Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Changes in contracting practices are ushering in a new era for the U.S. Army -- Washington Technology

Changes in contracting practices are ushering in a new era for the U.S. Army -- Washington Technology: "Last year’s acquisition policy pronouncements are starting to be felt across to the U.S. Army, with upticks in cloud computing initiatives, increasing use of fixed-price contracts and adoption of social media.

“Army IT spending will remain stable; the goal is to optimize the IT [spending]. Optimization will be guided by computing trends,” said Gary Winkler, Army program executive officer for enterprise information systems.

Efforts to improve efficiency, realign spending priorities and streamline a cumbersome acquisition process were launched during the past year amid a tightening national budget by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Ashton Carter, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.
Leading the charge for the Army’s efforts to hold down spending and become more efficient are cloud computing initiatives, mobile technologies, data center consolidation and social collaboration, Winkler said."

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Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

New Afghanistan Plan: Hole Up in Fortress Districts | Danger Room | Wired.com

New Afghanistan Plan: Hole Up in Fortress Districts | Danger Room | Wired.com: "With the first American troops slated to withdraw in July, the Afghanistan surge is nearly over. But even as the overall U.S. force in Afghanistan contracts, portions of a handful of particularly important districts — the rough equivalent of U.S. counties — could actually get more troops and more development cash.
The shift toward these so-called “key terrain districts” is the result of a slowly evolving plan for making the best out of a bad situation. Come summer, the NATO and Afghan coalition won’t have enough forces to even try controlling every one of Afghanistan’s 400 districts. So the alliance is prioritizing, by pulling troops from relatively secure areas and those being handed over to Afghan forces — not to mention areas deemed lost causes — and sending them to districts where they still stand a chance.
If the key-district plan works perfectly, it could create framework for steadily expanding security, development and Kabul-down rule of law, even as the foreign army withdraws. More likely, the focus on a small number of districts will allow the Taliban free reign in some areas, exacerbating existing divisions between Afghanistan’s “have’s” and “have-not’s.”"

*****************

Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

New Pentagon Cyber Strategy Complete: Official - Defense News

New Pentagon Cyber Strategy Complete: Official - Defense News: "The Pentagon is finalizing a new cyber warfighting strategy that will create a framework for training and equipping forces, as well as call for more international cooperation in this evolving domain, according to a DoD official.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is reviewing the document, which could become official in a matter of days, according to Mary Beth Morgan, DoD director for cyber strategy."
**********

Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

Audit of Pentagon Spending Finds $70 Billion in Waste - NYTimes.com

Audit of Pentagon Spending Finds $70 Billion in Waste - NYTimes.com: "Despite improvements, more than half of the Pentagon’s big weapons systems still cost more than they should, with management failures adding at least $70 billion to the projected costs over the last two years, government auditors said Tuesday.

The Government Accountability Office, a Congressional watchdog, said the biggest program, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, accounted for $28 billion of that increase. Other systems also had significant cost overruns, the agency said, adding that the increases could force the Pentagon to cut the number of ships and planes it buys.

The auditors said many of the problems occurred because the Pentagon began building the systems before the designs were fully tested.

"

Pentagon agency set up to detect roadside bombs blows billions

Pentagon agency set up to detect roadside bombs blows billions: "A Pentagon agency formed five years ago to defeat the threat of roadside bombs killing more and more US soldiers in Iraq has ballooned into a 1900-employee behemoth and has spent nearly $17 billion on hundreds of initiatives.

Yet the technologies it has developed have failed to improve significantly the ability of soldiers to detect roadside bombs and have never been able to find them at long distances.

The best detectors remain the low-tech methods: trained dogs, local handlers and the soldiers themselves.

Advertisement: Story continues below A review by the Centre for Public Integrity and McClatchy Newspapers of government reports and interviews with auditors, investigators and congressional staffers show that the agency - the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organisation (JIEDDO) - also violated its own accounting rules and has not properly evaluated its initiatives to keep mistakes from being repeated.
"

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Cyberwar Between US And China In 2020

Cyberwar Between US And China In 2020: "As Iran's nuclear plant attack and Chinese-based hackers attacking Morgan Stanley demonstrate how the Internet can wreak havoc on business and governments, a new paper by a fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy hypothesizes what an all-out cyberwar between the U.S. and China might look like.

To date, the cyberattacks in East Asia have been relatively benign, said Christopher Bronk, author of "Blown to Bits: China's War in Cyberspace, August-September 2020," published this month in the U.S. Air Force journal Strategic Studies Quarterly.

Bronk is a fellow in information technology policy at the Baker Institute and a former U.S. State Department diplomat."
**********************

Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Lt. Gen. Hertling formally assumes command of USAREUR

Lt. Gen. Hertling formally assumes command of USAREUR: "Lt. Gen. Mark P. Hertling formally assumed command of U.S. Army Europe during a ceremony at Campbell Barracks in Heidelberg, Germany March 25.

He is the 36th commander in USAREUR's nearly 70-year history, and the first three-star general appointed by the U.S. government since 1952 to lead U.S. Army forces in Europe. Lt. Gen. Manton S. Eddy served as the commander from August 1952 until April 1953, when, according to the Army's Command and General Staff College website, he presided over the command's transformation from an Army of occupation to one of deterrence.

During the ceremony, Adm. James Stavridis, commander of U.S. European Command, passed the USAREUR colors to Hertling, symbolically passing responsibility for, and authority over, the unit to the new USAREUR commander.

After noting during his remarks that Hertling is a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, Stavridis used a quote by the Cardinals' manager, Tony La Russa, to describe Hertling's qualifications.

"He's got special talent and he's got special attitude. Guys who have that play in the big leagues."

Hertling and his wife, Sue, return to Europe from Fort Monroe, Va., where he was the deputy commanding general for Initial Military Training at U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

His history in USAREUR is long. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy, Hertling served as a second lieutenant with 64th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt in 1975. He has also served in Katterbach, Hanau, Grafenwoehr, and Wiesbaden, Germany.

During his remarks, Hertling described how he and his wife feel about being back in Heidelberg.

"My name is Hertling," he said, "and I am a Soldier. It is a tremendous honor to serve in Europe, a place I consider my professional home, a place where Sue and I have so many fond personal memories."

Through his assignment as commander of the Joint Multinational Training Command, from September 2004 to August 2005, followed by an assignment as the USAREUR chief of operations and training, Hertling has been involved in USAREUR's unique role in building allied and partner nations' capacity to operate together in coalitions with the U.S.

Hertling said that America's traditional allies have evolved and become even stronger. He also finds the development of new relationships and alliances, some of whom "used to be on the other side of a wall or a fence," inspiring.

That inspiration will be put into action during Hertling's tenure at USAREUR.

"We will continue to find ways to strengthen partnerships with old and new allies," Hertling said, "especially as we recognize the ever evolving security environment faced by the United States, Europe and the world."

Hertling experienced the development of partnerships during his most recent tour of duty in Europe. He served as the commanding general of 1st Armored Division from May 2007 to May 2009, including his third deployment with the division to Iraq.

1st Armored Division's headquarters returned from Iraq in November 2010, and is in the process of moving to Fort Bliss, Texas, as part of U.S. Army Europe's ongoing transformation process that began in 2003.

Since 2003, USAREUR has reduced its size by one third, from 62,000 Soldiers to about 42,000 today. In addition, USAREUR has planned, and Installation Management Command-Europe has executed, the closure of nearly half of the 239 sites the Army in Europe had in 2003.

