National Defense articles from June 2005

National Defense archives from June 2005

Global trends underscore the role of innovation.(PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE)(innovation is essential for future economic growth)
June 1, 2005... It may be surprising to many of you that one of the nation's oldest organizations, the U.S. Coast Guard, is leading the way in making innovation a key tenet in its day-to-day business. In the Coast Guard, there is a growing understanding that...

Is it major combat ... or is it peacekeeping?(Washington PULSE)(military operations)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Since it became clear that the Defense Department didn't have a comprehensive plan for winning the post-conflict phase of the Iraq war, strategists at the Pentagon have been wrestling with how to address the so-called transition from "major...

Military services have moved beyond 'joint'.(Washington PULSE)(Joint-service operations )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Pentagon planners appear not to have caught on to the fact that the term "joint," which pervades every discussion about military transformation, has become outdated. "My personal view is that joint-ness is almost passe now," said Marine...

Marine Brigade could go to Special Ops Command.(Washington PULSE)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Defense Department officials are considering assigning the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade to the U. S. Special Operations Command. The Marine Corps stood up the brigade--which specializes in anti-terrorism--in the aftermath of the 9/11...

More combat skills wanted for reservists.(Washington PULSE)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Army Reserves are not only stretched thin by the hectic pace of deployments but also are suffering from a shortage of skilled troops, said Lt. Gen. James R. Helmly. Helmly, commander of U.S. Army Reserves, said an over-abundance of clerks...

Protecting U.S. against threats from nature.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)
June 1, 2005... U.S. Northern Command is readying itself for natural disasters as well as man-made threats. When the United States dispatched aircraft carriers, Coast Guard vessels and a hospital ship to Southeast Asia during the aftermath of a massive...

Nationwide drills test readiness plans.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)(national terrorism exercise reports)
June 1, 2005... The largest national terrorism exercise in history showcased new plans and structures to react to large-scale attacks on the United States. The third Top Officials event, or TOPOFF, that ended in April involved more than 10,000...

TSA envisions life with fewer airport screeners.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)(Transportation Security Administration)
June 1, 2005... Often the target of comedians and critics in Congress, airline security screeners may find their jobs taken by machines. A new screening system at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport that minimizes human interaction will expand this...

Report recommends intelligence changes.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)(recommendations for intelligence service improvement)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Amid criticism of the Bush administration's faulty intelligence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, a presidential report has yielded some suggestions for improvements. The report, issued by the Commission on the Intelligence...

Lack of accountability hampers equipment buys.(SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs)(procurement programs to be streamlined)
June 1, 2005... A new government report credited the Department of Homeland Security with trying to coordinate smart equipment and service procurements, but stated the endeavor needs better resources and organization to ensure money and effort are not wasted....

Procurement probes framed by bleak financial forecast.(DEFENSE WATCH)(military procurement rules)
June 1, 2005... A string of procurement debacles at the Defense Department has stirred, yet again, calls for drastic reforms in military acquisition rules and policies. Storms of criticism surrounding several big-ticket programs have raised the obvious...

Iraq lessons pervade Army war games.(UP FRONT)
June 1, 2005... Insights gleaned from two years of fighting a brutal counterinsurgency in Iraqi cities are being folded into the Army's strategy to prepare for the next war. Although senior officials assert that the Army does not intend to try to learn...

South America hotspot garners U.S. attention.(ANALYSIS)(Narcotics control in border zones)
June 1, 2005... In the global war on terrorism, most attention is reserved for military actions in the Middle East. When Latin America is discussed in this context, the focus and most of the funding goes to Colombia and its war on narco-terrorist rebels. ...

Launching flights around the clock in the Persian Gulf.(UP FRONT)
June 1, 2005... A board the USS Vinson--About to return home from the Persian Gulf, this Navy aircraft carrier has spent the last six months balancing two crucial missions: providing close-air support to U.S. ground troops in Iraq and trying to keep the waters...

Army's Future Combat systems could see international partners.(UP FRONT)
June 1, 2005... U.S. Army officials are in the early stages of discussing foreign military sales and international collaboration on the service's most ambitious modernization program. Like all Army programs, the Future Combat Systems, a network of 18...

Cutting through the fog of war: as more drones populate the U.S. Arsenal, Intel analysts grapple with food of data.(BATTLEFIELD TECHNOLOGY)
June 1, 2005... An abundance of unmanned aerial vehicles in combat zones has given U.S. intelligence agencies and commanders a crucial edge in war and espionage, but managing the information flow has been fraught with problems. Bringing order out of chaos...

The future may belong to unconventional designs, missions.(BATTLEFIELD TECHNOLOGY)
June 1, 2005... Unmanned aerial vehicles spying on enemies may be commonplace above today's battlefields, but there is a future generation of unconventional designs with added functions that, experts predict, almost certainly will displace current drones from...

