National Defense articles from September 2008

National Defense archives from September 2008

Collaboration is key to meeting war fighter technology needs.(PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE)
September 1, 2008... * At a time when U.S. forces are heavily engaged in two major wars and preparing for an unpredictable future, it is more important than ever to make sure the nation develops the right technologies for its war fighters. Science and...

Defense and innovation.(READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... * Your article "Despite SecDef's Pleas, Pentagon Is Losing the Innovation War," (Defense Watch, June 2008) was dead on. There are so many problems within defense procurement it is difficult to know where to begin. One area that should be looked...

Wrong target.(READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * In reference to the May issue of National Defense magazine, I was amazed at your article, "In Today's Wars, Air Strikes Under Fire." The cover proclaims "Call for Fire--How urban fighting has changed the...

Waste of money.(READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... * I wanted to comment on your July 2008 article, "Marine Corps Lab Eyes Unmanned Aircraft for Battlefield Re-Supply." When does the insanity end? Anyone can understand the logic of smaller cost-efficient supply helicopters. Of course...

Turf battles.(READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... * I am not certain that you want to hear from cranky academics, but I think your Defense Watch piece in the July 2008 issue, "Pentagon Bracing for Yet Another Round of Turf Battles," was way off the mark. Inter-service rivalry is the solution...

Selling weapons overseas.(READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... * I would think that selling our weapons to anyone who can afford to buy them is a good thing ("Export Controls: A Contentious Issue Reaching a 'Boiling Point," July 2008). It keeps our domestic arms producers financially healthy, secures the...

Virtual reality.(READERS' FORUM: VIEWS ... COMMENTS ... SUGGESTIONS)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2008... * In the June 2008 article, "Troops Don't Always Benefit From Virtual Reality Training," (Washington Pulse, p. 10) Clay Wilson's mistake is that the modern U.S. military never looks at any one thing as "the best choice." It's gone through a...

Soldiers as Samaritans: what's the right balance?(DEFENSE WATCH)
September 1, 2008... * Where does one draw the line between philanthropy and national security? The boundaries between the two have become increasingly fuzzier during the past two decades. It's almost as if troops are expected to be Janus-like, with a single...

Booming market: global arms sales top $1.3 trillion.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Military spending around the globe shows no signs of slowing down. The world spent nearly $1.3 trillion on armaments in 2007--2.5 percent of the planet's gross domestic product--and the United States accounted for...

Now they're telling us?(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)(on terrorist groups, and United States' counterterrorism strategy)
September 1, 2008... * Good news: All terrorist groups eventually end. The bad news, alas, is that the United States has the wrong counterterrorism strategy, concludes a recent Rand Corp. study. Researchers examined 648 terrorist groups that existed between...

Renewed calls to privatize public diplomacy.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)
September 1, 2008... * The U.S. military took a public relations beating when one of its PR contractors paid Iraqi newspapers to print propaganda disguised as news stories. That unfortunate experience, however, has not discouraged advocates of the privatization of...

State Dept. draws lessons from 'Cola wars'.(WASHINGTON PULSE: NEWS FROM INSIDE THE BELTWAY)
September 1, 2008... * Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld famously declared that the United States is badly losing the "war of ideas." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] According to James Glassman, undersecretary for public diplomacy at the State Department,...

Entitlements grew 60 percent in the past eight years in real terms.
September 1, 2008... "Entitlements grew 60 percent in the past eight years in real terms. A good part went to retirees." Steve Kosiak, budget analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. He says retiree benefits programs will remain the...

"Many of our coalition partners use Web 2.0 technology better than the Defense Department does.".
September 1, 2008... "Many of our coalition partners use Web 2.0 technology better than the Defense Department does." Brig. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins, deputy director of policy and resources at Air Force headquarters. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

"The nation currently has a consolidated 20th Century defense industry, not the required and transformed 21st Century national security industrial base it needs for the future.".
September 1, 2008... "The nation currently has a consolidated 20th Century defense industry, not the required and transformed 21st Century national security industrial base it needs for the future." Defense Science Board, July 2008 report

Help for the little guys: Congress' small business advocate has harsh words for DHS.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * If your small business has a beef with the Department of Homeland Security, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, wants to hear about it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

9/11 aftermath inspires comic book writers.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)(After 9/11)
September 1, 2008... * Media pundits often bemoan the declining public interest in news about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But what if the wars were written up as a comic book? The creators of a popular comic book that depicted the events leading up...

