As many of you know, Winds of Change.NET isn't my only blog these days. Here are a few of the articles I've been running on DefenseIndustryDaily.com, in case you've missed them - a combination of interesting tech and a bit of "defenseology" from the military/ organizational side of the ledger:
TOP TOPICS
- April 1 Special: A story about a "dumb" solider - with a cameo by Miyamoto Musashi.
- Dept. of Defense takes over the U.S. Air Force's top 21 weapon-buying programs. Scandals and retirements have taken their toll, and the DoD is taking over. This has implications for $180 billion worth of weapons programs.
- A decade ago, the Marines' AV-8 Harrier vertical-takeoff jet was the most accident-prone plane in America's arsenal. Then an enterprising program manager changed all that. Now the Harrier jet is finding its niche amidst the urban warfare that typifies Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- IT and Communications are huge these days. Britain's armed forces are starting an $8-11 billion deal with EDS, the U.S. Congress is paying special attention to this area as defense budget deliberations continue, the U.S. Army has a $20 billion program on the way, and the USN is buying big bandwidth. Meanwhile, Microsoft continues to tighten its grip on the defense sector. Given the M$ (in)security record, that ought to worry us.
- Some recent U.S. investigations of illegal arms exports by the folks at ICE.
Other Items Include:
MQ-1 Predator plans; V-RAMBO; New semiconductors; battlefield visualization; Shoulder-fired missile defenses for planes; $1.5bn NORAD upgrade; 30,000 JDAMs; Ultralight 155mm howitzers; Halliburton; Navy program way over budget; F/A-22; What's this Joint Common Missile controversy?; BAE buys M2 Bradley manufacturer for $4bn; British to privatize their aerial tanker fleet for $25bn?; Turkey's turkey of an idea; South Korea increasing defense budgets.
INTERESTING TECH
- MQ-1 Predator UAVs have gone from experimental to operational. Now the USAF plans to expand its Predator fleet significantly, even as it funds research into a next-generation MQ-9 replacement.
- Dick Tracy solider-tech - The V-RAMBO looks like a dive computer for your wrist, and beams pictures from flying UAVs straight down to the soldiers wearing them. I think the Israelis have a winner with this one. Ought to pair it with the Predators and especially the Ravens...
- The USA has been funding research into Gallium Nitride semiconductors. It's a better material than silicon, and military orders mean commercial spinoffs. Coming, eventually, to a computer near you.
- How do you protect big transport planes like C-17s and C-130s from terrorists with shoulder-fired missiles? It's called LAIRCM
- Silicon Graphics will be using its advanced visualization systems to help U.S. commanders stay on top of all the information coming in every day. A prototype system could be ready for use in actual operations in Iraq by the end of the year.
- The USA is spending $834 million for full-rate production of the ultralight M777A1 155mm howitzer, which halves the normal weight by using titanium. The goal was airmobile firepower. Mission managed, with some help from the British.
U.S. DEVELOPMENTS
- A $1.5 billion electronics upgrade to NORAD's Cheyenne Mountain facility is now complete. The SG-1 team thanks you.
- $609M. 30,000 JDAMs. Whoop-ass for someone...
- Some of the Marines' new LPD-17 ambhibious assault ships have run into major cost overruns, in part because the Navy changed thedesign part-way through the build. If there's a tsunami in 2015, these ships will probably be the backbone of American relief efforts. The article also offers an interesting look at the government-industry tensions with respect to new programs, and points out how too many political gyrations can be very damaging to defense companies as the demands on their planned production "yo-yo".
- Where's the F/A-22 Raptor program at? Kudos and criticisms, and following Pentagon approval it's now headed for full production at a reduced rate.
- What's the controversy about the Joint Common Missile land-attack weapon all about?
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
- British Aerospace (now BAE Systems) is in the process of buying United Defense Industries for about $4 billion. UDI builds a number of important systems for the U.S. military, including the M2 Bradley used in Gulf War I & II.
- The British may be about to privatize their next-generation air tanker refueling purchase. It's shaping up to be a $25 billion deal.
- Turkey is trying to merge ALL of its major defense companies. Amazingly, the move is being driven by its Defense Ministry, which will probably be the biggest loser of all if this goes through. Um, helloooo - creating a local monopoly here - you're the customer. Turkish logic...
- South Korea is planning significant defense budget increases, and wants to take over wartime command from the USA. The US thinks that's great.