Defense Technology International - June 2008 - (Page 3)

editorial editor-in-chief Bill Sweetman sweetman@aviationweek.com managing editor Michael Stearns stearns@aviationweek.com senior european editor Joris Janssen Lok jjl@aviationweek.com senior north american editor Paul McLeary mcleary@aviationweek.com web editor Sean Meade meade@aviationweek.com contributing editors Sunho Beck Michael Dumiak David Eshel David Hambling Neelam Mathews Andy Nativi Maxim Pyadushkin Pat Toensmeier David C. Walsh art director Lisa Caputo associate art directors Scott Marshall Hans Michaud production designers Elizabeth Campochiaro Bridget Horan Ellen Pugatch copy editors Andrea Hollowell Richard Leyshon Patricia J. Parmalee Nora Titterington proofreaders Mary Alford Marion Meade online DTI is available online: AviationWeek.com/dti AWIN – to add DTI to your AWIN account North America: +1 (866) 857-0148 All Others: +1 (515) 237-3682; Fax: +1 (712) 755-7423 Email: aw_intelligence@aviationweek.com reprints, photocopies and permissions Custom Reprints: Jenny Wentz North America: +1 (800) 360-5549 x130 All Others: +1 (717) 399-1900 Email: aviationweek@reprintbuyer.com Black and White Photocopies: Copyright Clearance Center; (978) 750-8400; www.copyright.com Copying without the express permission of the Copyright Clearance Center or The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. is prohibited. Requests for other rights and permission: Lyle Steele at Aviation Week/Business Week Permissions Department; +1 (212) 512-3286; lyle_steele@businessweek.com Magazine Publishers of America DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL June 2008 VOL. 2, NO. 5 (ISSN 1935-6269) ON THE WEB Dutch Parliament Cites Ares he big story online last month was Ares Goes Dutch Again. Editor-inChief Bill Sweetman wrote about an Ares entry being cited in the Dutch parliament on Apr. 9, concerning cost overruns for the Joint Strike Fighter. An online debate resulted, which yielded 27 comments as of this writing (May 9). Our editors helped to stoke the exchange with their expert commentary. Here are a few great observations (edited for space) from readers. ELP: “If USAF can’t cough up the cash for more than 48 jets a year in fullrate production, the conversation on the cost of an F-35 will be real short.” BigRocket: “JSF is expensive, much more so than originally advertised; no doubt about it. Having said that, JSF is still the most inexpensive aircraft that incorporates 5th-generation stealth, and the only stealth aircraft available for export. What’s more, stealth technology is one of the biggest game-changers in air combat. You can’t shoot down what you can’t see.” Sintra: “On the F-35A and the Dutch, I do agree with [DTI Senior European Editor] Joris Janssen Lok: If you plan to ﬁght alongside the Americans for the next three to four decades (on the other hand, three to four decades are a very long time in international politics, and the USA is thousands of miles away), the ‘Lightning Path’ seems the logical way.” The conversation continues, and we’d like you to join in. Here are some of the best posts from other topics that appeared on Ares in the past month: JHL and Jointness—the Army Responds. We’ve been taken to task for a comment on our recent blog post that the U.S. Army-led Joint Heavy Lift isn’t really joint. Aussies Attack Acquisition Reform. The labor government is having another go at improving military acquisition processes in hopes of avoiding overruns and delays. A Last Look at “Carrier.” We link to posts on other sites that discuss the recent 10-hr. PBS documentary, give ﬁnal thoughts and point to the best parts of the series for those who just want to watch some of it. How To Make a Chinook Fly Faster. Try ﬁxed wings above the rotors. First Flight for Watchkeeper UAV. Thales U.K. announces the ﬁrst ﬂight of the platform for the British armed forces. UAV Conspiracy Theories. Russia o ered several explanations for who and what shot down a Georgian UAV last month over Abkhazia, one of two separatist regions Moscow supports. Ideas on Show at Helo Forum. The U.S. helicopter industry may be growing concerned about when the next new military rotorcraft program is coming, but it is not lacking in ideas. U.S. Electronic Fingerprints in Syria? O cials are quietly dropping clues about how Syria’s suspicious facility was attacked. LCS: A Brief Overview of Issues. Two announcements address the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship program. “No Way To Make an Approach.” Fascinating “golden oldie” video of the USS Platte (AO-186) and USS Tripp (FF-1075) bumping noses in 1989. —Sean Meade, Columbia, S.C. T • • • • • • • • • • To catch up on these stories as well as the daily posts, go to DTI’s home page, www.AviationWeek.com/dti, and click on “Extras for this issue” under “DTI Interactive.” Read Meade’s posts on DTI’s weblog Ares, updated daily: AviationWeek.com/ares E-mail questions or suggestions to: meade@AviationWeek.com Defense Technology International invites letters from readers. Letters can be sent via e-mail to editor@deftechintl.com; faxed to editor-in-chief, DTI, +1 (202) 383-2346; or mailed to Defense Technology International, 1200 G St., Suite 922, Washington, D.C. 20005. Please include your name, address and a daytime phone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. JUNE 2008 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 3 Magazine Publishers of America Contact us at: editor@deftechintl.com Defense Technology International 1200 G St., N.W., Suite 922 Washington, D.C. 20005 Phone: +1 (202) 383-2300 Printed in the U.S.A. Magazine Publishers of America AviationWeek.com/dti http://AviationWeek.com/dti http://www.copyright.com http://www.AviationWeek.com/dti http://AviationWeek.com/ares http://AviationWeek.com/dti

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Defense Technology International - June 2008

Defense Technology International - June 2008 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch Basic Black Self-Defense Fire-Resistant Perfezione Hyperspeed Trial Big Sky Cashing In Digital Links Hang Ten Sea Change Programs Update Two Steps Back Direct Hit Staying Power Potent Stinger Do No Harm Guard Duty The Net Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - June 2008

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