Sep 12, 2013 ASDNews Source : Naval Air Systems Command

The Navy continues to demonstrate multiple technologies that promise to significantly increase the endurance and range of carrier-based unmanned aircraft.

As part of the Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) program, the Navy and industry partner Northrop Grumman completed another phase of its Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) test, Sept. 6, in Niagara Falls, N.Y. to demonstrate the capability to refuel unmanned aircraft in flight.

“The AAR segment of the UCAS-D program is intended to demonstrate technologies, representative systems, and procedures that will enable unmanned systems to safely approach and maneuver around tanker aircraft. We are demonstrating both Navy and Air Force style refueling techniques,” said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, Navy Unmanned Combat Air System program manager. The Navy, Air Force, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency have been working closely since 2001 to develop technologies and mature operating concepts for AAR, according to Engdahl.

In preparation for this phase of the AAR testing, Calspan Aerospace developed, built, and tested an inert refueling probe that they installed on the nose of a surrogate unmanned aircraft, a Learjet inflight simulator. In August, the AAR UCAS-D team arrived at the Calspan facility and while a team from Northrop Grumman installed the X-47B’s navigation, command and control, and vision processor hardware and software on a Calspan Learjet aircraft, the government team installed the government developed Refueling Interface System and Tanker Operator Station on an Omega 707 tanker aircraft. The team then conducted initial ground and taxi tests, which culminated in the first AAR test flight Aug. 28. The team then conducted a series of flights using the surrogate aircraft equipped to fly autonomously behind an Omega K-707 Tanker.

The AAR test was designed to assess the functionality of final X-47B AAR systems and navigation performance, as well as to test the government tanker refueling interface systems. The AAR program is using similar digital messaging, and navigation processes that have been demonstrated by the UCAS-D team aboard the aircraft carrier.

“Demonstrating AAR technologies and standard refueling procedures is the next logical step for our demonstration program. The team has shown that we can use the same systems architecture, Rockwell Collins TTNT datalink, and Precision Relative GPS (PGPS) algorithms to extend the concept of distributed control of autonomous systems from the aircraft carrier to the airborne refueling environment,” said Engdahl. “The initial tests showed excellent system integration as well as good navigation and vision system performance.”

The next phase of AAR testing will continue later this fall, exercising end-to-end AAR concept of operations with a complete autonomous rendezvous, approach, plug, and safe separation utilizing X-47B software and hardware installed in the Lear surrogate aircraft. Data from the demonstration will be used to assess system performance for multiple AAR refueling technologies, validate the AAR procedures and concepts, and support further development of future unmanned systems.

“By demonstrating that we can add an automated aerial refueling capability to unmanned or optionally manned aircraft, we can significantly increase their range, persistence and flexibility,” said Engdahl, who is very impressed with the system’s performance thus far. “This is a game-changer for unmanned carrier aviation.”

Sep 12, 2013 ASDNews Source : TenCate

TenCate Advanced Armor USA and the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command (RDECOM) have signed a multi-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to evaluate the TenCate ABDS™ active blast countermeasure system for improved soldier protection.

This collaboration enables TenCate engineers to demonstrate the ability of the TenCate ABDS™ active blast countermeasure system to protect combat and tactical ground vehicle crews from the devastating effects of insurgent mines, roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IED’s). RDECOM’s evaluation process ensures that the TenCate ABDS™ active blast countermeasure system solutions are robust in design and performance and ready for real world military applications.

The IED

In 2006 the US Department of Defense established the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) to explore and identify ways to prevent, identify and defeat IEDs. The US ARMY is also focused on this objective. For example, TARDEC’s (US ARMY Tank and Automotive Research and Development Center) ‘Occupant Centric’ soldier protection program seeks to identify, develop, and integrate technologies that will protect ground vehicle crews from underbody threats, crashes and rollovers while minimizing parasitic weight and maintaining or improving the mobility of the vehicle system.