As some of the final actions from that 2003 plan begin to unfold, including the consolidation of the headquarters in Wiesbaden, USAREUR is better postured to respond to the wide range of challenges emerging in the 21st Century.

Hertling said he monitored the planning of USAREUR's transformation and participated in the early stages of executing the plan. He sees moving forward with that plan as one of his missions.

"We will continue with the transformation of our Army in Europe, while providing trained Soldiers and units for Combatant Commanders as they face an increasingly demanding operational environment," Hertling said.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

U.S. Navy to Provide 500,000 Gallons of Fresh Water to Fukushima Power Plant

U.S. Navy to Provide 500,000 Gallons of Fresh Water to Fukushima Power Plant: "Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) began transferring fresh water to two fuel barges, which will be used to support cooling efforts at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, March 25.

A total of 1.89 million litres (500,000 gallons) are being distributed between the barges that have been cleaned of fuel to support fresh water. The first Barge YOGN-115 departed CFAY at approximately 11:00 a.m. and will be escorted by a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) multipurpose support ship JS Hiuchi (AMS 4302). The second barge is scheduled to leave within the next 24 to 48 hours. The water will eventually be used to replace the seawater currently being used in cooling efforts at the plant.

"We have two barges here," said CFAY Operations Officer Lt. Cmdr. Michael Weatherford. "They can both hold up to approximately 300,000 gallons of fresh water each. But the max capacity is reduced to make the barges seaworthy for ocean travel. The request was for one million gallons, so when I told them we could get 500,000 gallons we started working on getting these barges released from our custody over to the [Japan Maritime Self Defense Force]."

Japan Maritime Self Defense Force officers were present on the pier to watch workers finish the final preparations before the barges left.

"This method was planned by the Japanese government after holding a council with Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and others," said Capt. Fumiyuki Kitagawa, JMSDF officer. "After having a discussion with other ministries and agencies, [the Japanese government] decided to have Japan Maritime Self Defense to carry barges to Fukushima this time."

"Once it leaves Yokosuka, we figure about seven knots travel speed because it's going to be towed by the JMSDF in the open ocean," said Weatherford. "We're estimating that it should reach its destination about 50 kilometers south of Fukushima within 35 hours from departure."

After watching the barge leave, Kitagawa had a personal message for the people that had helped make this event happen.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Americans and the U.S. Navy personnel who provided us with prompt response in the wake of the earthquake," said Kitagawa. "Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Naval ships off the coast of Sanriku are still searching for the missing people and delivering foods to the victims in the shelters together. The hearts of the U.S. Sailors have been reaching Japanese people. I really appreciate it and am very proud that JMSDF and the U.S. Navy once again can work together. Thank you all, again."

"

Upcoming Military Projects Identified for Guam

Upcoming Military Projects Identified for Guam: "A programmatic agreement (PA) reached March 14 paves the way for the Navy to proceed with construction projects on Guam in support of Marine Corps relocation efforts from Okinawa.

"The signing of the PA is an important milestone," said Joseph Ludovici, director, Joint Guam Program Office. "We are looking forward to continuing to work with the people of Guam and the business community to deliver the requirements for the relocating Marines."

Seven projects have been identified for 2011. Contracts totaling more than $93 million for the first two projects were awarded in September 2010. Others for this year include the Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB) north ramp parking and AAFB north ramp utilities projects that are expected to be awarded next month, the Apra Harbor medical clinic project that is planned for award this summer, the waterfront headquarters building project that is scheduled to be awarded in December, and phase one of the utilities and site improvement (U&SI) project.

"We are pleased that the Navy can move forward with some of the initial work," said Capt. Peter Lynch, commanding officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas. "These projects allow mission essential infrastructure for the Guam realignment to proceed with a solid agreement to protect the valuable cultural resources on Guam and Tinian and stimulate economic growth in the region."

This initial work is part of the design phase of the projects, where intrusive digging and boring work on project sites, which was put on hold until the PA was signed, will now begin and help contractors determine the best designs to submit for their construction proposals.

"While design work for the projects is proceeding, construction is not expected to begin immediately," said Capt Don Chandler, NAVFAC Pacific's Guam program management officer. "With the PA now signed, we can let our contractors know that they can complete the final phase of their design work. Once the designs are submitted and approved, the next step will be to tell them to go ahead with construction work."

More than $1 billion in funding provided by the U.S. and the government of Japan has been secured thus far for military construction projects.

The Navy and Marine Corps remain committed to a deliberate approach of procurement actions and will apply adaptive program management to adjust the pace and sequencing of construction projects to a sustainable level so as to not exceed Guam's infrastructure capacities.

As a result, contracts for the projects that have been funded thus far will be awarded throughout the year."

Friday, March 25, 2011

In Iraq, U.S. Special Forces gearing up to leave - The Washington Post

In Iraq, U.S. Special Forces gearing up to leave - The Washington Post: "After years of training with their U.S. counterparts, the black-clad Iraqi forces are taking the lead, busting in doors and arresting suspects while their American advisers monitor the mission.

The United States has its own counterterrorism force on the ground here, and its work has remained a priority even as the number of American combat troops declines, in preparation for their full withdrawal by the end of the year.

But the U.S. Special Operations trainers here say their work is almost done, as the about 4,100 members of Iraq’s Special Operation Forces — trained and equipped by the United States — gear up to be the main bulwark against insurgents.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s direct command of the elite forces has prompted fears among some Iraqi political parties and factions that the units will turn into a private militia. Maliki has denied that he maintains a security force outside the regular chains of command, but the United States has pushed for the force to be placed under a conventional chain of command, overseen by the Defense Ministry.

"

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Official Outlines Global Missile Defense Strategy

Official Outlines Global Missile Defense Strategy: U.S. efforts to build effective missile defenses are more important than ever for defending the nation and its deployed forces and for cooperating with allies and partners, a senior defense policy official said.
James N. Miller, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, told attendees at a missile defense conference here that the nation's missile defense efforts, while focused on a few emerging threats, also span the globe.

"We continue to focus on Iran and North Korea as particular threats to us and our allies," Miller said.

Iran already has the largest inventory of ballistic missiles in the Middle East, he said, and is working to develop salvo-launch and intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities.

North Korea, despite the "urgent humanitarian needs of its destitute population," is likewise modernizing its missile arsenal, Miller said. North Korea's inventory already includes "a substantial number of mobile ballistic missiles that could strike targets in South Korea, Japan, and U.S. bases in the Pacific," he added.

Both nations' nuclear potential increases U.S. strategic concerns about missile defense, Miller said, and other nations and nonstate actors also pose a significant threat.

The United States adopted a phased, adaptive approach to European ballistic missile defense in 2009 to deter and defend against "the development, acquisition, deployment and use of ballistic missiles by regional adversaries," he said.

The strategy relies heavily on systems that can be relocated, allowing the United States and its allies to adjust to a complex and changing threat environment, he explained. The approach will bring together sea-, land- and space-based systems in four phases of deployment through 2020, Miller said.

"Technological advances or future changes in the threats could modify the ... timing of the later phases," he said. "That's one reason the approach is called adaptive."

NATO endorsed the phased, adaptive approach and agreed to make current and future missile defense systems interoperable across NATO, he said.

Looking beyond Europe, U.S. strategy is to apply the phased, adaptive missile defense approach in other regions, particularly in East Asia and the Middle East, he said.