Federal officials prepare for aftermath of nuclear attack.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)(senate hearings on America's preparedness against a nuclear attack)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Although the chances of a nuclear attack remain slim, the effects would be colossal, witnesses at a Senate hearing said. "We can expect hundreds of thousands of casualties," said Paul McHale, assistant...

Clock ticking on aviation cargo screening mandate.(SECURITY BEAT: HOMELAND DEFENSE BRIEFS)
September 1, 2008... * The Transportation Security Administration has been stow to move towards the goat of screening 100 percent of cargo loaded aboard passenger aircraft despite substantial congressional funding said the Government Accountability Office. ...

Scientists recruited to help fix failing U.S. infrastructures.(INSIDE SCIENCE + TECHNOLOGY)
September 1, 2008... * The Defense Department often has called on the private sector to help deliver technological solutions to tough military challenges. Now it's the civilian agencies that are seeking the industry's help in technologies that can monitor the...

Changing of the guard: transfer of power prompts homeland security fears.(IN FOCUS: DEFENSE AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS)(on the transition of powers of the Department of Homeland Security)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * There will be a changing of the guard in January 2009--and it will be a first. Never before in its short history has the Department of Homeland Security handed off its duties from one administration to another....

Under watch: government seeking clear path for biometrics data use.(IN FOCUS: DEFENSE AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS)
September 1, 2008... * The technology has arrived. The science of biometrics, the identification of a person through his or her physical characteristics, made great strides in the aftermath of 9/11. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Retina scans, voice imprints,...

Nation-building: post-conflict reconstruction to remain a booming business.(ICAF Industry Study)
September 1, 2008... * Post-war reconstruction will continue to create lucrative business opportunities for contractors for years to come, concludes a study by the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Firms that provide "reconstruction and vital...

Shutdown? F-22 manufacturers brace for uncertainty.(Tactical Aviation)
September 1, 2008... The F-22's belated European debut in the skies over England at an airshow lasted 15 minutes, but the flips and turns did little to rally any new allies for the advanced stealth fighter, whose future has become increasingly glum in recent...

Boeing plant buzzing despite F-22 slowdown.
September 1, 2008... * SEATTLE -- In a facility that once built the wing for the B-2 stealth bomber, teams assemble the F-22 Raptor's wings and aft fuselage with tools that are constantly drilling, buzzing and sawing. Workers here know that the assembly line may be...

Shifting gears: for the military, a future of 'hybrid' wars.(Hybrid Wars)(Cover story)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pentagon planners often are criticized for being locked in perpetual preparation for the last war. At the Defense Department, there is much pressure to figure out what's next after Iraq and Afghanistan. Will it...

Are troops best suited for post-combat civilian duties?(Hybrid Wars)
September 1, 2008... * In today's wars, the Army needs more than just soldiers. To help rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army Reserve is using troops who were lawyers, accountants, teachers and soybean farmers in their civilian lives. "You're still building...

Ready, aim, specialize! Marine Corps' strategy stresses regional culture.(Hybrid Wars)
September 1, 2008... * A deeper understanding of culture has become an official part of Marine Corps strategy. Indeed, the recently published Marine Corps Vision and Strategy 2025 says that, to be successful in future wars, Marines will need to gain a deeper...

Set adrift: Marines' plans to deploy bases at sea faces rough waters.(Amphibious Warfare)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In preparation for the unpredictable battlefield of the future, the Marine Corps is banking on at least one constant: the sea. The Corps is anchoring its plans on the deployment of "sea bases" that would allow...

By air or by sea? Marines question the utility of their new amphibious warship.(Amphibious Warfare)
September 1, 2008... * The words "amphibious assault" traditionally conjure up images of Marines storming the beach by hovercraft. But with the introduction of their newest amphibious assault ship in 2013, Marines will be able to reach the shore only by air....