Mitigating mine blast energy

The TenCate ABDS™ active blast countermeasure system can save lives and significantly reduce mission compromising injury by minimizing the transfer of mine blast energy witnessed by a crew. The system efficiently manages the launch acceleration of the vehicle, its flight and the ensuing fall back to earth. This CRADA is a mechanism to utilize the vast capabilities and expertise of RDECOM’s various engineering centers with an integrated approach to testing and developing the system’s features, speeding its maturation and certifying its technology readiness level (TRL) for future use on military platforms.

Lifesaving technology

“The US Army has a clear vision on the protection of mounted troops and TenCate has developed important lifesaving technologies,” says Mark Edwards, President of TenCate Advanced Armor USA. “We are committed to this world class ‘soldier survivability’ program and determined to meet or exceed every mil-spec requirement necessary to quickly, yet safely, provide this threat protection solution to our troops.”

Scalable on wide range of platforms

The TenCate ABDS™ active blast countermeasure system, developed by a dedicated team of specialists within TenCate Advanced Armor USA, has demonstrated measurable improvements in occupant survivability. Third party tests illustrate that decreased energy absorption, lower vehicle jump height, and modest ‘fall back’ can reduce injuries, shorten recovery times, and improve mission effectiveness. The TenCate ABDS™ active blast countermeasure system offers weight, space and cost efficiencies and can be retrofit onto wide range of new or fielded platforms. In addition, it is uniquely scalable to adapt to evolving threats.

TenCate ABDS™ active blast countermeasure system is the world’s first practical active underbody blast threat protection system and it is ready for platform evaluations today. TenCate Advanced Armor USA, based in Newark and Hebron, Ohio, with dedicated engineering offices in Goleta, California, specializes in engineering and manufacturing

September 12, 2013: Strategy Page

Russia has now joined China and European firms in developing UCAV (unmanned combat air vehicle). These are replacements for current light bombers (or fighters operating as light bombers) and combat reconnaissance aircraft. The Russian entry is a further development of its Skat UAV, a ten ton aircraft with a two ton payload and a design that looks very similar to the American X-47 series. The MiG Aircraft Corporation developed Skat and the new UCAV as well.

A Chinese UCAV, called the Li Jian, was photographed moving around an airfield under its own power back in May, which is the sort of thing a new aircraft does before its first flight. For two years now the Li Jian has been photographed as a mock up, then a prototype, and now taxiing around. The Li Jian is similar in size and shape to the U.S. Navy X-47B. The European entries also look like the X-47 design.

It’s generally recognized that robotic combat aircraft are the future, even though many of the aviation commanders (all of them pilots) wish it were otherwise. Whoever gets there first (a UCAV that really works) will force everyone else to catch up or end up the loser in their next war with a UCAV equipped opponent. China may have just copied pictures of the X-47B, or done so with the help of data obtained by their decade long Internet espionage operation. Whatever the case, the Li Jian is not far behind the X-47B and the Russians and Europeans appear to be going in the same direction with increasing vigor.

These aircraft are meant to operate like current armed UAVs or like cruise missiles (which go after targets under software control). Enemy jamming can interfere with remote control and you have to be ready for that. This could mean pre-programmed orders to continue the mission (to put smart bombs on a specific target, the sort of attack cruise missiles have been carrying out for decades) or attempt that but turn around and return to base if certain conditions were not met (pre-programmed criteria of what is an acceptable target). Fighter (as opposed to bomber) UCAVs can be programmed to take on enemy fighters (manned or not) with some remote control or completely under software control. This is the future and China wants to keep up. This sort of thing frightens many people but has, in fact, been around for over a century (the naval mine and torpedoes). Both these weapons have, for decades, been equipped with increasingly powerful artificial intelligence. That tech has been applied to a growing number of missiles and “smart bombs.” This sort of tech is not the future, it’s the present and have been since the 19th century.