In Asia, the United States is partnered with key allies including Japan, Australia and South Korea to enhance missile defense, he said. Japan now has a layered ballistic missile defense capability that includes U.S. tracking systems, interceptors, early warning radars and a command-and-control structure that integrates those technologies, Miller said.

"We regularly train together, and have successfully executed simulated cooperative [ballistic missile defense] operations," he said. "We're also engaged in cooperative development of the next-generation ... interceptor, which is projected to enter service in 2018."

China obviously is a key component of security strategy in the Pacific, Miller said.

"The United States welcomes a strong, prosperous and successful China that plays a greater global role in supporting international rules, norms of responsible behavior and institutions," he said. At the same time, he said, the United States and China's neighbors remain concerned about its military buildup and objectives. Miller noted that China likely is nearing deployment of a medium-range anti-ship missile.

Greater transparency from China about its military strategy could reduce the chance of a misunderstanding or miscalculation, Miller said, and toward that end the United States continues to seek greater government-to-government communication with Chinese leaders.

When Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited China earlier this year, he proposed a strategic dialogue to cover space, cyberspace, nuclear missile defense and other topics, Miller said.

"We are quite optimistic about the prospects of beginning such a dialogue in the not-too-distant future," Miller said.

Turning to the Middle East, Miller noted the region is experiencing tremendous change and uncertainty, adding to its strategic prominence.

The United States and Israel have a long-standing relationship on ballistic missile defense that includes regular military exercises and cooperation in a number of programs, he said.

"In the Persian Gulf, the United States maintains a robust mix of missile defenses," Miller said. "To protect our troops and facilities in the region, we have developed a series of bilateral missile defense agreements with the nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council."

Missile defense cooperation between the United States and Russia is also growing, Miller said, noting recent progress in defense cooperation between the two nations includes the entry into force of the New START treaty.

Ultimately, the United States' objective is to cooperate with both Russia and NATO, but not take the lead for ballistic missile defense in those regions, he said.

"We would operate our respective systems independently but cooperatively," with that cooperation including sharing sensor data, he said.

As missile defense is a key element of U.S. military strategy, Miller said, funding the technology behind the capability is a high priority.

"DOD is proposing to spend about $10 billion for missile defense in fiscal year 2012," he said. "This critical investment in our military's preparedness ... contributes materially to the defense of the United States and to international security."
***************

NATO Missile Defense for Europe





NATO has agreed to provide ballistic missile defense or BMD for all of Europe. This NATO BMD will protect NATO (European and American) military forces in Europe. It will also – for the very first time – protect the civilian population throughout Europe from ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction launched from the Middle East.

Much of this NATO missile defense for Europe – known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach – will actually be provided by the United States armed forces. This will include seaborne AEGIS missile defense on board US Navy ships in the Mediterranean, as well as land based radars and interceptor missiles.

This e-book describes how NATO missile defense for Europe will be organized and implemented.

US Welcomes Mutually Reinforcing Missile Defense Cooperation With Russia

US Welcomes Mutually Reinforcing Missile Defense Cooperation With Russia: "The United States sees Russia as a full-fledged participant in the European missile defense system, Ellen Tauscher, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, has said.

"There are a few more key components to our approach that we are applying to our missile defense architecture in Europe," Tauscher said. "We want to protect all of Europe, not just some of Europe. We want our European allies and friends to buy into the European Phased Adaptive Approach; it is not something that we want to impose on them - that's not what friends do," she said.

'Finally, we have started discussing potential missile defense cooperation between the United States and Russia and NATO and Russia; we want Russia in the missile defense tent rather than outside that tent,' she added."
********************

NATO Missile Defense for Europe





NATO has agreed to provide ballistic missile defense or BMD for all of Europe. This NATO BMD will protect NATO (European and American) military forces in Europe. It will also – for the very first time – protect the civilian population throughout Europe from ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction launched from the Middle East.
Much of this NATO missile defense for Europe – known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach – will actually be provided by the United States armed forces. This will include seaborne AEGIS missile defense on board US Navy ships in the Mediterranean, as well as land based radars and interceptor missiles.
This e-book describes how NATO missile defense for Europe will be organized and implemented.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Obama, Rousseff take up security concerns

Obama, Rousseff take up security concerns: "U.S. President Barack Obama and Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff issued strong support for pursuing projects that reflected shared security concerns for the Americas, heralding a potential boost for defense industries, at the start of the U.S. president's tour of Latin America.

Before Obama's arrival, talks advanced on expanded collaboration that could see U.S. defense industries taking a more active role in Brazil's planned expansion of military manufacturing, transfer of technologies from more advanced industries in North America and Europe and extended purchases of defense equipment for Brazilian armed forces. The contracts were variously valued at up to $9 billion.

Brazil has announced long-term development of its defense industries and is keen to forge closer ties with companies and countries that are prepared to share at least some of their technologies in return for new export countries."
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Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

Raytheon BBN Technologies To Protect Internet Comms For Military Abroad

Raytheon BBN Technologies To Protect Internet Comms For Military Abroad: "Raytheon BBN Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon, has been awarded $1.9 million in defense research funding to develop safeguards for military Internet communications abroad.

The award, issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, is in support of the Safer Warfighter Communications program, or SAFER. The goal of SAFER is to develop technology that enables protected, resilient Internet communications for warfighters deployed overseas.

Raytheon BBN Technologies proposes a solution that incorporates several innovative approaches, including novel routing and packet delivery techniques and new methods to increase security"
*******************

Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

MEADS System Integration Begins At Italian Test Site

MEADS System Integration Begins At Italian Test Site: "A Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) launcher and BMC4I Tactical Operations Center (TOC) have entered system test and integration at Pratica di Mare (PdM) Air Force Base in Italy. This milestone marks the first integration tests involving two completed MEADS system elements.

During the initial test series, MEADS will demonstrate launcher and TOC functions, including system attachment/detachment in the first demonstration of MEADS plug-and-fight operation. Later addition of the Multifunction Fire Control Radar (MFCR) and a MEADS System Stimulator will enable demonstration of full MEADS system operation during simulated engagements of live target aircraft.

After pre-integration at Pratica di Mare, the MEADS system will complete integration at White Sands Missile Range, NM, and begin flight testing in 2012."
**************

NATO Missile Defense for Europe





NATO has agreed to provide ballistic missile defense or BMD for all of Europe. This NATO BMD will protect NATO (European and American) military forces in Europe. It will also – for the very first time – protect the civilian population throughout Europe from ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction launched from the Middle East.
Much of this NATO missile defense for Europe – known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach – will actually be provided by the United States armed forces. This will include seaborne AEGIS missile defense on board US Navy ships in the Mediterranean, as well as land based radars and interceptor missiles.
This e-book describes how NATO missile defense for Europe will be organized and implemented.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Gates Hopes To Expand US-Russian Cooperation : NPR

Gates Hopes To Expand US-Russian Cooperation : NPR: "U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Russia Monday to take a final, personal try at easing Moscow's worries over a missile defense shield in Europe and to expand a military relationship that has grown dramatically since his Cold War days at the helm of the CIA.
Gates, who is expected to retire this summer, told reporters traveling with him that Russian cooperation in the Afghanistan war and support of U.N. Security Council resolutions against North Korea and Iran underscore an alliance that has dramatically evolved in recent years. Russia also abstained in the recent United Nations vote for military intervention in Libya, effectively allowing the allied assault to go forward."
***************

NATO Missile Defense for Europe





NATO has agreed to provide ballistic missile defense or BMD for all of Europe. This NATO BMD will protect NATO (European and American) military forces in Europe. It will also – for the very first time – protect the civilian population throughout Europe from ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction launched from the Middle East.
Much of this NATO missile defense for Europe – known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach – will actually be provided by the United States armed forces. This will include seaborne AEGIS missile defense on board US Navy ships in the Mediterranean, as well as land based radars and interceptor missiles.
This e-book describes how NATO missile defense for Europe will be organized and implemented.

