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High-Threat Cities Receive Communications Upgrade
By September 30th, 10 high-threat cities will have an incident-level emergency communications capability for first responders and command centers during crises. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s RapidCom 9/30 program is employing a patch-panel device that is attached to existing equipment to make previously incompatible first-responder equipment interoperable with other emergency response organizations. The program provides technical assistance in setting up the technology, developing standard operating procedures for public safety officials, training, assisting in planning and conducting test exercises, and assisting in establishing a regional governance structure that will bring relevant agencies together. The 10 cities are New York; Chicago; Washington, D.C., and the surrounding region; Los Angeles; Miami; San Francisco; Philadelphia; Houston; Boston; and Jersey City, New Jersey.
UAV Launches Offspring
The U.S. Air Force has successfully tested a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by deploying and controlling it from a larger UAV. A SilentEyes micro-UAV was launched from a pylon-mounted canister on an MQ-9 Predator UAV. Controlled via the Predator’s groundstation, the small, powered glider deployed its wings, flew autonomously and used its onboard datalink to transmit target images. The SilentEyes micro-UAV is designed as a rapidly deployable persistent reconnaissance system to fix, track, target, engage and assess both stationary and moving targets. It is manufactured by the Raytheon Company (www.raytheon.com).
Army Sets Modularization Schedule
The U.S. Army unit transformation that has reorganized the 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia, into a modular force will grip several other divisions over the next three years, according to a new schedule recently released by the Army. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky, will finalize its conversion in September, followed by the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York, and the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. In fiscal year 2006, the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood; the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, will transform into divisions comprising units of action. The Army’s three remaining divisions—the 2nd Infantry Division, South Korea; the First Infantry Division, Wurzburg, Germany; and the First Armored Division, Wiesbaden, Germany, will undergo their modular transformation in fiscal year 2007 pending funding.
Italy to Build Iraqi Intranet
The governments of Italy and Iraq have signed a memorandum of understanding for Italy to help implement an e-government intranet for Iraq’s public administration. This intranet will connect the government ministries of Iraq as part of an overall e-government introduction. Under the terms of the memorandum, Italy will provide technical and financial assistance for the network’s development, including assigning a high-level expert as adviser to the Iraqi government. This Italian adviser will join Iraqi officials in charge of project assessment and implementation under the aegis of the Iraqi minister of science and technology. The joint Italian/Iraqi team will produce a detailed action plan that includes a technical blueprint along with schedule and cost estimates.
Green Light for Aerial Common Sensor
An advanced sensor system has been selected as the U.S. Army’s next intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform. The Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) is a sensor and computer-based system designed to identify and locate threats in real time. Built around an open software architecture with data fusion capabilities, the ACS will collect information from manned, unmanned and space-based ISR systems. The system is designed to provide Army and U.S. Navy commanders with a persistent surveillance capability. Manufactured by the Lockheed Martin Corporation (www.lockheedmartin.com), the ACS will fly aboard a militarized Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft. It will replace several current ISR platforms, such as the Army’s Guardrail Common Sensor, the Airborne Reconnaissance Low aircraft and the Navy’s fleet of EP-3 aircraft.
UCAVs Soar in Synch
Two prototype unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) flew in tandem under the control of a single pilot-operator. The two Boeing (www.boeing.com) X-45A aircraft took off in succession, joined in formation and flew in preset formations that required autonomous maneuvering to hold their relative positions. The two UCAVs flew the same mission plan, which reduced demands on the lone human pilot-operator. When the test flight was over, the two craft returned to base, landing on the same runway and taxiing to a shutdown location. The X-45 is one of the UCAVs under development for the Joint Unmanned Combat Air System, or J-UCAS.
Small Business Procurement Grows
U.S. Defense Department prime contracts for small businesses increased $8.7 billion to a total of $42 billion in fiscal year 2003, according to the department’s annual report on Procurement From Small and Other Business Firms. For 2003, 22.4 percent of U.S. defense awards were made to small businesses, an increase of approximately 1 percent from 2002. Large business prime contractors reported that 37 percent of subcontracts were awarded to U.S. small businesses, an increase of hree percent from 2002. According to the report, the increases are attributed to greater small business participation in acquisitions related to ships, services, construction, commercial items and other major hard goods. The 2003 report can be found at www.dior.whs.mil/peidhome/procstat/procstat.htm.
Air Intelligence System Takes Off
A situational awareness and data sharing system is helping U.S. Air Force pilots during combat or peacekeeping operations. The Airborne Broadcast Intelligence (ABI) system receives, integrates and correlates national intelligence and theater tactical broadcasts aboard various military aircraft, providing timely intelligence to support combat forces. The ABI is designed to collect, filter, process and display near-real-time data over imagery and charts. A global positioning system displays air, land and sea threats and flight paths, and provides high-definition maps. Developed by the Boeing Company (www.boeing.com), some 40 ABI systems have been delivered to the Air Force. A new $5.6 million contract will provide an additional 40 units for use in a variety of transport and support aircraft, such as C-17s, C-130s, C-141s, C-5s, KC-10s and KC-135s.
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