards.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)
July 1, 2005... Most portable radiation detectors perform well enough to meet new federal standards, but others provide inaccurate readings for some types of radiation, according to recent government tests. The National Institute of Standards and...

Response units get command vehicles, with a catch.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... National Guard will receive adequate funds in the short term to respond to domestic weapons of mass destruction attacks, but some long-term resources appear to be lacking, said Col. Camille Nichols, project manager responsible for buying gear...

BRAC '05 choices embody lingering terrorism fears.(DEFENSE WATCH)(Base Realignment and Closure)
July 1, 2005... One of the professed advantages of living in the "information age" is the ability of organizations to decentralize their operations and run their businesses from anywhere in the world. That trend, fueled by advances in communications...

Pentagon taking steps to avert ammunition crisis.(UP FRONT)(Interview)
July 1, 2005... The Army is upgrading its manufacturing facilities and reaching out to more contractors to replenish its diminished supply of small-caliber ammunition, Col. Mark Rider, project manager for maneuver ammunition systems, told National Defense. ...

War fuels sales of ground combat training devices.(UP FRONT)(Army program executive office for simulation, training and instrumentation)
July 1, 2005... The war in Iraq has boosted the demand for ground-training systems, particularly those dedicated to small-unit operations and convoy security, officials said. The Army program executive office for simulation, training and instrumentation...

Language barriers hinder multinational operations.(UP FRONT)
July 1, 2005... U.S. military allies view language barriers, rather than incompatible technology, as a primary obstacle to multinational operations. Computer networks can be connected rather easily, especially modern systems that are built with commercial...

Air Force, Air Guard pilots merge in F/A-22 Wing.(UP FRONT)
July 1, 2005... Air National Guard pilots are training to fly the F/A-22 Raptor as part of an experimental combat unit that combines active duty and Guard fighter members. Pilots and ground crews from the Guard's 192nd Fighter Wing, based in Richmond,...

Errata.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2005... The May article "Trial by Combat: Delivering Technology To Troops Requires Learning 'In Real Time" states that the funding for the Army's digital forensic project is $1.5 million. The correct amount is $750,000. The June story, "Outdated...

Incoming fire: force protection moves from bases to battlefield.(FORCE PROTECTION)
July 1, 2005... As casualties continue to mount in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Defense Department is seizing on technology to protect combat soldiers from snipers, mortars and roadside bombs. As of early-June, more than 1,660 U.S. personnel had died in Iraq,...

War zone intelligence: Army game strives to turn soldiers into sensors.(ARMY TRAINING)
July 1, 2005... While spy satellites and thermal sensors may be marvels of snooping technology, they are no substitute for human observers on the ground, according to Army commanders. In combating an insurgency, each small clue--new graffiti on a wall, an...

Helicopter suppliers must modernize, says defense industrial policy chief.(Competitive Edge)
July 1, 2005... The Defense Department predicts that military helicopter suppliers likely will recover from the current slump in aircraft production, but the cure will require significant investments in new manufacturing technologies. Existing...

Revised acquisition policy will help space programs.(VIEWPOINT)
July 1, 2005... The Defense Department during the past four months has begun implementing a new acquisition policy for space systems, which will bring about sweeping changes in how programs are awarded and managed. The rules now in place are contained in...

Marines seek better training, gear for Urban combat.(URBAN COMBAT)
July 1, 2005... THE U.S. MARINE CORPS--FAMED FOR ITS trademark beachhead assaults--is shifting its emphasis to preparing leathernecks to fight in urban areas, in addition to deserts, mountains and jungles. Traditionally, the Marines have focused on taking the...

Battle labs explore new concepts for warfare.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Defense Department has created the following additional test beds for exploring new warfare concepts: * The Joint Warfighting Center, operated by the joint staff at Fort Monroe, Va., guides the development of ways for the services to...

Marines share hard-earned knowledge.(URBAN COMBAT)
July 1, 2005... Marines fighting in Iraq have concluded that, in order to defeat insurgents, the urban tactics learned in the United States require a substantial makeover. "The most effective training in this environment is for the squad leader to sit...

Army developed urban tactics, but lacked doctrine.(URBAN COMBAT)
July 1, 2005... Urban warfare did not receive concentrated Army attention until the 1990s, despite a wealth of experience gained during conflicts spanning more than half a century. Army doctrine has evolved into a focused plan of identifying, isolating...

Urban fighting highlights need for smaller weapons.(URBAN COMBAT)
July 1, 2005... The U.S. military services spend billions of dollars on precision-guided bombs, missiles and artillery shells, which, for the most part, have proven inadequate for urban fighting in Iraqi cities. The problem, military commanders contend, is...

Marines ponder Stinger missile replacement.(URBAN COMBAT)
July 1, 2005... Marine Corps officials are mulling over proposals to replace the 25-year-old Stinger guided missile. A program to develop a substitute could begin as early as 2008, as the current inventory will reach the end of its shelf life during the next...

