IEDs TOP THE FEATURES AT EUROSATORY AND AUSA
By Julian Nettlefold
16 Jun 08. The huge growth in the use of complex IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan has spurred the U.S. DoD in particular to find new methods to defeat this awesome and effective weapon. The DoD has set up a special fund with a $4bn injection to fund new methods of defeating IEDs. All the major defense contractors have formed IED segments to access this fund and thus produce the required solutions.
In April Raytheon Company launched a new Web site to recruit industry and academic partners to help defeat improvised explosive devices (IED), the No. 1 killer of service members in Iraq and Afghanistan. Potential partners can join the effort by registering solutions and ideas at
http://www.raytheon.com/missions/rtn07_ied.
The Web site allows industry and academia to make teaming and partnership recommendations for proposed solutions and to receive rapid, confidential reviews and feedback on those solutions. The site also maintains proprietary safeguards to protect submitted information against improper disclosure.
Lockheed Martin is also believed to be looking at new technologies. But, one company, ITT is ahead of the bunch following its smart move to acquire EDO. Another company following close behind is Allen Vanguard, the Canadian specialist EoD Company. We will discuss these two companies in particular later in the piece.
AUSA Greater Los Angeles Chapter Meet
One of the platforms used to great effect by the U.S. Army was this year’s AUSA Greater Los Angeles Chapter Meet held at The Westin Hotel, Long Beach, California, USA, from May 29-30. The Editor was lucky enough to receive an invitation from Dave Hall of Agile Communications and Felicia Campbell of DRS Technologies who organized the event.
Expecting to find the usual scenario of some good, some bad, speeches and Q&As, the Editor found the best kept secret on the Conference Circuit!
Firstly, the speaker line up was one of the most impressive I have seen to date, numbering no less than four serving U.S. Generals and a superb Chairman in DRS’s Robert Viviano, 1st Vice President, Greater Los Angels Chapter, AUSA.
It is worth outlining the Conference Program and speakers for those wishing to sign on for next year. The Editor has already accepted the invitation. As an aside, on the last night there is the Army Birthday Ball. This year I missed it, but Felicia told me that it was an amazing evening. Miss California sang “You make me feel so young” to a 93-year-old World War II vet. They strolled the dance floor as she sang to him and at one point he even gave a little high kick! They brought the house down. For that reason alone, this must be one for the calendar next year!
The Conference was named ‘Space & C4I: Bridging From Current to the Future Force.’
Day 1 speakers included:
1. The Warfighter’s View: Lt. Gen. Kevin Campbell, Commanding General U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command; Brig. Gen. John Seward, Deputy Commander General for Operations, United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command; Col. Timothy Coffin, 1st Space Brigade Commander; Col. C. Putko, 31st ADA Brigade Commander; Col. B. Shannon Davies, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, Fort Carson; Lt. Col. J. Rice, G-3 Operations, Senior Mission Commander, 4th Infantry Div.
2. Challenges to Developing Space and C4ISR Capabilities: Lt. Gen. Thomas Metz, Director, JIED Defeat Organization; Brig. Gen. J.C. Horne, Deputy Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space; Brig. Gen. Alan Lynn, Chief of Staff, Defense Systems Agency; Col. H. Greene, Director of Materiel, G-8; Col. L. Buckhout, Chief EW Div. U.S. Army.
3. New capabilities and Challenges for the Next Five Years: Brig. Gen. Nikolas Justice, PEO, Command, Control and Communications; Mr. Scott Davies, Deputy PM, FCS BGT Operations; Mr. Allan Resnick, Director, Capabilities, Development & Assessments, TRADOC; Col. P. Rayermann, Chief