Managed airborne intel system hits field

Managed airborne intel system hits field: "The Combat Track II system, has been in production since 2004. Over time it's become a real staple for the air mobility users for whom it's primarily intended, program officials noted.

Combat Track II allows crew aboard the air mobility fleet, as well as on some bombers, to maintain full awareness of friendly and potential hostile aircraft positions. It also alerts them to ground threats, including mobile surface-to-air missile sites.

'Combat Track II has continued to be praised by the users and is a critical asset for cockpit situational awareness and threat avoidance in theater,'"

UPDATE 1-Lockheed says F-35 program not in trouble | Reuters

UPDATE 1-Lockheed says F-35 program not in trouble Reuters: "Lockheed Martin on Wednesday said it was continuing work to sharply reduce the costs of the F-35 fighter and did not believe the program was in trouble despite a report that the Pentagon will cut production of 122 airplanes through 2015.
Lockheed spokesman Chris Geisel said the company was running about four to six months late on finishing the final four of 19 developmental aircraft, which in turn prevented completion of all the flight tests planned by the end of 2009.
But he said the gap was narrowing between Pentagon and Lockheed projections about the cost and time required to complete the development program and the company was continuing its drive to lower overall costs on the program."

Gates orders delay in buying Lockheed's F-35 fighter jets | Business | Star-Telegram.com

Gates orders delay in buying Lockheed's F-35 fighter jets Business Star-Telegram.com: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates has directed Pentagon planners to delay purchases of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet to provide additional funding for development and testing.
Gates’ directive would cut planned purchases by 10 jets in fiscal 2011 and a total of 122 planes through 2015, according to a budget document. The cuts amount to 25 percent of the 483 planes originally scheduled in those years.
More than $2.8 billion that was previously budgeted to begin equipping the military with F-35s would instead be used to continue development of the next-generation combat jet."

BATS helps ID insurgents, hostages

BATS helps ID insurgents, hostages: "Like technology from the latest spy movie, a system using finger prints and retina scans helps Soldiers tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys in Iraq.

The Biometrics Automated Toolset System, otherwise known as BATS, is a database which assists in finding insurgents and other wanted individuals.

The system takes finger prints and retina scans and stores them with information like names, pictures and background information to form an individual profile. The profile provides information about an individual's past records, if the person has been previously detained, where they've worked or whether or not they are wanted for illegal activity.

BATS also can be used to help identify friendly forces."

Boeing Laser Demonstrator Program Accepts Oshkosh Military Truck

Boeing Laser Demonstrator Program Accepts Oshkosh Military Truck: "Boeing has announced that it has accepted the Oshkosh Defense military truck that will carry a Boeing-built laser beam control system for the U.S. Army's High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator (HEL TD) program.
Boeing received the Oshkosh Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) on Dec. 17 at the Oshkosh facility in Oshkosh, Wis.
'This demonstration program has successfully transitioned from the design phase to the fabrication phase,' said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems' Directed Energy Systems unit. 'This transformational, solid-state laser weapon capability will provide speed-of-light, ultra-precision capability that will dramatically improve warfighters' ability to counter rocket, artillery and mortar projectiles.'"

Army seeks additional CAB to reach dwell goal

Army seeks additional CAB to reach dwell goal: "In order to meet the Army's dwell-time goal, the service will add a new combat aviation brigade.

'That's coming out of resources we already have; we are still wrestling with where that's going to go, where that's going to stand up,' said Maj. Gen. James O. Barclay III, commanding general of the Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker, Ala.

'That will help some in the fight,' he said. 'That's one of the small steps we are taking as we are trying to align and ensure with all (components) that we can meet and try to get at what General Casey's goal is: one to two.'"

Navy Non-Kinetic Air Power for OEF

Navy Non-Kinetic Air Power for OEF: "Carrier Air Wing 11 employs non-kinetic force to support troops on the ground in Afghanistan, minimizing the potential for civilian casualties. Non-kinetic force is intended not to cause any physical damage.

The EA-6B Prowlers assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135 deploy daily from the flight deck of the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) jamming electronic signals in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

'Our main focus of effort is to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum. That means we preserve it for coalition forces, and we deny its use to Afghan insurgents. If we can successfully do that, many times the ground commander may not need a bomb,'"

Upgraded Aegis Tracks Sophisticated Missile Targets

Upgraded Aegis Tracks Sophisticated Missile Targets: "The second generation of Lockheed Martin's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system, BMD 4.0.1, successfully detected, tracked and conducted simulated engagements against a variety of different ballistic missile targets during a series of tracking exercises in the Pacific.
The key feature of the new system is a new integrated signal processor designed to improve the system's discrimination capability to defeat sophisticated ballistic missiles and their countermeasures."