The U.S. Navy’s X-47B UCAV (unmanned combat air vehicle) is the most advanced of these unmanned combat aircraft and that’s what has other countries hustling to match this tech. For example, the X-47B made the first successful carrier landings in July. While software controlled landing systems have been around for decades, landing on a moving air field (an aircraft carrier) is considerably more complex than the usual situation (landing on an airfield). Dealing with carrier landings requires more powerful hardware and software aboard the aircraft. The navy expects glitches and bugs but hopes to catch up to the reliability of commercial landing software (which has been used very successfully on land based UAVs) within years rather than decades.

The X-47B made its first catapult launch from an aircraft carrier last May. That was followed by several touch and go landings on a carrier. The first carrier landing, as expected, followed soon. Two years ago the navy successfully tested its UCAV landing software, using a manned F-18 for the test, landing it on a carrier completely under software control. The first carrier launch came five months after an X-47B was catapulted from an airfield built to the same size as a carrier deck and equipped with a catapult. This first launch was to confirm that the X-47B could handle the stress of a catapult launch. Another X-47B has been loaded onto the deck of a carrier, to check out the ability of the UCAV to move around the deck. All this came 22 months after the first flight of the X-47B.

It was five years ago that the navy rolled out the first X-47B, its first carrier-based combat UAV. This compact aircraft has a wingspan of 20 meters (62 feet, and the outer 25 percent folds up to save space on the carrier). It carries a two ton payload and will be able to stay in the air for twelve hours. The U.S. is far ahead of other nations in UCAV development, and the U.S. Navy recently announced that four manufacturers are competing to design and develop the final version of the X-47, the X-47C. The X-47B is actually a development model, meant to prove that the concept works. That has been done and the next step is to create a slightly larger and more complex X-47C that will eventually enter regular service on carriers and land bases.

The U.S. Navy has done the math and realized that they need UCAVs on their carriers as soon as possible. The current plan is to get these aircraft into service before the end of the decade. But there is an effort to get the unmanned carrier aircraft into service sooner than that. The math problem that triggered all this is the realization that American carriers had to get within 800 kilometers of their target before launching current manned bombers. Potential enemies increasingly have aircraft and missiles with a range greater than 800 kilometers. The X-47B UCAV has a range of 2,500 kilometers and is seen as the solution.

For most of the last decade, the navy has been hustling to ready a UCAV for carrier operations and combat use. The navy has now demonstrated that the X-47B has the ability to regularly operate from a carrier, and next comes doing that and performing combat (including reconnaissance and surveillance) operations. The new efforts aim to have UCAV aircraft perform ground attack missions as well, something the Predators have been doing for over a decade. The larger Reaper UAV was designed to expand this combat capability and is being built as quickly as possible to replace F-16s and other bombers in the combat zone.

The 20 ton X-47B weighs a little less than the twenty-four ton F-18A and has two internal bays holding two tons of smart bombs. Once it can operate off a carrier, the X-47B will be used for a lot of bombing, sort of a super-Reaper. The navy has been impressed with the success of the Predator and Reaper. But the Reaper weighs only 4.7 tons. The much larger X-47B uses a F100-PW-220 engine, which is currently used in the F-16 and F-15.

The air force and navy have always differed about the widespread use of UAVs in combat. When the air force agreed to work with the navy on UCAVs a decade ago, the idea was that the air force ones would largely remain in storage, to provide a rapid "surge" capability in wartime. The navy, however, wanted to use theirs to replace manned aircraft on carriers. The reason was simple, carrier ops are dangerous and carrier qualified pilots are more difficult and expensive to train and retain in the service. The navy still has these problems and senior admirals are pretty much in agreement that UCAVs are the future of carrier aviation. The sooner these UCAVs prove they can safely and effectively operate from carriers, the better. Normally, "X" class aircraft are just used as technology demonstrators. But the X-47 program has been going on for so long, and has incorporated so much from UAVs already serving in combat, that the X-47B will probably end up running recon and bombing missions as the MQ-47C.

