National Defense articles from March 2002

National Defense archives from March 2002

Editor's corner.
March 1, 2002... The expansion of U.S. military participation in peacekeeping, peace-enforcement and crowd-control missions has fueled the Defense Department's interest in non-lethal weapons in recent years. These weapons are a relatively new addition to the...

Policy issues that matter to industry. (President's Perspective).(National Defense Industrial Association)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... As a non-profit, non-partisan organization, NDIA advocates legislation, regulations and policies that are essential to a strong and ready defense industrial base. We work closely with Congress and the Executive Branch as an industry voice to...

Does the public care about civil defense? (Readers Forum).
March 1, 2002... In reference to the article, "More Education Needed on Terrorism" (p. 6, January 2002), I should point out that, in the late 1950s, a huge amount of money was spent to stock fallout shelters in American cities. Also, money was spent for the...

Precision Strike Association enters affiliation with NDIA.(National Defense Industrial Association)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Last month, the Precision Strike Association (PSA) joined the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) as an affiliate organization. Wayne Savage, chairman of PSA, said this agreement benefits both associations. "PSA covers a...

Defense budget to reach $380 billion. (Washington Pulse).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... The Defense Department's massive spending increase in fiscal year 2003 is the biggest boost the Pentagon's budget has received since 1982. Most of the $48 billion increase will fund the war on terrorism, pay raises for the military service...

Army O&M accounts hard to track. (Washington Pulse).(operations and maintenance)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The most difficult-to-track pot of money in the Defense Department is the Army's operations and maintenance accounts, known as O&M, said a congressional analyst during a recent conference with defense contractors. O&M is a broad spending...

Lack of interoperability hampers transformation. (Washington Pulse).(relations between military services)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... There are "fundamental interoperability problems" between the services, which constitute barriers to the so-called transformation of the military, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson, director for force structure, resources and assessment on...

Levin: Storing nukes is a risk. (Washington Pulse).(Sen. Carl Levin objects to Bush policy)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... By storing rather than destroying nuclear warheads, the administration is taking a high risk of encouraging further nuclear proliferation, said Democratic Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee. Levin stated he was...

Mogadishu veteran ponders 'lessons learned'. (Washington Pulse).(premiere of 'Black Hawk Down')(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... During the Washington, D.C., premiere of the movie Black Hawk Down, former helicopter commander for the 160th company, Army Col. Thomas Matthews, told National Defense that, Hollywood hoopla notwithstanding, there are serious lessons to be...

Sensors monitor soldier health during combat. (Tech Talk).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, part of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, is leading an effort to keep better track of soldiers' health during military operations and training. The project is...

Apache digital imaging system gets an upgrade. (Tech Talk).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Army will upgrade the combat video-imaging system of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Pulse Specialty Components, of Bristol, Penn., will participate in the development of a high-speed digital video transmission system, using the...

Hand-held sweeper cleans up bio contaminants. (Tech Talk).(Bio Sweeper from Intellicon Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A hand-held device designed to clean up biological contamination was introduced by Intellicon Inc., of Santa Ana, Calif. The system is called the Bio Sweeper. The Bio Sweeper deploys UV-C ultra-violet germicidal technology--which has been...

Combat radio promises short-range, secure communication. (Tech Talk).(Personal Role Radio)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The Personal Role Radio (PRR), introduced by Television Equipment Associates, of Brewster, N.Y., provides soldiers with short-range, secure communication, according to Bill Pegler, president of TEA. Using advanced wireless,...

CDC develops bio-threat test kits. (Tech Talk).(Centers for Disease Control)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed test kits for several bio-threat agents that can be used on DNA detection systems made by Cepheid, of Sunnyvale, Calif., according to the company's CEO, Thomas...

Boot protects against land mines. (Tech Talk).(combat boots from BfR Holdings Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... BfR Holdings Limited, a company based in Hong Kong and Singapore which makes blast and fragment resistant (BfR) combat boots, has launched a global e-commerce store. This allows military buyers and enthusiasts to purchase the boots over the...

Navy's latest destroyer: Is it a ship or a test-bed?
March 1, 2002... As the Navy prepares to award a design contract in April for its next generation surface combatant, there are conflicting explanations for the program's rationale. The Navy says that the DD-X project will produce a new ship class. But some...

Anti-terrorism planning shapes experiments: Marine Corps Warfighting Lab sharpens focus on covert urban reconnaissance.
March 1, 2002... In anticipation of the possible expansion of the U.S. war against al-Qaeda or other suspected terrorist groups, the Marine Corps has launched several projects aimed at preparing for combat in areas such as the Philippines or Somalia. To...

