National Defense articles from July 2008

National Defense archives from July 2008

Difficult choices lie ahead for the nation's military services.(PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE)
July 1, 2008... Much discussion--even hand wringing--is taking place among the military, Congress and defense industry about where finite resources need to be placed. At issue is the current, expensive conflict in Iraq on the one hand and on the other,...

Cost of contractors.(READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... This letter is in response to comments made by Acting Undersecretary of the Army Nelson Ford that were reported in the May 2008 issue of National Defense (Washington Pulse, p. 10) that "government workers cost much less than contractors for the...

Undersea perils.(READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... * I liked Grace V. Jean's article in the April issue concerning the threat provided by diesel submarines. I agree that they are a quiet, difficult target for our antisubmarine warfare community. I say this having been qualified in diesel...

Acquisition woes revisited.(READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... In the April 2008 edition of National Defense, several different articles--"Impending Collision Between Military Needs and Resources," "Changes to Military Strategy," "Overpriced, High-Maintenance Hardware Hurts the Army," "The New Pentagon,"...

Exit strategy.(READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... I receive National Defense here in Australia and find it a very informative publication. I wanted to compliment you on your Defense Watch editorial ("Changes to Military Strategy, In Time for the Next War," April 2008) and the final...

Pentagon bracing for yet another round of turf battles.(DEFENSE WATCH)
July 1, 2008... Does the United States need two land armies? Must each branch of the military operate its own air force? Why does the military have multiple agencies in charge of cyber-security? These and other notoriously touchy issues about the division...

Scientists: we need help: much 'unfinished business' for the next administration.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)
July 1, 2008... The nation's top scientists called for the next administration to reinvigorate government's focus on critical research areas and to help restore the credibility of the United States as a world leader in high technology. They lamented that the...

Immunizing weapons against 'next-war-it is'.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... In a memorable turn of phrase, Defense Secretary Robert Gates chided the Pentagon's weapons acquisition establishment for having an extreme case of "next war-it is"--instead of buying technologies for today's wars, the services are obsessed...

Audit raises conflict-of-interest red flags.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)
July 1, 2008... The government-industry revolving door is spinning at such fast pace that it's becoming more difficult to prevent conflicts of interest, says Congress' watchdog agency. An audit by the Government Accountability Office estimated that--counter to...

Unpiloted aircraft unsafe for domestic use.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)
July 1, 2008... It could be another decade before unmanned aircraft are safe enough to fly in U.S. national airspace, concluded a recent study by the Government Accountability Office. The agency confirmed what has been said by numerous experts--that unmanned...

The definition of success is 'get the money.
July 1, 2008... "The definition of success is 'get the money... and keep getting the money.'" Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., chastising Pentagon acquisition chief John J. Young Jr. on what she described as a government-wide failure to control the...

Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security comprise about 10 percent of the nation's gross domestic product.
July 1, 2008... "Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security comprise about 10 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, but 75 years from now, that could approach 25 percent." Peter Orszag, director of the Congressional Budget Office.

From 1992 to 2007, the estimated costs to complete major defense acquisition programs increased almost 120 percent.
July 1, 2008... "From 1992 to 2007, the estimated costs to complete major defense acquisition programs increased almost 120 percent, while the funding provided for these programs only increased 57 percent, creating a fiscal bow wave that may be unsustainable."...

Top dogs: Canine's contributions to homeland security missions documented.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the Department of Homeland Security spends billions on high-technology solutions to secure the border, it's easy to overlook the humble working dog. A recent Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's...

New day dawning for DHS acquisitions?(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)(Department of Homeland Security)
July 1, 2008... Vendors and laboratories frustrated by the way the Department of Homeland Security acquires new technology might find a ray of hope after the arrival of Thomas Celucci, chief commercialization officer at the science and technology directorate....

Steady stream of funding for emergency communications market.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)
July 1, 2008... There will be a steady stream of federal funds available to first responders to upgrade their communications systems beginning in 2009, according to a grants specialist. Michael Paddock, chief executive officer of the consulting firm,...

FAA allows Texas law enforcement to use aerial drone.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)
July 1, 2008... Police agencies have been clamoring for the right to use unmanned aerial vehicles in domestic airspace, and manufacturers are waiting for the day when they become a common sight in the skies. But the Federal Aviation Administration has been...