The Department of Defense leadership is backing the navy efforts and spurring the air force to catch up. At the moment, the air force is cutting orders for MQ-9s, which are used as a ground support aircraft, in addition to reconnaissance and surveillance, because American troops are being pulled out of Afghanistan, and it is believed Reaper would not be very useful against China, North Korea, or Iran. But, as the navy is demonstrating, you can build UCAVs that can carry more weapons, stay in the air longer, and hustle to where they are needed faster. The more the navy succeeds the more the air force will pay attention.

WASHINGTON, 12 sept 2013 marine-oceans.com (AFP)

Les navires de guerre américains en Méditerranée sont prêts à "frapper fort" contre le régime syrien si le président Barack Obama en donne l'ordre, a déclaré mercredi un haut responsable civil de l'US Navy.

Même si Washington écarte pour le moment toute action militaire contre Damas pour poursuivre la recherche d'une solution diplomatique de la dernière chance, le secrétaire à la Marine Ray Mabus a rappelé que les destroyers américains équipés de missiles de croisière sont toujours en positions à l'est de la Méditerranée.

"Je vous garantis que si nous sommes appelés à frapper, nous allons frapper fort et nous allons frapper vite", a déclaré M. Mabius dans un discours à la National Defense University, un jour après le discours télévisé du président Obama plaidant pour une action militaire "limité" si le régime du président Bachar al-Assad refuse de renoncer à son arsenal d'armes chimiques.

"Comme le président l'a dit hier soir, elle (l'attaque) sera ciblée et réduira les capacités du régime Assad", a-t-il ajouté.

Cette déclaration du secrétaire à la Marine confirme que les forces navales seront à l'avant-poste de toute attaque américaine contre la Syrie, qui devrait s'appuyer principalement sur les missiles Tomahawk lancés à partir de navires en mer.

Quatre destroyers américains armés de missiles de croisière ont été déployés en Méditerranée orientale en vu d'éventuelles frappes punitives après l'attaque aux armes chimiques présumée par le régime Assad du 21 août dans la banlieue de Damas.

D'autre part, le porte-avions Nimitz avec son escorte, un croiseur et trois destroyers armés de missiles, restent positionnés ans la mer Rouge.

September 10, 2013: Strategy Page

Recent NSA (National Security Agency) leaks confirmed that a lot of the most successful American Internet hacking was not directed at individual PCs but rather at the special computers used to run the Internet. It’s long been feared that most damaging attacks on the Internet don’t need a lot of money or people, just the right information about how these specializes computers work. However, that information is extremely expensive, and consists primarily of previously unknown flaws in Internet software, especially software used to run routers and other core elements of the Internet. And it gets worse as an increasing number of vulnerabilities are found in routers, server software, and other aspects of the hardware that runs the Internet. By attacking these systems, rather than PC users, it's more likely that attacks could shut down large sections of the Internet as well as steal any data moving within the Internet. The NSA leaks also revealed that the NSA had, as long suspected, secretly arranged to have access to most encryption systems so that criminals and terrorists (and anyone else) could not communicate free of any chance of government (or non-government) eavesdropping.

Meanwhile NSA has openly warned of the router vulnerability, which apparently they discovered while exploiting these vulnerabilities to spy on others. The router approach is more efficient in many respects because you can grab everything that passes through a router, which usually handles all Internet traffic for a network. The Internet is basically run by these routers, which business and home users also need to provide Internet access (especially wi-fi) for multiple PCs. But the routers come in many sizes, with very powerful ones used to play traffic cop for thousands of users, or hundreds of other routers. The NSA has apparently become quite adept at exploiting routers to capture huge quantities of data from computer networks it seeks information about.