Appetite for intelligence: outdated Army training, education programs get revamped.(INFORMATION WARFARE)
June 1, 2005... The U.S. Army is preparing to expand its intelligence workforce by as many as 15,000 officers during the next several years. The move, which is intended to provide field commanders with on-the-spot intelligence, not only will require...

Battlefield communications: clash over conflicting priorities disrupts tactical radio program.
June 1, 2005... The plan appeared simple enough: The Defense Department would develop a new family of tactical radios to replace thousands of outdated communications devices that don't allow the military services to talk to one another. Nearly seven years...

Multibillion-dollar 'internet in the sky' could help ease bandwidth crunch.
June 1, 2005... The Pentagon's bold plan to deploy a constellation of satellites that beam data via lasers is showing signs of progress, but delays and funding cuts also are in the cards, contend industry and military experts. Dubbed the "Transformational...

Space programs aren't 'broken,' but need fixes.(INDUSTRY VIEWPOINT)
June 1, 2005... As space programs come under increasing scrutiny-under the Nunn-McCurdy legislation--for cost overruns and schedule delays, it is important to understand the complexity and uniqueness associated with these systems. Space acquisition...

Battered communications gear boosts business at Army Depot.(BATTLEFIELD COMMUNICATIONS)
June 1, 2005... repairing military communications gear and sensor systems that have suffered harsh treatment in Iraq and Afghanistan has become a growth industry for Pennsylvania's Tobyhanna Army Depot. At a time when military installations nationwide...

Securing U.S. ports: law enforcement takes to boats around vital waterways.(MARITIME SECURITY)(Cover Story)
June 1, 2005... THE PORT OF BALTIMORE IS A tough beat to police. The challenge of such a dynamic environment--a shipping nexus, tourist attraction, venue for special events and a thoroughfare for cruise ships--has prompted Maryland's transportation authority...

Federal agencies tackle maritime security, ports first.(MARITIME SECURITY)
June 1, 2005... THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO INCREASE ITS awareness Of activities on the world's waterways is starting close to home, as many federal agencies turn their attention to ports. While die U.S. Northern Command has been steadily bolstering its...

New plans to protect seas headed to White House.(MARITIME SECURITY)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Recommendations on maritime security policy are slated to reach the desk of President Bush this month. This could lead to the development of a blueprint for securing shores and waterways worldwide. In late December, Bush signed a Homeland...

Coast guard submits revised wish list, fears funding cuts.(MARITIME SECURITY)
June 1, 2005... THE COAST GUARD HAS SENT TO CONGRESS A REVISED requirements document for new equipment that seeks to take into account the U.S. government's heightened need for intelligence and information. The amended wish list, dispatched to Capitol Hill...

Defense of Iraqi oil depots tests mettle of U.S. sailors.(MARITIME SECURITY)
June 1, 2005... AL BAZRA OIL TERMINAL, NORTHERN PERSIAN GULF--The U.S. sailors stationed here have taken to calling it the "ABOT Marriott." While this "Marriott" is complete with a guest book and a life-sized Elvis cutout always ready to greet visitors, it...

Security operations in Persian Gulf require a broad coalition.(MARITIME SECURITY)
June 1, 2005... CONTINUOUS OPERATIONS IN THE PERSIAN GULF ARE reshaping the U.S. Navy's maritime security tactics and its approach to forming coalitions. These operations "connote a range of things required of the military related to law enforcement and...

Illegal arms: U.S. targets banned weapon exports.(HOMELAND SECURITY)
June 1, 2005... U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT--an arm of the Department of Homeland Security that is known as ICE--is cracking down on the illegal exportation of military arms and other sensitive technology. Preventing terrorist groups and...

Joint force: capital unit seen as prototype for homeland defense.(HOMELAND SECURITY)
June 1, 2005... A NEWLY ORGANIZED ALL-SERVICES command charged with protecting the Washington, D.C., region from terrorist attacks, natural disasters and civil disturbances is expected to serve as the model the other key regions in the United States, according...

Homeland defense plan favors non-lethal technology.(HOMELAND SECURITY)
June 1, 2005... THE PENTAGON IS DEVOTING INCREASING ATTENTION to non-lethal weapons programs, providing baseline requirements for future equipment, senior officials said. This most recent initiative is included in the first-ever homeland defense and civil...

Researchers fill data gaps for less-than-lethal weapons.(HOMELAND SECURITY)
June 1, 2005... Understanding the effects of non-lethal weapons is critical both to their development and the doctrine that will govern their use. Gaining that knowledge, however, is no easy chore, according to military and law enforcement experts. Gaps...