U.S. Army to Control Drones With IPads - Mobiledia

U.S. Army to Control Drones With IPads - Mobiledia: "U.S. Army is developing software to allow soldiers to control cameras on military-grade unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, using iPads.

Pentagon contractor Harris will demonstrate its remote camera guidance app at the National Association of Broadcasters conference in next month. The system, which would link the iPad or Android tablet to a camera mounted on a UAV, allows users to watch a live feed from the tablet and control camera actions through its touch screen display.

"You can steer the camera and look at what you want," said John Delay, director of architectures for emerging business at Harris. "There's a lot of interest in this. If you can use sensors to give the ability to grab control of a camera and look over a hill from the UAV, that is huge."

************************

Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Army combat vehicle plan criticized - UPI.com

Army combat vehicle plan criticized - UPI.com: "A leading U.S. congressman has questioned why the U.S. Army will require seven years to build a ground combat vehicle.

The question was raised by U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., a ranking member of the House Appropriations subcommittee who pushed the Army to roll out the vehicle ahead of the set timeline.

'I think five years is more than enough time to get this done,' Dicks said. He asked Army Secretary John McHugh to reconsider the current seven-year schedule."

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Critical Design Milestone For U.S. Navy's Surface Ship Electronic Defense

Critical Design Milestone For U.S. Navy's Surface Ship Electronic Defense: "Lockheed Martin held a successful critical design review for an electronic warfare system upgrade that will defend U.S. Navy surface combatants from evolving anti-ship missile threats.

Under the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP), the Navy is pursuing an evolutionary succession of enhancements to its AN/SLQ-32 electronic warfare system currently installed on aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and other U.S. warships. A series of SEWIP block upgrades will incrementally add new defensive technologies and functional capabilities.

'Block 2 establishes a framework for the Navy to easily integrate future block upgrades of the most current electronic warfare technology to defend the fleet,' explained Joe Ottaviano, Lockheed Martin's SEWIP program director."
*****************

Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

Most US, EU policy-makers may accept nuclear Iran: poll

Most US, EU policy-makers may accept nuclear Iran: poll: "A majority of European and US policy-makers would prefer a nuclear-armed Iran over taking military action if diplomatic efforts failed, a survey showed Tuesday.

The survey of public officials from both sides of the Atlantic found that opinions diverged between decision-makers and the public on dealing with Iran if non-military options do not work.

Around half of US and European Union policy-makers would accept a nuclear Iran, while 42 percent in Washington's corridors of power and 32 percent in Brussels would favour military action, according to a report by the German Marshall Fund of the United States and Italy's Compagnia di San Paolo foundation.

The public was more hawkish, with 62 percent of Americans and 46 percent of Europeans backing military action."
***************

NATO Missile Defense for Europe





NATO has agreed to provide ballistic missile defense or BMD for all of Europe. This NATO BMD will protect NATO (European and American) military forces in Europe. It will also – for the very first time – protect the civilian population throughout Europe from ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction launched from the Middle East.
Much of this NATO missile defense for Europe – known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach – will actually be provided by the United States armed forces. This will include seaborne AEGIS missile defense on board US Navy ships in the Mediterranean, as well as land based radars and interceptor missiles.
This e-book describes how NATO missile defense for Europe will be organized and implemented.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Enterprise Information Warfare Community Celebrates 76th Birthday

Enterprise Information Warfare Community Celebrates 76th Birthday: "USS Enterprise (CVN 65) information warfare and cryptology (IWC) personnel celebrated the Naval Information Warfare Community's 76th birthday aboard 'Big E' with community members reflecting on its storied past, March 11.

Information warfare (IW) officers and enlisted cryptologic technicians (CT) deploy globally to support Navy and joint military requirements, delivering vital information to decision makers by exploiting, defending and attacking networks to capitalize on vulnerabilities in the information environment.

"Being a part of the cryptologic community is a rewarding experience," said Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class (SW) David Ireland, USS Enterprise Operations Department's Operations Specialists (OS) division. "Most people you talk to don't even know what a CT is, but we're proud to be silent professionals supporting the continuing efforts of fellow military members downrange."

Naval cryptology first began during the Civil War, when specially trained personnel intercepted and deciphered enemy signals, while formulating ways to protect their own communications. Sailors and Marines assumed cryptologic duties after the first radio transmission was sent from a U.S. Navy ship in 1889.

In October 1928, the Navy and Marine Corps' first training class of radio intercept operators convened. The school's original location was in a blockhouse on the roof of the old Navy Department building, and graduates of the school were nicknamed the "On-the-Roof Gang."

During World War II, nearly 10,000 naval cryptologic personnel were deployed worldwide and supported every major campaign in the war. Since that time, cryptologists have played a direct role in every U.S. conflict and have evolved to meet the dynamic challenges of modern cyber warfare. Today's IW/CT community consists of more than 11,000 members.

"From the groundbreaking work of the 'On-the-Roof Gang', and Capt. Joseph Rochefort's cracking of the Japanese navy code to the Global War on Terrorism, the Navy's information warfare/cryptology community has been in the fight," said Rear Adm. Edward H. Deets, III, commander, Naval Network Warfare Command. "This year we celebrate our 76th anniversary, honoring our past and embracing our future."

The IW/CT community ushered in its new era with the following events:

Sept. 15, 2005 – The Navy renamed cryptologic officers "information warfare officers" to reflect the expanded competencies of information operations and cyber warfare.

Sept. 30, 2005 – The Naval Security Group was disestablished, and all missions were assumed by Naval Network Warfare Command.

Oct. 1, 2009 – The Information Dominance Corps was established, which consists of four separate communities: IW/CT; Intelligence/Intelligence Specialists; Information Professionals and Technicians; and Oceanographers/Aerographers.

Jan. 29, 2010 – U.S. 10th Fleet was re-commissioned, and Fleet Cyber Command was established, which assumed the Navy's cryptologic, information operations, cyber, electronic warfare and space missions.


"The Navy's Cryptologic community has a rich history of supporting our forces at war and our national decision makers," said Information Warfare Officer Lt. Christina Bounds, USS Enterprise OS division officer. "As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, our community's ability to provide relevant and time-sensitive support is paramount for the missions we face today."

Today's IW/CT force performs both national missions with the National Security Agency and fleet missions. Thirty-six percent of the force is forward deployed aboard ships, submarines, aircraft and in other tactical applications globally. Navy cryptologic technicians are trained in a total of 114 languages and dialects."
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Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

Troop pay would stop if federal government shuts down - FederalTimes.com

Troop pay would stop if federal government shuts down - FederalTimes.com: "Troops could be required to report to work without pay if a budget clash in Congress results in a government-wide shutdown, according to draft planning guidance circulating in the Pentagon.

A shutdown could happen as early as next week, as the government is set to run out of money at midnight March 17. A bill that would keep the government operating temporarily has been prepared in the House of Representatives, but it is not clear when or if it might pass.