The NSA has been in the forefront of providing security solutions for American government, military and private networks for decades. For example, the NSA is working with the Department of Defense to increase Internet defenses by putting more of their computer operations in a cloud system, and spending a lot more on protecting the cloud from attacks. Cloud computing is a system where data and software are supplied to PCs or laptops via a network connection from a large and well-protected number of servers (PCs customized to provide information on the Internet). Usually, it's via the Internet, but it can be a local, closed (to the Internet) system as well. The main point here is that you can devote all your security resources to the collection of computers that run the cloud. You don't have to worry so much about the users PCs or laptops, because time they use the cloud, their software (word processor, spreadsheet, whatever) and data is loaded from the cloud. When they save data to the cloud, it is checked for malware (viruses, worms and other stuff hackers use to infect and take control of your computer.)

NSA began, after World War II, as a communications security organization, dedicated largely to creating ciphers to protect American communications, and decoding the ciphers other nations use. Now, the NSA is in the lead developing better network security for the Department of Defense and all American computer networks.

Currently the NSA and Department of Defense have over seven million computers, printers and other devices connected to 15,000 networks (most of them local) and many of these are also connected to the Internet. The military cannot compete with civilian (especially financial) firms for the best network security people, and as a result are more vulnerable than any other large organization. The U.S. Department of Defense is the largest organization on the planet, and a major target for hackers. By shifting to cloud based Internet security system, it should make it harder for enemy intruders to get in.

A cloud based system is, in theory, more secure from attack. But in practice, it remains uncertain how much more secure, if at all the cloud is. What is certain is that the current system of trying to protect individual PCs or local networks is not working out too well.

September 12th, 2013 By US Navy - defencetalk.com

The Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) is transitioning into a new type/model/series (TMS) for the first time in 50 years.

To make this transition a success, the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) and industry leaders are working to sustain the legacy P-3C and EP-3E while the P-8A TMS is being introduced to the fleet.

The last time the MPRF Community transitioned to a new TMS was in 1962 with the delivery of the first P-3A to Patrol Squadron (VP) 8. As in the past, the key to a successful transition is constant communication and cooperation across all levels of the NAE and industry. The following highlights are evidence of the success of these efforts.

The fleet transition to the P-8A Poseidon is progressing well and on schedule. In Jacksonville, Fla., the Fleet Replacement Squadron, VP-30, MPRF Weapons School and P-8A Fleet Introduction Team have been busy facilitating the transition of the first three fleet squadrons from P-3C to P-8A. VP-16 achieved Safe for Flight (SFF) in January 2013 and is progressing through the Inter-Deployment Readiness Cycle (IDRC) in preparation for the first P-8A deployment in December. VP-5 achieved SFF and began their IDRC in the beginning of August, and VP-45 just started transition upon returning from their last P-3 deployment in June.

Over the last year, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 successfully completed P-8A Initial Operational Test and Evaluation supported by multiple detachments, exercises and real-world operations. As expected, the aircraft (based on the Boeing 737) has been extremely reliable. The mission systems have performed well and the aircrews are rapidly becoming more adept at flying and employing the aircraft while the maintenance team is developing the skills required to repair and maintain this modern aircraft.

The supply chain is expanding to meet the demands of a new aircraft and the community is constantly learning to ensure that the P-8A is poised for success when it deploys this winter. While there have been many challenges as the P-8A executes test and fleet introduction simultaneously, the P-8A program continues to be a model of effective planning and execution. The airframe and mission systems are a significant technological leap forward and provide commanders with a reliable platform hosting advanced technology sensors.

Legacy Platforms

As the P-3C and EP-3E continue their trek toward the end of their life cycle, many challenges need to be overcome, including parts obsolescence, increased levels of support for legacy components, and a shortage of flight line assets. In 2007, MPRF “red stripe” events, which grounded aircraft due to “fatigue tracking metrics beyond acceptable limits,” left the community with 49 mission aircraft to support the high operational demand across the globe and at home.

More than 50 percent of the P-3 fleet was out of reporting (OOR) due to the red stripe. Massive sustainment efforts have been made and we are beginning to see a real return on our investment as aircraft are returned to service. In FY14, we plan on reducing the amount of our P-3C inventory OOR for depot-level sustainment events and technological modifications by more than 10 percent, and we plan to reach P-3′s required number of Primary Aircraft Assigned by the end of FY15. We expect to have sufficient ready-for-tasking assets to meet deployment and training requirements until platform sundown, but P-8A delivery must proceed as planned to ensure there is no gap in coverage for Global Force Management.

