Archive for '2009'

E-networking revolution highlighted 2009

December 31, 2009 9:33 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

At Military & Aerospace Electronics in 2009 we dived right into social networking or as we like to call it e-networking. We have a fan page on Facebook , a group on Linkedin called the PennWell Aerospace and Defense Media Group , and gather our news content on Twitter under #milaero and avionics content on #avintel .

It's been a fun and successful way to push out our online news stories to new readers and start discussions. We've found the most interactive outlet to be on Linkedin, which started out as a professional networking site whereas Facebook was focused on more social or personal networking.

Although, yesterday I read a story in the Wall Street Journal that basically stated Linkedin needs to get more creative to keep-up with Facebook. According to the piece Facebook kicks Linkedin's rear in total members. However some analysts in the story say that lopsided memebrship numbers are misleading as Linkedin is strictly a professional networking service whereas Facebook is geared more toward professional and social communication.

I have also found that many people I talk to in the defense and aerospace industry say that their employers do not let them use Facebook or Twitter, but are more flexible when it comes to Linkedin because of its professional nature.

Twitter is its own animal. I've done quite a bit of tweeting while at trade shows. It provides immediate coverage -- albeit in 140 characters or less. I typically will tweet as I'm leaving a booth or sitting in a press conference or luncheon. Twitter allows me to not only push links to articles on our websites but get out little tidbits of info that would not typically make it into the print magazine or on a web story.

Also, much like with our blogs, Twitter allows us to take a different, sometimes lighter spin on current events than traditional news coverage.

What really seems to impress our audience about Twitter is its instantaneous nature.

For example at the MILCOM show this fall in Boston, I attended the first live demonstration of an OpenVPX system run by engineers at Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing in Leesburg, Va., and Hybricon in Ayer, Mass. I tweeted about the demo on my Blackberry while watching it. They were excited because they were videotaping the moment and placing it on youtube -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2_4B9uPKLk -- but got quite a kick out of the fact that I was immediately online with their news.

One person in attendance commented that the age of instant reporting is here.

E-networking media has definitely changed the way we do things at Military & Aerospace Electronics . I remember when all we used to have was a magazine. Now we still have the magazine, two websites, four conferences , webcasts, three e-newsletters, dedicated pages on Linkedin , Twitter , and Facebook .

So be sure to check us out wherever you find yourself on the web in 2010.

Happy New Year!



Tiger Woods: please, just make it all go away

December 12, 2009 5:08 AM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller

As Americans we confront vigorous debates on how to deal with unemployment , how to finance real estate in a down market, government's role in health care and private business, and whether "global warming " is a legitimate threat or an elaborate hoax. So what dominates the front pages?

Tiger Woods .

For those of you just back from extended vacations on Saturn, Tiger Woods plays golf , and gets a lot of money for doing so ... okay, so he doesn't just play golf; he's the best of his generation, and one of the all-time greats, and this gets Tiger Woods a LOT of attention.

He gets so much attention, in fact, that big companies that make Nike shoes and Gatorade beverages have Tiger Woods selling their products -- for which the golfer also gets a lot of money.

Lately it's become known that Tiger Woods cheated on his wife with a lot of different women. Mr. Woods and his cuckolded wife, by the way, have small children, which makes his extramarital affairs that much worse.

Now, in the interests of full disclosure, I don't play golf, have absolutely no skills in golf, don't watch golf on television, and consider golf to be irrelevant to my life. I know people who are enthusiastic golfers, like to talk golf, and get a lot of enjoyment and personal rewards from golf, and I think that's just great ...

... but do I have to wake up every morning to Tiger Woods, hear about Tiger Woods on TV and radio, see his face on countless Internet pages and newspapers?

I'm tired of Tiger Woods. Unless he has something to do with me and mine, I don't want to hear about him anymore. I don't want to see his face anymore, I don't want to know how many mistresses he's had (I've already run out of enough fingers and toes to count).

Here's the deal -- what Tiger Woods has done, is doing, or will do, is none of my business, and I'd be grateful to keep it that way ...

... so no more. Please.

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Vengeful American fighter pilots get their pound of flesh at Pearl Harbor

December 7, 2009 10:15 AM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller

Consider a couple of young hotshot fighter pilots on their dream assignment in Hawaii. Short work days, plenty of sun and sand, and parties ... think of the parties ... rooftop dinner-dances at Waikiki beachfront hotels, big bands, pretty girls, endless rum and tropical fruit drinks -- and always a poker game to be had in the wee hours.

Ah, that was the life, and it belonged to George Welch and Kenneth Taylor, second lieutenants in the U.S. Army Air Corps on their first deployments flying P-40 Warhawk single-engine fighters out of Wheeler Field near Pearl Harbor in early December 1941. Welch was 23. Taylor was two weeks short of his 22nd birthday.

So where else would you expect to find these guys on a balmy Saturday night, but at dance party near the beach, and a late-night poker game with buddies thrown in for good measure. The last poker hand was dealt as the day's first faint glow came in the east that Dec. 7, 1941. After having been up all night, the young pilots were thinking of a lazy morning in bed, with maybe a Sunday morning swim first to soften their hangovers.

Before they could get settled, however, they heard the first ominous sounds that would change their lives -- and the lives of a nation -- forever. Explosions, gunfire, the roar of aircraft at Wheeler field. Fighters and bombers with the distinctive red-ball markings of the Japanese Empire shrieked over the base, firing machine guns and dropping bombs in the beginning of the Japanese attack on U.S. military bases in and around Pearl Harbor.

Welch grabbed a telephone to call an auxiliary airfield at Haleiwa -- 16 miles away by winding road -- where their P-40 fighters were parked. They told ground crewmen at Haleiwa to get their fighters fueled and warmed up; He and Taylor would get there as soon as they could.

They drove in Taylor's car at speeds sometimes reaching 100 miles per hour up winding roads, dodging strafing from attacking Japanese aircraft several times. They might not have known it, but the battleship USS Arizona and many other U.S. Navy ships docked at Pearl Harbor were burning and sinking behind them.

Finally Welch and Taylor reached their fighters idling beside the grass strip at Haleiwa. Without much of preflight inspection, the two pilots jumped into their cockpits, strapped in, and streaked into the air, where almost immediately each pilot shot down a Japanese bomber. Taylor saw another Japanese plane heading out to sea, went after it, and shot it down.

Meanwhile, Welch's plane was hit, yet he maneuvered through a cloud, broke out, and pounced on an Aichi D3A dive bomber and shot the Japanese attacker down. Taylor and Welch both had already shot down two Japanese planes apiece, and were running low on fuel, but they weren't through for the day.

Despite continuing attacks, the two pilots landed at stricken Wheeler Field beside the smoking wreckage of the ships at Pearl Harbor to refuel from an undamaged gasoline truck. Ground crewmen ran into a burning hangar to get them ammunition, and soon Welch and Taylor were airborne again.

They climbed through a cloud of Japanese planes on the second-wave attack, and each shot down one more. By the time they landed for good that day, Welch had four confirmed kills, and Taylor two. Most likely the two pilots probably shot down at least 10 Japanese attackers between them.

Now consider this: The Japanese lost only 29 aircraft in their attack on Pearl Harbor. Welch and Taylor probably accounted for one-third of that. Both pilots won the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions at Pearl Harbor. For his heroism that day Welch was denied the Medal of Honor -- if you can believe it -- because he took off without orders.

Welch had other hard luck in his life. He probably broke the sound barrier in 1947 while flying an XP-86 Sabre jet fighter two weeks before Chuck Yeager did it in the X-1, but Welch's plane was in a dive, and didn't have reliable speed-measuring equipment, so it didn't count. He was killed as a test pilot at age 36 in the crash of an F-100 Super Sabre jet fighter.

Taylor fared better. He retired from the service as a brigadier general in the Alaska Air National Guard. He died in Tucson, Ariz., in 2006 at the age of 86.

Today is Pearl Harbor Day. Welch and Taylor were not the only heroes in the Japanese attack that happened 68 years ago today. There were plenty of heroes. Please take a moment today to remember them all.



IITSEC not as busy this year but the technology is as cool as ever

December 3, 2009 1:55 AM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



Traffic at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Fla., this week is a little less and the exhibit floor is a little smaller – seems like a whole hall is missing – than last year, but the technology showcased is as cutting edge and just as plain cool as it always was.

Traffic at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Fla., this week is a little less and the exhibit floor is a little smaller -- seems like a whole hall is missing -- than last year, but the technology showcased is as cutting edge and just as plain cool as it always was.

The annual trade show focuses on technology for training the warfighter such as flight simulators , avionics trainers , vehicular simulators, training systems for avoiding and detecting improvised explosive devises (IEDs), flight displays , image generators, rugged laptops, etc.

While many exhibitors say that traffic is slower than in years past, the market is still strong as military funding for training systems continues to remain steady for new systems as well as retrofits.

Highlights for me at the show aside from my fun with the Rockwell Collins heads-up display pictured here, included a demonstration of manned and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) teaming from L-3 Communications.

L-3 engineers showed that a UAV teamed with a Stryker unit, a rescue helicopter, and an attack helicopter can effectively work together on a mission through streaming video that all have access too. They can train either in the same room or thousands of miles apart.

The L-3 concept will enable warfighters to get this type of team training much earlier than in the past, better preparing them for when they deploy, L-3's Michael Rapavi, told me.

The concept that intrigued me the most was the COMBATREDI portable training system for dismounted soldiers from Cubic in Orlando. The system is worn by the soldier -- run by a computer on his back -- and uses sensors located on his body to determine if he is running, crouching, jumping, etc. Sensors also detect the position of his weapon. The sensors communicate wirelessly with in the system.

Soldiers can use it anywhere even in their living room if need be.

Another thing that I learned in my meeting with Cubic was a new military acronym … just when I thought I heard them all.

I asked whether or not the COMBATREDI system will be able to update its scenarios with real-time intelligence from the field and was told that that will be a P3I, which stands for pre-programmed product improvement ... in other words new capabilities that will be added later.

I heard a story once that an engineer once wrote an entire paragraph using only acronyms ... verbs and all.

I believe it.

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Guest blog: Navy demonstrates value of military cloud computing during recent naval exercise

November 19, 2009 12:43 PM by John Keller


By Kevin Jackson

In October as part of the U.S. Navy's annual Trident Warrior exercise, Dataline LLC demonstrated that a standard shipboard communications infrastructure could be used to manage a commercial cloud computing infrastructure as a service (IaaS) platform.

Presented during the fall Trident Warrior '10 (TW '10) lab period, Dataline's secure cloud computing experiment used a simulated shipboard infrastructure to demonstrate secure access to selected collaboration and geospatial information service (GIS) applications. The purpose was to validate the ability of a commercial Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platform to support Navy requirements for military cloud computing in terms of global connectivity, server failover, and application access.

For this portion of the exercise, Dataline used the Amazon EC2 IaaS platform. The experiment also used SecureParser as part of the Unisys Stealth architecture to provide data-in-motion security. Dataline also used included Oracle Beehive, ERDAS Apollo and the Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) developed Transverse collaboration suite.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Caroline Lahman, the officer in charge of Navy FORCEnet San Diego, says she was pleased with the results, and says she wants to continue these cloud computing experiments as part of the spring lab period. Cloud computing typically involves dynamically scalable and often virtualized computer hardward and software resources as a service over the Internet.

Robert Carey, Navy Chief Information Officer, also says that cloud computing offered real value to the Navy. Citing that the Navy Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN) and Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) programs will use cloud computing, he envisions a future day when gray clouds within a ship's hull would eventually switch to clouds within the battle group.

The increased IT efficiency delivered through cloud computing also would make more resources available for investment into Navy ships and aircraft. Carey says he sees ready access to authoritative data from the cloud as an important enabler to a real-time/near real-time decision making process, saying that the cloud delivers the ability to have a ubiquitous computing environment and interoperability.

After observing the experiment, representatives from the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego voiced similar sentiments, saying that the Navy is considering cloud computing technologies as part of its Naval Networks Enterprise-2016 strategy.

Trident Warrior '10 is scheduled to continue with a second lab period in the spring 2010 and an at sea demonstration period after that. For further information on the Trident Warrior lab based experiments, contact Lt. Cmdr. Caroline Lahman by e-mail at caroline.lahman@navy.mil .

Kevin Jackson is a vice president at cloud computing specialist Dataline LLC in Norfolk, Va., and is retired from the U.S. Navy, where he served with the National Reconnaissance Office, Operational Support Office, providing tactical support to Navy and Marine Corps forces worldwide. His "Cloud Musings" blog at http://kevinljackson.blogspot.com focuses on cloud computing.



Heat is buckling the flight decks of Navy ships; this looks like a job for the thermal management experts

November 17, 2009 11:42 AM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller

Every now and then I run across things that although they have little, if anything, to do with aerospace and defense electronics, still stop me in my tracks. Here's one I tripped over this morning: did you know the hot exhaust from the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft is buckling the flight decks of the Navy's big-deck amphibious assault ships ?

I didn't either, but this phenomenon hasn't escaped the attention of thermal management materials experts at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va. (story continues below video)



It seems the V-22 "has resulted in ship flight deck buckling that has been attributed to the excessive heat impact from engine exhaust plumes," according to a broad agency announcement (BAA-10-10) issued this week from the DARPA Strategic Technology Office.

I suppose Navy leaders could deal with hot gas plumes from the V-22; what really worries them, however, is the future deployment of the vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) versions of the future F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which experts say could really cause some problems on the decks of aircraft carriers and the big-deck amphibs.

Too muck buckling caused by the V-22 and the F-35, and these flight decks are going to fail. DARPA has a nice way of explaining this.

"Navy studies have indicated that repeated deck buckling will likely cause deck failure before planned ship life. With the upcoming deployment of the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), it is anticipated that the engine exhaust plumes may have a more severe thermo-mechanical impact on the non-skid surface and flight deck structure of ships," according to today's BAA.

Worse, nobody knows what to do about this problem, except to build new flight decks, which would be expensive, to say the last.

Instead, DARPA is looking around industry to see of anyone knows how to use thermal-management technologies and materials to build a non-skid, heat-resistant veneer that could fit over the flight decks of the carriers and amphibs to mitigate the effects of hot spots created by the exhaust from vertical-and-short-takeoff aircraft like the V-22 and F-35.

The primary candidates for this kind of thermally resistant flight deck applique are the Wasp- and America-class amphibious assault ships.

Okay, all you thermal-management experts: any takers out there? If so, drop an e-mail to DARPA at DARPA-BAA-10-10@darpa.mil . More information about this project is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/DARPA-BAA-10-10/listing.html .

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Trends: another embedded software supplier snapped up by a computer hardware company

November 11, 2009 1:48 AM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller

Well, it's official: microprocessor hardware maker Cavium Networks is acquiring MontaVista Software . This is the second time in a year that a hardware company is acquiring an influential embedded software company.

You might remember last June when Intel bought Wind River Systems . We're seeing a trend here. In both instances, the hardware company is going after the software company to position itself for the lucrative handheld electronic device market. We can expect to see more of this in the coming year.

These acquisitions have kicked over the embedded systems anthill. Device manufacturers are scurrying for cover, and software companies are looking to reap the spoils. No one wants to be the one left standing when the music stops.

The software companies, in both instances, can say whatever they want about staying independent and supporting several different computer architectures. The fact is that Wind River for the last six months has been fighting to convince its customers that it won't eventually be swallowed up by Intel and disappear.

Meanwhile, Wind River's competitors gather at the bar and talk about how they're going to carve up Wind River's market share. MontaVista can expect to see the same.

This kind of thing happens in cycles. Hardware and software companies are looking to join forces in a down market to achieve the critical mass necessary to survive and grow.

I reckon they'll find, as companies have in the past, that bigger isn't necessarily better. As hardware companies buy up the software talent, they create an opportunity for the next wave of software technology developers. When the economy picks up, I suspect we'll see some new software providers emerge.

Some of these new software providers will prove to be vicious competitors, ready to devour their predecessors when the time is right.

MontaVista Chief Technology Officer James Reddy realizes this perhaps better than most. He led what was the leading real-time embedded software company 20 years ago. That company was called Reddy Systems.

When the economy went bad in the early '90s, Reddy Systems eventually lost its market share to a tenacious little software startup called Wind River Systems.

... and so it goes.

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COTS, COTS, COTS, COTS

November 4, 2009 3:40 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale


Nearly everyone I speak to at avionics or defense trade shows or for interviews over the phone brings up the COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) procurement term in some way. They make COTS products, use COTS practices, or think COTS is the worst thing in the world.

Nearly everyone I speak to at avionics and defense trade shows or for interviews over the phone brings up the COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) procurement term in some way. They make COTS products , use COTS practices, or think COTS is the worst thing in the world.

Everyone seems to have different definitions or different acronyms for COTS. I've heard GOTS -- government-off-the-shelf ; ROTS -- rugged-off-the-shelf ; MOTS -- military-off-the-shelf ; NOTS -- NATO-off-the-shelf; or my personal favorite: KOTS -- kinda-off-the-shelf. A few industry friends tell me they see a lot of SHOTS or "sh "-off-the-shelf. I'll let you fill in the rest ... we are a family web site ya know.

Seriously though, COTS is a procurement term that is supposed to embrace technology standards, but lacks any standard definition itself.

We like to think of COTS as being anything that is available out of a company catalog, even if it is tweaked or adjusted for a specific program. On the other hand custom would be anything that the government or end-user pays a supplier to develop from the ground up.

We've been talking about COTS for 15 years now. We've had shows about it and dedicated sections of our magazine to it, but many of our readers still differ on its meaning.

Some think the original intent of the Perry memo was to embrace commercial practices rather than a decree to run out and buy gadgets right off the shelf at Radio Shack or Fry's. In other words, to create standard product lines of MIL-STD components that can be bought off the shelf.

Many companies do offer such solutions, but just as many will buy a totally commercial component that does not meet military specifications and put it in a rugged enclosure.

Using COTS also cuts down on development time, which is very important to DOD program managers who want to get technology into the hands of the warfighter in Iraq or Afghanistan as fast as possible. DOD funding has been diverted from long-term programs to solutions that can be deployed near term to the warfighter.

Regardless, of how COTS is deployed or used, its dark side -- obsolecscne remains. No matter how you define it, designers still have to manage how they will support programs with components that will be obsolete in a few months or years.

Desginers of the avionics for the Orion spacecraft -- the proposed replacement for the space shuttle -- at Honeywell told me in January that managing obsolescene is one of their biggest challenges, but they cannot reach many of their performance golas without making use of COTS electronics and standards.

A decade and half after the Perry memo COTS has become a household word to those in the defense industry, it remains a kind of procurement wonder drug with wonderful benefits and occasionally some nasty side effects.

What does COTS mean to you? I would love to hear your COTS definition, your COTS success, or even a COTS horror story.

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COTS, COTS, COTS, COTS

October 29, 2009 10:03 AM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale .

Nearly everyone I speak to at defense electronics trade shows or for interviews over the phone brings up the COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) procurement term in some way. They make COTS products , use COTS practices, or think COTS is the worst thing in the world.

Everyone seems to have different definitions or different acronyms for COTS. I've heard GOTS -- government-off-the-shelf ; ROTS -- rugged-off-the-shelf ; MOTS -- military-off-the-shelf ; NOTS -- NATO-off-the-shelf; or my personal favorite: KOTS -- kinda-off-the-shelf. A few industry friends tell me they see a lot of SHOTS or "sh "-off-the-shelf. I'll let you fill in the rest ... we are a family web site ya know.

Seriously though, COTS is a procurement term that is supposed to embrace technology standards, but lacks any standard definition itself.

At our magazine we like to think of COTS as being anything that is available out of a company catalog, even if it is tweaked or adjusted for a specific program. On the other hand custom would be anything that the government or end-user pays a supplier to develop from the ground up.

We've been talking about COTS for 15 years now. We've had shows about it and dedicated sections of our magazine to it, but many of our readers still differ on its meaning.

Some think the original intent of the Perry memo was to embrace commercial practices rather than a decree to run out and buy gadgets right off the shelf at Radio Shack or Fry's. In other words, to create standard product lines of MIL-STD components that can be bought off the shelf.

Many companies do offer such solutions, but just as many will buy a totally commercial component that does not meet military specifications and put it in a rugged enclosure.

Using COTS also cuts down on development time, which is very important to DOD program managers who want to get technology into the hands of the warfighter in Iraq or Afghanistan as fast as possible. DOD funding has been diverted from long-term programs to solutions that can be deployed near term to the warfighter.

Regardless, of how COTS is deployed or used, its dark side -- obsolecscne remains. No matter how you define it, designers still have to manage how they will support programs with components that will be obsolete in a few months or years.

Desginers of the avionics for the Orion spacecraft -- the proposed replacement for the space shuttle -- at Honeywell told me in January that managing obsolescene is one of their biggest challenges, but they cannot reach many of their performance golas without making use of COTS electronics and standards.

A decade and half after the Perry memo COTS has become a household word to those in the defense industry, it remains a kind of procurement wonder drug with wonderful benefits and occasionally some nasty side effects.

What does COTS mean to you? I would love to hear your COTS definition, your COTS success, or even a COTS horror story.

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We're not playin' around: E-networking means business, not socializing

October 28, 2009 2:33 PM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller

All of us conducting business on E-networking sites like Twitter , Facebook , Linkedin , and the others are running into a problem: a growing number of companies and other organizations are coming up with policies that ban the use of so-called "social networking " while at work. While it's difficult to characterize the depth of this mistake, we have ourselves at least partially to blame.