The government has been operating under a series of temporary appropriations, known as continuing resolutions, since Oct. 1 because of lawmakers' inability to agree on how much money to provide federal agencies. Budget discussions have become increasingly complicated since the November general elections resulted in a divided legislature, with Republicans controlling the House and Democrats controlling the Senate.

When the government was shut down in 1995, military personnel continued to report to work and were paid, but the planning guidance sent to the services and defense agencies says a shutdown this time will be different.

"All military personnel will continue in normal duty status regardless of their affiliation with exempt or non-exempt activities," says the draft planning guidance that was prepared for the services and defense agencies. "Military personnel will serve without pay until such time as Congress makes appropriated funds available to compensate them for this period of service."

Troops would miss a payday only if the shutdown continues through April 1.

Defense civilian workers would be divided into two categories. 'Essential' employees would be required to report to work even though they will not be paid; 'nonessential' employees would be furloughed, according to the memo."

Friday, March 11, 2011

US Navy ill-prepared for new Arctic frontier: study

US Navy ill-prepared for new Arctic frontier: study: "Climate change is rapidly transforming the Arctic and the US Navy is falling behind as international powers jockey for power over vast oil resources, suggested a US study released on Thursday.

The report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) pointed to areas where the United States needs to bolster its forces as warming temperatures break up polar ice, raise sea levels, and potentially cause more international chaos.

A sea-level rise in the Arctic over the next two decades is 'highly certain to occur and highly certain to come with economic costs' in a region thought to hold more than one-fifth of the world's untapped hydrocarbons, it said.

The past three years have seen a surge of global interest in the Arctic, on a level not seen since the Cold War, but United States has not pursued this with the same vigor as Russia, Norway, Denmark and other countries.

'The retreat of Arctic sea ice in summer is fundamentally altering the naval forces' mission by allowing increasing access to the harsh and highly variable Arctic environment,' said the study by the NAS's National Research Council (NRC)."

Report: Army wasting millions on untested, unneeded gear - News - Stripes

Report: Army wasting millions on untested, unneeded gear - News - Stripes: "To give soldiers every advantage on the battlefield, the Army is purchasing 181 high-tech communications kits at $800,000 a pop.

But the service is spending that money — nearly $145 million — for something that’s still in the test phase and may never make it to infantry units on the front lines of the future.

According to a Government Accountability Office report issued Wednesday, the Army wants to modernize its combat vehicles and improve battlefield technology, but doesn’t consider whether upgrades are needed, or the likelihood of fielding such expensive initiatives.

The report also questioned how the Army is carrying out a $40 billion plan to replace armored fighting vehicles in heavy and Stryker brigades."

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Pentagon accounting problems 'serious': Treasury

Pentagon accounting problems 'serious': Treasury: "The US administration is taking a hard look at problems in the Defense Department's accounting, after a report called its books unauditable, the Treasury said Wednesday.

Treasury assistant secretary Richard Gregg told a Congressional panel there were 'serious financial reporting issues' at the Pentagon, which in the current proposed budget before the Congress receives $553 billion, or some 15% of all US annual spending."
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Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

North Korea jams South's guided missiles

North Korea jams South's guided missiles: "Seoul has accused North Korea of using sophisticated jamming systems to block South Korean military signals and disrupt its guided missiles.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the strong jamming signals have been transmitting from the northern border city of Keasong since last week.

The purported purpose of the jamming was to disrupt navigational devices using Global Positioning Systems as a major joint military exercise is under way northwest of Seoul.

The jamming is believed to have prevented some U.S and South Korean bombs from hitting their targets during a military drill."
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Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

Cuba says US waging 'cyberwar' against Havana

Cuba says US waging 'cyberwar' against Havana: "Cuban authorities are accusing the United States of waging 'cyberwar' against the communist-ruled island -- an effort that Havana claims includes an American contractor on trial for espionage.

In recent weeks, state media has shown comments from Cubans contacted by alleged US agents who, according to reports here, were seeking to set up communications networks to promote subversive activities.

The reports came as a verdict was awaited in the trial for US national Alan Gross, 61, accused of crimes against the Cuban state."
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Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

British special forces seize Iranian rockets in Afghanistan | World news | The Guardian

British special forces seize Iranian rockets in British special forces in Afghanistan have intercepted an Iranian shipment of rockets to the Taliban that would have allowed them to double the range of their attacks, western diplomats have said.

The rockets were discovered after an intelligence tip-off on 5 February when British special forces and Afghan troops stopped a convoy in Nimruz province, in the south-west of Afghanistan bordering Iran and Pakistan, the officials said. A shoot-out involving the special forces left several Taliban fighters dead.

The vehicles were found to be carrying 48 122mm rockets, which western sources described as "substantial weapons" with a range of more than 12 miles. A diplomat with knowledge of the arms shipment said that was double the range of the usual Taliban weapons.

Afghanistan | World news | The Guardian
: "

Britain's foreign secretary, William Hague, issued a statement denouncing what he called 'completely unacceptable' Iranian behaviour"
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NATO 3.0



At the Lisbon NATO Summit, the US-European alliance made an open ended commitment to Afghanistan. NATO 3.0 has the details.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

First geosynchronous satellite arrives in Florida for May launch

First geosynchronous satellite arrives in Florida for May launch: "Officials with the Air Force's Space Based Infrared Systems program completed a program milestone recently, successfully delivering the first geosynchronous satellite, known as GEO-1, to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

The delivery of GEO-1 sets the path for final checkout of the space vehicle before launch.

The satellite will be processed in the Defense Satellite Communications System Processing Facility. Work began March 4, when the satellite was hoisted from the shipping container and positioned into the high bay.

Final launch preparation activities include a launch-base confidence test to verify satellite integrity after shipment, an intersegment test to verify communication compatibility from the satellite to the on-orbit operations center and final battery reconditioning for launch. Following these activities, the satellite will be fueled and prepared for integrated processing with the Atlas V booster.

"The SBIRS team has met or exceeded all significant program objectives leading to this important milestone, and there is great enthusiasm and excitement across our entire workforce," said Col. Roger Teague, the director of the Infrared Space Systems Directorate's Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base. "We are positioned well to successfully launch the first SBIRS satellite."

The GEO-1 satellite is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral AFS in early May.

The satellite was transported from the Lockheed Martin satellite integration facility in Sunnyvale, Calif., via a C-5 Galaxy.

The C-5 crew from the 22nd Airlift Squadron at Travis AFB, Calif., ensured GEO-1 was transported safely and according to the time-sensitive schedule. Security support was provided by the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing.

"Safe transport of the SBIRS satellite was paramount and the total force government and contractor team worked tirelessly to ensure mission success," Colonel Teague said.

The SBIRS program is designed to replace the Defense Support Program satellite constellation. The program is designed to provide significantly enhanced capabilities to support missile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness and technical intelligence missions.

Engineers expect the state-of-the-art SBIRS sensors to provide enhanced operational capability for the warfighter and technical community."

DoD Civilians Go in Harms Way

Course readies civilians for overseas deployments: "MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Ind. (AFNS) -- An incoming rocket explodes, shaking the earth and setting off a shockwave of activity.

"Keep your heads down!" a soldier shouts back to a group of civilians standing by a doorway as he scans a half-blown-up parking garage ahead for suspicious activity.

A few soldiers, M-16s in hand, surround the civilians and rush them into a waiting convoy. They load up and the convoy speeds off just as another rocket goes off. A cloud of smoke envelops the rear Humvee as it trails into the distance.

