Army, Marines Testing Battery-Charging Knee Brace - Kit Up!: The Army and Marine Corps both have contracted with Canadian company Bionic Power, Inc. to perform field tests on a knee brace that harvests human kinetic power that then can be used to charge the lithium ion batteries that power a range of military devices.
The wearable titanium system produces seven to 10 watts of power if a soldier is marching at a normal pace, and can harvest more at faster speeds, company CEO Yad Garcha told Military.com here at the AUSA Conference Wednesday.
“If soldiers are heavily weighed down and they’re going downhill, they can produce upwards of 20 watts of power,” Garcha said. “It’s dependng on speed and depending on terrain. If soldier is going to a lookout point every day, they can wear this device on the way down and they can charge all their equipment.”
The system has already undergone early testing at the Army’s Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center in Natick, Massachusetts, Garcha said, and is set to be put through its paces by rank-and-file soldiers and Marines next year. Garcha said the Army planned to equip a squad with the system next summer, while the Marine Corps was set to test the braces on 50 Marines in the same timeframe. It wasn’t clear, he said, where the tests are set to take place.
“Basically they’ll say, here’s a 72-hour mission, here’s a technology that you can wear, let’s see if you can be independent for that period of time,” he said. “They will probably allow same mission to be done with batteries, allowing them to compare the effectiveness of the mission, the weight on the soldier’s back, the cost of the battery, so they’ll have comparative testing.”
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Philippine defense chief says Duterte may be 'misinformed' on U.S. alliance | Reuters
Philippine defense chief says Duterte may be 'misinformed' on U.S. alliance | Reuters: The Philippine defense minister sought to patch up cracks in a military alliance with the United States on Wednesday, saying President Rodrigo Duterte, who has appeared intent on scrapping joint programs, might be misinformed about their value.
Referring to recent strongly worded comments by Duterte, in which he has declared that the Philippines military gained little from U.S. security ties, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the armed forces were still weak and the country got a lot out of the U.S. relationship.
"That's why I said the president was misinformed, because I think the information he is getting is incomplete," Lorenzana told reporters, a day after the launch of the latest round of PHIBLEX military exercises involving troops from both sides.
"Maybe, the defense ministry and the armed forces were remiss in providing him the correct information. This, we will address in the coming days."
Referring to recent strongly worded comments by Duterte, in which he has declared that the Philippines military gained little from U.S. security ties, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the armed forces were still weak and the country got a lot out of the U.S. relationship.
"That's why I said the president was misinformed, because I think the information he is getting is incomplete," Lorenzana told reporters, a day after the launch of the latest round of PHIBLEX military exercises involving troops from both sides.
"Maybe, the defense ministry and the armed forces were remiss in providing him the correct information. This, we will address in the coming days."
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
'Nano-kebab' fabric breaks down chemical warfare agents
'Nano-kebab' fabric breaks down chemical warfare agents: Researchers have created a fabric material containing nanoscale fibers that are capable of degrading chemical warfare agents (CWAs). Uniform coatings of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized on top of the nanofibers, forming unique kebab-like structures. These MOFs are what break down the CWAs, rendering them harmless.
"Current technologies for addressing CWAs rely on carbon-based materials - but these carbon materials can only adsorb hazardous compounds, they can't degrade them," says Junjie Zhao, a former Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University and lead author of a paper on the work.
"Our goal was to develop new materials that can detoxify these CWA compounds, and we've been successful." The CWA degradation research was conducted by researchers in Gregory Parsons' group at NC State, and co-workers at RTI International and the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center.
"Previous research had found that MOFs can be effective at degrading CWAs," Zhao says. "However, MOFs normally come in the form of a powder. We wanted to see if we could grow MOFs as functional coatings onto fibers, so that they could be used in masks, filters and protective garments."
"We think that this demonstration of well-controlled MOF thin films that retain their chemical functionality is an important step for personal security and has implications for many other civilian and commercial uses," adds Parsons, who is Alcoa Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State.
"Current technologies for addressing CWAs rely on carbon-based materials - but these carbon materials can only adsorb hazardous compounds, they can't degrade them," says Junjie Zhao, a former Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University and lead author of a paper on the work.
"Our goal was to develop new materials that can detoxify these CWA compounds, and we've been successful." The CWA degradation research was conducted by researchers in Gregory Parsons' group at NC State, and co-workers at RTI International and the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center.
"Previous research had found that MOFs can be effective at degrading CWAs," Zhao says. "However, MOFs normally come in the form of a powder. We wanted to see if we could grow MOFs as functional coatings onto fibers, so that they could be used in masks, filters and protective garments."
"We think that this demonstration of well-controlled MOF thin films that retain their chemical functionality is an important step for personal security and has implications for many other civilian and commercial uses," adds Parsons, who is Alcoa Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Army sending more troops, resources to Africa
Army sending more troops, resources to Africa: With 54 countries, more than 2,100 languages and upwards of 800 tribes in its area of operations, U.S. Army Africa must continue to grow its partnerships and exercises across the vast continent, the command’s top officer said.
“It’s the land of tremendous opportunity, but the land of where, if the perfect storm brews, a lot of negative things could happen,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph Harrington, commanding general of U.S. Army Africa.
More than 1.2 billion people — 41 percent of them under the age of 15 — live in Africa, Harrington said.
Economically, Africa is the fastest growing continent, and it continues to battle growing threats from Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, a Somali-based military group with ties to al-QaIda, and the Islamic State, he said.