Why us? Because we use the poisonous term "social networking," which to the uninitiated means socializing, not working. We've all seen the cute stories in the press about Twitter, Facebook, etc., and with that kind of media play, who could blame many in the business community who perceive activity on these sites as play time, not work time?

Well, it's time to put a stop to this, and the first thing we can do is quit using the term "social networking" when describing the use of E-networking sites like Twitter and Facebook for business. Start using a term that means business, like E-networking, business networking, or even B-netting. Personally, I use E-networking to describe how I push out editorial content and commentary related to Military & Aerospace Electronics on Twitter and Facebook. I won't use that other term that contains the "s-word."

I wish I had started doing this earlier, because there are distressing trends on the horizon. Our own internal audience-development research here at Military & Aerospace Electronics indicates that companies we serve with information every day have policies in place, or are contemplating policies, to prevent their employees from using E-networking tools while at the office.

I also run into stories like this one in the online edition of The Daily Mirror newspaper in London, headlined "Twitter and Facebook cost firms millions as employees waste time (http://bit.ly/11cAVw)," and this survey of 1,400 chief information officers that indicates 54 percent of companies block the use of Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace at work (http://bit.ly/42XuA9).

This is all based on the false assumption that time spent on E-networking is wasted time. Nothing could be further from the truth. Companies might be able to fight E-networking for a while, but doing so is a lot like the last dinosaurs eating the first mammals. You might prevail today, but time is not on your side.

I understand that it can be exhausting conducting business today in a world that changes not just daily, but hourly. E-networking is a profoundly disruptive technology; it's upsetting, frustrating, and bewildering, but it also will take us to the next step in electronic communications. We don't have much say in the matter; this is the way it's going whether we embrace E-networking or not. I think the experts are right who predict that conventional e-mail will be obsolete within the next decade, replaced by E-networking technology and whatever it leads to.

If we're going to keep pace, then the time to get on board with E-networking in the workplace is now -- not tomorrow. Our business allies and competitors are amassing large followings of important contacts in E-networking. These lists of E-networking contacts are every bit as important as our customer e-mail and subscriber lists. As we gather a critical mass of important business contacts as followers, friends, fans, whatever, we can control our business communications like never before.

This has tremendous implications for publishing, public relations, retail, and all kinds of business-to-business ventures; any business that must communicate with its customers to succeed will rely on E-networking technology, if not now, then eventually. If business fails to get on board now, their learning curve will be very steep once they finally realize what they have to do. Companies that are holding back on E-networking must understand that their competitors are not ...

... which leads me back to this notion of banning E-networking in the workplace. It's kind of like banning the telephone because of its potential for abuse. Just like a telephone, E-networking is a critical business tool today, and will grow even more so in the future.

E-networking represents a fast-moving stream of often-crucial business information that is available to whomever dips into it. It just doesn't make any sense to keep this information source away from employees who potentially could make the best use of it. You can bet your competitors aren't, and your customers are going to notice.

If you're tentative about E-networking, come on in; the water's fine.

John Keller is chief editor of Military & Aerospace Electronics , a PennWell publishing franchise consisting of an active Website, e-newsletters, print magazine, and trade shows, which is based in Nashua, N.H. Contact Military & Aerospace Electronics online at www.milaero.com , on Twitter at @jkeller1959 and #milaero, and on Facebook at http://bit.ly/1VGM0Q . If you're hopeless, you could even e-mail John Keller at jkeller@pennwell.com .

A special thanks to Chris Burke, president of BtB Marketing Communications , who helped me brainstorm for this piece. Chris tweets on Twitter at @CBurkeBtB .



DOD contracting: it's quiet out there; too quiet

October 25, 2009 9:06 AM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller

There seems to be a lull in technology-related contracting at the U.S. Department of Defense over the past week. A scan of the bluetops shows days on end with just one or two awards of consequence to the aerospace and defense electronics community. Makes me a little nervous.

Not a lot to report out there. The Navy's about to pull the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise out of the water to scrape off the barnacles and repaint the hull. If you're looking for excitement, that's about it.

It's not to say nothing's going on; there are a few solicitations out there. The Air Force is looking for ways to keep UAVS from crashing into each other . DARPA wants a UAV that stays up for five years . The Coast Guard wants a WMD-detecting radio network , and the Army wants a vehicle-mounted sensor that tells where the enemy snipers are .

Still, the lack of contract volume seems strange.

Makes me wonder what's going on -- or not. Doesn't seem like a normal lull in contract activity to me. That usually happens with a gradual slowing of contracting, not a sudden dropoff like we saw this past week.

Walk out away from the campfire at night, you usually hear crickets and other night sounds, not silence. When the crickets stop chirping and an ominous silence descends, then it's usually time to pay attention; something's about to happen. Could be good, could be bad, but you had better keep a clear eye, nonetheless.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a flurry of activity come up soon. Then again, might this be the beginning of a long-term slowdown? I wish I could tell you for sure. All I can advise is we had better pay attention.

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David Jensen joins Avionics Intelligence

October 22, 2009 10:50 AM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



I am quite thrilled to announce that veteran aviation journalist David Jensen has joined our staff as a contributing editor. He will be writing one feature and news article a month for the Avionics Intelligence website and e-newsletter.
I am quite thrilled to announce that veteran aviation journalist David Jensen has joined our staff as a contributing editor. He will be writing one feature and news article a month for the Avionics Intelligence website and e-newsletter .

David is also serving on the advisory boards for our Avionics Europe and Avionics USA conferences and exhibitions. He was a co-founder of the Avionics Europe event held each March in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

David, the former editor-in-chief of Avionics Magazine and Aviation Maintenance Magazine , has more than 25 years experience in aviation journalism. He was also managing editor and then editor of Rotor & Wing , covering the helicopter industry. Briefly, he also served as editorial director for the Magazine Group at Phillips Publishing, now Access Intelligence.

David's first article for us will be on DO-254 certification issues for avionics hardware and will appear next month on our website and e-newsletter.

I'm looking forward to working with David, his in-depth experience and knowledge of aviation and journalism will be a huge asset to Avionics Intelligence .



OpenVPX interoperability standard hands off to VITA in another step toward ratification

October 20, 2009 4:31 PM by John Keller

Posted by John Keller

Well I'll be jiggered! They did what they said they were going to do, when they said they were going to do it.

I'm talking about the OpenVPX committee, whose members passed the OpenVPX interoperability draft standards over to the VITA 65 committee of the VITA Standards Organization on Monday, on time, on budget, and on the ball.

It's refreshing, in this day and age, to see folks say they're going to do something, and then do it. Thank you to everyone who participated in the OpenVPX process to lay down guidelines that ultimately will help major systems integrators choose the VITA 46 VPX switch fabric interconnect with good assurance that it will work when they put their systems together.

Now the OpenVPX standards go to the VITA open standards organization in Scottsdale, Ariz., for final ratification -- not only as a VITA standard, but as an ANSI standard as well. The OpenVPX name will live on as a brand name for the VITA 65 interoperability standards for the VPX interconnect.

This process has been different in many different ways. First, the speed at which the OpenVPX committee agreed on interoperability standards acceptable to the big systems integrators like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman is unprecedented -- at least in recent memory.

Put a bunch of engineers in a room and ask them to agree on technical standards is usually a recipe for a time-consuming food-fight, with different camps fighting over the most minute details. Not this time -- not with OpenVPX.

The folks on this committee had a real sense of urgency. They knew that if they didn't come up with a draft standard, and quickly, that the prime systems integrators would go elsewhere for their switch fabric interconnects -- possibly to proprietary, closed-system approaches. Now that's probably not going to happen.

Second, the OpenVPX standards this group is handing over to the VITA 65 committee will be considered a "living specification," not set in stone, and with accommodations for upgrades and other improvements as time goes on.

Last, and perhaps most important, is this standard probably has more buy-in from the prime systems integrators, from the get-go, than most standards have had in the past. These so-called "lead systems integrators (LSIs)" were there to ride herd on the techno-purists and make sure the job got done.

Rest assured, furthermore, that the big systems integrators will keep an eye on the process as the OpenVPX interoperability standard goes through the VITA 65 committee because "they already have so much skin in the game," says Mark Littlefield of Curtiss-Wright Controls



Editor at large

October 16, 2009 11:32 PM by Courtney Howard

Posted by Courtney E. Howard

Wow, upon writing the headline, a flood of fat jokes popped into my head, but I will fight the impulse (which is also a good dieting tactic). It just goes to show you: I should never write a blog on a Friday night .

I had an incredible week, traveling about Oregon visiting with knowledgeable, charismatic, and passionate executives at technology firms serving military and aerospace customers.

Here's where I went, who I saw, and what I learned (in a nutshell anyway):

FLIR -- David Strong, vice president of marketing, FLIR Government Systems, and Angel Bennett, a new hire for the company but a seasoned mil-aero veteran, treated me to a tour--sans camera phone. It is good that the receptionist requested my phone; I noted a few times when I would have wanted to snap a photo or two. Great stuff in forward-looking infrared, lasers, thermal imaging, and more.

Mentor Graphics -- James Price, a marketing manager and all-around man in demand at Mentor Graphics, set aside some time to sit down with me and discuss electronic design automation, product lifecycle management, requirements tracking, and more. The company's IESF, a free mil-aero forum, takes place in little more than a week in Dallas. Price also announced an impressive list of speakers for the event, which includes Northrop Grumman, IBM, Teal Group, Patmos Engineering Services, and of course, Mentor Graphics. Moreover, he revealed that Q2 of 2009 was a record quarter for Mentor Graphics. Kudos! I would certainly love to hear more good news like that about the industry.

Tektronix -- Sophie Fauveau, worldwide marketing communications program manager, and Todd Baker, senior manager, discussed the company's latest advancements. The company has announced its highest-performance mixed signal oscilloscope. The new MSO70000 series offers integrated digital and analog analysis to system integration debugging.

RadiSys -- Happily, it was my first visit with RadiSys that did not take place hurriedly on a trade show floor. Lyn Pangares, director of marketing communications, and John Long, product line manager, sat down with me and discussed the company's history and its future. The company has, I have learned, an interesting back story. RadiSys was delivering commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions (COTSS? Sorry, I digress) that met the stringent requirements of the medical market. RadiSys and its products, therefore, caught the eye of engineers serving the mil-aero market. Customers were saying "we want your product in the mil-aero environment" and essentially pulled RadiSys into the community. The relationship enabled mil-aero customers to "access a level of technology not previously available" and "dip their toe into COTS," according to a representative.

Engineering Design Team -- I have heard nary a peep from Engineering Design Team in months, but, as I found out, it does not mean they aren't up to something. In fact, the company offers solutions well suited to advancing the state and use of digital video on the battlefield. As I learned at NAB?s Government & Defense Summit earlier this year, officials in the Department of Defense are actively seeking advanced technology for acquiring, processing, sending/receiving, viewing, and storing multiple terabytes of digital video captured by various sensors on the battlefield.

VersaLogic -- In a serene, farmland setting sits VersaLogic, a longtime provider of rugged embedded computers for mil-aero applications. In fact, VersaLogic has been making solutions such as its line of single-board computers (SBCs) for roughly 30 years. The company "has been very busy" and introduced three new products recently, and four or five others are due in Spring 2010, says a representative.

The economy is down and travel budgets are tight, but as long as my decade-old sedan will carry me, I will be out and about learning all I can from the welcoming and impassioned mil-aero community. See you soon!



DVT: Not just in M-ATVs

October 10, 2009 6:24 PM by Courtney Howard

Posted by Courtney E. Howard



An editor at Military & Aerospace Electronics for a few years now, I have covered a wealth of topics and I have a few favorite "beats." Among them are vetronics, or electronic systems and devices employed in and on combat vehicles on land.



I enjoy writing an annual feature article on vetronics for Military & Aerospace Electronics. In covering the topic, this year especially, I became privy to photographs of the interior of combat vehicles employed in the field -- as well as replicas of those on the field which are currently being studied and the vetronics of which are being adapted by engineers at such technology firms as General Dynamics. In fact, General Dynamics management opened last month its EDGE Innovation Center that concentrates on combat vehicle electronics.


In any case, space within combat vehicles is at a premium. Today's vetronics are critical to mission success and soldier safety, and command a great deal of space, making for a cramped interior in which o ne or more soldiers must sit for extended periods.


Images of combat vehicle interiors caused me to remember David Bloom, a rising star at NBC News who traveled from the White House to become one of the most frequently-seen TV reporters on the Iraqi desert, according to an NBC representative.


In April 2003, David Bauder, a journalist with the Associated Press, wrote:


The network was shocked when the 39-year-old Bloom died suddenly in Iraq, not from a battlefield injury but from an apparent blood clot that caused him to collapse and never regain consciousness.



Bloom was about 25 miles south of Baghdad and packing gear early Sunday to travel with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division when he was stricken. He was airlifted to a nearby field medical unit and pronounced dead from a pulmonary embolism, said Allison Gollust, a spokeswoman for NBC News.


NBC News had built a special vehicle, dubbed the "Bloom-mobile," to send strikingly clear pictures of him riding atop a tank through the Iraqi desert.


Bloom told the Post. "You're sleeping with your knees propped up around you."



That may have been a risk factor: blood clots frequently form in legs when they've been immobilized and travel through the body, said Dr. Harold Palevsky, chief of pulmonary critical care with the University of Pennsylvania health system.


I, like others, cannot help but wonder how many soldiers have suffered the same fate, as a result of cramped quarters for days, weeks, and months at a time. Soldiers on the battlefield are not the only people falling victim to blood clots that start in their legs and travel to their lungs. Virtually anyone who spends excessive time at a desk also run the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is defined as the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in a deep vein.



Last week, I learned that a fellow editor had developed a clot in an artery in her leg that would have traveled to her heart and killed her, had she not gained the proper medical attention when she did. Had she waited a week to see if what she thought was a leg cramp subsided, she likely would have suffered a pulmonary embolism.


Her doctor told her that her only risk factor was that she spent significant time seated at a computer. That solitary factor could have led to her demise. She simply worked too long each day/night.



I know she is not the only one. Given today's economic climate, chances are good that you, too, must spend long days (and 0nights) in front of the computer, perhaps in order to do the work of three men.


Being inundated with work might be unavoidable, but DVT is avoidable. Be certain to stretch your legs every 15 or 20 minutes. Rather than send an internal e-mail message, perhaps deliver the message in person. Drink a lot of fluids at your desk, so your body will force you to make a trip to the lavatory periodically throughout the day. Something, anything to get the blood flowing through those legs. You too are a soldier, and we need you on the front lines.



It's official: Nobel Peace Prize now has no value whatsoever

October 9, 2009 6:12 AM by John Keller

Posted by John Keller

We have American soldiers dying in Afghanistan, bereft of top leadership as President Barack Obama dithers day after day. We have Iran speeding toward developing nuclear weapons as Obama sits on his hands. We have terrorists apprehended in war zones basking on Caribbean beaches instead of in cells in Guantanamo Bay.

... and for this Obama gets handed the Nobel Peace Prize . Why, you might ask? For "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

Obama joins other Nobel Prize winners, who include climate change, Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, and Yasser Arafat -- leading lights, all.

Evidently he made these worthy contributions for mankind within 11 days of taking office last Jan. 20., too, because the deadline for Nobel Peace Prize nominations was on Feb. 1.

Barack Obama's winning the Nobel Peace Prize is a travesty and an outrage -- as if that even needed to be said. Countless others have done more to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples than a one-term U.S. Senator and career "community organizer" who had been president of the United States for less than two weeks.

The the Norwegian Nobel Committee shouldn't be just be ashamed. It should be disbanded.

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The #milaero online community and the stream of Twitterness -- it's all about you

October 8, 2009 3:10 PM by John Keller


Did you know there's a Military & Aerospace Electronics online community on Twitter ? Neither did I until yesterday. It's happening, organically, every day, through a nifty, yet powerful, Twitter tool called the hashtag .

Welcome to the wonderful world of ad-hoc social networking, Twitter style, in which groups of people with similar interests like us form spontaneously around industries, Websites, trade shows, hobbies, tourist destinations -- anything, really.

Our hashtag looks like this: #milaero

It's quick and easy to take part, and you don't have to register for a thing -- except for a Twitter account (http://twitter.com/).

To be part of our community on Twitter, simply write the hashtag #milaero anywhere in your tweet. Twitter does the rest, in part, by making the #milaero hashtag a hotlink in your Twitter entry. Then to call forth the entire #milaero community from the vastness of Twitter, either type #milaero in the Twitter search bar, or just click on the #milaero hashtag in any tweet where you see it.

Presto. There's the community stream right on your screen.

Don't take my word for it; let me show you how easy it is. Call up a new screen or pop a new tab, and log on to http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23milaero . That's right, do it right now. I can wait ...

Back already? Did you see that? It's the entire Twitter conversation string by and for the folks who have a common interest in aerospace and defense technology -- or not. It's not just about the magazine, or the Website, or the e-newsletters and Webcasts. It's about you, and your participation in this community. The key to the clubhouse is #milaero .

When you go there, you'll find all of my most recent #milaero tweets (jkeller1959 ), as well as those of staffers John McHale (JMcHaleIII )and Courtney Howard (coho ). From out in the field, from keeping in touch with those in our aerospace and defense community, we'll be pushing out important tidbits to you every day as we learn about them.

We'll also be updating you on the latest stories we're putting up on the Military & Aerospace Electronics Website (www.milaero.com ), our Avionics Intelligence Website (www.avionics-intelligence.com ) directions on how you can register for our latest Webcasts , how you can access our on-demand Webcasts, and the latest inside skinny about how our Military & Aerospace Electronics Forum , Avionics USA , and Avionics Europe conferences and trade shows are shaping up.

We'll also tell you what we're working on for upcoming news and features, and ask for your help and input. Our sales folks also will tell you about advertising and promotional opportunities and deadlines -- but not too much.

It doesn't always have to be about aerospace and defense, either. See something funny? Share it with the group. Feeling sad or mad? We want to know. Sorry, but we can't promise not to gossip about you later.

Most of the time we'll be talking about what interests all of us, as well as commenting on the issues of the day. You'll see lots of flip, irreverent comments as well; we just can't help it. We want to hear your flip comments, too. Like Dorothy Parker said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me."

Like or don't like something in the magazine or on the Website? Let us know. Tell McHale to get back to work and quit flirting with the ladies. Ask Courtney to tweet more; we like it. You can always grab an opportunity to tell me to just go to hel ... well, you get the idea.

With our #milaero community on Twitter, it's easy. Get a Twitter account if you don't have one (that's REALLY easy at www.twitter.com), and get that #milaero hashtag in your tweets. With that community URL, http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23milaero, you update yourself and get updated any time, anywhere, even from your mobile phones.

Something else you can do; you can put an RSS feed to the #milaero community on your own Websites, if you like. Here's the URL for the #milaero RSS feed: http://search.twitter.com/search.atom?q=%23milaero.

So join us on Twitter. We can't wait to hear from you what's going on.

#milaero


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-- Posted by John Keller, jkeller@pennwell.com . www.milaero.com .

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Very cool helicopter avionics technology showcased at AUSA

October 8, 2009 9:42 AM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



New helicopter technology was definitely creating a buzz at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) annual Meeting in Washington this week, as Boeing released its new AH-6i helicopter and Sikorsky parked a version of its Light Tactical Helicopter between the convention center and the Renaissance Hotel.
New helicopter technology was definitely creating a buzz at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) annual Meeting in Washington this week, as Boeing released its new AH-6i helicopter and Sikorsky parked a version of its Light Tactical Helicopter between the convention center and the Renaissance Hotel.

I took a seat in the LTH and learned that the primary objective of the aircraft is speed. Sikorsky is looking to eventually approach 250 knots while at the same time being a fully functional helicopter. They did not have a full avionics system in the model at AUSA, because they are still developing the cockpit systems , which could end up as a traditional cockpit display or have all the functionality placed in a head-up avionics display .

Boeing's AH-6i uses much of the avionics software and avionics hardware from the company's Apache Block III upgrade, which is still being developed with another test flight scheduled later this fall.

Boeing hopes that the AH-6i will be what the Army is looking for as it resets its Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter requirements. The first ARH program -- that was under development with Bell Helicopter -- was canceled a year ago.

In the cockpit demonstrator that Boeing had at their booth they were showcasing avionics technology still in development such as voice control. Essentially Boeing engineers are designing an avionics system that allows pilots to control communications, targeting, etc., all with their voice.

It lets pilots focus more on what's outside the cockpit, rather than having to push various buttons on the display, company officials told me.



Russian T-95 main battle tank: could this combat vehicle be more formidable than we thought?

September 29, 2009 2:37 PM by John Keller



Posted by John Keller

I wrote about a new Russian main battle tank (MBT) more than a year ago, the T-95, in a blog headlined "New Russian battle tank: it's beginning to look a lot like the '80s ." In this blog I wrote of a chilling sense I had about what felt like a return the bad old days of the Cold War between the United States and the then-Soviet Union. This T-95 tank which is supposed to enter service this year with its advanced vetronics , appears to be one of the most advanced war machines ever produced.

This blog generated some comment, particularly from an alert reader who calls him or herself NERO. This reader says, with some authority, that the introduction of the Russian T-95 main battle tank could be worse for Western powers than originally thought, and could bode ill for the West on a variety of military issues. You can see the original blog for NERO's initial comment. For now, I'll let NERO speak for himself:




"Hmmm! As an earlier post of mine keeps being re-quoted in the dialogues of a number of forums, you may as well have a look at this as well. I notice with amusement, the reference to General Dynamics Land Systems and TACOM in your article.

Back in the days of the Crusader System Project, both TACOM and United Defense Systems (now part of BAE Systems) were approached regarding this powering technology -- before the Russian military indicated they wished to evaluate the technology.