Our cost savings efforts have been effective and multiple cost reduction initiatives have allowed the aging force to operate efficiently and effectively. Recently, initiatives to improve Engine Driven Compressor maintenance and place our APS-137 Receiver Exciter Processor and Transmitter under a Performance Based Logistics contract with Raytheon have helped reduce cost by 11 percent. With more than 50 years of faithful and dedicated service complete, the mighty P-3C Orion is prepared to finish its service to the Navy at full speed.

Manpower

One of the most complicated pieces of the MPRF transition is manpower. When the transition is completed, the MPRF community will consist of the P-8A Poseidon teamed with the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system. The P-8A/MQ-4C combination will be responsible for all the missions currently covered by VP, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons (VQ), and Patrol Squadron Special Projects Unit (VPU) today. The MPRF transition is a unique manpower story and a challenge – the P-3C is being replaced by two new TMSs – but all manpower is being sourced from within the legacy community. The restructuring has already begun with the consolidation of the VQ and VPU last year, and the continued transition of P-8A squadrons in Jacksonville. Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19, the first MQ-4C squadron, is currently scheduled to begin its standup with an officer-in-charge in late FY14.

Conclusion

The MPRF Community has almost fully recovered from the 2007 red stripe and is quickly transitioning to the new P-8A. The successful turnaround since 2007 can be directly attributed to the NAE and industry leaders working towards a common goal of recovery and eventual transition to the next generation of maritime patrol aircraft, both manned and unmanned.

September 11, 2013. David Pugliese - Defence Watch

News release from Fleet Canada:

FORT ERIE, ONTARIO, CANADA, September 11th, 2013 – Fleet Canada Inc is proud to announce the award of a supplier contract from The Boeing Company to supply subassemblies for the Chinook CH-47 helicopter. This is an exciting development in the continuing growth at the facility, whose manufacturing history in the area dates back to 1930.

The scope of work in this package includes of the forward pylon, work platforms, and pylon kits. The new contract follows another Chinook contract that was awarded in 2011 for the manufacture and assembly of the Front Cockpit Nose Enclosure.

“Fleet is proud to be part of this iconic program for the world’s largest aerospace company. This contract represents a significant award for our locally owned and operated company and reinforces the pride we have in our workforce. We have a talented and dedicated team with a very bright future ahead,” remarked Glenn Stansfield, President and C.E.O of Fleet Canada Inc.

This award represents a significant increase in the rotorcraft and military markets for Fleet and is in keeping with our strategy of diversification of our business. This work will highlight the effectiveness across the broad skill set Fleet Canada has to offer. We look forward to future opportunities with Boeing and our other valued customers.

This new work package for Fleet is aligned with Boeing’s 90-year history and long-term commitment to engage with Canadian industry in areas of high value defense and aerospace work. This contract was awarded to Fleet based on their capabilities and competitiveness, as well as, how this work will support the fulfillment of Boeing’s Industrial & Regional Benefits (IRB) programs. Canada’s IRB policy requires prime contractors, such as Boeing, to make investments in the Canadian economy as a result of winning defense and security contracts with the government of Canada. Boeing has four active IRB programs tied to the procurement of the CC-177 airlifter and support; ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system, CH-147 helicopter and support, and the Mercury Global program. Through successful implementation of these IRB programs, Boeing continues to support Canada’s position as a global leader in aerospace by creating long-term, high-value opportunities with Canadian industry

WASHINGTON, September 11 (RIA Novosti)

The head of the US Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday delivered an impassioned speech backing the use of American military force against Syria if diplomatic efforts fail, but also praising Russia for proposing a plan to have Syria place its chemical weapons under international control.

