The business of being a sniper could soon become a little easier—at least for U.S. Army shooters. The Army is continuing development of its next-generation technology for sniper scopes and marksman sights for extended range known as the Integrated Ballistic Reticle System (IBRS) program. Bids were first solicited in 2010. Since then, the Army has completed two phases of the program, and in April selected L-3 Integrated Optical Systems of Pittsburgh to continue development of the technology in a third phase, which is to last 12 months.
If you make the right decision based on inadequate information, you are lucky rather than intelligent. Although many planning decisions (including big ones, where the horizon is years off) must be made on partial information and rely on estimates, “due diligence” involves learning as much as you can. Two running fights over Joint Strike Fighter procurement, in the U.K. and Canada, show how the lack of due diligence can get you in trouble.
The Australian Defense Material Organization (DMO) selected Supacat Ltd. of the U.K. as preferred bidder for a new family of special operations vehicles. Supacat received a contract to supply the Project Definition and Evaluation (PD&E) phase of the program—known as JP2097 Ph 1B (Redfin)—with the latest version of its HMT Extenda vehicle, which has been designed for use by special forces. On completion of the PD&E phase, the DMO is expected to acquire a fleet of vehicles under a separate contract.
NUCLEAR DYAD?: It may be time for the U.S. to reconsider its questionable insistence on three different nuclear delivery vehicles, the Cato Institute’s Christopher Preble tells a Capitol Hill audience April 30. Preble quoted former Chief of Naval Operations Arleigh Burke as saying, “You very seldom see a cowboy in the movies carrying three guns. Two is enough.” Preble, who has been funded by the Ploughshares Fund to study the history of the triad, says it’s time for lawmakers to start asking hard questions about the Obama administration’s nuclear weapons posture.
Gen. Jean-Paul PalomerosFrench Air Force Chief of Staff Age: 58 Birthplace: Paris Education: Graduate of the Ecole de l'Air in Salon-de-Provence, the university-level school which trains air force officers; studied for one year as an exchange student at the Royal Air Force Staff College in Bracknell, England.
Is an offensive cyberweapon equivalent to a nuclear bomb, in that its use requires the approval of a U.S. president? For years, U.S. officials wouldn't acknowledge the existence of cyberweapons, but current and former officials are now debating who has the authority to order an attack, and when. Attacking a foreign computer network would likely require “the president and [defense] secretary to . . . start making decisions,” Gen. Keith Alexander, head of U.S. Cyber Command, said at a recent congressional hearing. It may not always be a direct presidential order.
The Pentagon plans to spend $250 million per year to find new ways of mining data, an investment that its top engineer, Zachary Lemnios, calls a “big bet on big data.” Of that amount, $60 million will go to military research projects.
Saab says it will implement a far-reaching command-and-control upgrade to the Royal Thai Navy’s aircraft carrier to allow the system to be more interoperable with the country’s relatively new fleet of Gripen fighters and Saab 340 airborne early warning aircraft.
Israel Weapon Industries Ltd. (IWI) has added a new version of its legendary submachine gun, unveiling the 9-mm Uzi Pro recently at shows in Chile, Brazil and India. The Uzi Pro was developed with input from the Israel Defense Forces, to produce a lightweight, compact weapon. The design incorporates a closed-bolt operation with blowback to maximize accuracy and safety. The weapon is ergonomically designed for use by right- or left-handed shooters. The firing rate can be set at automatic or semi-automatic.
PARIS — French aerospace engine supplier Safran has finalized the merger of two subsidiaries, energy materials specialist SME and solid-propulsion-motor manufacturer Snecma Propulsion Solid (SPS), Paris-based Safran announced April 30.
SINGAPORE — Last year’s devastating floods in Thailand and this year’s renewed fighting in the south by Muslim insurgents are starting to register in some of the country’s military procurements.
As roadside bombs proliferate, the danger to vehicles isn't just on the battlefield, but city streets. Companies are turning to commercial products to respond to the threat. Cassidian, a division of EADS, offers a Convoy Protection Jammer to counter roadside bombs. The device uses Cassidian's Smart Responsive Jamming Technology to detect and disrupt signals commonly used to detonate bombs— those in the 20-mhz-6-ghz frequency range. Once detected, the device transmits jamming signals in real time that match the hostile frequency.
Laser Detect Systems Ltd. (LDS), an Israeli company, is launching two laser-based scanners that reportedly detect all types of explosives, including liquids, in seconds. The LDS 5500D (see photo) is a tabletop device that uses a patented laser spectroscopy system and algorithms to detect explosives accurately and rapidly, the company says. The unit detects materials in liquid, powder or gel form, in sealed glass or plastic containers, or diluted with substances designed to mask their presence. It also detects explosive residue.
The failure of North Korea's much-publicized rocket launch on April 13 occurred as Japan readied its ballistic missile defense force to destroy the rocket if it fell toward its territory.
AIR FORCE ITT Corp., Clifton, N.J., is being awarded a $47,530,000 firm-fixed-price contract to procure 15 AN/ALQ-211(V); four airborne integrated defensive electronic warfare suites; and two sets of antenna couplers for support production. The effort is in support of the Royal Air Force Oman F-16 C/D model production aircraft. The location of the performance is Clifton, The work is to be completed by Dec. 31, 2014. WR-ALC/GRWKB, Robins AFB, Ga., is the contracting activity (FA8540-12-C-0014).
The rapid growth of operational deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan saw a parallel growth in the training systems procured by U.K. armed forces. The nature of both theaters, including tight rules of engagement and novel challenges, required training avenues to be created and exploited. But as involvement in Iraq is over, and the end of deployment in Afghanistan is in sight, the U.K. is considering which systems and capabilities are to be retained.
Tank: Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments Location: Washington Profile: Moderately hawkish, well-connected, future-focused Directed-energy weapons (DEW) don't have a good reputation, associated as they are with over-promised and under-delivered programs. It is therefore brave to make a pro-DEW case at a time of budget cuts, but that's what the CSBA's new report does.