Like all other American institutions and manufacturers, nobody wanted to know about this work. Interestingly all of the work-ups that were provided to the Russians were based on the Crusader self-propelled artillery system and the M1A1 Abrams tank -- the original systems for which land warfare applications had been configured.

The Russians simply had to cross platforms to their smaller-chassis systems. At 1,500 horsepower, even the power level of the T-95 is the same as that which had been proposed for the Crusader and M1Al Abrams.

As I recall, during the existence of the Soviet Union, the massed tank forces of the Soviet Union, were one of the greatest concerns of NATO. Not realised at that time, but as confirmed by subsequent testing post the Soviet era, NATO had no weaponry capable of penetrating the combined ballistic and ERA armor of a Soviet tank of the period; this remains the case to this day and with the upgraded form of ERA, not even the projectiles of the guns of the various marks of Abrams MBT of the USA Army, are capable of improving this situation. This situation is the same for depleted uranium projectiles and tungsten penetrators, there is simply nothing out there that can be fired at a T-95 on the move, that will knock it out; unless you wish to consider a tactical nuclear weapon.

Consider the implications of a new Russian tank force, with an un-refuelled range better than three times that of any previous equivalent MBT, that cannot be countered by conventional weaponry. Perhaps you will then understand why Mr. Putin moved to withdraw from the Conventional Forces in Europe, accord. The Next Generation Equipment of the Russian Army is specifically a trump card situation. With the existence of this equipment, any conflict in which NATO openly confronts Russian land warfare forces, must be a nuclear action and as this equipment is specifically performance oriented, with deployment directly from a barracks situation, any attacking force would be well into the bordering European states, before NATO could react. What European government is going to authorize NATO to undertake a nuclear action within it's own territory. Russia is going to retake it's former satellite states, one way or the other; if for no other reason than to remove the threat of NATO missile strikes from within those states.

One day, in the not too distant future, Russia may publicly demonstrate the superiority of the T-95 MBT and the balance of the associated next generation equipment of the Russian Army's land warfare equipment and pointedly, the inability of NATO to counter this equipment with non-nuclear weaponry. At this point, Russia need only announce it's annexation of it's former border states and simultaneously, deploy these advanced combat systems within these former Soviet satellites, and there will be little that can be done about it. Ask yourself this question, will the various European governments risk nuclear war with Russia, to preclude the return of these former Soviet territories, to the Russian sphere of influence?

I think not.

And something you should also know, much of the land warfare component of the next generation equipment of the re-armed Russian Army, is going to be in the form of very advanced land warfare combat robotics. At this point it is salient to mention, the T-95 is both the most advanced MBT ever built, and the most formidable land warfare combat robotic ever deployed. Development of equivalent or superior systems, is the only non-nuclear counter to Russia's introduction of these systems, and the key to this is the development of the power plant and power-train system that is the enabling component of all these next generation land warfare systems. The opportunity to develop the equivalent powering system, is the first step down the path to countering the dominance of Europe by Russia; what Russian interests remain unaware of is the ability to produce a far more fuel efficient and powerful power plant, based on the system they are already aware of. This is much more than a commercial opportunity. Gentlemen, feel free to raise this matter with Angela Merkel, it holds the potential to counter Russia's dominance over Europe. Have no doubt of this: the era of computer-game-style robotic conflict is already upon us. Don't let Europe fall too far behind in this, or you may never get a chance to recover the lost ground.

For the record, in a less hostile time, I not only provided the original powering concept for what has become the T-95 MBT, but also wrote the original concept papers on it's mode of operation, within a range of combat scenarios; these have also been adopted by the Russian Army and the early production versions of the T-95 MBT have been deployed to operational training units, to refine these integrated procedures.

You should also be aware, the re-armed Russia is going to be re-aligned as a very much high tech military. Long gone are the days of reliance upon conscripts and massed formations; or hasn't anybody noticed the shift in policy, regards the priority, previously given to ballistic missile systems? Russia is rapidly developing a first strike capability, based upon supersonic cruise missiles and in the near future, you can expect the Brahmos joint venture to roll out the first hypersonic cruise missiles. There is a new arms race, but somehow, most observers seem to be missing the indicators and the implications of the shift in policy, as does NATO and the military of the former Western alliance.

NERO"




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-- Posted by John Keller, jkeller@pennwell.com . www.milaero.com .

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Can commercial software-defined radio replace JTRS? One reader points out why not

September 28, 2009 11:45 AM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller

I wrote a story earlier this month headlined, Air Force plan to cut its JTRS military radio program may acknowledge developments in private industry , in which I suggest that commercial radio communications developments in software defined radio (SDR ) technology may be surpassing the U.S. military's Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS ), and that commercial SDR might eventually render the military's JTRS developments obsolete.

Today I received an astute e-mail from a Military & Aerospace Electronics reader that takes me to task with several solid points, which I'd like to share here. This reader's message speaks for itself, and I thank him or her for bringing these points to our attention.

There is an assumption that the commercially developed software-defined radios (SDR's) could replace the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). This is not true, if the military requirements stay as they are today.

Everyone forgets that the military wants everything small, powerful, with all the bells and whistles, and oh, by the way, you have to pass the NSA security requirements and it needs to fit into this small space.

I once heard a four-star general ask, "Why is my cell phone smaller than my wallet, it is nearly free, and I can talk around the world with it?" That type of ignorance is exactly what gets programs like Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) cancelled.

I would like to have said (but didn't), "but sir, you are communicating through cell towers that have thousands of pounds of equipment, your cell communications are not secure, your cell phone will not operate in extreme conditions, your cannot drop your cell phone from six feet onto concrete and expect it to work, you can't drop your cell phone in a bucket of water and expect it to work afterward, you cannot select the method of communications, good luck using it in the mountains of Afghanistan, and your cell phone is not "software defined," your cell phone can't communicate to other cell phones without going to a cell tower (good luck installing cell towers in every hostile area), your cell phone puts out very, low power (not 100-plus Watts), and finally, it can't communicate to any legacy radios currently in service."

Other than that the four-star had a good point.

The government levies thousands of requirements (in the case of JTRS 40,000 requirements) and then asks why the device is so expensive, costs so much to develop, and then complains when it's late (plus, let's change the requirements continually along the way).

Just a couple points for consideration.

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Electronic flight bag -- a taboo phrase?

September 17, 2009 10:13 AM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale


During conversations I've had recently with several experts on avionics systems on our Avionics Europe Conference Advisory Board and with electronic flight bag (EFB) designers, I've learned that EFB is more and more becoming a bad word with airline procurement managers.
During conversations I've had recently with several experts on avionics systems on our Avionics Europe Conference Advisory Board and with electronic flight bags (EFBs) designers, I've learned that EFB is more and more becoming a bad word with airline procurement managers.

Apparently avionics engineers at airlines are having a hard time justifying purchase of EFB Class 1 and Class 2 products just to enable a paperless cockpit .

Bill Ruhl, marketing manager for Astronautics in Milwaukee, Wis., told me that this hurts the retrofit market. The FAA is allowing new functionality such as airport moving maps on Class 2 EFBs has helped in this area, but it is becoming more of a competitive and cultural problem than one of capability, he said. The larger airlines do not want their pilots to be able to take the EFBs -- loaded with sensitive company data -- off the airplane, Ruhl said.

This is also why EFB designers have been adding more capability top the products, Ruhl said. They have evolved beyond the original EFB concept. He noted that Astronautics likes to call their systems single processor or dual processor solutions as opposed to EFB, because they go beyond the original concept in terms of capability.

During our Advisory Board meeting last week the members echoed these comments and for next year we decided not to have a stand alone session just on EFBs, but rather one called "Cost Efficient Avionics -- EFBs and Beyond."

Yes, we left EFBS in there because quite frankly it was one of our best attended sessions last year in Amsterdam -- despite the fact that we placed it the end of the conference, when attendance can lag.



Test and measurement systems designers leave rugged computers to the experts

September 16, 2009 4:37 PM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- There seems to be a trend in portable electronic test and measurement equipment that involves commercial off-the-shelf (COTS ) rugged laptop and notebook computers. Seems the test and measurement folks want to leave the rugged computer portions of their systems to the real experts.

This trend was in evidence as I prowled the aisles of the AutoTestCon test and measurement trade show this week at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, Calif.

Many pieces of test and measurement equipment, such as spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and systems that integrate these and other instruments in one box, need some sort of computer to run software that controls test parameters, inputs, and the like. This is part of an overall trend known as "virtual test," which trades knobs, dials, and rudimentary displays for computer-based control.

Some of the latest test instruments, however, are contained in a solid electronics enclosure that instead of screens and buttons have a standard docking-station connector compatible with rugged laptop and notebook computers like those made by Panasonic.

One company taking this approach is Astronics DME Corp. of Orlando, Fla. Officials say Panasonic and other rugged computer manufacturers already have designed their systems for shock, vibration, EMI, and other demanding environments.

Why, they ask, should their engineers have to bother with the computing portion of test instruments when the computer companies can do it better, faster, and cheaper?

Sounds like this is what the COTS movement is all about.

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Remembering the lessons of 9/11

September 11, 2009 7:50 AM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller

Today is September 11, 2009. It was eight years ago this morning -- in about 25 more minutes as I write this -- that we as a nation gathered, horrified, around television sets to watch as one of the World Trade Center towers burned in New York City.

All we knew at that moment was that some sort of airplane hit the edifice. There were whispers of terrorism, but no one knew for sure. Terrorism? That stuff happened in faraway countries, usually in the Middle East. It had to be an accident.

Then we watched, dumbstruck, as yet another airplane hit the second tower, engulfing them both in flames. Then we knew. This was no accident; we were under attack. We didn't know by whom. We just knew it was happening.

I remember so well that morning sitting with my colleagues in the office lunchroom -- some in tears, others with faces contorted in anger, but most silent and in shock.

Those were the last moments of the Old World, before Iraq, Afghanistan, al-Qaida, and American flags sprouting from motorcycles and car antennas. Life was different then. No global war on terror, no IEDs, no surge, no Remember the Troops signs in villages and towns -- just a new president who had come out of a close, contentious election.

Today, however, we know. There's an enemy out there that would dearly love to do it all again ... that wants to kill us as Americans, because we are Americans. The fight isn't over. I don't know when it will be -- if it ever will be -- but we must remain vigilant and on our guard.

We cannot let the lessons of 9/11 be forgotten. Today, of all days, please remember.

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Attendees at London defense show have positive attitude

September 10, 2009 6:23 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

Moving through the multiple security check points and walking the floors at the Defense Systems and Equipment International Exhibition -- DSEi 2009 -- in London I found the mood of the attendees quite positive.

Defense system integrators and military embedded electronics suppliers all said the traffic -- while not steady -- was well focused. The atmosphere echoed many recent U.S. defense electronics shows and conferences where industry players saw the market outlook as one of steady growth -- especially compared to commercial aviation, which continues to struggle.

While European military programs do not generate the funding of some U.S. platforms many primes predict the European defense market will continue perform well.

Bob O'Meara, European marketing director for Rockwell Collins C3I Systems told me his part of the business in Europe grew from $53 million in revenue in 2008 to 69$ million in 2009 and that he expects that trend to continue.

Embedded military electronics suppliers echoed his sentiment, saying orders continue to come in from current and new European defense customers.

The only small complaint I heard was from a power electronics exhibitor who said he wished there were more design engineers floating around, but added that DSEi is not that type of show. However, he felt it important to be there from a branding perspective.

The show organizers say they had about the same attendance as the 2007 event -- the show is held every two years and always in London.

The last one I attended was in 2005 and I found this year's DSEi to be lacking in the energy of that show. However, most shows are down in traffic as companies cut back on sending engineers to trade shows due to the poor economic climate.



Kudos to Kamen, kids, and contractors

September 3, 2009 9:58 PM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

My hat is off to Dean Kamen, famous inventor of such innovations as the Segway PT, and mil-aero industry players, such as Rockwell Collins and General Dynamics . FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a Manchester, N.H.-based organization founded by Kamen to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology, has launched various technology challenges, designed to foster imagination, innovation, and collaboration among children and adults, community and industry, government and academia, and more.

FIRST has announced the 2009 FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge: Smart Move. Smart Move challenges 146,000 children, ages 9 to 14, in more than 50 countries to explore robotics solutions to issues in modern transportation through hands-on, minds-on teamwork.

A long-standing sponsor of FIRST, Rockwell Collins has provided more than $1 million in support of FIRST programs, sponsoring hundreds of teams and events at the elementary, middle, and high-school levels in the U.S. FIRST executives have named Rockwell Collins the Official Program Sponsor for the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC).

"The announcement recognizes the distinct role Rockwell Collins will play as the primary official sponsor of FTC, the newest and fastest-growing FIRST program available to students in grades nine through 12," says a company representative.

As a FIRST Strategic Partner, Rockwell Collins employees serve as volunteers, leading teams and providing technical mentorship, coordinating regional events, and judging robotics competitions.

"When you excite students with hands-on experiences and reinforce classroom learning with creative applications of content from textbooks, kids get motivated and want to learn," says Clay Jones, chairman, president, and CEO of Rockwell Collins.

An estimated 1,300 FTC teams are expected to compete in 60 official FTC tournaments across North America for the upcoming season. More than 10,000 participants will be involved in FTC events, which culminates in the FTC World Championship, April in Atlanta, Ga. Participants will be joined by teachers, parents, and university and corporate mentors as well as prominent regional and national leaders in business, government, education, and the media.

Other FIRST Tech Challenge sponsors include FTC CAD and Collaboration Sponsor, PTC, and FTC Program Sponsor, General Dynamics.

Smart Move comprises two phases. In the project phase, teams identify a problem with the way people, animals, information, or things travel in their community, create an innovative solution, and share it outside the team. In the robot phase, teams apply robotics, sensor technology, and fresh thinking to solve the problems.

Personally, I have spoken with several children between the ages of six and 14 who have not yet given any thought as to what they would like to do after high school, for a vocation, for the community or world at large, and so on. I appreciate that industry innovators are investing in the future, and getting today's youth to start thinking about technology, invention, and ingenuity, and how to apply them to solve current and future challenges.

If you know of other industry firms or individuals who are making a difference in the mil-aero community or world at large, please post the info here or in the Command Post community, or e-mail me at Courtney@pennwell.com. They deserve recognition and kudos.



Business lessons from an MIT professor

August 27, 2009 11:15 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

Last week during a visit to SynQor in Boxborough, Mass., I received a lesson on cost-of-ownership by the company founder, who is also a former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor. SynQor makes high-reliability power electronics for demanding environments such as military avionics .

Martin Schlecht, SynQor's founder, president, and chief executive officer (CEO), was briefing me on their DC to DC converter product line and the defense market outlook when he asked if he could go slightly off topic and explain the concept of how long-term cost-of-ownership for a product can be more cost effective than buying the lowest price device.

He jumped up and immediately started drawing charts on the whiteboard in the conference room. I quipped "why don't you have a chalk board, you're a professor right?"

He said he has one in his office and that he prefers chalk boards -- the only draw back being that the "chalk dust always ends up in the cuffs of his pants."

Anyway, Schlect made the argument as he says he has made on many sales calls that products with outstanding mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) statistics result in a lower cost of ownership for the end user over the life of a product.

Schlect made a very persuasive argument with his makeshift graph and had me sold that a component with an MTBF of millions of hours can cost only about $3 to maintain even if it initially cost $3,000.

However, he says no matter how well cost of ownership is explained or understood, many of those in the defense community are under orders to procure electronics based on the product price rather than a cost-of-ownership equation.

Too bad, maybe a greater focus on cost of ownership would help with managing component obsolescence, the dark side of commercial-off-the shelf (COTS) procurement.



GE and Fanuc call it quits

August 18, 2009 3:50 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

As of yesterday GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms is now called GE Intelligent Platforms after GE and Fanuc reached an agreement to no longer continue their original agreement.

What does this actually mean for the embedded military market ? Probably not much.

I think GE Intelligent Platforms will pretty much go along as they have been going, making embedded single-board computers and subsystems for military programs. GE itself has become quite the defense behemoth. A recent market study from ASD Reports (www.asdreports.com ) ranked them as one of the top 10 aerospace and defense suppliers alongside Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and EADS.

However, all of this has got me reminiscing about some of our old friends and advertisers gobbled up by GE Fanuc this past decade.

Some of those old friends included -- in no particular order -- Radstone Technology, SBS Technologies, Ramix, VMIC, DNA Computing Solutions, and Computer Dynamics. If I missed any I apologize.

That's quite a shopping list. Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing compiled a similar portfolio of defense electronics suppliers . I guess they saw our magazine as a buyer's guide.

I'm not complaining. I think all this activity is a positive. It shows our market to be one that is steady and continues to attract investment. The strong performance of many defense companies in the current economic downturn is evidence of that.

Yet it has me wondering which embedded defense supplier will get acquired next.

Any ideas?



UAVs sharing civilian airspace

August 13, 2009 6:16 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale


One of the topics of discussion this week at the Unmanned Systems North America show in Washington was what needs to be done technologically and culturally to manage the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in civilian airspace.

One of the topics of discussion this week at the Unmanned Systems North America show in Washington was what needs to be done technologically and culturally to manage the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in civilian airspace.

The key is to take a proactive air traffic management approach instead of reacting to problems such as collision avoidance , David Vos, senior director of Unmanned Airborne Systems and Control Technologies for Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, told me today.

The biggest challenge will not be technological or bureaucratic, but rather cultural, Vos said. Many in the commercial aircraft industry do not understand unmanned systems and they need to realize they are not just toys or model airplanes, he added.

In a presentation he made at the show this week Vos said that "as the need for civil UAVs increases and airspace continues to crowd, the NextGen (Next generation Air Traffic Management System) , SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) , and increased automation are essential."

Vos also says those concerned must understand the rules as determined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Eurocontrol.

If there comes a time when the Department of Homeland Security needs to use UAVs over New York City, they must have an open dialogue with commercial airspace authorities.

UAVs are not going to decrease in numbers, they are here to stay and in the long run will be more economical than manned aircraft, Vos said.

He predicted that there will come a day when commercial passenger flights are pilotless much the same way some trains are today.

Once people become more comfortable with the concept, the UAV business will explode.



Unmanned systems show was buzzing

August 13, 2009 5:24 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

What a difference a year makes. Last year's Unmanned Systems North America show in San Diego was informative and well attended but seemed to be reflecting some of that Southern California June gloom. This year it was just the opposite with packed stands and busy aisles.

Maybe it's the fact that it is in Washington where unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) , unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) , and unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) attract more government and definitely more local press.

Highlights at the event include General Atomics discussing the new Predator C Avenger , iRobot officials announcing more orders for the Packbot unmanned ground system, and Insitu's ScanEagle surpassing 200,000 operational flight hours.

"In a year when people are wondering where the funding will come from funding for unmanned systems is one are that is definitely going up," one defense electronics supplier told me.

Every exhibitor I've talked to says traffic is strong and people are looking to spend money for autonomous programs.

Lots of non-traditional defense companies are also angling for a piece of the action. Sony, the maker of popular camcorders and televisions and monitors had a nice sized booth at the show.

No they weren't pushing flat screens, but rather they were showcasing their machine vision line of high-performance cameras for use on UAVs.

It's a market "we're exploring that has a potential for growth," says Drew Buttress, product manager for visual imaging products at Sony. He says Sony understands the military market and its long life cycles and that Sony supports its machine vision products for the long-term, still selling cameras that are nearly 10 years old.

It's heartening to go to a crowded trade show in a tough economic time. Maybe it's sign things are turning around.



Unmanned systems show is buzzing

August 12, 2009 8:53 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



What a difference a year makes. Last year's Unmanned Systems North America show in San Diego was informative and well attended but seemed to be reflecting some of that Southern California June gloom. This year it's just the opposite with packed stands and busy aisles.

What a difference a year makes. Last year's Unmanned Systems North America show in San Diego was informative and well attended but seemed to be reflecting some of that Southern California June gloom. This year it's just the opposite with packed stands and busy aisles.

Maybe it's the fact that it is in Washington where unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) , undmanned ground vehicles, and unmanned undersea vehicles attract more government and definitely more local press.

Highlights at the event include General Atomics discussing the new Predator C Avenger , iRobot officials announcing more orders for the Packbot unmanned ground system, and Insitu’s ScanEagle surpassing 200,000 operational flight hours.

"In a year when people are wondering where the funding will come from funding for unmanned systems is one are that is definitely going up,"” one defense electronics supplier told me.

Every exhibitor I've talked to says traffic is strong and people are looking to spend money for autonomous programs.

Lots of non-traditional defense companies are also angling for a piece of the action. Sony, the maker of popular camcorders and televisions and monitors had a nice sized booth at the show.

No they weren't pushing flat screens, but rather they were showcasing their machine vision line of high-performance cameras for use on UAVs.

It's a market "we're exploring that has a potential for growth," says Drew Buttress, product manager for visual imaging products at Sony. He says Sony understands the military market and its long life cycles and that Sony supports its machine vision products for the long-term, still selling cameras that are nearly 10 years old.

It's heartening to go to a crowded trade show in a tough economic time. Maybe it's sign things are turning around.



End of Altivec PowerPC digital signal processing chip spells headache for Serial RapidIO designers

August 11, 2009 2:20 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

The next-generation PowerPC family from Freescale, the QorIQ , has a new CPU core -- the e500 -- which does not support the Altivec engine that commercial off the shelf (COTS) single board computer suppliers rely on for many of their military digital signal processing (DSP) systems. The Altivec is not being end-of-lifed, it is just not being offered in Freescale's next generation chip.

