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    Logistics system release transforms combat support
    Erik
    By Erik,
      Logistics system release transforms combat support   By Air Force News Agency on August 13, 2010   WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio: A new age for Air Force logisticians began when a pilot version of the Expeditionary Combat Support System went live July 31 at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.   The Expeditionary Combat Support System will transform business processes, alter management and control systems, and affect personnel roles and organizational structures across the entire logistics arena.   "Developing and fielding ECSS is a monumental task that requires transformational changes in the way the Air Force does business," said Col. Stefan Dosedel, an ECSS Release One program manager.   The previously used, stove-piped systems often resulted in duplicated efforts, non-standardized reporting and data integrity issues. When fully implemented, ECSS will provide standardized business processes, an enterprise view of the supply chain and efficiencies across the Air Force, while also impacting personnel roles and organizational structures.   "The end result is to have one, single database, no matter what Air Force location you are at, that has consistent processes and data," said Scott Argo of Computer Sciences Corporation, the system integrator. "It moves the Air Force from base-centric, standalone systems to an enterprise approach."   The ECSS program, managed by the Electronic Systems Center's Enterprise Logistics Systems Program Executive Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is an integrated data environment that combines financial, manufacturing, distribution and other business processes into a single, commercial off-the-shelf, Oracle-based technology solution hosted on the Air Force Global Combat Support System.   It replaces more than 240 Cold War-era standalone, or stove-piped, systems being used today.   Hanscom AFB was chosen as the pilot base for implementing ECSS because of its small size and relatively low number of impacted users. Planned for release in increments, this first phase, known as Release One-Pilot A, focuses on vehicle maintenance and involves about 40 to 50 Hanscom AFB users. Pilot B will expand to equipment custodians at Hanscom AFB, and Pilot C, which will involve supply functions, will bring the potential number of Hanscom AFB ECSS users to between 75 to 100 people.   Hanscom AFB will continue to be the ECSS pilot base until 2011, when the program enters Initial Operational Test and Evaluation at MacDill AFB, Fla., and Ellsworth AFB, S.D.   The first work order for Pilot A was opened Aug. 2 when mechanic Bruce Trainer of the 66th Logistics Squadron opened the "Scheduling Workbench" on his computer screen. From the workbench, he accessed ECSS and scheduled the first job of the day: replacing a faulty light bulb on a base fire truck.   Shortly thereafter, Rick Lord, also of the 66th LRS, started the maintenance operations, recorded the use of the replacement part, recorded his time and completed the work order.   Since ECSS standardizes processes, the same job will be done the same way at Air Force bases around the world, Mr. Argo said. It also transfers the process from a paper-based system to an electronic one.   "While Pilot A is primarily being conducted by the 13 vehicle maintenance workers at Hanscom (AFB), there are 300-plus people at the Program Management Office at Wright-Patterson (AFB) and more than 500 CSC employees in Beavercreek, Ohio, working to implement the system across the Air Force," Mr. Argo said. "Engineers at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., are also working the related vehicle engineering bill of materials and routings so that maintenance activities have a standard set of activities, tools and parts."   Robins AFB engineers essentially will build the processes used Air Force-wide, and load them into ECSS, Mr. Argo said.   Aug. 2, the ECSS Logistics Management and Support Office hosted a gathering at Wright-Patterson AFB to mark the Air Force's first ECSS implementation.   Lynn Moad, the Systems Integration Division chief and Air Force Materiel Command ECSS champion, said she was thrilled with the progress of the system.   "Everyone at Hanscom (AFB) and Warner Robins (AFB) is so enthused," she said. "Each person has worked so hard to make this happen, and is so excited."   While this release signals a big stride in Air Force logistics, the ECSS program executive officer said that more program developments are on the horizon.   "Today is a big day for ECSS, but it marks just another step in a long journey to delivering the full promise of ECSS," said Brig. Gen. Kenneth J. Moran, the director and Air Force program executive officer of Enterprise Logistics Systems. "We can, and should be, immensely proud of what's been achieved; but we must remain diligent and focused on the work ahead."         Defense Talk