Navy retrofitting ships with fuel-saving technologies.
September 1, 2008... * WASHINGTON NAVY YARD--The soaring cost of oil is prompting the Navy to adopt fuel-saving measures that can be retrofitted onto different ship classes. The Navy is interested in mature technologies that can be introduced right away, says...

Water-to-land: second opinions sought for Marines troubled amphibious vehicle.(Amphibious Warfare)(on the 'The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle: Over Budget, Behind Schedule, and Unreliable' report)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * After ordering a major redesign of its troubled expeditionary fighting vehicle, the Marine Corps has hired an engineering firm to take a fresh look at the bow flap that transforms the 38-ton troop carrier from a...

Heavy weight: high-tech dirigible will lift 40 tons.(TECH TALK)(SkyHook JHL-40)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * A neutrally boyant aircraft--capable of transporting 40-ton loads up to 200 miles without refueling--is being developed by The Boeing Company of St. Louis and SkyHook International Inc. of Calgary, Canada. The...

First fuel cell powered flight scored in Madrid.(TECH TALK)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * An Austrian two-seater Dimona motor-glider became the first aircraft to fly under the power of hydrogen fuel cells. The history making first flight took place in Madrid, and was the work of a team of scientists and...

Compact system yields pure H20 for troops.(TECH TALK)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * HIT, a Virginia Beach, Va.-based company, is marketing a water purification system in a bottle that was conceived by inventor Michael Pritchard of the United Kingdom. Called, Lifesaver, the bottle relies on a...

Communication among first responders improved.(TECH TALK)(Liberty)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Perhaps the most prevalent gripe coming from first responders is the inevitable communications break-down that results when multiple agencies respond to a single crisis. This could include natural disaster such as...

Sensor will lead to better soldier head protection.(TECH TALK)
September 1, 2008... * In an effort to better protect the heads of soldiers from injury, BAE Systems of Phoenix, Ariz., has developed a sensor that measures helmet acceleration and environmental pressures. Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division will receive 5,500...

Corporate teaming needed to reduce false claims exposure.(Ethics Corner)
September 1, 2008... * Recent Civil False Claims Act activity in Washington is causing companies to reexamine their internal compliance controls, particularly their reporting mechanisms. Congress and the Department of Justice have tag-teamed to expand the...

Kusick elected vice chair of Program Management Systems Committee.(NDIA NEWS)
September 1, 2008... * Joe Kusick of Raytheon Co. has been elected vice chair of the Program Management Systems Committee of the National Defense Industrial Association. The first Raytheon executive to hold the post in more than 30 years, Kusick will serve as...

NDIA's Missile Defense Division held its fourth annual awards dinner June 17 in Arlington, Va.(NDIA NEWS)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NDIA's Missile Defense Division held its fourth annual awards dinner June 17 in Arlington, Va. Shown from left to right are: John Carlson, division chair; Willie Hardwick, recipient of the NDIA Meritorious Award; Air...

NDIA's Iowa-Illinois Chapter held a luncheon meeting at Burlington, Iowa, with guest speaker Brig. Gen. James Rodgers, commander of the Joint Munitions Command located at Rock Island Arsenal.(NDIA NEWS)(National Defense Industrial Association)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NDIA's Iowa-Illinois Chapter held a luncheon meeting at Burlington, Iowa, with guest speaker Brig. Gen. James Rodgers, commander of the Joint Munitions Command located at Rock Island Arsenal. Rodgers talked about the...

Fewer engineering grads despite growing demand.(STEM NEWS)
September 1, 2008... The number of engineering students receiving bachelors and master's degrees declined for the first time in seven years, according to survey results from the American Society for Engineering Education. Last year marked the first drop since...

NDIA calendar: upcoming exhibits, shows and events.(Calendar)
September 1, 2008... SEPTEMBER 4-5 Disruptive Technologies Conference Washington, DC www.ndia.org/meetings/8920 8-11 Joint Undersea Warfare Technology Fall Conference (Secret US Only) Groton, CT www.ndia.org/meetings/8240 8-12 Defense...