Designers that produce Serial RapidIO switched fabric interconnect products are especially concerned as the main alternative -- Intel's family of multicore devices with SSE -- do not have Serial RapidIO (SRIO) end points because Intel does not see the demand form the majority of their customer base, Michael Stern of GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms told me. I was interviewing Stern for a Technology Focus feature on I/O that will appear in our September issue of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine.

Stern says "whereas Freescale and Texas Instruments and other chip vendors have seen demand for Serial RapidIO enabled end points from a significant segment of their market -- defense and telecommunications -- Intel has not so far seen the need to support SRIO on chip."

This is not surprising as SRIO is most popular among military signal processing designers. During a panel discussion at our Military & Aerospace Electronics Forum conference last year Ron Parker of Intel said that the defense industry represents less than one percent of Intel's business.

Stern and others I talked to for the story agreed that going forward COTS embedded single-board computer suppliers will need to support multiple serial interconnect fabrics in addition to SRIO such as Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and PCI Express -- all of which Intel does support.

Some companies are working around this issue with a PCI Express to SRIO bridge/switch device but these devices are not yet available and those designing them are tight-lipped about what they are tinkering with.

Another solution Stern says is to offer FPGA based solutions that deploy custom IP to get from PCI Express to SRIO, however FPGA based solutions present a challenge because they "are costly in terms of power budget and card real estate."

In the mean time Freescale's QorIQ will be relevant to defense applications where the Altivec unit is not used, such as image processing, but not in intensive DSP applications, Stern says.

I'd love to hear what all of you think about this situation, so please feel free to comment.



Planes aren't selling

August 5, 2009 1:51 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



The commercial and general aviation markets and in turn the avionics industry have been hit hard by the recession, with no upswing expected in the short term. Major airlines are laying off thousands and holding off on airplane purchases.
The commercial and general aviation markets and in turn the avionics industry have been hit hard by the recession, with no upswing expected in the short term. Major airlines are laying off thousands and holding off on airplane purchases.

Business and general aviation customers are also keeping their checkbooks closed, especially those who typically by luxury jets -- large companies taking bailout money from the U.S. government. As a result aircraft manufacturers are not buying new avionics displays and avionics computers for new aircraft cockpits .

As one supplier said to me this summer if it wasn't for his military business he would have to shut his doors. Yet, even the military is cutting back on aviation evidenced by the impending cancellation of the F-22 Raptor Jet Fighter.

According to market analysts at the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) in Washington, worldwide shipments of general aviation aircraft were cut nearly in half over the first half of 2009, compared with the same period last year.

Officials at Bombardier say business aviation faces challenges such as "high pre-owned inventories, negative public perceptions, and a difficult economic climate." However, in the long term they predict strong growth with revenues of approximately $256 billion U.S. over the next ten years for the industry, according to their "Bombardier Business Aircraft Market Forecast."

While looking at the websites for Boeing and Airbus, I found that many of their purchase announcements typically numbered less than 50 airplane orders at a time, where in good times they have been in the hundreds.

Will it get worse before gets better?

Perhaps not. At the Paris Air Show earlier this month Airbus officials told me that they think the market has hit bottom, but that it is unknown when it will come back if it will come back slowly or dramatically.

Boeing officials in their latest quarterly earnings announcement stated that Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) second-quarter revenues decreased 2 percent to $8.4 billion on slightly lower airplane deliveries and lower volume in services while "operating earnings increased 5 percent and margins rose to 9.7 percent due to lower research and development expense partially offset by the lower services volume."

This is a good sign for Boeing and also a result of the company making major workforce cuts earlier in the year to offset the poor economy. Company officials also see India as a strong growth market -- the country's economy has averaged 7 percent annual growth over the past 10 years.



F-22 program shot down

August 4, 2009 3:33 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

President Obama's first major defense budget cut got past a major hurdle last month when both houses of Congress agreed last week to cut F-22 funding from a new bill, despite speculation that they might fight to keep the program alive to save jobs.

Specifically the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate removed funding for additional F-22 jets in an appropriations bill with $636.3 billion for military spending for 2010. In other words the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) will likely now stop F-22 procurement at 187 aircraft .

What does this mean for the industry? Too soon to tell. The F-22 prime contractor, Lockheed Martin , will most likely make major job cuts once it is official and this could lead to further job cuts at second and third their suppliers to the program.

But will it be the 90,000 plus layoffs that some in congress and at Lockheed have predicted? I don't think it will get that high.

The 2010 budget request -- which focuses on increased funding for special forces, unmanned systems, and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter -- makes sense for today's world. I'd like to think these funding areas represent new opportunities for electronics designers and integrators and that the defense market will remain steady if not grow stronger, despite the end of F-22 production.

One thing that I do find ironic however is that while one major program was practically canceled this past month the DOD rolled out a number of new aircraft over the same time period -- a new Global Hawk, the P-8A Poseidon, the new Navy Stealth Fighter, and a second E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to name a few.

That's a lot of roll outs. Coincidence?

Probably.



F-22 demise premature?

July 16, 2009 8:10 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



Over the last few days I've read different articles detailing how Congressional leaders in the President's own party are saying "not so fast," when it comes to canceling the expensive F-22 jet fighter program.
Over the last few days I've read different articles detailing how Congressional leaders in the President's own party are saying "not so fast," when it comes to canceling the expensive F-22 Raptor jet fighter program .

As we've detailed on this page , President Obama wants to discontinue the F-22 Raptor, which has had major cost overruns and has yet to be deployed in favor of increased funding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) .

The problem as F-22 prime contractor Lockheed Martin sees it and many in Congress as well is that cancellation may create major job loss at a time when unemployment is already hovering around 10 percent.

Yes, major republican figures such as Sen. John McCain of Ariz., support the cancellation of the program, but congressional leaders on both sides are loathe to cut thousands of jobs that may in the end cost them their own jobs at election time.

President Obama's and Defense Secretary Robert Gates' argument for shifting funding away from the F-22 makes sense. However, some times facts don't matter in politics.

The recession doesn't look to end by the time the defense budget goes to Congress for a vote and if unemployment numbers go up look for the F-22 to keep flying for few more years.



Future Combat Systems: too big to fail, or too juicy a target to succeed?

July 14, 2009 12:55 PM by John Keller

Posted by John Keller

The U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, a mammoth initiative to design and field families of manned and unmanned armored vehicles , unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs ), and the networking and data communications necessary to link its systems together for decision support and situational awareness, appears to be finished -- at least as originally conceived.

Earlier this summer the Army officially cancelled the $160 billion FCS program with the signing of an acquisition defense memorandum that officially gutted the program of its manned combat vehicle component -- a family of armored vehicles based on a common chassis that was to include a new main battle tank, self-propelled artillery piece, and armored personnel carrier.



Instead, the Army is restructuring what is left of FCS to emphasize military ground robots and UAVs, communications networking, and sensors linked on communications networks. The new initiative to replace FCS is called Army Brigade Combat Team Modernization.

The FCS program has already yielded much important technology, including the Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV), and the Warfighter Information Network–Tactical (WIN-T). More useful technology and equipment will come out of this program, including large unmanned ground vehicles that function as cargo trucks, which caravan together on the battlefield with minimal human intervention.

Despite its valuable developments, however, the FCS program had a lot of problems -- many of which were political, not technological.

The first problem involved the anticipated FCS mission: improving the Army's ability to go toe-to-toe with large national mechanized forces of major military powers like China and Russia. The motivation behind FCS, in large part, was a legacy of the Cold War, which ended nearly 20 years ago.

FCS was not so much about dealing with today's military imperatives of fighting unconventional forces and terrorists -- who rely on roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated by cell phones and garage door openers -- as it was about confronting large national forces equipped with tanks and artillery.

The second problem with FCS was its sheer size. While most military programs are concerned with one platform at a time, the FCS packaged many platforms together as a monolithic move into the future. Proponents believed the program was a logical and integrated step toward modernization; proponents also believed the program was too big to fail.

Actually, the program was too large and juicy a target to survive. It was easy for political opponents to attack on Capitol Hill and in the Pentagon -- a large, lumbering, fantastically expensive program with fragmented constituencies that could be set against one another with ease.

In the military today, there are few rivalries as fierce as the manned vs. unmanned vehicle communities. Tank drivers, artillery commanders, and helicopter pilots often look on unmanned vehicles with scorn; they have convinced themselves that their manned platforms can do a better job; they also know that unmanned vehicles threaten their jobs.

The FCS program contained both of these components as cornerstones. It was nearly inevitable that the program eventually would turn on itself.

We've seen much the same thing happen before. In 1984 then-President Ronald Reagan envisioned a gigantic land- and space-based system to defense against nuclear ballistic missiles called the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), which popularly became known as the Star Wars missile defense research program.

SDI brought together many separate ballistic missile defense programs under the Aegis of the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO). In its nine years of existence, the SDI program not only created breakthrough technology that we are seeing deployed today, but it also was a political lightning rod, which its well-organized opposition took delight in bashing.

Eventually the SDI program was whittled down, its overall vision evolved to land- and sea-based ballistic missile defense programs, and its name was changed in 1993 during the Clinton Administration to the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program. Today its managing organization is the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The SDI program, like the FCS program, made too big a target to survive.

Still, the SDI program's legacy lives on today, most notably in the Aegis ballistic missile defense systems aboard the Navy's Ticonderoga-class cruisers, as well as in land-based ballistic missile defense systems deployed in Alaska. Other legacies of the SDI program include the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS), and the recently cancelled Airborne Laser system (ABL).

Legacy components of the FCS program will live on, as well. These most likely will involve new generations of unmanned ground vehicles and battlefield tactical networking. Not only that, but the demise of the FCS program also paves the way to new research programs to develop next-generation battle tanks, artillery, and armored personnel carriers.



Paris exhibitors credit military market for stability

July 1, 2009 2:27 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale


Exhibitors at the Paris Air Show last month were constantly asked about how they were faring during the economic downturn. Most credited their military systems designs with keeping them afloat.

Exhibitors at the Paris Air Show last month were constantly asked about how they were faring during the economic downturn. Most credited their military systems designs with keeping them afloat.

"Military wins saved our business," Francois Hervieux, director of sales for Air Data in Quebec told me. Commercial wins have dried up due the economic downturn, but military business has been steady.

Nandu Balsaver of Laversab, a designer of avionics test equipment near Houston said it is not because commercial outfits do not have the money, -- they do. It is that they do not wish to part with it. "They are holding it tight to wait out the storm," he said.

The military is the only thing that has been consistent, Balsaver added.

Most of the people I talked to who have designs in both markets said the same thing -- commercial business is drying up while the military is steady but not going gangbusters.

That is unless you are a defense prime, a maker of unmanned systems, or FLIR in Beaverton, Ore. David Strong, the vice president of marketing for FLIR said the company is doing better than ever.

When Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently shifted funding in the DOD 2010 budget request from large platforms such as the F-22 to applications for Special Forces it played right into FLIR's core business, Strong said.

"Practically everything we do targets Special Forces from thermal weapon sights" to electro-optical gimbals on helicopters, Strong said.

The company is sitting quite pretty, having grown nearly 50 percent in the last two years, with their Government division making up more than half of their more than $1 billion in revenue.

Their government business -- which consist of not just military but civil and homeland security applications throughout the world -- is also the fastest growing part of their business, Strong noted.

Strong said he also sees the European market having fast growth potential, hence why they were here at the Paris Air Show.



Making up for lost time

June 28, 2009 3:22 PM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

Looking back over my life, I realize that, in the interest of saving time and being as efficient as possible, I have missed out on a lot. I don't mean family and friends, or memories I haven't made. I spent valuable time with them, doing just that. I am talking about entertainment. When I ponder the path or route I have taken in life, I find a "pot hole" or two of sorts.

I have opted to work late, sleep longer, and enhance my education, rather than join the rest of the populace in celebrating the latest and greatest films or books, as examples. Just this week, in fact, I watched Aliens for the first time. It was made in 1979. Why did it take me 30 years to see it?! I followed up that piece of cinematic history with a viewing of Aliens 2 .

I was impressed with the visual effects for the time and the prospect of harnessing alien technology for biological weaponry, and yet the movie fell a bit flat with its interpretation of what a combat vehicle would look like in 2157. It was none too impressive; I liken it to a squashed version of a tank. How did they fit all those people and the equipment in there?! Bah.

Thankfully, innovators in the military and defense market (not to mention the automotive industry) have succeeded in delivering far more capable, flexible, and responsive combat vehicles and vetronics in short order. Be certain to keep your eye out for the September issue of Military & Aerospace Electronics for information about the latest and greatest vetronics technologies and applications .



Are they watching us?

June 27, 2009 7:28 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

Before I left for the Paris Air Show earlier this month a friend in the industry said I should expect all my phone calls -- cellular or other -- to be listened to and expect all my emails to be read.

I said are you serious? Who wants to know what an innocent trade pub editor has to say to his office?

Apparently this gentleman instructs all his employees before leaving the country to be on their guard about revealing information on military technology that could be of value to foreign governments. Electronic surveillance is everywhere.

Aside from what a government might pick up, companies must also be sensitive to what their own country's watchdogs are looking for. The U.S. State Department is very strict about what can and can't be said overseas regarding U.S. military technology. These rules fall under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) .

Many exhibitors at the Paris Air Show were touting their import/export compliance rules to their staff at the event. FLIR even made up a brochure to give to all their employees outlining the rules for when they were in Paris.

The State Department "was impressed with how organized we were," said FLIR’s vice president of marketing, David Strong, during the show.

It's a paranoid time and U.S. companies and government agencies must be on their guard about what they say or write about their technology.

Journalists too...



Paris exhibitors credit military market for stability

June 20, 2009 5:40 AM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

One of the main questions exhibitors were asked at the Paris Air Show this past week was how were they doing in the midst of the economic downturn. Most credited their military systems designs with keeping them afloat.

"Military wins saved our business," Francois Hervieux, director of sales for Air Data in Quebec told me. Commercial wins have dried up due the economic downturn, but military business has been steady.

Nandu Balsaver of Laversab, a designer of avionics test equipment near Houston said it is not because commercial outfits do not have the money, -- they do. It is that they do not wish to part with it. "They are holding it tight to wait out the storm," he said

The military is the only thing that has been consistent, Balsaver added.

Most of the people I talked to who have designs in both markets said the same thing -- commercial business is drying up while the military is steady but not going gangbusters.

That is unless you are a defense prime, a maker of unmanned systems, or FLIR in Beaverton, Ore. David Strong, the vice president of marketing for FLIR said the company is doing better than ever.

When Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently shifted funding in the DOD 2010 budget request from large platforms such as the F-22 to applications for Special Forces it played right into FLIR's core business, Strong said.

"Practically everything we do targets Special Forces from thermal weapon sights" to electro-optical gimbals on helicopters, Strong said.

The company is sitting quite pretty, having grown nearly 50 percent in the last two years, with their Government division making up more than half of their more than $1 billion in revenue.

Their government business -- which consist of not just military but civil and homeland security applications throughout the world -- is also the fastest growing part of their business, Strong noted.

Strong said he also sees the European market having fast growth potential, hence why they were here at the Paris Air Show.



Last day no-shows in Paris

June 19, 2009 2:31 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale


The Eurofighter and Eurocopter wowed the crowd at the Paris Air Show today -- the last day of the industrial exhibits and the first day open to the French public.
The Eurofighter and Eurocopter wowed the crowd at the Paris Air Show today -- the last day of the industrial exhibits and the first day open to the French public.

Unfortunately, many U.S. exhibitors were unable to hear the very loud roar of the Eurofighter's jet engine -- and not because the exhibition halls are sound proof. Most of the U.S. booths were ghost town. They either packed up and crossed the pond or were exploring the French cafes.

Something the French exhibitors were happy to point out to me. A typical comment was: "you see how most of the Americans are gone?"

Grrrr.

It was pretty glaring but maybe understandable. It is a considerable expense to staff a booth at the Paris Air Show for a week, plus Fridays at the air show are open to everyone. So instead of doing business they are mostly handing out lollipops and trinkets to kids or answering strange questions from average citizens.

However, Aerovironment officials told me they wished more U.S. companies stuck around on Friday, because it sends a more positive message -- especially to the French public.

"Yes, we don't make a lot of sales on Friday," but it is important to have a presence if you want to have a growing international business, said Stayne Hoff, director of international business development Aerovironment in Simi Valley, Calif. Leaving early may send the wrong message.

There are many foreign companies that "make very high-quality products," David Strong, vice president of marketing at FLIR in Beaverton, Ore., told me earlier in the week. "We need to be competitive with them"

His comments were made during a discussion on the many complicated import/export regulations that make it difficult for U.S. companies over seas.

However, the remarks could also apply to seeing an international trade show through to the end. If U.S. companies want to compete internationally they need not only to get some breaks from our State Department, but make the extra sales call or just stay the extra day at the world’s biggest air show.



Aeronautics not just space

June 18, 2009 1:26 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



Walking through the U.S. Pavilion today at the Paris Air Show I was handed a NASA sticker by tall friendly guy wondering if I knew that NASA did aeronautics and not just space -- because the first A in NASA stands for aeronautics as in National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Walking through the U.S. Pavilion today at the Paris Air Show I was handed a NASA sticker bya tall, friendly guy wondering if I knew that NASA did aeronautics and not just space -- because the first A in NASA stands for aeronautics as in National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

I said of course I do, but failed to impress him with any other NASA aeronautical facts, so he decided to share a few with me in NASA's booth at the show.

Apparently NASA aeronautics expertise was behind the development of glass cockpits , icing sensors, and lightening protection for military avionics in fighter jets.

I asked is there anything new on the lightening front? He said no, not in the last few years.

So why is NASA here if not to talk about anything new?

To let people know that it is much more than a space exploration outfit, and does quite a bit of technology development for aeronautics and even for the environment, he replied.

Then I was handed a nice looking brochure on the X-48B test plane as an example. The experimental plane is designed with a flat, tailless fuselage to burn less fuel and produce less Carbon Dioxide.

I asked NASA is here just to give a history lesson?

He nodded and said yes that's a big part of it.

Seems like a lot of tax payer money to spend on travel and an exhibit to go give a history lesson on a subject, which he admitted is a small part of the NASA budget.

However, I did walk away knowing something I didn't know before about NASA.

I guess that was the point.



Avionics display trends in Paris

June 17, 2009 12:13 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



While showing me around his booth today at the Paris Air Show, Jean Cristophe Monfret, Barco's director of product and program management showed me the different ways avionics display capability is deployed today in military such as in moving map displays, electronic flight bags, video displays, etc.

While showing me around his booth today at the Paris Air Show , Jean Cristophe Monfret, Barco's director of product and program management showed me the different ways avionics display capability is deployed today in military such as in airport moving map displays , electronic flight bags, video displays, etc.

Trends that he sees in the avionics display market include providing more flexibility for the end user, improved touch screen capability, and greater use of light emitting diode (LED) technology. Meanwhile, enhanced vision and synthetic vision applications are driving future avionics display applications.

Monfret said that their MOSArt, modular open architecture avionics displays are popular because they enable system integrators to develop their software on Barco's hardware.

He said that like everyone else Barco is feeling some of the effects of the downturn in the commercial market, but that their military business in avionics and simulation remains quite strong.

Monfret also noted that the oil applications -- where helicopters are flying to off-shore platforms -- is a growth area for avionics displays.



Commercial aircraft market holding steady

June 16, 2009 9:46 AM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



The Airbus A380 did a few flybys at the Paris Air Show today, causing many to whip out their cell phones for close up pictures and videos. However, the buzz in the Airbus Chalet was less about the 380 or the future 350 aircraft and more about how the commercial aircraft market is bottoming out.

The Airbus A380 did a few flybys at the Paris Air Show today, causing many to whip out their cell phones for close up pictures and videos. However, the buzz in the Airbus Chalet was less about the 380 or the future 350 aircraft and more about how the commercial aircraft market is bottoming out.

Folks I talked to in the very crowded chalet believe that economic conditions shouldn't get any worse for commercial aircraft sales, but are uncertain as to when orders will pick up again.

Echoing aerospace industry forecasts from earlier this year the air frame manufacturer still sees China as the biggest growth market for commercial aircraft.

Airbus did announce small aircraft orders today such as Vietnam Airlines ordering 16 more single aisle A321s along with signed agreement for two additional A350 XWBs.

The aircraft orders this week are much smaller than in past shows where Airbus would announce orders in the 100s, but business appears steady.

The mood in the Airbus Chalet appeared quite optimistic.

Attendees at the air show also were more lively today as rain stopped and the sun came out. The exhibit halls got busier and the Eurofighter dazzled those outside with very cool aerodynamics.



Raining in Paris

June 15, 2009 10:13 AM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



A steady rain welcomed visitors to the Paris Air Show at La Bourget Airport in France this morning. The wet, gloomy weather matched the somber tone of many at the show.
A steady rain welcomed visitors to the Paris Air Show at La Bourget Airport in France this morning. The wet, gloomy weather matched the somber tone of many at the show.


The recent crash of an Air France jet over the Atlantic combined with the struggling commercial avionics/aircraft market has made delegates to the 100th Paris Air Show a bit subdued.

It's not all doom and gloom though. Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) continue to create quite a bit of buzz. One of Boeing's first announcements at the show this year was the formation of their Unmanned Airborne Systems division.

But the best thing of all about any air show is that you get watch cool planes take off -- if you're into that sort of thing.

This my first trip to the Paris event and being a journalist gives you the best seat in the house. As I write this I hear jets taking off right outside my window in the press tent.

There is also a balcony above me that once the rain stops provides the most excellent perch to see the live aerodynamics. Everything from new Air France cargo planes to military helicopters from Bell are on display.