“I’d like to take a minute to give Russia credit for bringing forward this plan for a negotiated solution to the conflict. … Russia is sincere, wants to see a United Nations resolution and supports the Geneva process, which would accompany a negotiated settlement to Syria’s civil war,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein said on the Senate floor.

The Democratic senator from California met earlier this week with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, to discuss Moscow’s push to get the Syrian government to relinquish control of its chemical weapons stockpile.

Some US lawmakers backing military action against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons on Aug. 21 outside Damascus have questioned Russia’s sincerity, saying Moscow is using its plan as a stalling tactic to delay the use of force against the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

But Feinstein on Wednesday said Washington and Moscow should work together to eliminate Syria’s chemical arsenal. “Based on my conversation with Ambassador Kislyak, I believe that Russia’s goal is in fact to eliminate these weapons, and I would point out that that is also our goal,” Feinstein said.

“The ball really is in Russia’s court. Russia is the leader in this. I trust that it is sincere. I trust that Russia and the United States will come together and bring the other parties together and that it will be possible for the United Nations to act so the United States won’t have to,” she added.

But Feinstein also cautioned Moscow against delaying the process.

“Russia’s responsibility to get this done is enormous, and to move with all deliberate speed,” she said. “I think Russia and Syria must understand that the way to forestall a United States strike on Syria is for there to be a good-faith agreement and process underway to put all of Syria’s chemical weapons … under international control for eventual demolition.”

While saying that she hoped military force against Syria would not be necessary, Feinstein told her fellow senators that “the Assad regime has repeatedly used chemical weapons” and laid out some of the intelligence that she claimed shows that the Syrian government was behind the Aug. 21 attack that Washington says killed more than 1,400 people.

She also described in graphic detail the effects of the apparent chemical weapons attack on its victims, urging people to look at videos posted on the Senate Intelligence Committee website. “For me, the videos and watching them shows the abhorrence of chemical weapons. It shows why we must do something,” Feinstein said.

A US airman scans terrain for possible threats over Logar Province, Afghanistan, in July. US Air Force statistics show a dramatic decrease in weapons drops in August compared to the same period in previous years. (US Air Force)

Sep. 11, 2013 - By AARON MEHTA – Defense News

WASHINGTON — US aircraft in Afghanistan fired their weapons 158 times in August, the lowest monthly total in more than a year.

The numbers were released Wednesday as part of the monthly Combined Forces Air Component Commander Airpower statistics put out by US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT). Among the statistics included in the report are how many sorties were flown, how many sorties saw at least one weapon release and overall number of weapon releases.

Overall, 1,051 of the 15,239 sorties flown in Afghanistan this year saw at least one weapons release.

August now becomes only the fourth month since the start of 2009 to require fewer than 160 weapons releases in Afghanistan, joining January 2010 (156), February 2010 (154) and February 2012 (116). The drop is also notable for occurring in August; data show a pattern of heaviest action from June through October.

In comparison, AFCENT reported 588 weapons releases in August 2012 and 516 during the same period in 2011.

Sep 11, 2013 ASDNews Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation

    Dragon Dome Integrates ISR & Missile Data to Provide Comprehensive Operating Picture

Ever increasing threats and the need to have constant situational awareness of one’s surroundings prompted Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] to add an integrated air & missile defense option to its Dragon series of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance configurations. Lockheed Martin’s Dragon ISR configurations offer a unique approach for customers to tailor their mission requirements to meet their specific budget, sensor, communications and platform needs. The most recent option, Dragon Dome, is an unprecedented capability that links ISR, air operations and missile defense systems at the battle management level, allowing users to work together in a shared environment to optimize defense operations.

“We recognize that there are increasingly complex multi-national requirements for integrated air and missile defense,” said Jim Quinn, vice president of C4ISR Systems with Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions. “Dragon Dome can dramatically improve the ability to make decisions faster, operate command centers with fewer people, and have higher confidence in achieving mission success.”