Industry lab seeks to prove value of networks in homeland defense.(HOMELAND SECURITY)
June 1, 2005... A U.S. DEFUSE CONTRACTOR HAS designed and built high-tech facility for the sole purpose of helping military and homeland security agencies understand the applications of networked systems. The 50,000-square-foot center, located in Suffolk,...

Chemical weapons demobilization meets new hurdles.(HOMELAND SECURITY)
June 1, 2005... THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT'S troubled effort to neutralize its stock of chemical weapons is facing more turmoil, caused in part by homeland security considerations, according to officials at a recent congressional hearing. The military,...

Biometrics systems help strengthen border security in Persian Gulf nation.(SECURITY TECHNOLOGY)
June 1, 2005... ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES--Combined, the seven emirates that make up this Persian Gulf country amount to the size of the U.S. state of Maine. But what the UAE lacks in territory, it makes up in wealth and unprecedented population growth....

Police air wing takes flight to save lives.(SECURITY TECHNOLOGY)
June 1, 2005... Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates-Outfitted with cutting edge technology, the Abu Dhabi police air wing, small by Western standards, can come to the rescue in a matter of minutes. A component of the air wing, the air ambulance...

Military seeks flexible, thin computer screens.(TECH TALK)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The Army Research Laboratory and Arizona State University have partnered in a $44 million deal to develop computer displays that can be incorporated as part of a soldier's uniform. The goal is to produce flexible, wafer-thin, rugged displays...

High-tech gloves kill microbes.(Cupron Inc)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Two U.S. companies-Polygenex International Inc. and Cupron Inc.--have joined forces to produce gloves that kill a full spectrum of dangerous microbes, bacteria and viruses. The gloves are made of advanced copper oxides that are combined with...

Night fighting made easier with advanced goggles.(TECH TALK)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The U.S. Army will be spending $560 million over the next five years on enhanced night-vision goggles that, for the first time, combine image intensification and infrared images. The upshot is that a soldier gets the benefits of both the...

Vehicle inspection system unveiled.(TECH TALK)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A remotely operated under: vehicle inspection system that offers true-color imagery and up to 12-times magnification has been developed by Northrop Grumman Corp. The system also provides database search functions, and is geared to seek out and...

Navy's new carrier: an electrifying ride.(TECH TALK)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Construction of the Navy's next-generation aircraft carrier, the CVN-21, could begin as early as this year, even though the ship's design continues to evolve. Although the carrier is not due to be completed until 2014, the shipyard, Northrop...

No need for heavy batteries.(Protonex Technology )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... A Just-developed fuel cell that is powered by chemical hydride cartridges will allow soldiers to dispense with batteries weighing more than 29 pounds. Produced for the Air Force by Protonex Technology and Millennium Cell Inc., the P1 system...

Skylark soars over Israel.(TECH TALK)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Israeli defense forces are receiving Skylark mini-unmanned aerial vehicles that can be carried in a pack by a single soldier. Built by Elbit Systems, the UAVs are propelled by a quiet electric motor and are totally autonomous in fight. ...

Raising the bar to meet the next wave of reform.(ETHICS CORNER)
June 1, 2005... Recent procurement scandals have prompted numerous ethics reform initiatives by federal prosecutors, regulators and legislators. Given the volume of spending related to Operation Iraqi Freedom and on-going homeland-security initiatives, the...

Tennessee Valley unit recognizes outgoing officers.(NDIA NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The National Defense Industrial Association's Tennessee Valley Chapter presented awards to five outgoing officers at a recent meeting in Huntsville, Ala. Joel Thomas, former chapter president, received NDIA's Gold Medal; Art Meier, former vice...

Women In Defense announce '04-'05 scholarship recipients.(Financial aid by National Security organization)
June 1, 2005... Women In Defense recently announced its newest HORIZONS scholarship winners. Each of the nine recipients received a $500 scholarship. Several of the recipients currently serve the U.S. military in the active duty, National Guard, reserves or...

Gen. Richard Myers receives Dwight D. Eisenhower Award.(NDIA NEWS)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... NDIA Chairman Thomas M. Culligan presents the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award to Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The ceremony, attended by more than 1,000 NDIA members and guests, took place April 21 in Tysons...

NDIA events calendar.(National Defense Industrial Association )(Calendar)
June 1, 2005... JUNE 13-16 Unmanned Maritime Vehicle T&E Conference & UAV Fest 05 Keyport, Wash. POC: Emily Brown @ (703) 247-9476 13-15 Armaments Technology Seminar Parsippany, N.J. POC: Britt Bommelje @ (703) 247-2587 Exhibits: Amy...

Chapter events.(Calendar)
June 1, 2005... JUNE 13-14 Pittsburgh Chapter/SoSECE System of Systems Engineering Conference Johnstown, Penn. 13-16 Michigan Chapter Intelligent Vehicle Systems Symposium & ...