My first air show more than 20 years ago in Reading, Pa., was great fun, but there weren't European Space Agency Rockets parked outside the terminal.

Talk to you tomorrow.



Cold fusion, hot topic

June 9, 2009 6:46 PM by Joseph Normandin



Posted by John McHale

Most folks I talk to whether it be for stories in Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine or developing content for our conferences focus on what is the next disruptive technology, the one that will not only change the way we do business but affect people's culture and everyday life.

One that created a lot of buzz at our Military & Aerospace Electronics Forum last week was cold fusion . Dr. Frank Gordon, head of navigation and applied sciences at the U.S. Navy Space and Warfare (SPAWAR) command in San Diego discussed cold fusion and more in his keynote address at the conference.

Gordon described how scientists at SPAWAR San Diego recently ran the first demonstration that produced high-energy neutrons from low-energy nuclear reactions. These experiments "that have been replicated by others provide compelling direct evidence that nuclear reactions are occurring in the cold fusion experiments," Gordon said.

According to Gordon cold fusion could power the entire planet with just water from the oceans. Gordon said the next step will be "conducting more experiments and understanding the underlying physics."

Gordon also discussed how "scientists at several universities are taking advantage of nonlinear dynamics that inherently exists in most systems" to greatly improve capabilities.

"Biological systems are nonlinear and scientists have developed techniques" to take neurons out of leaches, place them on an encapsulated silicon substrate and then inject a solution to keep the neurons alive," he said. "After a period of time, the neurons start communicating with each other and techniques have been developed where the neurons can actually control basic operations without conventional software."

During his talk Gordon showed a demonstration where these leech neurons navigated a virtual maze.

Gordon said his group is "working on implementing nonlinear capabilities that mimic biological processes in computer chips to produce ultra low power electronics and new sensors with significantly improved capabilities."

This was just a taste of the some the fascinating work the Navy lab is working on. Gordon had the packed conference room riveted.

One attendee and a member of our conference advisory board told me that he thinks either Gordon is speaking science fiction or he has to got to go home and reorganize his "entire investment portfolio."

Call your broker, buddy.



Suppliers training primes

June 5, 2009 2:48 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

During a recent internal meeting a colleague suggested we should "train our customers" on how to better take advantage and keep up with our online media, even posting their own product updates. Some in the audience chuckled or were a bit cynical at the concept -- including me. Perhaps we snarled to soon.

This week I paid a visit to a military electronics supplier in Chatsworth, Calif. -- Aitech Defense Systems , and when I arrived they were in the midst of training one of their major customers/system integrators on how to use their space single-board computers and systems and maintain them.

"It cuts way down on customer support calls," and also gets end-users more involved in the design process, said one Aitech engineer. "We are looking to get them even earlier by going directly to the military academies and training them there," he added.

I was quite surprised when Aitech's vice president of sales and marketing, Doug Patterson, told me that not many of their competitors go this extra step. The "customers in the class" seemed quite enthusiastic.

I don't know if what works for users of space-qualified computer systems will work for those who buy advertising... but maybe it's worth another look.

Aside from the tour of Aitech's fairly new facility -- it opened last year -- one of the highlights of the trip was taking the train to Chatsworth from San Diego where we had just finished up hosting our Military & Aerospace Electronics Forum and Avionics USA conferences.

It's been a long while since I've taken a train because I didn't realize they had power outlets! That along with my wireless card made the train a relaxing spot to do work and catch up on email.

The ocean views didn't hurt either...



Talking next-generation avionics and ATM technology in San Diego

June 4, 2009 1:10 AM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale


Next-generation avionics and air traffic management technology that will improve fuel consumption, reduce runway incursions on the ground, and save lives in the air highlighted our inaugural Avionics USA conference in San Diego this week.
Next-generation avionics and air traffic management technology that will save money on aircraft fuel consumption , reduce runway incursions on the ground, and save lives in the air highlighted our inaugural Avionics USA conference in San Diego this week.

The show, which concluded on Tuesday, was the first expansion of our Avionics Amsterdam event . It was stressful launching a new event in the middle of economic downturn, but things went smoothly.

The last session held a healthy percentage of the opening session's attendance. That was due more to the nature of the topic -- technologies for reducing runway incursion -- than anything else. Runway incursion and electronic flight bags were the highest regarded portions of our European event, so we made sure we closed with them in San Diego.

However, I've yet to go to a conference where the last session topped the keynote in audience participation. This was year was no different, as Tim Tuttle, ATM program manager at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, kicked off our event with an excellent talk covering next-generation avionics technology and the future of the market from Boeing's perspective.

The down part of the week was that we began our conference the morning of the Air France crash over the Atlantic Ocean.

Rumors were swirling that it was due to an electrical failure on the plane. One commercial airframer said to me Monday morning: "John, it's very disturbing, these things shouldn't happen anymore.”

Maybe it didn't as there are reports on that Air France received bomb threats just before the crash.

Regardless the gentleman was right. It's very disturbing.



North Korea's nuclear test and missile defense

May 26, 2009 3:32 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

North Korea's successful test of a nuclear bomb this week has many in Washington scurrying to formulate a tough response. Reportedly the blast equaled that of the nuclear bomb that the U.S. exploded over Hiroshima, Japan during World War II. There has also been speculation in the press that North Korea has the potential to reach the west coast of the U.S. with a warhead.

So that brings us to missile defense , something President Obama and his party have questioned the necessity of in recent years. However, when we looked at the 2010 Department of Defense budget request today we saw increases for different types of missile defense systems -- most notably the Aegis ballistic missile defense system .

The Aegis request for 2010 is $1.67 billion, up from $1.113 billion in 2009. The Aegis is the system most likely to take out a warhead fired by North Korea. A number of technological advances have been made in the Aegis program, including the Aegis Ballistic Missile Processor .

The President has said he wants to cut the Airborne Laser (ABL) system , which destroys missiles in their boost phase. While the ABL does not appear as a line item in the 2010 request, funding for the ballistic missile defense boost phase segment is down from about $400 million in 2009 to about $186 million in 2010.

The overall the 2010 missile defense request is for $7.12 billion, down from $8.494 billion in 2009.

Yes, the President has cut funding for some high- profile missile defense systems, but it would be a mistake to say he has cut a hole in America's missile defenses. The increased funding for proven missile defense systems such as Aegis says otherwise.

Good to know considering the events in Southeast Asia this week.



Take time...and perhaps see Terminator

May 22, 2009 3:38 AM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

Money and time are tight; and, because I cannot seem to pull away from work long enough to get to the gym lately, money, time, and my pants: all tight. Yet, as we likely all do from time to time, I felt the need for some escapism, to get out of the day-to-day routine. I indulged in a late-night movie, Terminator Salvation . Boy am I glad I did. It may seem like a stretch, but truly, it left me with a renewed appreciation for the industry I am so pleased to be a part of and to serve.

I highly recommend seeing Terminator Salvation . The story is decent, the acting is good, the action is intense, and the computer graphics/visual effects are phenomenal; most importantly, the technology -- defense and civilian -- is attention-grabbing, and even a bit awe-inspiring.

I've compiled a list of mil-aero/defense technologies that stood out for me in the film. I'm certain there are others I missed in the blaze of CG glory that was this film, so I might have to take it in again. (Darn!)

Bell helicopters
Rugged displays -- including one from Digital Systems Engineering (http://www.digitalsys.com)
Avionics
Unmanned aerial systems
Unmanned ground systems
Unmanned underwater systems
Autonomous robots
Electronic warfare
Signal generation
Signal jamming
Computer hacking
Rugged handheld computers
Fuel cells -- portable nuclear power
Defense programs
Biomimicry

In a word: awesome. Have a wonderful, well-deserved long holiday weekend. I hope you take time for yourself, and perhaps even take in a cool, new flick. If you do, let us know.



NASA 2010 budget request shows increase over 2009

May 20, 2009 9:00 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale



At first glance the proposed 2010 budget request from NASA looks promising. The requested amount is $18.686 billion and includes increased funding for human spaceflight programs such as the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle, which includes avionics technology investment.

Posted by John McHale

At first glance the proposed 2010 budget request from NASA looks promising. The requested amount is $18.686 billion and includes increased funding for human spaceflight programs such as the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle , which includes avionics technology investment.

This is a "five percent increase from the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act," according to a statement by acting NASA Administrator Christopher Scolese. He adds that the budget supports the "goal of returning Americans to the moon and exploring other destinations." Currently the request calls for $3.963 billion for exploration compared to $3.505 in the 2009 request.

The space shuttle request is for about $3.157 billion for next year but scheduled to be zero by 2013. The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle for request for 2010 is at $1.383 billion and scheduled to steadily increase the next two years as the shuttle retires. A funding request of $1.415 billion was made for the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle for 2010.

According to NASA the Obama Administration will resubmit the exploration request after the independent review of planned U.S. human space flight activities is complete. President Obama announced the formation of the review earlier this month.

According to an administration release the review will be conducted by panel of experts led by Norman Augustine, the former chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin . The "Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans" is to examine ongoing and planned NASA "development activities, as well as potential alternatives, and present options for advancing a safe, innovative, affordable, and sustainable human space flight program in the years following space shuttle retirement."

In a story in USA Today , the administration is even considering a former astronaut to head NASA -- retired Marine Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden.

I'm glad human space flight is getting so much attention. Manned space programs are what make the public interested which in turn persuades Congress to release more dollars for spaceflight. The continued success of the Chinese space program may also prove persuasive, especially if they get to the Moon before we get back there...

For more on the 2010 NASA budget request, visit http://www.nasa.gov/news/budget/index.html .



Good timing for human space flight

May 19, 2009 9:23 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

The successful repair and upgrade of the Hubble Space Telescope by the crew of the Space Shuttle Atlantis was good timing for NASA's human space flight programs .

Earlier this month President Obama announced the formation of an independent review of planned U.S. human space flight activities and NASA's 2010 budget request was released.

According to an administration release the review will be conducted by panel of experts led by Norman Augustine, the former chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin . The "Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans" is to examine ongoing and planned NASA "development activities, as well as potential alternatives, and present options for advancing a safe, innovative, affordable, and sustainable human space flight program in the years following space shuttle retirement."

NASA’s 2010 budget request was for $18.686 billion, a "five percent increase from the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act," according to a statement by acting NASA Administrator Christopher Scolese. He adds that the budget supports the "goal of returning Americans to the moon and exploring other destinations."

Currently the request calls for $3.963 billion for exploration compared to $3.505 in the 2009 request. According to NASA the Obama Administration will resubmit the exploration request after the review is complete.

I'm heartened to see the new administration giving human space flight so much attention. In recent years manned space operations have taken a back seat to robotic, unmanned exploration and understandably so after the loss of one shuttle and its crew and mishaps to other spacecraft in the ageing fleet.

One of my colleagues has written that we should just stick to robots because they are cheaper.

I disagree. I think we need both. Manned space programs are what make the public interested which in turn persuades Congress to release more dollars for spaceflight. The continued success of the Chinese space program may also prove persuasive, especially if they get to the Moon before we get back there...

The previous administration had mantra of to the "Moon, Mars and Beyond" which referenced the formation of the Constellation program and planning for the Orion spacecraft, which will replace the Space Shuttle. It appears on the surface that the current crew in charge in Washington has similar goals.

According to a story in USA Today , the administration is even considering a former astronaut to head NASA -- retired Marine Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden.

All signs point to continued human exploration of space so for now let's make sure the crew of Atlantis get home safely.



Finally, a 2010 DOD budget; now Congress can get to work

May 14, 2009 5:53 AM by John Keller

Posted by John Keller

At long last, we have a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) budget request for federal fiscal year 2010. It's only three months -- a quarter of a year -- later than usual, which doesn't give lawmakers on Capitol Hill as much time as usual to go through details of the 2010 DOD budget request.

Facing a tight schedule before federal fiscal year 2010 starts on 1 Oct., Congress confronts a 2010 defense budget proposal from the Obama Administration of $663.8 billion -- $533.8 billion in discretionary spending for things like ship radar , aircraft avionics , tanks and vetronics , military communications systems, electronics upgrades, personnel, military construction, and family housing -- and $130 billion to pay for fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lawmakers now have only 4 1/2 months -- not the usual 7 1/2 months -- to consider the DOD's half-trillion budget request for next year. Still, why fret? Maybe the late budget release doesn't make that much difference. Even if Congress got the request 4 1/2 YEARS in advance, I believe this august body would still miss its deadlines.

I've been observing the federal government and its budgeting machinations now for more than a quarter-century, and it never fails to amuse when Congress can't pass its budget, authorization, and appropriations bills before the federal fiscal year ends on 30 Sept. The only question is how long Congress must fund government operations with continuing resolutions before they can get the money bills approved.

It is the discretionary spending portion of the DOD budget that interests us most, as it contains the accounts for military procurement, research and development, as well as operations, maintenance, and construction.

Those watching the U.S. defense industry know that the big weapons programs come out of this budget segment -- and believe it or not, there's an increase. President Obama is asking Congress for $533.8 billion in discretionary military spending in 2010. That's $3.6 more than the $15.4 billion the Pentagon asked for the current fiscal year, and slightly more than the $513.3 billion that Congress approved for 2009. The Obama Administration says this represents 2.1 percent real growth after adjusting for inflation.

The Pentagon's budget request came on 7 May -- too late for a detailed analysis in this issue, but next month we'll have chapter and verse on procurement and research in communications, electronics, telecommunications, and intelligence (CET&I) technologies proposed funding for 2010. For this year, incidentally, DOD asked for $29.16 billion in CET&I spending, which was 8.5 percent of the total DOD budget request.

We can tell you that this DOD budget would increase intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) spending by nearly $2 billion, including money for 50 Predator-class unmanned aerial vehicles; an increase in manned ISR capabilities; and research and development on several ISR enhancements and experimental systems.

The 2010 DOD budget also would increase spending by $500 million to pay for maintenance, and pilots for the military helicopter fleet. The DOD also would increase the number of special operations personnel by more than 2,400, and purchase increased numbers of Special Forces aircraft.

Navy leaders have reason to smile, as DOD would increase the buy of Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs) from two to three in 2010, with an eventual goal of buying 55 of these ships. In addition, the DOD request would delay development of the Navy's next-generation cruiser, the CG-X, and cap the growth of Army Brigade Combat Teams at 45, rather than the previously planned 48.

The budget also includes $6.8 billion to buy 30 Lockheed Martin F-35 joint strike fighter aircraft -- an increase of $3.1 billion and 14 aircraft from this year's request -- with a goal of buying 2,443 of these aircraft. The Pentagon also wants to buy 31 F/A-18 and E/A-18G aircraft, and retire about 250 old jet fighters.

The bad news on the 2010 DOD budget for aircraft would be the end of production of the F-22 Raptor advanced tactical fighter, as well as of the C-17 airlifter.

The Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, meanwhile, will be significantly restructured, by changing FCS from its emphasis on spinouts of mature technologies, to a focus on improving infantry brigade combat teams with FCS technologies and replacing the most vulnerable platforms in the heavy brigade combat teams.

In addition, the 2010 budget would continue developing three FCS unmanned ground vehicles, two unmanned aerial vehicles, non-line-of-sight launch system, unattended ground sensors, and an information network.

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Thank you conference advisory board members

May 12, 2009 3:36 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

Creating content for a conference is much different than developing a story for our magazine or website.

Reporting and writing news copy or features on military electronics requires extensive research and interviewing by the reporter. Developing a conference program requires such groundwork in addition to developing relationships with experts in the defense industry to not only recruit potential speakers but determine what topics people want to see.

This year when planning the upcoming Military & Aerospace Electronics Forum on June 1 in San Diego I was lucky again to have such a group of experts on my conference advisory board. Thanks to their advice and connections we were able to recruit an outstanding group of speakers beginning with our keynote -- Dr. Frank Gordon, Science and Technology Competency Lead and Head of Research & Applied Science, SPAWAR Systems Center San Diego .

This year's Advisory Board included: Steve Blackman, director of business development, Mil/Aero at LynuxWorks, Inc.; Joe Chapman, secretary and treasurer, Electronics Components Board and consultant for the U.S. Department of Defense; Alan Dietrich, president of DRS Intelligence Strategic Business Unit; Angelique Irvin, president of Clear Align; Roy Keeler, director of business development for Defense & Aerospace at GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms; John Keller, chief editor of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine; Mike MacPherson, director of business development at Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing; James A. Robles, senior technical fellow at the Boeing Co.; Pat Ryan, director defense initiatives, Global Government Solutions Group at Cisco Systems, Inc.; James Shaw, vice president of engineering & operations at Crystal Group; Joyce Tokar, president of Pyhhrus Software; Manuel Uhm, senior marketing manager, Processing Solutions Group at Xilinx; and Dean Young, facilities officer at Celestica Aerospace Technologies.

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, I couldn't have done it without you.

See you in San Diego next month.



What the web tells us

May 5, 2009 10:36 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

At Military & Aerospace Electronics we think we've done a fairly good job over the years of discerning what types of content our readers are looking for.

Our content crystal ball is getting much clearer through the Internet or more specifically our website, which has become an invaluable tool for tracking what stories and topics get the most attention -- or hits on the site. For example this year stories on a new exoskeleton from Lockheed Martin -- pictured here -- and the jet-powered Predator C unmanned aerial system from General Atomics received a ton of hits on our site.

Much of this traffic comes from search engines and links from other stories. As a result we're taking some of these topics and expanding on them in our magazine. I just finished writing an expanded story on the exoskeleton. After seeing how much attention it got on the web, I went to Lockheed and interviewed the engineers running the program. The article should appear in our magazine this summer.

I'll be doing an expanded piece on the new Predator variant as well.

Worth noting is that for 2007 and 2008 the most viewed article topic was software defined radio (SDR) -- the technology behind the Army's Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program .

Others topic heavily viewed topics included unmanned systems of course and COTS obsolescence challenges.

In a way our website is becoming a guide we can use to better target our magazine content.

When we redesigned our print magazine in January, our goal was to make it reflect our growing digital presence because the future of this business is the Internet not print.

Online media enhances print -- it doesn't mean that print must go away. Print just needs to evolve.



Military electro-optics business appears steady

April 28, 2009 3:40 PM by Joseph Normandin



Posted by John McHale

Earlier this month at the SPIE Defense Security and Sensing conference and exhibition in Orlando, Fla., when I asked attendees and exhibitors there about the military market I got the same answers I received form those at military electronics and military avionics events -- business is steady or improving.

This event followed on the Obama administration's announcement that they plan to kill the U.S. Air Force F-22 and Airborne Laser programs -- both of which contain significant electro-optics investment.

One gentleman from L-3 Communications told me "Even if they cancel one weapons system there are others that will get more funding to pick up the slack."

Folks at Physical Optics Corp. and Sarnoff say business has never been better. Dilas officials from Tucson, Aria., say their military laser business continues to grow at strong rate.

It should be noted that many of the exhibitors there say their business is still mostly custom as opposed to off-the-shelf. The custom designs are typically more of a long-term investment from the customer as opposed to products ordered off-the-shelf out of a catalog.

Let's hope this steady growth for military avionics, electronics, and electro-optics technology continues to be isolated from the rest of the economy.

The technology investment is needed -- world events prove that every day.



Aviation industry downturn may have a silver lining for jetliner avionics manufacturers

April 24, 2009 10:41 AM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller


There seems to be a lot of bad news out there in the commercial aviation industry, which revolves around Boeing's report this week of a 50 percent reduction in first-quarter profits, and that the company also must reduce production of its widebody passenger jets because of weakening demand.

There seems to be a lot of bad news out there in the commercial aviation industry, which revolves around Boeing's report this week of a 50 percent reduction in first-quarter profits, and that the company also must reduce production of its widebody passenger jets because of weakening demand.

The aviation industry is hurting because the economy's on the ropes, homeowners are defaulting on mortgages, and folks are worried about losing their jobs. As a result, they're just not flying on commercial airlines as much as they used to, and airlines and aircraft manufacturers are feeling the pinch.

Airlines throughout the world are delaying deliveries of new aircraft they have ordered from Boeing, Airbus, and other airplane makers because right now there are too few passengers to put in the seats available. Furthermore, airlines are grounding some aircraft in their fleets because of sluggish passenger demand.

Sounds bad for the avionics industry, doesn't it? Maybe, but maybe not. The potential for avionics upgrades to existing aircraft may be the silver lining to this black cloud of the aviation economic downturn.

It's pretty clear that things will be tight in the avionics business for a while, but passenger aviation is bound to start picking up eventually. When it does, some aircraft operators may find it cheaper and faster to upgrade the avionics on grounded aircraft and put them back into service than to wait for new aircraft manufacturing to crank back up.

Not only that, but emerging requirements for NextGen satellite navigation and GPS-based air traffic control also will increase demand for avionics upgrades for existing commercial aircraft.

When we're ready to succumb to gloom and doom about the near-term prospect for new aircraft manufacturing, remember there are still a lot of aircraft out there waiting to get back into service. New avionics upgrades may be the way to make that happen very quickly.

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Aerospace and defense technology market gets a vote of confidence

April 24, 2009 6:16 AM by John Keller

Posted by John Keller

Let's face it, a lot of us in mixed company lately have been giving air reflecting false bravado about the U.S. defense budget from fiscal year 2010 onward. On the surface, we're all supremely confident that military spending and the aerospace and defense industry will be just fine amid the economic ruin of banking, real estate, automotive, and other industries.

Inside, through, we're as nervous as cats. President Obama already has said he wants to kill the Lockheed Martin F-22 jet fighter , as well as manned vehicles in the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. Although confidence on the surface, many of us are wondering, what's next?