“What Africa do we want in the future?” Harrington said. “Do we want the one that is contributing to the world order, where Africa’s potential is realized both economically and human-dimension-wise, or is it going to be one where we worry about people migrating in large numbers to flee terrorism? Africa will become more and more important to the United States in the decades to come.”
“It’s the land of tremendous opportunity, but the land of where, if the perfect storm brews, a lot of negative things could happen,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph Harrington, commanding general of U.S. Army Africa.
More than 1.2 billion people — 41 percent of them under the age of 15 — live in Africa, Harrington said.
Economically, Africa is the fastest growing continent, and it continues to battle growing threats from Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, a Somali-based military group with ties to al-QaIda, and the Islamic State, he said.
“What Africa do we want in the future?” Harrington said. “Do we want the one that is contributing to the world order, where Africa’s potential is realized both economically and human-dimension-wise, or is it going to be one where we worry about people migrating in large numbers to flee terrorism? Africa will become more and more important to the United States in the decades to come.”
Raytheon's Plan to Protect Many of the U.S. Navy's Most Critical Warships | The National Interest Blog
Raytheon's Plan to Protect Many of the U.S. Navy's Most Critical Warships | The National Interest Blog: The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Block II, or ESSM, is a new version of an existing Sea Sparrow weapons system currently protecting aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers, amphibious assault ships and other vessels against anti-ship missiles and other surface and airborne short-range threats to ships, Navy officials said.
The ESSM Block 2 is engineered with what’s called an active guidance system, meaning the missile itself can achieve improved flight or guidance to its target by both receiving and actively sending electromagnetic signals, said Raytheon officials.
The ESSM uses radar technology to locate and then intercept a fast-approaching target while in flight; the use of what’s called an “illuminator” is a big part of this capability, Raytheon officials said.
The current ESSM missiles use what’s called a semi-active guidance system, meaning the missile itself can receive electromagnetic signals bounced off the target by an illuminator; the ESSM Block 2’s “active” guidance includes illuminator technology built onto the missile itself such that it can both receive and send important electromagnetic signals, Navy and Raytheon officials explained.
The ESSM Block 2 is engineered with what’s called an active guidance system, meaning the missile itself can achieve improved flight or guidance to its target by both receiving and actively sending electromagnetic signals, said Raytheon officials.
The ESSM uses radar technology to locate and then intercept a fast-approaching target while in flight; the use of what’s called an “illuminator” is a big part of this capability, Raytheon officials said.
The current ESSM missiles use what’s called a semi-active guidance system, meaning the missile itself can receive electromagnetic signals bounced off the target by an illuminator; the ESSM Block 2’s “active” guidance includes illuminator technology built onto the missile itself such that it can both receive and send important electromagnetic signals, Navy and Raytheon officials explained.
Partial Funding Bill to Delay LCS, A-10, JLTV Programs - DoD Buzz
Partial Funding Bill to Delay LCS, A-10, JLTV Programs - DoD Buzz: The stop-gap spending bill passed by lawmakers after, once again, failing to reach a budget deal will delay a range of defense weapons programs, including the Littoral Combat Ship, A-10 Thunderbolt II and the Ohio-class submarine replacement.
The 10-week continuing resolution approved by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama this week to avoid a Sept. 30 government shutdown just before the elections had already been labeled as “deplorable” by Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.
He told the Senate Armed Services Committee this month that the short-term CR, which continues spending at fiscal 2016 levels, would limit the Pentagon’s ability to “maintain our military’s technological edge and counter some of the most vexing threats we face.”
Last month, Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord gave the Congressional Research Service a list of new start programs that would be put on hold under the 10-week CR.
The 10-week continuing resolution approved by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama this week to avoid a Sept. 30 government shutdown just before the elections had already been labeled as “deplorable” by Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.
He told the Senate Armed Services Committee this month that the short-term CR, which continues spending at fiscal 2016 levels, would limit the Pentagon’s ability to “maintain our military’s technological edge and counter some of the most vexing threats we face.”
Last month, Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord gave the Congressional Research Service a list of new start programs that would be put on hold under the 10-week CR.
Marines Kick Tires on Future Amphib Vehicles | Military.com
Marines Kick Tires on Future Amphib Vehicles | Military.com: At the Modern Day Marine expo here this week, Marines had a chance to kick the tires and test the seats of two competing versions of the Corps' future amphibious combat vehicle, the faster and more survivable successor to the aging assault amphibious vehicle.
For the first time, one company, the British defense firm BAE Systems, brought a production model to the show, one of 16 that will be delivered to the Marine Corps next year for testing. The other, Virginia-based SAIC, brought a pre-production model based on the Terrex infantry carrier already in use with the Singapore armed forces.
In an age when programs like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Ford-class supercarrier have blown past budget estimates and production deadlines in development, the ACV 1.1 is a rare thing: an acquisition good-news story.
Marine officials said both companies were expected to deliver the first batches of vehicles to the Marine Corps a month early, earning an incentive bonus in the process.
For the first time, one company, the British defense firm BAE Systems, brought a production model to the show, one of 16 that will be delivered to the Marine Corps next year for testing. The other, Virginia-based SAIC, brought a pre-production model based on the Terrex infantry carrier already in use with the Singapore armed forces.
In an age when programs like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Ford-class supercarrier have blown past budget estimates and production deadlines in development, the ACV 1.1 is a rare thing: an acquisition good-news story.
Marine officials said both companies were expected to deliver the first batches of vehicles to the Marine Corps a month early, earning an incentive bonus in the process.
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