U.S. troops testing British-style camo | Stars and Stripes

U.S. troops testing British-style camo Stars and Stripes: "British and American soldiers soon could be hard to tell apart if the U.S. Army adopts a camouflage pattern similar to one that the British have already picked out to conceal their troops in Afghanistan.
U.S. soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment in eastern Afghanistan are wearing new uniforms featuring the 'MultiCam' camouflage pattern"

Maritime - Austal Commences JHSV Construction

Maritime - Austal Commences JHSV Construction: "Austal has received authorization from the U.S. Navy to commence construction on the first of up to ten 338-ft Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV).

After Austal successfully completed the Production Readiness Review (PRR) and necessary DoD approvals were obtained, the Navy authorized Austal’s Mobile, Ala. facility to immediately begin construction of Fortitude (JHSV 1)."

Fast-Track Field Experimentation Program Accelerates Delivery of Tools to the Battlefield

Fast-Track Field Experimentation Program Accelerates Delivery of Tools to the Battlefield: "A fast-track field experimentation (FX) program at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has significantly reduced the time it normally takes for new battlefield technologies to be vetted through the defense acquisition and field-testing/evaluation processes.

Warfighters typically have to wait several years for new technologies to wend their way through these lengthy procedures before they reach the battlefield. But that's changing.

Right now, for example, U.S. Marines on operations in Afghanistan are using a surveillance and situational awareness tool that didn't exist less than a year ago.

For that tool, called SIGEAGLE,"

NSWC Collaboration Leads to Rapid Technology Fielding

NSWC Collaboration Leads to Rapid Technology Fielding: "Warfighters on board riverine assault boats (RAB) supporting efforts in Operation Iraqi Freedom are now safer from radio-controlled improvised explosive devices (RCIED) because of collaborative efforts between two Naval Surface Warfare Centers (NSWCs).

NSWC Crane and NSWC Carderock teamed to complete Counter RCIED Electronic Warfare (CREW) system installations on RABs six months ahead of schedule. The systems prevent enemy RCIED detonation, providing significant protection to warfighters patrolling waterways in Iraq."

Unmanned Aerial Systems aid 1st AF mission

Unmanned Aerial Systems aid 1st AF mission: "Unmanned aircraft are currently used by the Air Force for long-endurance, medium and high altitude surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and operate primarily outside the borders of the United States in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

'We're working toward developing standardized policies and procedures―a necessary template―for all services to integrate and gain FAA approval for domestic UAS operations,' said 1st Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Garry Dean."

Tools help warfighters test water for chemical, biological hazards

TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. -- Employees here are fabricating and populating more than 1,700 kits that will enable warfighters throughout the world to test water samples.

In August, Tobyhanna employees began fabricating components to be included in detection enhancement kits, which will provide military personnel with the tools to test a water sample for radiation, and chemical and biological hazards.

Tobyhanna personnel fabricate a variety of pieces for the kits, including cables and other components. Included in the kits are purchased commercial items and government-furnished equipment (GFE) from the customer, such as radiac meters and detectors, and check sources, which are used to ensure the radiac equipment is working correctly.

Soldiers and seamen will use a heater to evaporate a water sample, leaving behind a residue that is used for testing.

Over the summer, depot personnel accomplished a limited rate of production (LRP). Personnel from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., (the customer) provided employees in the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Directorate's Tank Thermal/Common Modules Branch with enough components to populate 100 kits each for the Army and Navy.

Russ Burnett, logistics management specialist, said the LRP was used to introduce the kits into the field, and that the same personnel will populate 1,058 kits for the Army and 645 for the Navy. He works in the Production Management Directorate's Manufacturing Systems and Support Branch.

"Since it is new workload, engineers had to determine the materials needed, and the hours and machines required to fabricate items," explained Stacey Taylor, production controller in the branch.

Personnel in the sheet metal fabrication branch are using a Strippit Computer Numerically Controlled punch press to produce parts for the probe stand. The machine allows them to produce 50 pieces per sheet of material.

Next, machinists in the machining branch engrave identifiable information into each piece. The machine allows personnel to etch eight pieces at one time.

Zigmund Pieszala, branch chief, noted that because of the irregular shape of the components specific engraving is required. Branch personnel will use the HAAS VF-11 computer numerically controlled milling center, which is outfitted with a table that holds the parts in place using a vacuum.