Truthfully there's very little to go on, save Defense Secretary Robert Gates's recent proclamation about the Obama Administration's attempt to discontinue not only the F-22 and FCS manned vehicles but also the Transformational Communications Satellite (TSAT ) program and the military laser system called the Air Force Boeing Airborne Laser (ABL) , which is designed to shoot down enemy ballistic missiles in their boost phase.

Today, though, let's all breathe a sigh of relief -- short-lived, though it may be -- because defense industry profits seem to be in good shape , at least for the time being.

Northrop Grumman Corp. this week reported a 47 percent increase in the company's first-quarter profits, as well as higher sales, all based on growth the defense contractor's technology business.

Northrop Grumman's first-quarter net went up to $389 million, compared with $264 million the year before. Revenue rose 7.7 percent to $8.32 billion.

Whew!

Keep an eye out, though. Our industry may be dodging a bullet now, but the rest of the story is up in the air. Details of the Pentagon's 2010 budget request will not be made public and go to Congress for consideration until at least early May -- and perhaps even later. Let's review: where does the Devil live, again? It's in the details, and we don't know what they are, yet.

Something else to consider: military systems integrators and electronics component suppliers may be doing well now, but some content this phenomenon simply indicates that the Pentagon is spending its congressionally appropriated money while it has it. Future years may tell a different story.

Still, there's good news today. With all the bad news out there, I'll take it.

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Win some, lose some

April 22, 2009 7:30 PM by Courtney Howard

Posted by Courtney E. Howard

In life, you win some and you lose some. Sitting in McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, slot machines silent all about me, I am reminded of this fact. It rings true in life in general, in sales, in the court system, when it comes to gambling, and it even extends to one's occupation. It is a powerful phrase, and the subject of many a song. It helps the general populace better accept events that could be considered mistakes, losses, or failures. I have trouble accepting "losing some," however, when it comes to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States Department of Homeland Security .

I was arriving at McCarran when I first heard the news. "Corporal Justin Reed, 22, is under arrest in Boston after authorities found the bomb-making materials, a handgun and ammunition in luggage that passed a security inspection at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas," Fox 5 News in Las Vegas reported. "The Transportation Security Administration said Monday that materials found in a U.S. Marine's luggage, including a hand grenade fuse and three model rocket engines 'did not pose an imminent threat to aviation.'"

Heh?! Perhaps I did not hear that right.

I will check Boston.com to see what those reporters are saying : "During a layover at Logan International Airport Sunday morning, federal baggage screeners going through his military-style backpack found a semiautomatic handgun, a fully loaded gun magazine, a grenade fuse and detonator, and model rocket engines containing explosive mixtures. The bag had been checked without incident at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas."

No incident. Not an imminent threat. Not buying it.

Here is the deal: I love the TSA, and what it stands for (as described at tsa.gov ): We are your neighbors, friends and relatives. We are 50,000 security officers, inspectors, directors, air marshals and managers who protect the nation's transportation systems so you and your family can travel safely. We look for bombs at checkpoints in airports, we inspect rail cars, we patrol subways with our law enforcement partners, and we work to make all modes of transportation safe." The site further carries the headline, "Your Safety Is Our Priority."

I am not sure I could bring myself to fly were it not for TSA officials checking for riff-raff. I trust in them. Now, though, I would say that trust is dashed. Mistakes happen. They are only human. You win some... None of these turns of phrase are helping put me, and millions of others, at ease.

We do our part -- lots of us with a smile and a thank you. We show up two hours early. We limit our liquids. We remove our shoes, jackets, and all things metal. We pull out our computers and baggie of liquids. We even, at one time, surrendered our expensive mascara and lipstick because we did not realize that they were considered "creams." We make awkward jokes when we get patted down, follow direction when being scanned with a wand, and blush when a stranger rifles through our skivvies.

A majority of us are very grateful someone is looking out for us and doing their part to protect us from harm. TSA, please consider that this event, that baggage, and even a U.S. Marine could have posed a very real and imminent threat to public safety. Thank you to all those Transportation Security Officers who take their job seriously, stay alert and diligent on the job, are dedicated to public safety, and practice their craft with patience, politeness, courtesy, and understanding.



Hacking into the Joint Strike Fighter program

April 21, 2009 3:29 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

The lead story in today's Wall Street Journal caught my attention. It details how spies have hacked into the U.S. Air Force's Joint Strike Fighter program and stolen key data on sensitive technology.

According to the article they hacked into computers at some of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) prime contractors that were connected to the Internet. Sources in the Journal article say the real classified technology such as sensor data is protected in computers unconnected to the Internet.

This isn't the first time either. Security of suppliers is a major issue within the Department of Defense (DOD) and not just regarding their Internet firewalls. I've attended conferences and spoke to many folks who are involved with the Department of Defense Trusted Sources of Supply efforts, aimed at ensuring the reliability of military components as technology development continues to be moved off U.S. shores.

Growing challenges include identifying counterfeit parts and keeping them out of the supply chain . Many parts are available on the web though sites such as the Chinese IC Mart and others claiming to have part numbers issued by trusted reliable defense suppliers -- without their reliability testing and at dirt cheap prices. If one of these parts found its way into a weapons systems or aircraft mission computer it could cost lives.

DOD and industry are also working to deliver anti-tamper capability to components earlier in the design cycle to prevent enemy elements from tampering with technology before it makes its way into mission-critical programs.

The threat of information attack is much more complicated than just breaching firewalls and hacking into systems at the DOD or the primes. Companies supplying software or hardware to the military need to ensure their computers and production processes are secure.

The threat will only grow as China and other rogue nations gain expertise in cyber warfare as the Journal article points out.



VME embedded computer industry buries the hatchet over VITA 46 VPX standard ... for now

April 21, 2009 8:35 AM by John Keller

Posted by John Keller

Cooler heads apparently have prevailed in the VME embedded computer industry in a dispute over how to ensure interoperability of VME bus technology pertaining to the VITA 46 VPX industry standard for high-speed serial interconnects in high-performance military, aerospace, and commercial embedded computing .

I had openly been fretting over a rift in the VPX standard groups that had threatened to tear the VME bus community apart. Apparently this VPX dispute has been settled , and it's none too soon. I'm frankly relieved to see tensions subside; I've been following the VMEbus industry for a long time -- 20 years, in fact -- and I have a lot of friends and acquaintances here for whom I have respect and affection. I just didn't want to see things get ugly, and I think we were headed down that road.

The fight erupted last January when several VME card providers founded the OpenVPX Industry Working Group to formulate interoperability standards for VPX-based systems. Their intentions -- on the surface, at least -- were sound because these companies wanted to hurry the standards process along to build momentum in the market, especially with prime defense contractors who are eager to use the technology, but are frustrated by the lack of interoperability standards.

There were two problems with how the OpenVPX group got started, however. First, the group was operating outside of the VITA industry trade association, which caught many in this industry by surprise, because VITA is the traditional place for creating VME-related standards. Second -- and much more damaging -- was the OpenVPX group's failure to invite some influential VPX providers.

By getting started on the wrong foot this way, the OpenVPX group initially hurt feelings and caused suspicion. Make no mistake; there's bad blood in this industry, and the way the OpenVPX group got started -- noble though its goals may have been -- just made things a lot worse.

Some companies thought the rightful place to formulate VPX interoperability standards should have been VITA. The OpenVPX members thought VITA was too slow, too engineering-centric, and was not well structured to deal with business and time-to-market issues that they believed were core components of VPX interoperability problems.

Here's how members of the VME embedded computer industry set aside their differences: they created one industry organization that is masquerading as two organizations.

Within VITA, industry members created the VITA 65 working group. Meanwhile, the OpenVPX group invited everyone in the industry to join. The two organizations' goals and objectives are the same -- to come up with meaningful interoperability standards for VPX systems -- and all members have equal influence and voting privileges.

Next October, the OpenVPX group will dissolve, and all of its work transferred to the VITA 65 group, which will take it to the entire VITA membership for adoption. This sounds great, and I trust the goals will be achieved.

We have to remember something else, though. The old rivals in this industry are watching each other, perhaps more closely than they ever have. In the open, these companies are embracing with their right hands, but their left hands are clutching concealed daggers.



Potential F-22 cancellation may hurt military avionics suppliers

April 14, 2009 10:56 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

Well, after months of speculation in the media, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced his plans last week for restructuring of the Department of Defense (DOD) including cutting the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor program .

The decision not to produce any more F-22s may hit many in the military avionics and electronics industry in the gut especially at F-22 prime contractor Lockheed Martin . Reportedly Lockheed claims canceling this program would result in the loss of about 90,000 jobs.

I remember speaking to people from Lockheed in Ft. Worth, Texas, back when they won the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program and was told that people were crying with joy because the win would guarantee work for 30 to 40 years and mean they could send their children and grandchildren to college.

It hits every area of the community.

It won't just be Lockheed jobs that disappear, but many from the second and third tier suppliers that design avionics hardware and software for the F-22's advanced systems.

The loss of the F-22 will affect the companies that supply the mission computers, cockpit displays, real-time operating systems all the way down to the optical connectors.

These suppliers will still support the aircraft that have already been bought, but the loss of future orders will change their one, two, and five year outlooks drastically.

However, there will still be opportunities for designers of defense avionics and other electronics solutions. Gates says that the DOD will still support the JSF and increase funding for Special Forces operations to go after insurgents.

They are trying to restructure the military to better fight the War on Terror. Many in the current administration feel that the F-22 was designed to fight a more conventional type of war.

Therefore the DOD will still need electronics for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance more than ever before to help track down terrorists worldwide. This will come in the form of better communications and electro-optics capability for Special Forces, video and satellite surveillance technology, electronics for unmanned systems, etc.

Despite these opportunities, the loss of the F-22 will hurt, but we won't see how much for at least a year or two.

Some leaders in Congress reportedly protested the cut of the program claiming that cutting funding to help the warfighter is a mistake and only being done because the Obama administration wants to spend money anywhere else such as bailing out a failing General Motors.

I keep thinking of what Ronald Reagan said once during a debate with Jimmy Carter --that "a recession is when your neighbor loses his job, a depression is when you lose yours and recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his."

Something tells me some folks at Lockheed might want to swap out Jimmy Carter for someone else right now...

You be the judge.



Rest in peace Harry Kalas

April 14, 2009 9:36 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

If you don't mind I'd like to take a break from blogging about the U.S. military budget cuts or President Obama's economic stimulus package to remember my favorite baseball announcer, Harry Kalas, long-time play-by-play man for the current World Champion Philadelphia Phillies .

Mr. Kalas passed away yesterday after suffering a heart attack in the broadcast booth at a Phillies game.

He'd been calling games for the Phillies since 1971, pretty much my whole life. I grew up listening to Harry and his partner in the booth Ritchie "Whitey" Ashburn in the 1970s and 80s on television and radio. When the Phillies were on national television I would turn down the volume and put Harry on the radio.

I'm sure it's the same for Tiger fans who grew up with Ernie Harwell or for generations of Cubs fans who listened to Harry Carey. There's something so familiar about hearing their voice call a game, bringing you back to when you were a kid and all that mattered was baseball, comic books, etc.

I've been far away from the Philadelphia for more than a decade, but recently during the National League Championship Series I heard Harry do the intro on Fox for Game 1 and it brought me right back...

Whenever a Phillie would hit a homerun, Harry would say .. "that ball is outta here!!! Home Run," The Bull Greg Luzinski or Bake McBride, or Ryan Howard. Etc.

My favorite one was when home run king and Phillie third baseman Mike Schmidt hit his 500th home run. If I remember correctly it was in the 9th inning of a game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh and it turned out to be the game winner that night. Harry got emotional and his voice cracked when he yelled "Number 500!!!! Michael Jack Schmidt!!!"

He really loved the Phillies. I saw a report on ESPN last night that before the last game he called he threw out the first pitch and in the last post-season game he called, the Phillies won the World Series.

Quite fitting

So long Harry Kalas and thanks for decades of memories.



When you're considered an 'industry expert'

April 8, 2009 10:46 AM by John Keller

Posted by John Keller

I'm quoted today in The Telegraph , the daily newspaper of Nashua, N.H., as an alleged industry expert on military technology matters where the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor advanced tactical fighter jet is concerned. The paper wanted my opinion on how the Pentagon's plan to scale back purchases of F-22 jet fighters in the latest defense budget proposal will affect the BAE Systems Electronics and Integrated Solutions segment in Nashua, N.H.

The story, entitled Halting jet's production may hurt BAE , is based on an assumption that BAE Systems might lose money or cut jobs if the Pentagon can halt production of the F-22 at slightly less than 200 fighter jets. BAE Systems is involved in much of the aircraft avionics technology for the F-22. I pointed out that BAE Systems is well positioned not to be hurt significantly by stopping one big defense program. BAE is about technology, not platforms, I said.

Really, I'd like to make two points where the proposed U.S. Defense Department budget is concerned.

First, the DOD budget most likely will be rich in aerospace electronics , with military electronics technology money perhaps flowing toward soldier systems rather than big aircraft, ship, and combat vehicle programs. The money for electronics and electro-optics technology is likely to stay in the budget, so aerospace and defense technology companies should not take substantial hits overall. I seriously doubt if we'll see the kinds of defense budget cuts in the Obama Administration that we did during the Clinton Administration.

Second, this budget fight is far from over -- in fact it's hardly begun. Congress will have the last word on how much money the Pentagon will get next year and where it will be spent. In this Democrat-dominated Congress, jobs and the economy are the first priority. Lawmakers will be reluctant to kill defense programs perceived to employ a lot of people. I think it's no a foregone conclusion that production will stop on the F-22. DOD tried for years to kill the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, and Congress never let them do it. It could be the same with the F-22.

Something else to think about: Somali pirates hijacked a U.S.-flagged vessel today for the first time in the latest Indian Ocean wave of piracy. Congress is watching this, and knowing that their constituents will expect a strong U.S. response. Being perceived as cutting the defense budget right now won't be considered a good way to get votes.

I know it can be fun to trumpet doom and gloom based on comments from the secretary of defense. But keep your chin up. The Congress has not weighed in yet on the proposed DOD budget restructuring, and I think it could be interesting what Congress comes up with.

Stay tuned ...



Bye bye F-22

April 7, 2009 1:10 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

Well, after months of speculation in the media, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced his plans for restructuring of the Department of Defense (DOD) including cutting the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor program .

The decision not to produce any more F-22s hits many in the defense electronics industry in the gut especially at F-22 prime contractor Lockheed Martin . Reportedly Lockheed claims canceling this program would result in the loss of about 90,000 jobs.

I remember speaking to people from Lockheed in Ft. Worth, Texas, back when they won the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program and was told that people were crying with joy because the win would guarantee work for 30 to 40 years and mean they could send their children and grandchildren to college.

It hits every area of the community.

It won't just be Lockheed jobs that disappear, but many from the second and third tier suppliers that design hardware and software for the F-22's advanced systems.

The loss of the F-22 will affect the companies that supply the mission computers, cockpit displays, real-time operating systems all the way down to the optical connectors.

These suppliers will still support the aircraft that have already been bought, but the loss of future orders will change their one, two, and five year outlooks drastically.

However, there will still be opportunities for designers of defense electronics. Gates says that the DOD will still support the JSF and increase funding for Special Forces operations to go after insurgents.

They are trying to restructure the military to better fight the War on Terror. Many in the current administration feel that the F-22 was designed to fight a more conventional type of war.

Therefore the DOD will still need electronics for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance more than ever before to help track down terrorists worldwide. This will come in the form of better communications and electro-optics capability for Special Forces, video and satellite surveillance technology, electronics for unmanned systems, etc.

Despite these opportunities, the loss of the F-22 will hurt, but we won't see how much for at least a year or two.

Some leaders in Congress reportedly protested the cut of the program claiming that cutting funding to help the warfighter is a mistake and only being done because the Obama administration wants to spend money anywhere else such as bailing out a failing General Motors.

I keep thinking of what Ronald Reagan said once during a debate with Jimmy Carter --that "a recession is when your neighbor loses his job, a depression is when you lose yours and recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his."

Something tells me some folks at Lockheed might want to swap out Jimmy Carter for someone else right now...

You be the judge.



Networking in Minneapolis

March 31, 2009 8:24 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

I just returned from my first visit to the Avionics Maintenance Conference in Minneapolis. I covered it for our Avionics Intelligence web site and to recruit potential speakers for our Avionics Europe and Avionics USA conferences.

It's unlike any conference that I've been to before in terms of its networking element. Most of the first day was made up of awards and discussions on standards but at night it takes on a different form.

From 6pm to 11pm each night about 20 different companies set up hospitality suites with different themes to attract airlines and vendors to come in and do business, make deals, discuss technology, or just talk about their latest vacations.

Each suite had its own set of food, drinks, and entertainment -- from electronic dart boards to pool tables to Wii video games to live music. Some had a New Orleans theme, a baseball theme and one was set up as an airport lounge.

All in all it's a fun way to get people out of their comfort zone to meet others in the industry and build relationships.

You don't see many events like this anymore. It's quite refreshing.

The folks at ARINC, who put it on understand that success in any business is about relationships. The same is true for journalism.

I was there only one night, but am looking forward to going back next year when the show is in Phoenix and maybe win at Wii Bowling for once.



If you want your baggage fly Northwest, not Delta

March 30, 2009 4:39 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

If you don't want to lose your luggage fly Northwest not Delta... Wait a minute aren't they the same company? Yes, they are -- Delta bought Northwest last year -- but while they have many similarities, baggage tracking capability is not one of them, said Steve Gorman, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Delta Airlines.

Northwest ranks first in baggage handling while Delta is down near the bottom, Gorman said during his keynote address at the Avionics Maintenance Conference (AMC) , run by the ARINC standards organization , in Minneapolis this morning.

Northwest has state-of-the art tracking software and scanners while Delta is just started adding modern baggage scanners recently, he continued. Gorman added that while all of Northwest will eventually be assimilated in Delta, its best practices and baggage expertise will be spread across Delta.

During his talk he spoke in depth about Delta's global reach and what Northwest brings to the company.

He said Delta's longest flight is from Atlanta to Bombay -- about 8,502 miles -- and its shortest is Detroit to Toledo -- 49 miles in 51 minutes gate to gate.

Sounds like less than 60 miles an hour...

Mapquest.com says it's only 57.82 miles from Detroit to Toledo -- about one hour and five minutes driving time.

If you fly the 51 minutes on Delta, you still have to add in another 60 minutes so you can check in and go through security. Then after getting luggage or catching a cab, maybe add another 30 minutes.

All said and done it's about two and half hours to fly 49 miles!

Is traffic that bad in Toledo that you need to fly from Detroit?



Where's the DOD budget request?

March 24, 2009 3:29 PM by Joseph Normandin



Posted by John McHale

Spring is here, baseball season is around the corner, the Masters is only a couple weeks away as is the Easter Bunny, but still no sign of the detailed budget request for Fiscal Year 2010 from the Department of Defense (DOD) .

During the Bush administration we could count on seeing it in February, but still nothing out of the Obama White House on a specific release date. Yes, he is busy with the economic stimulus package and on a 60 Minutes interview the other night he said Iraq is the least of his problems -- so that could be why.

Instead of waiting on the president, I called the press office at the DOD and a gentleman told me that he could not give a specific date at this time, but he thinks it should come out by mid to late April.

We'll see...

Many of the people I talk to at defense prime contractors are quite anxious to see what funding is going to be available. The delay in release is causing delays in their planning for next year.

I've asked them where they think funding will be targeted next year and the typical response is "your guess is as good as mine."

The stories in the press about Obama potentially cutting back on major programs such as the F-22 also has many employees at Lockheed worried about their jobs as a cutback in production would most likely translate to layoffs.

We'll keep you posted on the release date and when it does come out we will provide coverage on what it will mean for the defense electronics industry.

So stay tuned.



Optimism in tough times

March 18, 2009 3:29 PM by Joseph Normandin



In my last blog I discussed how the market for military avionics appears to be steady, but I was a bit surprised by the enthusiastic outlook for the global avionics market shown by attendees and exhibitors at last week's Avionics conference and exhibition that we put on in Amsterdam, Netherlands .

One exhibitor, Chip Downing of Wind River Systems, told me the avionics market is still quite strong, but the current economic climate might change especially on the commercial side, but not so much in the military market. He added that he still sees 2009 as a year of growth, but maybe not as strong as past years.

"The avionics market is up quite a bit," Doug Patterson of Aitech Defense Systems told me at the show. He said there is a strong trend in military and commercial applications to have more automation, taking the man out of the loop, which bodes well for avionics suppliers as they move toward next-generation avionics upgrades and the new air traffic management systems .

Officials from Seaweed Systems say they are seeing quite a lot of avionics business right now, and "haven't seen a downturn at all." Folks at Presagis echoed that, saying they see continued growth for themselves and their partners.

Esterline and Ruag Aerospace officials added that their military avionics business is steady and that they are developing long-term programs with key civil and commercial aerospace customers.

The keynote, Donald Ward, created some positive buzz of his own in discussing the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA's) efforts toward a next-generation air traffic management system -- or NextGEN. Ward, the FAA's Air Traffic Operations representative to Europe, said the FAA is looking to work more with industry and focus on business models that work.

The main thrust of his speech was urging the U.S. and Europe -- industry and government -- to work together to harmonize NextGEN and SESAR (Single European
Sky ATM Research) technologies. Ward said it is essential to have commonality between the two systems because the technology is too complicated to try to develop independently.

He added that it is also critical to involve the military each step of the way or "there will be major problems down the road."

Aside from Ward's keynote address the most popular session was the one we had on electronic flight bags and how they will be an instrumental tool in dealing with runway incursions.