A few feet away, a man shakes his head, unfazed by the flurry of activity around him. Although the scenario went well, the civilians, he noted later, entered the vehicles too slowly.

The expectations are understandably high here, particularly for the civilian students. For most of them, the training grounds here and at nearby Camp Atterbury will be their last stop before yearlong deployments to locations in Afghanistan and Iraq, where the next attack they experience could be a real one.

"It's a very steep learning curve for some of them, particularly if they have no experience in this environment whatsoever," Rory Aylward, an instructor and subject matter expert on Afghanistan, said of the students. "It's ... like being thrown in a pool of cold water."

Each month, dozens of students converge here for the Civilian Expeditionary Workforce's predeployment course. The course aims to equip civilians with the skills needed to successfully support combat and humanitarian missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and other locations around the world.

Defense Department officials started the course in January 2010, about a year after the CEW formally stood up to augment military forces overseas. Although civilians had been successfully serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, officials recognized the need to better prepare them for the austere environments they'd encounter. With time and lessons learned, the class evolved into what it is today, a once-a-month training course that runs the gamut from military familiarization to cultural sensitivities to dealing with the stressors of war.

The students are volunteers from around the world and with varying levels of military experience and expertise. Student Erin Dunn, for example, is an education manager for Joint Forces Command's joint public affairs support element as well as an Air Force veteran. Other students come from the private sector without the benefit of military knowledge, but with an in-demand skill, such as contracting or linguistics.

"I got out (of the Air Force) a long time ago, and in this stage of my life, it's not appropriate to go back," said Ms. Dunn, who is heading to Iraq after training. "This is an opportunity to serve in a way I would otherwise not get to."

Instructors have just 11 days to prepare this diverse and varied population of students for environments many haven't encountered or seen before.

The students spend the first week here, participating in classes and a series of scenarios that expose them to different cultures and ways of life. They're taught cultural awareness and sensitivities, personal security, counterinsurgency, command structures, how to work with an interpreter, as well as how to become part of a team comprising primarily military members.

The next week, students move to nearby Camp Atterbury, where they're taught how to operate a weapon, although most won't carry one, and take care of numerous details, from finances to equipment, required before they can deploy.

Still in her first week of training, Ms. Dunn had participated in an Iraq-based scenario earlier in the day. She and a few fellow students met with a provincial governor, played by an Iraqi citizen, to discuss topics ranging from stalled construction projects to security concerns. The governor, an imposing figure decked out in a suit and seated at the head of the table with a backdrop of an Iraqi flag, expressed his desire to see an engineering project completed, speaking through a translator seated just behind Ms. Dunn.

She listened intently, occasionally taking a sip of her steaming cup of tea. She adjusted her bright yellow headscarf worn out of respect.

"We want that too," she said of the project's completion, nodding in agreement.

An evaluation team studied her every move. Although she performed well, they'll later dissect her performance so the next time she meets with an Iraqi official, she'll have even better odds of success.

Every touch in the room, from the Iraqi flag to cultural decorations, reflects the represented nation and the instructors' efforts to make the training as realistic as possible. Even the role players are authentic. All are Afghan or Iraqi citizens living in the United States.

The outside environment mirrors the same sense of realism. Each day the students travel by convoy here from an austere, mock forward operating base, called FOB Panther, about 10 miles away. As they drive onto the training grounds, they pass by a stark, white building trimmed in turquoise designed to resemble a mosque, a mock alleyway and structures made to look like blown-up parking garages.

Mark Parsons, a civilian program manager from Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and an Air Force veteran, said he and the other students felt a bit "awestruck" upon their arrival.

"I was expecting something a little more United States-ey," he said with a smile.

Like Ms. Dunn, Mr. Parsons soon will head to Iraq where he'll support overseas travel and training for Iraqi forces. He'll ensure Iraqis who are going to the United States for training have the proper security and travel arrangements, he explained.

"What we're learning right now is absolutely paramount to prepare us for going over there," he said.

Nycoca Hairston, an Army veteran, is familiar with the environment she's about to enter -- she served two tours in Iraq -- but still feels she has more to learn. She had just returned home last March when officials approached her to return again, this time as a civilian. In Iraq, she explained, she had served as the program manager of three reconnaissance management programs and was returning to help manage the logistics drawdown there.

"Being there for the first two years, I didn't receive this type of training -- the intensity, the in-depth (instruction on) culture, customs, land structures," she said. "I feel more prepared now.

"Just knowing the culture, the customs, is very important when interacting with (Iraqis)," she added.

The single mother of two said she will miss her family, but is proud to be a part of the mission, which she's dedicating to a fallen boyfriend, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Wilson, who was killed in action in 2003 in Mosul, Iraq.

"I plan to go there and support the soldiers in his respect," she said. "Let me go over there and do it one more time."

In a few short days, the students will join the roughly 4,000 civilians deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and about 500 civilians to other locations, such as Djibouti and Qatar.

Ms. Dunn said she feels more confident now about what lies ahead. But, as with service members, she also must come to terms with what she must temporarily leave behind. She tears up when speaking about leaving her 9-year-old son, who she called "my north, my south, my east and my west."

"It will probably be harder for me than for him," she said of the separation from her son.

Ms. Dunn said she's inspired by civilians who step up to deploy, particularly those who have served and deployed before.

"They're making a sacrifice they don't have to make," she said.

Mr. Parsons said his wife and children supported him 100 percent, even though he'd already deployed multiple times during his Air Force service. They understand his passion for service and desire to serve, he said.

"I want to make an impact," he said. "I want someone to know that when Mark Parsons left that he served his country and he did all he could."

Ms. Dunn echoed his passion to serve.

"I want to make a difference in someone's life with a mission that's bigger than me," she said."

Monday, March 7, 2011

Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Program Holds System Critical Design Review

Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Program Holds System Critical Design Review: "Northrop Grumman's MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS) program conducted system Critical Design Review (CDR) with the U.S. Navy last month.

'It is gratifying to see the design mature from the Preliminary Design Review to the Critical Design Review over the past 12 months,' said Steve Enewold, Northrop Grumman vice president and program manager for BAMS.

'The System Development and Demonstration program's first two fuselages are under construction at our Moss Point, Miss., facility and the first will ship next month to our Palmdale Manufacturing Center in California for final assembly and first flight next year.'"
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U-Boats "Made in Germany"



Cutting-edge German submarine technology is explored.

Transmitting Data And Power Wirelessly Through Submarine Hulls

Transmitting Data And Power Wirelessly Through Submarine Hulls: "Steel walls are no match for Tristan Lawry. The doctoral student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed and demonstrated an innovative new system that uses ultrasound to simultaneously transmit large quantities of data and power wirelessly through thick metal walls, like the hulls of ships and submarines."

Presently, to install critical safety sensors on the exterior of ships and submarines, the U.S. Navy is forced to drill holes in the hull through which cables for data and power transmission are run. Each hole increases the risk of potentially serious issues, including leaks and structural failure. Additionally, installing these sensors on commissioned vessels requires the use of a drydock or cofferdam, which can take months and cost millions of dollars.

Lawry's invention solves this problem. Unlike conventional electromagnetic wireless systems, which are ineffective at transmitting power and data through vessel hulls because of the "Faraday cage" shielding effects they present, his patent-pending system uses ultrasound - high-frequency acoustic waves -to easily propagate signals through thick metals and other solids.
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U-Boats "Made in Germany"



German submarine technology is breaking new ground.