National Guard receives new helicopters.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)(UH-72A Lakota helicopters of the Army National Guard)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... The Army National Guard was scheduled to receive the first of the new UH-72A Lakota light utility helicopters in June. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Lakota, a civilian commercial-off-the-shelf Eurocopter EC-145 will replace the aging...

Bug-sized 'bots for the urban battle.(INSIDE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY)
July 1, 2008... See that spider crawling along the sidewalk? In five years, you might want to take a closer look to see if it has a nanocomposite exoskeleton or cameras and infrared sensors for its eyes. No, you haven't stumbled upon a Hollywood set...

Clash of ideas: export controls: a contentious issue reaching a 'boiling point'.(IN FOCUS: DEFENSE AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stringent U.S. controls on exports of military technology may help keep advanced weapons out of enemy hands, but they also are making it tougher for the United States to get the best available weapons for its armed...

Office seeks to quickly field counter-terrorism technologies.(IN FOCUS: DEFENSE AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS)(Defense Department's rapid reaction technology office)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ben Riley, director of the Defense Department's rapid reaction technology office, wants to tell vendors, laboratories or anyone else who has a gadget that can help defeat terrorists, insurgents or other bad guys,...

Out-of-control healthcare spending straining budget.(INDUSTRY STUDY)
July 1, 2008... Healthcare in the United States is a $2 trillion industry that soaks up about 16 percent of the gross domestic product. The rising cost of healthcare puts great pressure on the federal budget, and managing this strain in the next decade and...

Rough patch: Marines likely to curtail ground-vehicle wish list.(Marine Corps)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BALTIMORE -- The Marine Corps is struggling to keep its ground-vehicle modernization plans afloat. A combination of overly ambitious technical requirements and higher-than-expected costs threaten some of the Corps'...

'Big Dog' could become a Marine's best friend.(Marine Corps)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BALTIMORE -- Dogs are said to be man's best friend. Marine Corps officials hope that a new four-legged robot called "Big Dog" will be a Marine's best friend. The designers of the robot, which was funded by the...

Marine Corps lab eyes unmanned aircraft for battlefield re-supply.(Marine Corps)
July 1, 2008... BALTIMORE -- With Marines scattered around dozens of outposts in Iraq and Afghanistan, delivering essential supplies and equipment in a timely fashion has stressed the capacity of the service's logistics and transportation systems. ...

Marine Corps ponders latest MRAP lessons.(Marine Corps)
July 1, 2008... BALTIMORE -- As thousands of mine resistant, ambush protected vehicles are rushed to the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan, military officials say that the enemy already has found ways to beat the heavily armored trucks, known as MRAPs. ...

Border calculus: contentious debate over border fences won't end soon.(Homeland Security)(Cover story)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AUSTIN, Texas -- Build a 20-foot high fence on the border and you will make the manufacturer of 21-foot high ladders rich--or so goes the maxim commonly repeated in Texas. Dormant as a national issue until late...

Cost of new border fencing could reach $47 billion.(Homeland Security)
July 1, 2008... A series of cameras and sensors linked to Border Patrol vehicles and a command and control center south of Tucson, Ariz., was meant to serve as a test bed for a so-called virtual fence. The Department of Homeland Security put the Project 28...

Damage control: FEMA on a mission to regain credibility.(Homeland Security)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Last year, the much maligned Federal Emergency Management Agency was looking for a disaster to redeem itself in the eyes of the public and Congress. Scarred from its poor performance during Hurricane Katrina in...

Disaster city: emergency responders hone skills amid the rubble.(Homeland Security)(National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center)
July 1, 2008... COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Removing a one-ton jagged piece of broken concrete is not an easy task--especially when there are no cranes. One of the first skills firefighters and other first responders learn at the National Emergency Response...

Weak signal: how to achieve next-generation public safety networks.(VIEWPOINT)
July 1, 2008... It is a disconcerting dichotomy that while most Americans can rapidly thumb text messages and instantly send pictures and videos to their friends, public safety workers frequently are given antiquated wireless technologies to perform the...

Production targets: F-35 factory: one aircraft per day by 2016.(Tactical Aviation)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FORT WORTH, Texas -- Inside a manufacturing facility so large that workers routinely bike and ride golf carts down paths named after fighter jets, preparations are underway to begin mass production of the F-35 Joint...

Eglin prepares to open F-35 training center.(Tactical Aviation)
July 1, 2008... FORT WORTH, Texas -- Lockheed Martin Corp. is building a high-tech training center at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., which will be used by all F-35 pilots and maintainers. The facility, scheduled to be completed in 2010, will house full-motion...