Greetings from insurgent city: guardsmen act as foes to aid Iraq-bound soldiers.(URBAN COMBAT)(mock town Tiefort City for military training to combat insurgency)(Cover Story)
July 1, 2005... FORT IRWIN, CALIF.--The patrol came into town just after 9 a.m. The soldiers, hailing from the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Infantry Division, were tasked with identifying and apprehending an insurgent. They expected trouble, and they...

Training center tries to keep focus on future fights.(URBAN COMBAT)
July 1, 2005... FORT IRWIN, CALIF. -- Officials at this isolated training center are trying to maintain the balance between preparing troops for current guerilla battlefields while practicing for large-scale engagements. The danger, according to officials...

Back to the drawing board: Army rewrites small arms plans.(URBAN COMBAT)
July 1, 2005... Army leaders have concluded that the service's current inventory of small arms is ill suited to the guerilla wars that U.S. ground forces now are fighting. The M16 5.56 mm assault rifle--the standard combat weapon for all services since...

Custom-designed rifle aims to fit commando's special needs.(SPECIAL OPERATIONS)(special operations combat assault rifle)
July 1, 2005... U.S. special operations forces this summer will begin testing a new assault rifle, which is expected to be more accurate and less cumbersome than current weapons. Known as the special operations combat assault rifle, or SCAR, the weapon...

Special operators seek greater cooperation from foreign forces.(SPECIAL OPERATIONS)
July 1, 2005... The U.S. Special Operations Command increasingly will focus on recruiting and training "surrogate" forces in countries where terrorist are known to thrive, officials said. Congress last year approriated $25 million for SOCOM to kick-start...

New weapons sought for special ops gunships.(SPECIAL OPERATIONS)
July 1, 2005... U.S. Special Operations Command officials are considering novel weapons enhancements for AC-130 gunships, beloved by operators for their ability to bring withering fire on enemies. Ideas include controlling weaponized unmanned craft and lobbing...

Silver lining for athletes found.(TECH TALK)(athlete's foot cure through silver fibers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Rather than using an array of creams and powders to combat athlete's foot, a new product relies on silver fibers that are woven into a viscoelastic gel insert. Produced by Riecken's Athletic Replacement Insoles, this novel approach produces a...

Brits unveil backpack stretcher for remote areas.(TECH TALK)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A stretcher in a backpack, complete with a removable first-aid kit in a pouch, has been fielded by the United Kingdom's Centurion Risk Assessment Services Ltd. The rucksack stretcher system has been developed specifically for use in hazardous...

Drone developed for small infantry units.(TECH TALK)(unmanned aerial vehicle)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A vertical launch unmanned aerial vehicle that is designed to support infantry platoon and company operations recently twice negotiated a course of 10 waypoints in southern California. The ducted fan aircraft is being developed under a Defense...

Nighttime field-of-view doubles for pilots.(TECH TALK)(20 Block I panoramic night vision goggles)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The night just got a bit brighter for special operations crews. The 20 Block I panoramic night vision goggles offer pilots a 95-degree field of vision that compares to 40 degrees for standard devices. The wider view was achieved by employing...

Navy testing advanced high-speed craft.(TECH TALK)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Navy plans begin testing the capabilities of its new Littoral Surface Craft-Experimental, commonly referred to as "X-Craft." Developed by the Office of Naval Research, this high-speed, aluminum catamaran is designed to test a variety of...

Gun demonstrator advancing ordnance art.(TECH TALK)(Applied Ordnance Technology Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... A modular gun demonstrator--crafted by Applied Ordnance Technology Inc. and Advanced Power Technology Inc.--was put through its paces at the Navy's Dahlgren division terminal test range. Twenty-five successful shots were fired, officials said....

Hill finishing Work on '06 Defense Authorizations.(GOVERNMENT POLICY NOTES)(National Defense Authorization Act 2006)
July 1, 2005... Congress at press time was preparing to complete its action on the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act. The House of Representatives passed its version on May 25 by a vote of 390 to 39. The full Senate was scheduled to take up its bill...

When are defense contracts in effect 'non-defense'?(ETHICS CORNER)(military regulations for procurement)
July 1, 2005... For several years, Congress has been concerned that the Defense Department's use of "assisting" procurement agencies and other contracting vehicles has concealed poor acquisition planning or attempts to circumvent limits placed on funding. ...

NDIA events calendar.(National Defense Industrial Association )(Calendar)
July 1, 2005... JULY 18-22 Defense Systems Acquisition Management Course (DSAM) Long Beach, Calif. POC: Phyllis Edmonson @ (703) 247-2577 AUGUST 1-4 2005 Tri-Service Infrastructure Systems Conference & Exhibition St. Louis,...

Affiliate events.(Calendar)
July 1, 2005... SEPTEMBER 13-15 International Conference on Enterprise Transformation (ICET) Capturing the Value from Enterprise Business Integration Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Washington, D.C. SEPTEMBER 19 Building...

Chapter events.(Calendar)
July 1, 2005... JULY 20-22 Michigan Chapter Army Power & Energy Conference Troy, Mich. 22 Michigan Chapter Annual Membership Dinner Grosse Pointe, Mich. 27 Greater Hampton Roads Chapter ...