Too Many New Weapons, Too Little Money

Four Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons fly in formation behind an F-22 Raptor for more than 6,000 spectators during the June 24, 2008, air show at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The "Soaring into Solstice" air show provided an opportunity for the local community to visit and get a close-up view and demonstration of the capabilities of the Air Force's aircraft. U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Eric T. Sheler

War-Winning Concepts Lack Financial Support -- Aviation Week

There are many breakthrough war-fighting technologies available to U.S. Air Force planners, but perhaps only 10-20% of these projects have any chance of being funded for the foreseeable future.

Among the concepts are weaponry—both kinetic and directed energy—to intercept ballistic missiles as they launch and to attack low-orbiting space objects. There also are warheads that destroy, befuddle and misinform enemy electronics. They come in various sizes to fit 1-ton bomb casings, cruise missiles and long–range air-to-air missiles. Cybersurveillance devices and weapons are already being introduced into the service's arsenal; but as their sophistication goes up, so does the price. The brakes are already being applied to all of these and other advanced concepts. Even so, the Air Force had the largest cybersecurity budget of any of the services at $622 million for fiscal 2011, or 34% of the Pentagon's $1.82 billion total for that year.

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My Comment: In this era of budget restraint, the Air Force will be lucky if they get 10% - 20% of their new programs funded.

Why Russia Will Be The First To Use The Pain Ray

Airmen from the 820th Security Forces Group are currently evaluating the Active Denial System at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.. Airman 1st Class Gina Chiaverotti/US Army

Why Russia Will Be The First To Use The Pain Ray: Analysis -- Popular Mechanics

The U.S. has had its Active Denial "pain ray" system in development for more than a decade but has refrained from using it for political reasons. Now Russia is building its own and may not have such qualms.

Russia's Defense Ministry is testing a new nonlethal ray gun for use on protesters, which looks like a close facsimile of the American system in development. The difference could be that the Russians are willing to use it.

Eleven years ago, the Pentagon unveiled the Active Denial System, a nonlethal crowd-control device firing a beam of 94-Ghz microwaves (known as millimeter waves) developed by Raytheon. The beam has a much shorter wavelength than a microwave oven and very different effects. The waves penetrate only about 1/64 of an inch, and anyone caught in the beam experiences painful but harmless heating of their skin. It causes what developers call a repel effect; nobody can stand it more than a few seconds before having to get out of the beam.

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My Comment: It usually comes down to political will. The U.S. government does not have it .... the Russian government has .... hence they will use this weapon system (and others) if they have to.

Testing 5 New Weapons In The Field

(Click on Image to Enlarge)
The M320, a 40mm grenade launcher, is the replacement to all M203 series of grenade launchers on M16 Rifles and M4 Carbines. An interoperable system, it attaches under the barrel of the rifle or carbine and can convert to a stand-alone weapon. PEO Soldier

Deployed Soldiers Field Test Weapons, Gear -- Army Times

Soldiers downrange like the 5 weapons tested but disapproved of the combat trousers and boots.

oldiers are giving two thumbs-up to five key weapon systems tested over the summer in Afghanistan — two that protect lives and three designed to take them.

Soldiers also gave combat trousers and boots a thumbs-down, and fixes are on the way.

The reports were given directly to the two generals responsible for equipping soldiers: Lt. Gen. Robert Lennox, deputy chief of staff for Army programs (G-8), and Lt. Gen. Bill Phillips, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology). The duo recently returned from Afghanistan’s Regional Command–East.

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My Comment: Soldiers giving combat trousers and boots a thumbs-down is not a surprise .... everyone has different tastes.

Upgrades Are Giving Soldiers Better And Deadlier Weapons

Photo: The Heat Adaptive Modular Rifle, or HAMR, is a light machine gun produced by FNH USA that looks like an assault rifle. The magazine-fed FN HAMR is capable of firing from a closed bolt in both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes, and automatically transitions into open-bolt operation in semi-automatic or fully automatic before reaching cook-off temperature for a chambered cartridge.FNH USA

Upgrades Give Soldiers Better, Deadlier Weapons -- Army Times

Improvements in the works for three key weapon systems will help ensure soldiers never enter a fair fight.

Leading the way is the combat-proved Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, or CROWS. The Army’s plan is simple: More and better.

CROWS has been a huge hit among combatants. It’s not hard to understand why. It gets operators out of the turret and under the armor, and turns area weapons into precision engagement weapons. Target identification and day/night surveillance capabilities are light years beyond what small-level leaders have had in the past.

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My Comment: The long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have not only changed the way the U.S. military functions .... but it has also upgraded their older weapon systems. This .... I suspect .... will continue for the foreseeable future.

The Push Is On To Approve A New Version Of The Avenger Air Defense System

Photo: Avenger was famously used to cast a protective cordon around Washington after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and helped allay public anxieties over 9/11.

Boeing Pushes For New Multi-Weapon Avenger System -- UPI

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Boeing is pushing for an innovative -- and deadly -- multi-weapon variant of its Avenger system that is set to give a new edge to fighters in modern warfare conditions.

Already shown to procurement officials and military professionals at a U.S. Army show in Washington, the Adaptive Force Protection Solutions System is a key highlight of weaponry that is likely to be deployed in modern warfare conditions.

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My Comment: I will be surprised if this project is approved now. Everyone is focused on cutting the budget .... having a new program in the mix .... hmmmm .... not for now.

For some more information on the existing Avenger Air Defense System, go here.

New Army Weapon Aims to Fry Gadgets, People

From The Danger Room:

Electronics-frying "e-bombs" have been discussed for decades — but rarely, if ever, deployed. Knocking out computers and communications gear with electromagnetic radiation is nice, but commanders prefer the proven method: blowing stuff up.

Now the U.S. Army is developing technology to do both at the same time. Hybrid munitions would give warheads the added punch of an e-bomb that can "destroy and disable electronic systems and their operators" all in one blast. The key is a magnet that blows up and spontaneously demagnetizes, releasing energy as a pulse of power. Oh, and antennas made of fire. My story in the current Defense Technology International explains.

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My Comment: This type of weapon has been discussed in the blogosphere for the past year .... but it is only now that we are getting more detail information.

Pentagon Plans Blimp To Spy From New Heights

From The L.A. Times:

The giant dirigible would use radar to closely and constantly monitor activity on the ground from 65,000 feet.

Reporting from Washington -- The Pentagon said Thursday that it intends to spend $400 million to develop a giant dirigible that will float 65,000 feet above the Earth for 10 years, providing unblinking and intricate radar surveillance of the vehicles, planes and even people below.

"It is absolutely revolutionary," Werner J.A. Dahm, chief scientist for the Air Force, said of the proposed unmanned airship -- describing it as a cross between a satellite and a spy plane.

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My Comment: I always love reading stories on how old technology is upgraded with modern tech .... and it becomes something that the original inventors could only dream about.