Lockheed Martin’s Dragon Family of Systems as a whole benefit from incorporating the Dragon Dome tool set.  Predicated on Lockheed Martin’s internally developed DIAMONDShield air & missile defense system, Dragon Dome links data from ISR, command & control, and missile defense assets to create a 4-dimensional view of the battlespace. Among its many decision-support capabilities are the system’s ability to advise operators on the best system to employ to eliminate a threat. This next-generation system has an open, non-proprietary software infrastructure, which enables rapid integration of new capabilities and legacy systems and lowers total ownership costs.

Based on U.S. and NATO standards and communication protocols, Dragon Dome can be easily integrated with coalition forces to greatly expand a given nation’s defensive capabilities and improve its performance in collaboration with allied nations. In essence, it provides a given nation with a native advanced C2 system that can network quickly and efficiently with coalition forces. In addition to Dragon Dome, the DIAMONDShield system has been integrated into the Dragon Shield (transport aircraft) and Dragon Star (mid-range platforms) configurations. All Dragon configurations are net-centric capable to support “Out of the Box” interoperability with NATO, U.S. and Coalition forces.

11 September 2013 army-technology.com

Harris has introduced a new airborne mission radio for enhanced international ground-to-air tactical communications at the ongoing Defence Security and Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London, UK.

Dubbed RF-7850A, the new tactical radio is designed to deliver secure and reliable voice and wideband data communications for a range of ground-to-air missions, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), close-air support (CAS) and border patrol.

Harris RF communications international business president, Brendan O'Connell, said the radio enables international forces on both ground and in aircraft to exchange real-time information through interoperable voice, video, images and other ISR applications.

''With more information in hand, air crews will be able to respond quickly and appropriately, resulting in improved mission success,'' O'Connell said.

The radio has been launched in two configurations, namely RF-7850A-UA and RF-7850A-MR, to help offer a better solution than current systems for a broad range of platforms..

A lightweight and single-channel radio, RF-7850A-UA is designed for use with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for rapid data transmission from ISR platforms to air and ground forces, as well as range extension for ground tactical networks.

Featuring significant size, weight and power advantages over the existing communication systems, RF-7850A-MR is a multiband dual-channel radio engineered for use in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Capable of easily integrating with airframe intercom systems, the radio delivers two independent channels in the same physical space as legacy single-channel solutions. It also has cross-banding capabilities for bridging of disparate radio networks.

The radios feature a simple user interface and are fully interoperable with all members of the company's Falcon II and Falcon III families, including the RF-7800M wideband radio.

In addition, the radios use the Harris adaptive networking wideband waveform (ANW2) and the new time division multiple access (TDMA) networking waveform for wideband networking.

Sep 11, 2013 ASDNews Source : General Dynamics Corporation

General Dynamics Land Systems has been awarded a $118 million contract by the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command to convert 66 flat-bottom Stryker infantry combat vehicles to a newer, more survivable double-V hull (DVH) design. Deliveries of the vehicles will begin in July 2014 and be completed by February 2015. General Dynamics Land Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

The Army partnered with General Dynamics in 2012 and launched a Stryker DVH-exchange pilot program to validate that components from traditional Stryker flat-bottom variants can be quickly refurbished and installed on a new, more survivable double-V hull variant, at less cost than producing a new vehicle. General Dynamics and the Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Ala., successfully completed the DVH pilot program in April 2013 and delivered 52 Stryker vehicles on time and under budget.

The first brigade of Strykers equipped with double-V hulls was fielded in 2011 to provide Stryker-borne soldiers increased protection from the effects of roadside mines and improvised explosive devices. With MRAP-like or better survivability, the DVH configuration also includes a more rugged suspension system that has greatly improved mobility and reduced operating costs. Two brigades of double-V hull Stryker vehicles were produced between July 2010 and July 2013.

The final assembly work will be performed at the Anniston Army Depot and will help to sustain the jobs of 80 employees who support the program. The contract will also preserve several jobs at General Dynamics' plant in Scranton, Penn.