America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels - Middle East, World - The Independent

America's secret plan to arm Libya's rebels - Middle East, World - The Independent: "Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a 'day of rage' from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.

Washington's request is in line with other US military co-operation with the Saudis. The royal family in Jeddah, which was deeply involved in the Contra scandal during the Reagan administration, gave immediate support to American efforts to arm guerrillas fighting the Soviet army in Afghanistan in 1980 and later – to America's chagrin – also funded and armed the Taliban.

But the Saudis remain the only US Arab ally strategically placed and capable of furnishing weapons to the guerrillas of Libya. Their assistance would allow Washington to disclaim any military involvement in the supply chain – even though the arms would be American and paid for by the Saudis."
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Merchant Vessel Defense Against Pirates





Preemptive Measures Can Prevent Boarding and Hostage Taking



Too often, ship operators fail to take proper anti-piracy security measures, effectively turning their merchant vessels into “Golden Geese” ripe for the taking, writes the author. He goes on to discuss proven methods of hardening commercial ships and training their crews to prevent pirates – whether from Somalia or elsewhere – from boarding vessels and taking crews hostage.

Northrop Grumman Submits Final Proposal Revision for MDA's Next Gen Aegis Missile

Northrop Grumman Submits Final Proposal Revision for MDA's Next Gen Aegis Missile: "Northrop Grumman has announced it has submitted its final proposal revision for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Next Generation Aegis Missile (NGAM) concept definition and program planning procurement.

The new interceptor is a key element of the layered intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) defense of the nation and will be designed to engage intercontinental, intermediate-range and medium-range ballistic missile threats. MDA has said it plans to make multiple contract awards in early 2011 and plans to field the interceptor in the 2020 time frame."
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NATO Missile Defense for Europe





NATO has agreed to provide ballistic missile defense or BMD for all of Europe. This NATO BMD will protect NATO (European and American) military forces in Europe. It will also – for the very first time – protect the civilian population throughout Europe from ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction launched from the Middle East.
Much of this NATO missile defense for Europe – known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach – will actually be provided by the United States armed forces. This will include seaborne AEGIS missile defense on board US Navy ships in the Mediterranean, as well as land based radars and interceptor missiles.
This e-book describes how NATO missile defense for Europe will be organized and implemented.

Friday, March 4, 2011

U.S. looking at new moves on Somalia piracy: Clinton | Reuters

U.S. looking at new moves on Somalia piracy: Clinton | Reuters: "The United States is looking at new strategies to fight pirates off Somalia, who last month killed four Americans and represent a growing threat to sea traffic, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday.

'I'm fed up with it,' Clinton said in testimony to the Senate appropriations committee. 'We need to do more, and make it clear that the entire world better get behind what we do and get this scourge resolved.'

Pirates shot dead four U.S. hostages on a private yacht in waters off Somalia on February 22, the deadliest incident yet involving Americans kidnapped for ransom in an expanding lawless maritime region crossed by key shipping lanes.

Clinton said that existing efforts to stop the piracy, which include naval patrols by a number of nations, had failed to significantly dent pirate operations which are increasingly distorting world fuel trade due to higher insurance premiums."
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Merchant Vessel Defense Against Pirates





Preemptive Measures Can Prevent Boarding and Hostage Taking



Too often, ship operators fail to take proper anti-piracy security measures, effectively turning their merchant vessels into “Golden Geese” ripe for the taking, writes the author. He goes on to discuss proven methods of hardening commercial ships and training their crews to prevent pirates – whether from Somalia or elsewhere – from boarding vessels and taking crews hostage.

Computer expert says US behind Stuxnet worm

Computer expert says US behind Stuxnet worm: "A German computer security expert said Thursday he believes the United States and Israel's Mossad unleashed the malicious Stuxnet worm on Iran's nuclear program.

'My opinion is that the Mossad is involved,' Ralph Langner said while discussing his in-depth Stuxnet analysis at a prestigious TED conference in the Southern California city of Long Beach.

'But, the leading source is not Israel... There is only one leading source, and that is the United States.'"
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Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

******************

Merchant Vessel Defense Against Pirates





Preemptive Measures Can Prevent Boarding and Hostage Taking



Too often, ship operators fail to take proper anti-piracy security measures, effectively turning their merchant vessels into “Golden Geese” ripe for the taking, writes the author. He goes on to discuss proven methods of hardening commercial ships and training their crews to prevent pirates – whether from Somalia or elsewhere – from boarding vessels and taking crews hostage.

Milestone Nears For European Missile Defense Plan

Milestone Nears For European Missile Defense Plan: "The U.S. plan to defend Europe from a rapidly increasing ballistic missile threat will reach a milestone next week with the first deployment of missile defense technology, a senior Defense Department official said yesterday.
"The ballistic missile threat is real, and it's now," said John F. Plumb, the Pentagon's principal director for nuclear and missile defense policy, adding that the phased, adaptive approach to European missile defense is a capability designed to defend against that threat.

The USS Monterey - equipped with systems to detect, track, engage and destroy ballistic missiles in flight - will deploy next week from its home port of Norfolk, Va., for a six-month tour in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, Plumb said.

The ship will participate in missile defense exercises and help to lay the foundation for future deployments, Plumb said, in "the first demonstration of our commitment to this ... in a long series of deployments that will follow."

President Barack Obama approved the phased, adaptive approach to European ballistic missile defense in 2009, and the NATO alliance agreed to the plan at its November 2010 summit in Lisbon, Portugal.

The approach will begin with existing technology and add more sophisticated systems now in development to build sea- and land-based missile defense systems in Europe throughout the rest of this decade, Plumb said.

"The first phase ... involves ships, because we have sea-based missile defense capabilities now, as well as forward-based radar that can provide information to those ships," he said.

The second phase will begin in 2015, he said, with the deployment of a land-based interceptor site in Romania. The interceptor, the Standard Missile-3 IB, or SM-3 IB, is in development now, Plumb said.

"That will be the first land-based deployment of this type of interceptor, and that will start to provide greater coverage for Europe," he said.

The SM-3 IA already is deployed on ships around the world, he said, and two other variants of the interceptor, the IIA and IIB, are scheduled to be in place as part of phases 3 and 4 by 2020. Plumb said each version of the interceptor will defend against missiles of greater ranges and speeds.

The ballistic missile threat to Europe from the Middle East, particularly Iran, is a driving force behind the phased, adaptive approach, he said.

"[Iran] continues to pursue more and greater capabilities," he said. "We need to have a way not only to deter them from using them, but also if deterrence fails to be able to intercept their missiles."

While the phased, adaptive approach is currently under U.S. European Command's authority, Plumb said, NATO agreed at the Lisbon summit to establish command-and-control systems allowing the alliance to take the lead in ballistic missile defense on the European continent.

"Europe is a big place," he said. "The more you can cooperate, and the more assets other nations can contribute, the better the system can function."

Those contributions may take the form of sensors, interceptors or land for sites, he said.

"The assets we're deploying ... would be the U.S. national contribution to the missile defense of Europe," Plumb said. "As with any other NATO mission, individual nations voluntarily contribute assets, and [all] would work under a NATO command structure."