Hope you got to see them.



Needing reform

March 17, 2009 3:25 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

Last week I was struck by how the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (MOD) is behind on acquisition reform , not having anything like a block upgrade or other type of incremental acquisition.

During a presentation at the Avionics conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands , engineers from the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) discussed their efforts to integrate COTS electronics into military avionics systems and manage the obsolescence issues that go along with it.

According to them the MOD uses mid-life upgrades, that have long intervals between them, which causes major obsolescence issues as the parts from the last upgrade are no longer supported by the time the next upgrade comes around.

Yes, block upgrades put even more pressure on maintaining the life cycle of components, but that is necessary if systems are to have the latest technology deployed to the field.

For acquisition, the U.S. Department of Defense uses what they call spiral development, which breaks down program development into blocks that incrementally add capability to the program every year or so. This gets new systems into the hands of warfighters more quickly and helps battle the obsolescence problem of COTS components by upgrading them more frequently.

It also enables designers to get feedback from those using the systems in the field.

However, block upgrades can also be confusing to suppliers and newcomers to the industry as there are so many variants and requirements for each block.

I think the gentlemen from Dstl would welcome that type of incremental technology insertion, but kudos to them finding innovative ways to integrate modern military avionics despite the MOD's slow-moving procurement structure.



Troubles dividing the VME board industry could have been avoided

March 15, 2009 9:37 AM by John Keller

Posted by John Keller

I worried about this, I warned of this, and now it's happening: companies in the VME board industry are choosing up sides in a fight over industry standards to make the VITA 46 VPX high speed serial bus interoperable in commercial and military systems across the board.

Everybody in the single board computer industry knows his community must agree on standards for uniform board sizes, connectors, and other technical aspects of the VPX standard high-speed serial databus. Otherwise this promising new technology will stumble in its bid to gain market momentum and appeal among the big military system integrators like Boeing, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman.

The stakes couldn't be higher, because VPX is considered to represent the future of this entire industry. The problem is this: the military board community can't settle on how to move forward with setting these open system standards for embedded computing.

On one side of this dispute, we have five companies that want to break away from the established standards group for this industry, the VITA Standards Organization (VSO) in Fountain Hills, Ariz. The break-away group is called the OpenVPX Industry Work Group, and its members include Mercury Computer Systems Inc. of Chelmsford, Mass.; Aitech Defense Systems in Chatsworth, Calif.; GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms in Charlottesville, Va.; Hybricon in Ayer, Mass.; Tracewell Systems in Westerville, Ohio.

On the other side are four companies that want the industry to work within the VITA Standards Organization so as not to give any perceived advantage in VPX innovations to any company or group of companies. These are Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing in Leesburg, Va.; Elma Electronic Inc. in Fremont, Calif.; Carlo Gavazzi Computing Solutions in Brockton, Mass.; and Extreme Engineering Solutions Inc. (X-ES) in Middleton, Wis.

So we have the OpenVPX Five against the VSO Four. You're kidding yourself if you think the other companies in this industry are not under intense pressure to chooses sides and declare allegiances.

More importantly, what does this industry discord say to the big systems integrators in the U.S. defense industry that for years have come to depend so heavily on VME technology like VPX? At best, the big defense companies will want to delay design decisions until the controversy dies down. At worst, they'll get disgusted and look elsewhere for the technology they need.

Among these divided forces are some of the biggest and most influential companies in the embedded computing industry. All are fierce competitors, with no love lost between them. There's enough to divide this industry as it is without competing standards organizations.

So how did it come to this?

First, the VITA Standards Organization ignored repeated appeals from its members to move quickly on VPX interoperability standards so they wouldn't miss market opportunities. I understand some of these appeals came directly from VITA Executive Director Ray Alderman, as well as from other influential industry old-hands.

As a result, leaders of the companies that would comprise the OpenVPX Five believed they couldn't wait on the slow-moving VITA Standards Organization any longer. They believed it was crucial, for themselves and for the future of VPX technology, to move on -- with or without the VSO, and so they did. In all honesty, I can't blame them for doing so.

The mistake the OpenVPX Five made was in not initially inviting everyone in the military embedded computing community to join them. Right off the bat, this group alienated others in the industry who thought the OpenVPX group was moving furtively and with only a select group of companies to do an end-run around those not invited to be part of the group.

Since then, the OpenVPX group has put out the word that their organization is open to anyone who wants to join, but unfortunately the damage has been done. Those not initially invited to join are hurt, suspicious, and ready to organize on their own. It will take a long time to rebuild this kind of devastated trust.

For the VSO Four and their supporters, you can't blame them for being mad. They thought they were getting the kind of standards-building mutual support their industry needed by being members of VITA. Formation of the OpenVPX group was a surprise, and it changed all the rules.

Some people involved with the OpenVPX group are honestly surprised at the industry backlash their group has caused. One member told me -- and rightly, I believe -- that the OpenVPX group could do this industry a lot of good, if people would just quit taking shots at it.

So the OpenVPX group could help boost this industry up if its detractors would fall into line. On the other hand, the VITA Standards Organization also could do the industry a lot of good if its members would get off their butts and take VPX interoperability standards seriously.

Something had better happen fast, before it's too late for this industry.



Editor at large, locally

March 12, 2009 12:04 AM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

Travel is tough, especially in an economic downturn. Travel budgets are tightening across the board. Lucky for me, I live in the Pacific Northwest -- a hub of military and aerospace activity. I don't have to go too far to be right in the middle of it all.

I am a stone's throw from Fairchild Air Force base, home to a weapons squadron, training group and training squadron, office of special investigations, and more. After a one-hour flight to Portland, I am at FLIR Systems, Mentor Graphics, Lattice Semiconductor, TriQuint Semiconductor, or Intel.

In my own backyard, Spokane County, reside Agilent, SprayCool , General Dynamics Itronix , and others. I had the opportunity to tour General Dynamics Itronix today, in fact. I met some friendly, knowledgeable people, witnessed product assembly in a lean production lab, saw innovative testing facilities, and became privy to the latest technologies the company has to offer.

General Dynamics Itronix , like most other organizations, is not immune to today's harsh economic conditions. It was revealed last month that the Spokane Valley facility may close by the end of this year. A fixture in Spokane for more than two decades, General Dynamics Itronix employs roughly 380 people. Of that number, 20 may remain in Spokane Valley, 60 have the option to relocate to Sunrise, Fla., and the remainder will lose their jobs.

I know I am not alone when I say: I am anxious for things to turn around. It is unfortunate to see facilities that employ professional people in skilled jobs and who put out a quality, valued product suffer.

When I talk to high-level executives at firms suffering layoffs and other setbacks, they reveal that cuts are being made not because primes are suffering and military programs are being cut; rather, it is for no other reason than the poor economy. Heck, even Warren Buffett was knocked from atop his perch: It was revealed today that he has lost his "world's richest billionaire" status. Bill Gates (decades younger) now holds first place. Perhaps every community -- even a billionaires' club -- could use some "new blood" (for lack of a better term). My hat is off to mil-aero firms holding strong in the face of trying times, including my neighbors here in the Northwest. Kudos!



Not a bad time to travel

March 10, 2009 4:56 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted By John McHale

Yes, the economy is tanking , and big airplane makers like Boeing are having major layoffs , yet airfares and hotel rates are down and flights aren't even crowded.

I flew to Amsterdam this week for our Avionics conference and exhibition and only booked my airfare a couple weeks ago, yet got a lower fare than colleagues who booked more than a month in advance. Not only that I had no one in my row and could stretch out for the all night flight.

It's true I'm on an expense account, but it's never been cheaper to travel if you have some disposable cash for a long weekend, even to Europe.

I'd say do it quickly though before things get worse and before the airlines think of more creative ways to make up for lost revenue.

They've already touched our wallets for checked luggage, soft drinks, etc...

Reportedly Ryan Air, a discount European airline, is considering charging passengers to use the bathroom!!! So if you forget to hit the ATM before you board it could be a very long flight...

Would that fly in the states? (I know, very bad pun) I think the picture of returning Iraq war vets paying for toilet runs in the friendly skies should make airline PR folks cringe.

So before you have to swipe a credit card outside the lavatory, take that little trip you've been meaning to take.

Try Amsterdam too, a beautiful city in many ways...



Hijacked by hackers

March 4, 2009 11:26 PM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

It can happen to you. You could unwittingly be made a pawn in a cyber-attack , or worse: unknowingly become a cyber attacker. Most any computer -- whether a desktop/laptop PC or server -- can be hijacked by hackers. It could then be used as a weapon.

Saturday night, while I was enjoying the company of friends and some adult beverages, a call came in on a friend's cell. Now, it should be said that he is a brilliant, experienced systems and software engineer, and his partner is none too shabby either. Even so, one of their systems fell victim to hackers. In truth, it is likely more appropriate to call it a pawn, rather than a victim. You see, someone else's system was the real target (and subsequent victim).

No critical or classified information was compromised; rather, hackers took control of multiple systems, of which my friends was one, to perform a DDOS (distributed denial of service) attack on a system in the Pacific rim.

It was not as dramatic as I might make it sound, but it was an awakening. My friend was understandably tight-lipped, so I do not know the specifics around his electronics being hijacked; however, a quick check of the DDOS wiki gives me a general idea about how it happens.

Hackers can invade other people's computers (which I fondly refer to as OPCs). They find a vulnerability and secretly install a code, a script, or a program. The program can also come in through any number of methods, by e-mail, on a thumb drive, via poor password complexity, an even from a Website that can execute script.

The computer acts normally, until the hacker remotely activates the program, say. It then uses the computer/server's Internet connection to send a very large quantity of small packets of information -- tons of those, in fact -- to a target system/destination (or, more specifically, an IP).

The moral of the story? Keep an eye on your system and your information. Keep it all locked down. Keep your firewall on, and your operating system updated. IT personnel in charge of an entire organization’s systems and their information security (especially if that organization is part of or does any business with the Department of Defense) really have their work cut out for them. They have to keep tabs on virtually everyone and everything their colleagues do, and prevent them from surfing questionable Web sites, opening suspicious e-mail attachments, plugging thumb drives or MP3 players with flash memory into computer systems, and much, much more -- well, either that, or invest in a secure RTOS (real-time operating system) , such as those you can read about in the pages of Military & Aerospace Electronics . Anyone think a secure RTOS can be compromised? Some believe nothing is safe in this digital age .



Military market a bright spot for avionics suppliers

March 4, 2009 4:58 PM by Joseph Normandin



Reports are all over the Internet about how the tanking economy is killing jobs and revenue in the commercial aircraft market. News stories about Boeing and Airbus cutting back deliveries and major layoff announcements at Boeing and other companies are making headlines.

I even saw a story yesterday about how business jets manufacturers are taking a hit because such jets are seen as luxury items and bad press for companies taking federal bail outs.

Yet, as I travel to different trade shows and conferences for our sister publication Military & Aerospace Electronics , I find just the opposite outlook. Military avionics suppliers tell me they've never been so busy.

Many I talk to are cautiously optimistic based on their projected backlogs for 2009 and solid funding in the last budget of the Bush Administration. Come January 2010 will things be as positive? Will President Obama make deep cuts in his first defense budget, even canceling large programs such as Future Combat Systems? Or will he just cut back on procurement?

One industry source says he believes that it is republican administrations that cut programs, while democrats just cut back. That they are loathe to eliminate large programs as it could mean eliminating thousands of jobs.

Recent news reports are echoing that statement. They hint that Obama might not order any new F-22s, but that he will not kill the program all together.

In leiu of new programs and orders, Defense Department officials may spend funding on retrofits and upgrades of current systems.

Many avionics and other electronics suppliers to the defense community are forecasting growth based on that possibility.

Yes, the Army killed the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program, but the Apache upgrade is moving along and additional upgrades are planned for the Kiowa helicopter and the Black Hawk helicopter. Rockwell Collins also announced the first delivery of the Block I Modernization for the U.S. Navy's E-6B Mercury aircraft.

A dangerous world keeps defense suppliers busy and opportunities abound. That said it's not an easy market to break into and newcomers looking to offset losses in the commercial sector will have a hard time gaining a foothold in defense.



Loving the digital age

March 3, 2009 8:54 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

I know I'm not alone when I say I've wasted more than few hours surfing on Facebook, the popular online community . It's fun reconnecting with old friends from high school, even ex-girlfriends are popping out of the woodwork.

However, last week, I was bit blown away by a recent Facebook friend request. A woman I didn't recognize added me and asked me if I was the John McHale who wrote a blog on Veterans Day last year about his cousin Steven Caucci, who died in Vietnam .

Turns out she's married to his nephew, a cousin I haven't seen in nearly 30 years. She was just Googling the last name, checking for family histories, and up came my blog.

In the blog I talked about how I visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington and found his name. I was an infant when he died, but my mother still speaks of Steven.

I think it's pretty wild that I wrote it three months ago on Veteran's Day and long lost family finds it on a Google search.

Anyway, I just wanted to share because I think it's a wonderful example of what the Internet can do to link people together... let alone the MilAero Blog .

Had to throw in the last line...



Blogging on avionics

February 25, 2009 5:21 PM by Joseph Normandin

Posted By John McHale
Chief Editor, Avionics Intelligence

Hello and welcome to the Avionics Intelligence Blog, a forum where we will give you the opportunity to join the conversation on news, analysis, products, standards, and all things related to the avionics industry ... and even some that aren't.

At least once a week I, my colleagues, and guest bloggers from the industry will be posting a blog item like this one to the Avionics Intelligence Website . If you want to join the conversation, simply post a comment on the blog item, or just tell me what's on your mind.

We've been speaking at you through our Website and Avionics Intelligence Electronic Newsletter , now it's your chance to be part of the conversation.

Here's how it works. See something in the Website or E-newsletter that you're just dying to comment on, come to the Avionics Intelligence Blog on our Website, and sound off by posting a comment. Make the comments as silly or serious as you like --offering anger, encouragement, sage advice, and even bad jokes.

All I ask is that you keep your comments clean -- things I can put in print, in other words. I can't wait to hear from you.



Another helicopter program with cost overruns

February 24, 2009 8:30 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

Once again a military helicopter program is making headlines for its excessive costs. Both sides of the political aisle are questioning not only the cost of the new presidential rotorcraft and its helicopter avionics , but its necessity as well.

Reports were all over the Web about how during a recent economic summit Sen. John McCain was questioning President Barack Obama over the cost overruns associated with the Marine One presidential helicopter program, which is led by Lockheed Martin.

According to an article from Defense Industry Daily the program had a "50 percent + cost overrun."

Obama reportedly responded by saying the one he has now works just fine. Is this a sign that another helicopter program may be canceled or severely cut back?

The last military helicopter program to get nailed for being way over budget was the Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), which was canceled last fall.

The ARH, produced by Bell Helicopter, was slated to replace the aging Kiowa Warrior. According to an Army release the ARH program exceeded initial cost estimates by approximately $583 million and had delivery pushed out four years from 2009 to 2013.

During a press conference I attended in October, Army Aviation leaders stressed that even though the program was canceled, the requirement it represented -- "to relieve pressure on the Kiowa program" -- remained.

Army officials have stated that in the absence of a new platform they will focus on upgrades of the Kiowa and other helicopters such as the Apache.

Yet, is upgrading the Kiowa enough? It seems more of a band-aid than fulfillment of the requirement that the ARH was designed for.

However, Department of Defense leaders need to examine why these major programs cannot stay on budget before they award a new one -- even before they chart new upgrade paths for the Kiowa. Success for U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq depends heavily on efficient helicopter platforms.

ARH promised to be a game changer before it was derailed by what appears to be poor planning.

Let's hope lessons learned are applied and the next platform succeeds on time and on budget to give U.S. warfighters the advantage they need.



In support of illegal aliens (sigh)

February 18, 2009 6:10 PM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

I am all for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Barack Obama this week. It is about time our hard-earned tax money was used, not to help well-paid executives at failing businesses, but to help us. What a novel idea--investing in us and the infrastructures we rely upon daily (roads, transportation, etc.). Isn't that why we pay taxes? I know I don't cut a fat check to the government annually to enable fat-cat executives to take long spa vacations, benefit from "golden parachutes," or flit around in private jets.

Two things disturb me about this stimulus package, however. First, what took so long? Why did Congress need to deliberate so long and so passionately over a stimulus that benefits taxpayers? Seems to me a no-brainer. Go out and talk to people. How is morale these days? Not good. I know it was a different Congress that deliberated (hmm...) not at all over spending hundreds of billions overseas on bodies, bombs, and bullets; but it still gets my goat, and that of thousands of other taxpaying Americans.

That brings me to another peeve, how about those non-taxpaying non-citizens? They have long benefited from our tax money, and they stand to gain even more from the stimulus. California reportedly spends upwards of $9 billion a year on illegal aliens, the very ones that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has claimed are essential to the health of the state's economy. (It is a common argument: cheap labor enables businesses to keep running and in turn paying wages to Americans and taxes to local and state governments.) I would argue, however: What health? California's economy is far from healthy. (To be fair, whose is? Organizations ranging from a rural town in N.H. to the country of Iceland have declared bankruptcy.) In a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Schwarzenegger said: "People are concerned that this state is going to go off the cliff... this budget deals with the $42 billion deficit, which is the biggest deficit that we have ever had." (Small factoid: Schwarzenegger was once himself considered an illegal immigrant in the 1970s, when he was rumored to have violated the terms of his visa.)

State and local governments in California stand to receive roughly $26 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, says one source; others estimate the amount at more than $32 billion over two years. The State Finance Department sets that number even higher: $37 billion.

What are your thoughts on the stimulus? California's economy, and what appears to be a state-wide max exodus (hundreds of residents moving out of state most months)? I would love to know.



Flight delays and respect

February 17, 2009 8:38 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

During a five-hour flight delay I had in Dallas on Saturday I had plenty of time to people watch, surf the net, and down some large cups of Starbucks coffee .

The best part of the people watching was seeing the respect shown toward military personnel throughout the airport. Many travelers offered a simple "thank you for your service" or "where are you from" comment. The troops were mostly young men and women traveling between assignments or returning home from Iraq or other deployments .

I'm glad I saw it. Sometimes during trips we get so focused on our destination we miss the real-life reminders around us. It makes complaining about a lack of power outlets, poor wireless connections, or lousy airport food seem silly.

During your next trip if you come across some soldiers, sailors, or airmen please follow the example of those Dallas travelers and offer a hello or thank you or even a "come home safe."

I have extended family serving over seas and what we want most is their safe return. Their sacrifice is real and humbling.

The long delay was frustrating but worth it to witness behavior I have not seen toward military forces in foreign airports. It strikes me as uniquely American.



Happy birthday, President Lincoln

February 12, 2009 2:17 PM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

People all across the United States are celebrating the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. I live in Spokane , where a large statue of President Lincoln resides. Upon moving here, I was a bit perplexed at seeing it, thinking Lincoln had no significance to Spokane. He was not born here, he did not die here, he did not vacation here or have a cabin on the Spokane River.

Why is he here? That is just the thing: President Lincoln was significant for the entire nation; and, he continues to inspire. Especially in this day and age, with economic hardship and despair all around us, his story needs to be told, again and again. A poor, uneducated boy worked tirelessly to improve upon, educate, and better himself, and became one of the most celebrated, influential, and respected presidents the world has ever known.

Did you catch President Obama's speech at the Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration? It was a moving and inspirational speech, and I am so grateful for a president who is well educated, well read, humbled, and eloquent.

President Obama said: "I feel a special gratitude to this singular figure who in so many ways made by own story possible - and who in so many ways made America's story possible. It is fitting that we are holding this celebration here at the Capitol. For the life of this building is bound ever so closely to the times of this immortal President.

"What Lincoln never forgot, not even in the midst of civil war, was that despite all that divided us - north and south, black and white - we were, at heart, one nation and one people, sharing a bond as Americans that could not break. And so even as we meet here today, at a moment when we are far less divided than in Lincoln's day, but when we are once again debating the critical issues of our time - and debating them fiercely - let us remember that we are doing so as servants to the same flag, as representatives of the same people, and as stakeholders in a common future. That is the most fitting tribute we can pay - and the most lasting monument we can build - to that most remarkable of men, Abraham Lincoln."

At the same time, does it seem bizarre to you that a "star-studded gala" would be held at Ford's Theater, the site of Lincoln's assassination in 1865, the night before the bicentennial of his birth? Maybe it is just me.



Newcomers to defense biz will face ITAR headache

February 11, 2009 1:38 AM by Joseph Normandin

Posted by John McHale

Listening to a presentation today on dealing with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) pitfalls for small defense companies, I started thinking this is only going to become more problematic as commercial companies, finding their own markets tanking, try to break into the defense business. The defense industry is one of the few bright spots in this economy and already designers of commercial technology are looking for ways to attract military system integrators to their products.

Today's speaker, Russell VanDegrift, senior consultant and director at MK technology, warned the audience at the Components for Military & Space Electronics conference in San Diego that if they even think their product may be used for military systems they need to clear it with the State Department.

Unfortunately, I think commercial developers are quite naïve on this issue and we might see a more than a few get hit with costly ITAR violations.

VanDegrift also said that any products that may be sold or seen by a foreign government then used for military may come under scrutiny as well -- especially if the other country is China.

I remember last year at our Military & Aerospace Electronics Forum during the ITAR panel discussion engineers and managers kept peppering the panelists with "what if" scenarios -- when in the middle of one exchange someone stood up and said "don't take any chances, just cover your rear end, you don't want to get that letter from the State Department."

Not much has changed since then. The ITAR headache remains for many defense suppliers -- seasoned or not. It is also the only topic our conference advisory board voted to repeat for our 2009 conference.