"This machine is also equipped with specialized accessory programs that will allow the machine to engrave the needed lettering to proper style and specifications very quickly," Pieszala added.

The items are blasted and finished by Systems Integration and Support Directorate employees in the Component Refinishing, and Finishing and Etching branches to ensure a smooth and durable product.

Burnett said they hope to begin populating and delivering kits before the end of the year, and plan on producing 100 kits each month, depending on the availability of GFE.

"This is slightly different workload than the large systems Tobyhanna is used to working on," Burnett noted, describing the kit as a "small, standalone, self-sufficient end item being used in the field."

Taylor added that depot employees are "directly touching" the warfighter by supplying these kits to them.

Tobyhanna is currently the only installation working on this program.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Jennifer Caprioli (USAG Fort Huachuca)


# END

Construction Commences on First Joint High Speed Vessel

Construction Commences on First Joint High Speed Vessel: "Workers at the Austal USA shipyard started fabrication of the first Joint High Speed Vessel Dec. 17 in Mobile, Ala.

'This is an important milestone for our program which brings us one step closer to delivering this critical asset to both the Army and the Navy,' said Capt. George Sutton, the Strategic and Theater Sealift Office program manager for the Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. 'Considerable investments in the Austal shipyard, coupled with the implementation of proven commercial technology, gives me high levels of confidence in the shipyard's ability to execute the program.'

To pave the way for the start of fabrication, the JHSV program completed an extensive Production Readiness Review on Oct. 20. The ship's design maturity and readiness, the availability of materials and components, and the shipbuilder's ability to successfully start fabrication were all closely evaluated. Following the review, the Navy granted authorization for the company to begin construction.

Austal's recently constructed Modular Manufacturing Facility will eventually provide a five-fold increase in the company's existing construction capacity. This facility will have the ability to build both the Littoral Combat Ship and JHSV."

Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Independence

Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Independence: "The Navy officially accepted delivery of the future USS Independence (LCS 2) Dec. 18 during a short ceremony in Mobile, Ala. Independence is the second littoral combat ship delivered to the Navy, and the first LCS of the General Dynamics variant. LCS is a new breed of U.S. Navy warship with versatile warfighting capabilities, capable of open-ocean operation, but optimized for littoral, or coastal, missions."

Shooter-detection 'Boomerangs' helping in Iraq

Shooter-detection 'Boomerangs' helping in Iraq: "A new acoustic shooter-detection system called 'Boomerang' detects incoming gunfire in Iraq and alerts Soldiers to the shooter's location, allowing them to immediately return fire.

'It's an anti-sniper detection system,' said Pierre Jackson, an installer of Boomerang systems for the firm D3M.

'Basically, if someone is firing at you, it picks up exactly where they're firing from,' he said.

When a Soldier is on patrol, the device is passive. It signals Soldiers with an audible and a visual warning if it detects an incoming, supersonic round.

It relays the direction, distance, and azimuth to the shooter.

Training only takes a half-hour."

Unmanned unit tested for psychological war

Unmanned unit tested for psychological war: "Most of the methods currently used in psychological warfare have been brought together in an unmanned system developed by Boeing and demonstrated for the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Psychological operations are crucial to wartime missions for combatant commands, but until recently such measures involved different approaches and comprised varying elements, from dropping conventional leaflets in battle zones to using audiovisual effects.
The system is also equally effective in civilian scenarios such as crowd control.
Boeing's Multimodal Unmanned Systems Operations"

US fixed problem with drones hacked by insurgents: Pentagon

US fixed problem with drones hacked by insurgents: Pentagon: "The US military has fixed a problem that allowed Iraqi militants to use cheap software to intercept the video feeds of US-operated drones, a defense official said on Thursday.
'This is an old issue that's been addressed,' the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters. The problem has been 'taken care of,' he said.
Pentagon officials sought to play down security concerns with US drones after the Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian-backed Shiite insurgents had used software programs such as SkyGrabber -- available online for 25.95 dollars (18 euros) -- to capture live video footage from the unmanned aircraft."

Improved magazine increases weapons reliability

Improved magazine increases weapons reliability: "The Army has begun fielding a new 5.56mm 30-round 'improved magazine' that delivers a significant increase in reliability for M-16 and M-4 weapons.

Bolstering the already high reliability ratings of the M-16 and M-4, the improved magazine reduces the risk of magazine-related stoppages by more than 50 percent compared to the older magazine variants, according to officials at Program Executive Office Soldier.

Identified by a tan-colored follower, more than 500,000 of the improved magazines have been fielded to units in Iraq, Afghanistan and the United States."