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NATO Missile Defense for Europe





NATO has agreed to provide ballistic missile defense or BMD for all of Europe. This NATO BMD will protect NATO (European and American) military forces in Europe. It will also – for the very first time – protect the civilian population throughout Europe from ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction launched from the Middle East.
Much of this NATO missile defense for Europe – known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach – will actually be provided by the United States armed forces. This will include seaborne AEGIS missile defense on board US Navy ships in the Mediterranean, as well as land based radars and interceptor missiles.
This e-book describes how NATO missile defense for Europe will be organized and implemented.

USAF To Launch Second Orbital Test Vehicle

USAF To Launch Second Orbital Test Vehicle: "Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office officials announced the launch of the second X-37B March 4 with a back-up launch opportunity March 5.

AFRCO is leading the Defense Department's orbital test vehicle initiative, by direction of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics and the secretary of the Air Force.

For the first X-37B OTV mission, Air Force officials focused on testing and evaluating the performance capabilities of the vehicle.
This second mission will build upon the OTV-1 on-orbit demonstration, validate and replicate initial testing and fine tune the technical parameters of the vehicle tests."
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NATO Missile Defense for Europe





NATO has agreed to provide ballistic missile defense or BMD for all of Europe. This NATO BMD will protect NATO (European and American) military forces in Europe. It will also – for the very first time – protect the civilian population throughout Europe from ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction launched from the Middle East.
Much of this NATO missile defense for Europe – known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach – will actually be provided by the United States armed forces. This will include seaborne AEGIS missile defense on board US Navy ships in the Mediterranean, as well as land based radars and interceptor missiles.
This e-book describes how NATO missile defense for Europe will be organized and implemented.

Second Successful PAC-3 MSE Intercept Flight Test

Second Successful PAC-3 MSE Intercept Flight Test: "Lockheed Martin's enhanced version of the combat-proven PAC-3 Missile, the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE), successfully intercepted a threat representative tactical ballistic missile target in the MSE battlespace at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

The PAC-3 MSE Missile provides increased performance, greater altitude and range than the PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI) Missile. The PAC-3 MSE Missile variant incorporates threat-driven and techno
logy-enabled hardware and software upgrades to defend against the advancing threat set. The PAC-3 Missile is the only Patriot missile that utilizes hit-to-kill technology to engage incoming targets.

'We continue to test the PAC-3 MSE Missile at higher altitudes and against more challenging targets, and it continues to meet expectations,' said Richard McDaniel, director of PAC-3 Missile Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. 'We look forward to delivering this important enhanced capability to the warfighter in the near future.'"
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NATO Missile Defense for Europe





NATO has agreed to provide ballistic missile defense or BMD for all of Europe. This NATO BMD will protect NATO (European and American) military forces in Europe. It will also – for the very first time – protect the civilian population throughout Europe from ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction launched from the Middle East.

Much of this NATO missile defense for Europe – known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach – will actually be provided by the United States armed forces. This will include seaborne AEGIS missile defense on board US Navy ships in the Mediterranean, as well as land based radars and interceptor missiles.

This e-book describes how NATO missile defense for Europe will be organized and implemented.

Intermediate network warfare training up and running

Intermediate network warfare training up and running: "In February, 17 students began the first intermediate network warfare training at the 39th Information Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

The 42-day course began Feb. 2 and features a syllabus geared to the needs of cyberoperators in the field, said 1st Lt. Michelle Buchholtz, the influence flight commander and instructor of the 39th IOS.

"Students learn advanced cyberoperations fundamentals including policy, doctrine, employment, executing organizations and missions, operational functions, and law and ethics," she said.

INWT is only open to Airmen who have completed initial skills training or supplemental skills training, either through the undergraduate network-warfare training course at Hurlburt Field, or the undergraduate cybertraining course at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. It is designed to provide network-warfare-operations initial qualification training for cyberoperators to become cyberspace basic-mission qualified.

"Intermediate network-warfare training serves as initial qualification training for personnel actively defending global Air Force networks," said Lieutenant Col. Brian Denman, the commander of the 39th IOS. "Our advanced cybertraining forges the skills, capabilities and relationships, which will ensure a robust, professional cyberforce prepared to execute the full spectrum of Air Force cyberoperations."

As these cyberoperators progress through their training pipeline, they will focus on several critical areas including mission employment and coordination of network attack, network defense and network-warfare support activities, Lieutenant Buchholtz said.

As the cyberworld is constantly changing, so is the course material, she said.

"The 39th IOS continuously revises current courses and develops new ones to keep pace with the rapidly changing information operations and cyberwarfare mission areas," Lieutenant Buchholtz explained.

Since this is the first iteration of the INWT course, the validation phase, feedback received from the graduating students will help refine and tailor course material to the dynamic cyberwarfare mission for future iterations of the class, she said.

Lieutenant Buchholtz concluded that schoolhouse officials hope to host eight INWT courses per year with an average of 24 students each, and adequately train cyberoperators who can meet the demands of the cyberwarfare mission and embrace the essential concepts that cyberoperators must understand to be successful in the dynamic cyberdomain."
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Cyber Defense




The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.

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Merchant Vessel Defense Against Pirates





Preemptive Measures Can Prevent Boarding and Hostage Taking



Too often, ship operators fail to take proper anti-piracy security measures, effectively turning their merchant vessels into “Golden Geese” ripe for the taking, writes the author. He goes on to discuss proven methods of hardening commercial ships and training their crews to prevent pirates – whether from Somalia or elsewhere – from boarding vessels and taking crews hostage.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Ship to bolster Europe's missile defenses: US

Ship to bolster Europe's missile defenses: US: "The US military will send a warship to the Mediterranean next week as a first step in a defense shield to protect Europe from a potential strike from Iran's missile arsenal, a defense official said Tuesday.
The USS Monterey, a guided missile cruiser equipped with Aegis radar designed to detect ballistic missiles, is due to depart next week from its home port in Norfolk, Virginia for a six-month mission, said John Plumb, principal director of nuclear and missile defense policy.
The ship's launch fulfills the US administration's goal of deploying military hardware for the shield in 2011.
After President Barack Obama announced a new missile defense policy in 2009, Plumb said 'now here is our first concrete demonstration of our commitment to the missile defense of our deployed forces, allies and partners in Europe."
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NATO Missile Defense for Europe





NATO has agreed to provide ballistic missile defense or BMD for all of Europe. This NATO BMD will protect NATO (European and American) military forces in Europe. It will also – for the very first time – protect the civilian population throughout Europe from ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction launched from the Middle East.
Much of this NATO missile defense for Europe – known as the European Phased Adaptive Approach – will actually be provided by the United States armed forces. This will include seaborne AEGIS missile defense on board US Navy ships in the Mediterranean, as well as land based radars and interceptor missiles.
This e-book describes how NATO missile defense for Europe will be organized and implemented.

Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract To Provide Cyberspace Operations Solutions To The US Navy

Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract To Provide Cyberspace Operations Solutions To The US Navy: "awarded a contract for cyberspace operations supporting the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) to provide cyberspace science, research, engineering and technology integration.
The cyberspace operations contract is an indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract structure with a two-year base period with three one-year option years with a potential value of $200 million."
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Cyber Defense



The US military is preparing for 21st Century electronic warfare and cyber terrorism. A joint US Cyber Command and four service cyber commands have been set up.

Their mission is to defend American military networks and civilian American infrastructure from cyber terrorism and from foreign government hackers.

The officers leading these cyber commands explain how they are organized, how they operate, and how they will protect the United States from foreign military hackers, intelligence agencies, and cyber terrorists.