Watch your step.



Hey Kid! Mean Joe is still the best

February 3, 2009 4:03 PM by Joseph Normandin


By John McHale

Excuse the break from military technology blogs, but I gotta talk about the Steelers Super Bowl win and this year's Super Bowl commercials .

I don't know about you, but I thought the Super Bowl commercials this year pretty much stank -- especially the one that tried to recreate the simple genius of the Mean Joe Greene Coca Cola commercial from 1980.

The commercial featured current Pittsburgh Steeler, Troy Polamalu, in ad for Coke Zero. He basically played the part Greene did, but with a twist that was supposed to be funny, but came off forced. Maybe I'm biased as guy who grew up with Mean Joe and the Steeler dynasty of the 1970s, but I found it dull.

Excuse the pun but leave the classic Coke commercials alone. Mean Joe chugging the Coke, the kid, the shirt toss -- it's perfect.

The outtakes are quite funny too. Rumor has it that Greene downed something like 20 of those bottles in rehearsal. Try chugging one or two yourself and you get the picture...

Every time I see that Greene commercial replayed it makes feel like a kid again... almost as much as watching the Steelers win their 6th Super Bowl!

Best franchise in NFL history and best Super Bowl commercial. There is no doubt.



Laser companies prove to be attractive acquisition targets of prime defense contractors

February 1, 2009 9:16 AM by John Keller


Laser companies prove to be attractive acquisition target of prime defense contractors

Posted by John Keller

Last fall's acquisition of laser specialist Aculight Corp. of Bothell, Wash., by defense contracting giant Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md., may be an indication that military prime contractors are getting even more serious about developing or acquiring laser and other electro-optical technology expertise.

Laser beans of differing strengths represent one wave of the future in military technology, for the laser represents the way forward for applications, from free-space communications, stealthy sensors, and targeting, as well as a new age of lethal and non-lethal weapons.

Lockheed Martin wrapped up its acquisition of Aculight early last September, and with the acquisition, also acquired pulsed fiber and semiconductor laser expertise in national defense, aerospace, and medical applications, with off-the-shelf, developmental, custom laser systems, contract manufacturing, and fiber and semiconductor laser research .

Aculight has developed lasers for laser radar (LADAR), surveillance, mapping, and nonlinear optics conversion , as well as for infrared countermeasures and other optical warfare applications.

Robert Afzal, vice president of research and development at the new company, Lockheed Martin Aculight, says the acquisition went smoothly and relatively quickly because Aculight was such a natural fit for Lockheed Martin. He made his comments during an informal interview last week at the Photonics West trade show in San Jose, Calif.

No defense company that is interested in staying on the leading edge of technology in the future wants to let its competitors get the upper hand in a technology as promising as lasers. Lockheed Martin showed that with its acquisition of Aculight.

I'll be interested to see if America's prime defense contractors have other laser companies in their acquisition sights later this year.



Superbowl excitement

January 30, 2009 3:18 PM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

Excitement surrounding Superbowl 43 is palpable -- even if the New England Patriots are sitting this one out. I -- like other Pats fans, I am sure -- am trying to share in the Superbowl excitement, as we look forward to Tom Brady's return next season. The Superbowl is turning out to be a bright spot and an (albeit temporary) diversion from our everyday existence at a time when there isn't much else to celebrate, it seems. When I am out and about, conversations inevitably then turn to the impending big game, even among people who could not care less about football, largely in an attempt to avoid more-depressing talk about the latest unemployment figures, business closings, economic hardships, and the like.

Just as we Pats fans are sitting this Superbowl out, so too are car manufacturers. I, for one, am pleased to see that the auto manufacturers who are benefiting from our tax money (via the last round of bailouts) are not advertising during the Superbowl. After all, the $3 million they would have to shell out for a 30-second spot would be our hard-earned money. I am still bitter about the private jets the executives took to the first hearing , where they then acted contrite and desperate. And the award for best actor goes to... .

Have a fantastic Superbowl weekend, and let's hope Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen doesn't suffer a "wardrobe malfunction" at half time. I'm just worried kids will ask, "Who is that guy?" and make me feel even older than I am.

Go [insert favorite team here]!



Kaching!!!

January 27, 2009 4:32 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

The regulars at my favorite diner this morning are quite excited by the improved prospects of a casino in Massachusetts. A casino in an economic downturn ? Seems crazy but ... they say hell yes, because it means more jobs. One gentleman says he thinks people are more likely to place bets when times are tough, in hopes of scoring the big pay out. Desperation pays I guess.

My fellow diners found hope when they learned the elected official who was blocking the slot machines the most -- Massachusetts Speaker of the House of Representatives Salvatore F. DiMasi -- resigned under a cloud of ethics allegations. It was the lead story in the Boston Heraldthis morning , hence the breakfast conversation.

Seems as if the hopes for employment in this liberal state may lie with casinos and defense contractors. Seems an odd paring, but residents are excited about the casino and experts forecast a steady 2009 for the defense industry. The state is home to Raytheon and other major primes have a large presence here as well, including BAE Systems just over the border in Nashua, N.H.

I'm all for the gambling. Maybe they could tax the casinos and leave our income tax alone -- wishful thinking in this state. My fellow commonwealth residents voted against lowering the income tax last fall .

Missing the no income tax, "live free or die" state...



The flub heard 'round the world

January 22, 2009 11:15 AM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

President Obama had to be sworn in twice this week, due to what is being called "the flub heard 'round the world" by Chief Justice John Roberts. What happened? Perhaps he was nervous about the more than 500,000 people in attendance – reportedly more than during any other inauguration ceremony. Polls reveal that a majority of the American public thought it was "no big deal," but I found it embarrassing. He was reading it, yes? Jeez.

I could be a bit jaded, I admit, however. Ever since the election of 2000, and the finding last year that George W. Bush was not the winner of that election, I am dismayed, disheartened, and a bit disgusted.

President Obama took it all in stride, even cracking a joke to reporters attending the second oath; after all, he has bigger things to worry about, including what is deemed "the in-box from hell." I could have done without the flawed start but after hearing the President’s speech, I am nonetheless optimistic.

Okay, so it wasn’t the most powerful inauguration speech ever heard (a la John F. Kennedy), but I did find it inspiring, thought-provoking, and motivating.

What do you think, about the bungle and the speech?



How much will President Obama spend on defense technology?

January 20, 2009 5:23 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

The inauguration of Barack Obama is exciting as he is our nation's first black president. It makes me proud to be an American. However, practical questions remain about where he will spend money on defense .

A colleague of mine said he heard that defense spending under the Bush administration increased by about 73 percent. That trend is unlikely to continue under Obama.

In his inaugural address the new president said he will push to turn Iraq over to its own government in about 16 months, while renewing efforts in Afghanistan. However, even with a build-up in Afghanistan it is unlikely defense spending will increase or even continue at current levels.

What does this mean for defense electronics industry? Will less money spent on boots and bullets mean more dollars for research and development?

Will fewer troops on the ground favor funding for embedded electronics in reconnaissance and surveillance applications such as unmanned systems?

Many suppliers I talk to are cautiously optimistic based on their projected backlogs for 2009 and solid funding in the last budget of the Bush Administration. Come January 2010 will things be as positive? Will President Obama make deep cuts in his first defense budget, even canceling large programs such as Future Combat Systems? Or will he just cut back on procurement?

One of my conference advisory board members says he believes that it is republican administrations that cut programs, while democrats just cut back. That they are loathe to eliminate large programs as it could mean eliminating thousands of jobs.

While today was definitely a historic day for change, many defense industry players are nervous about how they will navigate potential changes to their market.

At an Army Aviation press conference I attended in October, one official was asked what funding will be like under Obama or his opponent at the time, John McCain.

He responded "your guess is as good as mine."



A different kind of economic growth

January 15, 2009 11:51 AM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

I was not around during the Great Depression , but I do know that it had such a profound effect on my grandfather that he would only pay cash. Loans and credit cards were out of the question; if he didn't have the cash, he would not buy whatever it is he needed.

If we bought him a nice sweater, shirt, watch, or engraved pen, he would thank us but then put it away in a closet until such time as the ones he was using wore out. If he already had perfectly good shirts, why spend money on new ones, he would quip. It could be a little frustrating for family and many found it peculiar, but, in retrospect, I think he had it right.

I was not spoiled growing up, but my parents made sure my brother and I had everything we needed: food, clothing, shelter, and even some of the "warm fuzzy" stuff like their love, time, and attention. I would visit friends' homes and occasionally become jealous of all that they had (a doll house, the latest and greatest new electronic toy, one of the first VCRs or personal computers (a Radio Shack TRS-80), a Colecovision or Atari, etc.); in contrast, I tagged along and helped out as my mother delivered donated food, gifts, and money for heating oil to local families in need. I saw how dire their situations were, and how grateful and they were to gain assistance. Many adults, though thankful, were also contrite, embarrassed, and even apologetic; that was twenty-five years ago.

This year, rather than food or toys, donations were doled out as gift cards. Parents in need called from their cell phones asking for money and gifts for their kids just days before the holiday. Upon delivering cash cards to these folks, I found them living in better conditions than my own; one particular recipient had two cars, lived in a large antique house, had a new cell phone, and 12 (yes, 12) dogs. Others called for cards multiple times -- some had spent the first ones not for the intended purpose, but rather beer and cigarettes, while others simply forgot that they had called earlier, as they went down the list of outlets offering assistance to those in need.

I met lots of people on disability, suffering from such afflictions as a learning disability or attention deficit disorder. Sadly, though, I did not see parents (whether single or in pairs) who are working hard but still failing to make ends meet; those are the ones I particularly like to see gain a helping hand. I believe in helping those who help themselves -- and kids, of course.

We might not be in a depression, per se, but I am seeing a great deal of desperation. More than two dozen burglaries have been reported this week alone in my neighborhood. At the grocery store, patrons are increasingly paying cash and putting things back when they find they don't have enough cash at the register.

Kids in general don't seem to have adjusted, and maybe that's good. Some parents are explaining the economy and budgeting to kids, while others are trying to shield their children from the effects of the recession. I don't have my own kids, but I would tend to be among the former. I would like to think that I would give my kids the facts and let them sort it out for themselves, as I did. As a child, I saw both ends of the economic spectrum all around me, and I think I am the better for it.



Impressive tour, depressing tale

January 13, 2009 4:06 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

Last week Tom Sharpe, vice president of SMT Corp. -- a privately-held electronics distributor in Newtown, Conn., gave me a damn nice tour of his secure and clean facility -- from the electro-static discharge (ESD) monitoring device and state-of-the-art electronic part testing equipment right down to the snazzy Starbucks coffee machine and hundreds of vintage World War I and World War II posters.

The poster pictured here was painted by Fred Spear in 1915, depicting a woman passenger on the British cruise ship Lusitania drowning with a baby in her arms after the ship was torpedoed by the Germans. Spear reportedly read a detailed newspaper account about bodies recovered after the attack and it inspired him to create the poster. The poster was published by the Boston Committee for Public Safety and is very rare.

Sharpe's facility is quite striking as similar posters line every wall but the slides he showed me of Shantou, China, were striking for much different reasons. Shantou is home to the counterfeit electronic parts industry , which is becoming an expensive and painful headache for defense electronics suppliers.

Sharpe was there on business, but managed to get into Shantou for a tour. The main industry here consists of individual families ripping apart computers and integrated circuit (IC) components then putting them back together and reselling them to brokers. The small families typically perform the work out of their living room.

One might think this business would be lucrative, but the families slapping together the counterfeit boards and ICs are living in squalor.

The entire town is one big electronic component dumping ground -- in the rivers, on the streets, and piled up in backyards. Sharpe says the rate of cancer and other diseases are quite high as chemicals from the eroding parts seep into the soil and water supply.

Quality control is non-existent out there -- sometimes they wash the parts in the rain and let them dry in the sun. What's scary is once these products are finished they look just like any other part to the untrained eye and many slip into batches of good parts that are not counterfeit.

Sharpe says he has spent considerable money for test equipment to spot them, showing me different examples. Many times they will change the date on the part, but sometimes they mess up and send out a part with a date in the future. Sharpe says he saw one that was labeled as designed in late 2009, but it was still 2008.

Many companies do not have SMT's equipment at their disposal and defense suppliers and integrators are quite concerned that one of these parts may find its way into a mission critical system and result in a lethal system failure.

The counterfeits are very available. Just do a Google search for a part number you are liable to pull up something similar to the Chinese IC Mart or sites like it.

Many of Sharpe's vintage posters caution against spreading secrets in case the enemy is listening. In this case the secret behind the parts needs to get out as does the tale of the human waste piling up in Shantou -- a futuristic slum.



Hail to the geek

January 11, 2009 3:58 PM by Courtney Howard


Posted by Courtney E. Howard

The jury is still out on how President Elect Barack Obama will be as a president. Some would have us believe that he is already failing--several "talk radio" hosts come to mind, in fact--without having even taken the helm. It certainly looks like the "ship" attached the that helm is sinking, but it's not his fault--although regrettably his problem, as well as ours. I thought I'd throw my own bias into the fray, and suggest that Obama might go down as the geekiest President of the United States to date. This moniker is a not a criticism; in fact, I celebrate geeks. Heck, I love geeks--and I am not alone. (Just visit ThinkGeek.com , a t-shirt of which is shown at right, and you'll see what I mean.) Geeks are cool now; huzzah! I wish that it had been cool when I was in school to be, as I was often called, "a book nerd," but I rejoice nonetheless. Our time has come; better late than never.

Now, I am a journalist and as such I cannot simply throw out a statement with no basis in fact, as subjective as my statement might seem. I have evidence that Obama is the biggest geek to take office as the U.S. President.

The Associated Press reported today that Barack Obama is Spider-Man's latest sidekick. Obama stars in a bonus story within Marvel Comics' "Amazing Spider-Man" No. 583, which hits the stands (and the hot little hands of a number of geeks) this coming Wednesday. Collectors will be at once happy and frustrated to hear that Marvel is offering for purchase two editions, each with a different cover; the future Commander-in-Chief and webbed superhero take center stage on a special Inauguration Day cover. Obama had previously revealed that he collects Spider-Man comics. Further, at one of his events, Obama greeted Leonard Nimoy with the Vulcan hand signal/salute. He also has a favorite X-Men character, and he has written poems.

Hail to the geek, I say. I am nothing but optimistic that a fellow geek will deliver a focus on furthering all things geeky: electronics technology , intellect, and maybe even a cool presidential comic. We could use a superhero.



Putting NASA in bed with the Pentagon

January 6, 2009 8:57 PM by Joseph Normandin


Posted by John McHale

A recent Bloomberg news story reported that the incoming Obama administration is looking to have NASA programs linked with the military to get them in orbit more quickly to compete with China and to counter any Chinese military operations in space.

On its face it sounds like a good plan. It would save money by sharing the costs of the various programs. According to the Bloomberg article, the Pentagon spent more on space -- about $22 billion -- last year than NASA did.

Culturally however it may be a tougher sell. NASA has traditionally been a civilian agency focused on the peaceful exploration of space and furthering human knowledge. The public and many inside the agency might be quite uncomfortable about sharing with the Pentagon.

Public opinion might change if China successfully lands humans on the Moon before the U.S. returns. NASA is planning a manned lunar exploration in 2020.

Could we see the planet's major powers carve up the Moon? Today there are no national boundaries on lunar maps. I hope it remains that way.



Obama's pick of Leon Panetta for CIA chief not such a surprise

January 6, 2009 12:56 PM by John Keller


Posted by John Keller

President-elect Barack Obama has ruffled congressional feathers and raised eyebrows over his choice of former White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to head the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) .

I'll concede perhaps the two biggest objections to Panetta to head the nation's foreign spy agency -- Panetta has zero experience in the intelligence community, and congressional leaders who oversee intelligence spending claim they were not consulted before Obama named Panetta.

In the first place, those fretting over Panetta's lack of intelligence experience are right. Panetta, White House chief of staff to Bill Clinton from 1994 to 1997, is an outsider to the CIA who doesn't know where the bodies are buried, and might be hard-pressed to find the people who do. I share the concern for his lack of intelligence experience.

In the second place, the Panetta pick has angered some influential leaders on Capitol Hill. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee , and claims Obama didn't consult with her before naming Panetta. She's not out of line to be miffed, and Obama should have handled this matter with a little more grace.

Obama is going to need influential leaders like Feinstein on his side, particularly early in his administration, and creating public ill-will like this does no one any good. Feinstein has got an ego like everybody else on the Hill, and Obama at this stage bruises Washington egos at his peril. Cold shoulders and slammed doors is not what the new president needs in his first days in office.

Feinstein and Panetta are not strangers. They're both California democrats. She's from San Francisco, and He's from Monterey just down the road. They served in Congress briefly in 1993, and both have been influential in the Democrat party. There may be some personal animosity between the two ... I don't know. I'd rather not speculate.

Feinstein is a former mayor of San Francisco and was an unsuccessful candidate for California governor in 1990. I was a college student in San Francisco, incidentally, on the day Feinstein become the city's mayor in fall 1978 when then-mayor George Moscone was assassinated, along with city supervisor Harvey Milk. A member of the San Francisco board of supervisors at the time, she was named to replace the slain Moscone. I remember it was the first Monday after Thanksgiving; what a day that was!

Panetta, meanwhile, was a California congressman from 1976 to 1993, where he chaired the House Budget Committee, and served in several other important congressional posts. From 1993 to 1994 he was director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget before he became Clinton's chief of staff.

Suffice it to say that Panetta has been around the political block. I may not agree with his politics, but I think it's fair to say that anyone who can be White House chief of staff has to be politically savvy, unbelievably organized, a seasoned bureaucratic infighter, and a hard-nosed manager.

From this standpoint, I think Panetta just might be up to the administrative task of becoming Director of Central Intelligence (DCI).

So he's never been a spymaster before. That might not be such a big deal. The guy in the CIA who really oversees the spies is the agency's deputy director for operations (DDO). If Panetta can get that person on his side, then he just might be in good shape. He's a tough enough guy to bring obstinate career bureaucrats in the agency to heel, and he just might be able to put the Obama Administration's stamp on the CIA for years to come.



Obama actions, rhetoric, give defense electronics industry a sigh of relief

January 4, 2009 7:50 AM by John Keller



Posted by John Keller

Barack Obama's political positions had given the U.S. defense industry reason for worry, but his recent actions and emphasis on soldier-worn technologies have given defense company officials a sigh of relief. Read The Mil & Aero Blog online at www.pennwellblogs.com/mae .

The liberal political positions of President-Elect Barack Obama had given plenty of those involved in the U.S. defense industry reason for worry, but some of Obama's early actions and rhetoric have given defense technology companies a sigh of relief.

Obama also has given defense industry experts reason to believe that soldier-worn technology will be more important during the Obama Administration than ever before.

Of particular interest to military electronics and aerospace electronics companies was Obama's naming of Defense Secretary Robert Gates to continue in that position when Obama takes office later this month. Gates was President George W. Bush's choice to be U.S. secretary of defense to replace former secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Gates has a solid reputation as a friend of the defense industry.

"Obama's selection of Gates is a good sign that he is looking for consistency and stability in the transition," says Tom Arseneault, president of sensor systems at the BAE Systems Electronics & Integrated Solutions Operating Group in Nashua, N.H. "It gave us a bit of a sigh of relief."

Arseneault was nice enough to sit for an interview with me just before the holidays.

U.S. defense industry officials are taking Obama at his word that the new president will do his best to increase U.S. ground forces by 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines .

With this in mind, defense industry experts anticipate that military technology trends in the near future will involve infantry soldiers and Marines more than ever before, and perhaps will not involve expansive new defense platforms like aircraft, ships, and tanks as much we have gotten used to.

Obama "wants to get as much mileage out of what we have as possible, and he will be emphasizing the soldier, rather than new, big platforms," Arseneault told me during an interview in his office last month.

This trend is likely to emphasize soldier systems like night-vision gun sights and goggles, wearable computers, networked voice and data communications, body armor with embedded electronic devices, soldier-carried unmanned aerial vehicles, and other remote sensors. "Much of the expense of equipping today's soldier is technology," Arseneault points out.



Pledge for positivism

January 2, 2009 1:46 PM by Courtney Howard




Posted by Courtney E. Howard

I need to see the glass has half full.

It has not escaped my notice that I have been griping a great deal in my blog entries. As cathartic as this practice might be for me, it strikes me that it might not be as healing or constructive for those who read said rants. I also realized that I seem to have a weekly complaint, although I am certain that if pressed I could come up with a daily one.

Nonetheless, at this time of reflection on the year past, I am moved to make a resolution to find things to celebrate in 2009. I want to start small. If I jump feet first into positivity, my friends, family, and colleagues will have me tested for illegal substances, hold an intervention, or begin the proceedings to have me found unfit. To avoid a drastic about-face, I will slowly permit optimism to seep into my well of pessimism. To this end, I intend to make a concerted effort -- nay, strive -- to say something positive in one blog entry each month. If all goes well and I am not starved for positivistic sentiments (as I, naysayer extraordinaire, predict), I will strive for twice monthly blog postivism. By the way, this calls to mind another of my pet peeves: What’s the deal with "bi-monthly"? I would like us to come to a consensus as to whether "bi-monthly" means twice monthly or once every two months, rather than both. On which side do you fall on this controversial subject? You do have an opinion, don’t you? Good, I was beginning to think I was alone.

We at Military & Aerospace Electronics are starting the new year with a bang: a bang-up, newly redesigned issue with a new format, new look, and fresh, new sections and topics. When you get your issue, drop us a line and let us know what you think.

Happy new year, all! Best wishes for a fantastic 2009.