Technologies ease burden on pilots, maintainers.(Tactical Aviation)
July 1, 2008... FORT WORTH, Texas -- The F-35 Lighting II is being equipped with some of the latest technologies that will automate the duties of both pilots and maintenance crews. Pilots will interface with the F-35 Lighting II using a touch-screen...

Out to sea: for Navy aircraft carriers, 'missions haven't changed'.(Tactical Aviation)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT--After spending nine months in the shipyard last year for routine maintenance, this 24-year-old Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and her crew are preparing for the ship's fourth...

Navy pilots eager to replace aging workhorse.(Tactical Aviation)(C-2A Greyhound)
July 1, 2008... It's one of the hardest aircraft in the fleet to fly, sailors say, but the C-2A Greyhound continues to endure thousands of arrested landings and catapult launches to deliver mail and cargo to sailors deployed aboard the Navy's largest warships....

Super sniffer: quick I.D. of suspicious chemicals.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET OF THE LATEST GADGETS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Soldiers and first responders who require rapid identification of unknown airborne chemical agents have another tool in their respective arsenals. A portable Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy device is now...

Paintball gun on steroids crafted for crowd control.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET OF THE LATEST GADGETS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Beware bad guys: This weapon will knock you down from as far away as 80 meters and will tag you for subsequent identification and apprehension. Weapon developers at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., have acquired a...

Breathing device makes life easier for Navy divers.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET OF THE LATEST GADGETS)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Navy explosive ordnance disposal divers will soon be getting the next generation underwater breathing apparatus, or NUBA. The self contained re-breather rig features modernized electronic controls that offer enhanced...

Lab technicians may want to sniff at these sensors.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS)
July 1, 2008... Honeywell Analytics of Lincolnshire, Ill., has unveiled two gas monitors that can detect gas leaks at school, industrial, medical, research and nanotech labs, the company says. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A portable single point monitor, or...

In this case, tightly wound is a good thing.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS)(fiber-optic cable from Optical Cable Co.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... A high-technology company in Roanoke, Va., is offering a tougher, more resilient fiber-optic cable for the "hothouse, rough and tumble environment of steel mills, oil refineries and chemical plants," says a spokeswoman. The key to the rugged...

This brain keeps truck chugging on down the road.(TECH TALK: A TIP-SHEET ON THE LATEST GADGETS)(Smart Energy Solutions' Battery Brain)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... There is nothing worse than being stranded on the side of a lonely highway with a dead battery, far from any source of assistance. This is especially critical for truckers who need to get time-sensitive loads to market. But help is on the...

Right and wrong ways to use others' patents.(Ethics Corner)
July 1, 2008... In the private sector, using another firm's patented invention without a license may infringe upon patent rights, giving rise to damages liability and treble damages and an award of attorney fees if deemed willful. Federal contractors, however,...

John Reilly receives NDIA Gold Medal.(NDIA NEWS: ASSOCIATION BRIEFS)
July 1, 2008... The National Defense Industrial Association's Strike, Land Attack and Air Defense (SLAAD) Division presented the NDIA Gold Medal to John Reilly of Boeing for his 10 years of service as division chairman. Under Reilly's leadership, the...

Progress reported in security clearance process.(NDIA NEWS: ASSOCIATION BRIEFS)
July 1, 2008... The process for government contractors to obtain security clearances for employees has improved somewhat in recent years but remains fraught with "black holes," according to a recent survey conducted by the Information Technology Association of...

Conference to focus on Army maneuver support.(NDIA NEWS: ASSOCIATION BRIEFS)(Conference news)
July 1, 2008... The science and technology community is gathering this summer at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., to assist the U.S. Army's Maneuver Support Center's research and development efforts. The Science and Technology for Maneuver Support Conference Summit...

AFEI presents Achievement Awards.(NDIA NEWS: ASSOCIATION BRIEFS)(Association for Enterprise Integration)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... The Defense Department's office of the deputy chief information officer in April presented the first DoD Enterprise Architecture Achievement Awards at the Annual DoD Enterprise Architecture Conference in Orlando. The ceremony, hosted by...

NDIA calendar: upcoming exhibits, shows and events.(National Defense Industrial Association)(Calendar)
July 1, 2008... JULY [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 14-17 Pacific Operational Science & Technology Conference & Exhibition Honolulu, HI Strengthening the Science, Technology and Operational Partnership throughout the Pacific. * Advanced...