Coast Guard's future depends on Deepwater: Current fleet lacks technologies needed to tackle emerging seaborne threats. (View Point).
March 1, 2002... The Deepwater program, which began in 1996, is designed to provide the Coast Guard with the necessary tools to perform its maritime homeland security mission. The future of the nation's maritime security depends on the successful implementation...

Chem-Bio attack looming, say U.S. officials: According to Sen. Tim Hutchinson, 'The unthinkable has become thinkable'.
March 1, 2002... Gas! Gas! Gas!" The warning crackled over military radios as clouds of thick, white smoke covered the cold, gray battlefield. One U.S. soldier was overcome and quickly fell unconscious. Others successfully donned their protective gear and...

Chem-Bio detector market reaches $400M.(Statistical Data Included)(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2002... The world market for chemical and biological warfare agent detectors could reach nearly $400 million in 2002, with the United States leading this sector as both the top investor in technology and the biggest buyer of new equipment. Global...

Breakthroughs sought in Chem-Bio sensors.(Georgia Tech Research Institute developing new technology)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A shoebox-sized optical sensor that measures light speed and patterns is being tested as a possible detector of chemical or biological agents. The technology has the potential to make the detection of agents easier and faster, scientists said....

U.S. troops find new uses for non-lethal weaponry.
March 1, 2002... As the war on terrorism grinds on, U.S. military forces and civilian organizations are finding more and more uses for weapons that don't kill. Marines guarding the newly reopened U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, for example, are equipped with...

Stopping intruders can be a sticky mess: Joint non-lethal program office funds development of Mobility Denial System.(sticky gel)
March 1, 2002... In the future, U.S. military peacekeepers and law enforcement authorities may use a novel sticky gel to prevent trespassers or troublemakers from entering a building or to stop a run-away vehicle without having to use lethal force. The gel...

Non-lethal weapons to gain relevancy in future conflicts. (Commentary).
March 1, 2002... The opening rounds of the war against terrorist groups in Afghanistan showcased the efficacy of highly lethal, precision-guided weapons. In current and future wars, however, there also is an important role for non-lethal systems. In...

Shipbuilding sector remains uncompetitive: U.S. government should take action to make the nation's shipyards more efficient. (Industrial Perspective).(Industry Overview)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... The U.S. shipbuilding industry designs and builds sophisticated military vessels, yet remains uncompetitive in the commercial shipbuilding market. The major yards are unable to compete internationally due to the industrial policies, greater...

Navy Reforms International Programs Office. (Analysis).
March 1, 2002... The Department of the Navy's International Programs Office has adopted a host of new business practices designed to enhance U.S. military interoperability with foreign allies, bolster the efficiency of the Foreign Military Sales program and...

Pentagon needs accurate accounting of fuel: Military services urged to set up measurement tools for energy consumption.(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... Until the Defense Department begins measuring the true cost of fuel and develops definite plans to reduce fuel consumption in military vehicles, the armed services will continue to be burdened by the huge logistical and financial strains of...

Environmental market to remain flat in U.S.: Companies should seek business expanded opportunities in developing countries. (Industrial Perspective).(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2002... (This article was adapted from the 2001 Industrial College of the Armed Forces Environmental Industry Study) The environmental industry is now at a crossroads. In the past, growth was driven by the need for compliance with regulations and...

Information Dominance key to U.S. Security. (Government Policy Notes).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... National defense, homeland security and even electronic government are all dependent on information systems and technology. The Acquisition Reform Act of 1994 mandated the use of information technology in the transformation of both war fighting...

Government. (Brass Tracks).(DOD staff changes, other news)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has created an office to establish policy in the area of command, control and communications and provide direction for Defense Department frequency spectrum issues. Steven Price was named deputy assistant...

Industry. (Brass Tracks).(staff changes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Northrop Grumman Corporation's Integrated Systems sector, located in Dallas, announced the appointment of Scott Douglas as regional vice president for Southeast Asia. Based in Singapore, Douglas directs Integrated Systems' regional business...

2002 annual NDIA membership meeting. (NDIA News).
March 1, 2002... NDIA will conduct its 2002 annual membership meeting on April 12, 2002 at 8 a.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Tysons Corner (Plaza Room), McLean, Virginia. All members are welcome for the NDIA President's report on association activities. Please...

Iowa-Illinois Chapter hosts conference. (Women in Defense).
March 1, 2002... More than 300 defense professionals are expected to attend a conference sponsored by WID's Iowa-Illinois Chapter in late March, at the Radisson Quad City Hotel and Conference Center in Davenport, Ill. Suzanne Patrick, deputy undersecretary of...

NDIA Even. (Calendar).
March 1, 2002... event MARCH 19-20, 2002 Navy Ballistic Missile Defense Conference Event #2160 Arlington, VA Regular Registration Fees: Member $270 Non-Member $325 Government $205 Description: This event provides insights...