    Persistent Wireless Broadband Communications Network for the Battlefield
    Erik
    By Erik,
      Persistent Wireless Broadband Communications Network for the Battlefield   By Lockheed Martin on August 13, 2010   Private Military Network Brings Secure Smartphone Technology to Warfighter   VALLEY FORGE, Pa.: Warfighters on the battlefield will have a persistent wireless broadband network available for tactical use with a new MONAX™ communications system from Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] that combines the convenience of smartphone technology with the power and flexibility of a secure, highly portable network infrastructure.   “With the MONAX system, we’ll be able to place smartphone technology in the hands of warfighters with a private network they can take anywhere,” said Gerry Fasano, President of Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions-Defense. “This affordable system will reduce time spent searching for information, improve battlefield communications and situational awareness, and increase mission effectiveness through more informed decision making.”   The MONAX communications system connects a commercial off-the-shelf smartphone to a ground or airborne 3G base station with a MONAX Lynx portable sleeve, enabling the warfighter’s use of a single, convenient, touch screen device for mission success at “the first tactical mile.” The system is frequency flexible, connects hundreds of users to a single base station, and delivers superior range and link performance in voice, video and data transmission. The network uses a secure RF link, protected through exportable encryption for joint and coalition operations.   Lockheed Martin also offers a rich set of applications and governance, leveraging smartphone application development and application store model. Applications are available for mission reporting, situational awareness, command and control, facial recognition for checkpoint use, cyber security situational awareness and protection, and enterprise intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data access.       Defense Talk

    IAF going in for massive upgrade of airfields, helipads
    Erik
    By Erik,
      IAF going in for massive upgrade of airfields, helipads   Rajat Pandit, TNN, Aug 13, 2010, 02.07am IST   NEW DELHI: From new Sukhoi-30MKI bases at Chabua (Assam), Halwara (Punjab) and Jodhpur (Rajasthan) to one for Tejas fighters in Sulur (Tamil Nadu), IAF is going in for a massive upgrade of its airfield and helipad infrastructure across the country.   This will not only bolster operational logistics and flexibility on both the eastern and western fronts with China and Pakistan, apart from plugging existing gaps over central and peninsular India, but also make IAF airbases more accessible to civilian aircraft.   This is in tune with IAF's aim to have 42 fighter squadrons by 2022, up from the existing 32, with progressive induction of 270 Sukhois, 126 multi-role combat aircraft, 120 indigenous Tejas Light Combat aircraft and the first lot of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft to be developed with Russia.   A major endeavour in all this is the soon-to-be-launched MAFI (modernisation of airfield infrastructure) programme, under which 30 of IAF's 51 operational airbases will be upgraded in Phase-I over 42 months.   "Commercial negotiations with the Tata Power-led consortium for MAFI Phase-I, at a cost of around Rs 1,300 crore, is in the final stages now. Bhatinda airbase will be taken up as the pilot project,'' said a source.   Under Phase-II, remaining IAF, Army, Navy and Coast Guard airfields will be modernised. The upgrade includes resurfacing, expansion and lighting of runways for night operations as well as installation of new tactical navigational (TACAN), instrument landing (Cat-2 ILS), air traffic management and air-to-ground radio communication (RCAG) systems.   The North-East is a major thrust area, with upgrade of airbases in Chabua, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Mohanbari, Hasimara, Guwahati and Bagdogra, among others. The Tezpur airbase already houses Sukhois after it underwent an upgrade last year.   Then, after reactivating western sector ALGs (advanced landing grounds) like Daulat Beg Oldi, Fukche and Nyama in eastern Ladakh, IAF is now concentrating on upgrading eastern sector ALGs like Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting, Ziro and Vijaynagar as well as several helipads in Arunachal.   This is meant to strategically counter China's massive build-up of military infrastructure all along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control, which includes 14 airbases directed against India in Tibet.   The focus on the western front, of course, remains as sharp as before. The Phalodi airbase in Rajasthan, just 102 km away from the Pakistan border, for instance, began fighter operations earlier this year.   "The aim is to make all the bases capable of operating all kinds of aircraft. This will, for instance, allow our IL-78 mid-air refuellers to support fighters from virtually anywhere in the country,'' said the source.       The Times of India

    Simulation Items from EAA Airventure 2010
    DWCAce
    By DWCAce,
      Simulation Items from EAA Airventure 2010   By DWCAce   Two weeks ago I attended the annual EAA fly-in, Airventure, in Oshkosh, WI (KOSH). Being a first timer, I did my best to cover the sights 'n' sounds of this HUGE event. One that it includes is a major variety of vendors in the aviation (and not so aviation) industry. There were a few that have a hand in the simulation business, so I figured I'd see what they had.   Here's what I was able to try out:   Renegade Cloud Flyer Simulator Hot Seat Sim products CH Products X-Plane 10 (iPad) Renegade Cloud Flyer Simulator (X-Plane 9 with Saitek controls) I had seen this advertised on the web somewhere, so I figured I'd give it a try. It's a counter-balanced chair that moves with you control inputs (via a mechanical linkage to the joystick). After almost dying trying to climb in, it took me a few moments to find my balance. The demonstrator said that the seat was not optimized because of the large number (and variety of sizes) of people testing it out. In order for it to be balanced, gym weights would have to be changed every time a different person sat in it. Flight controls were from Saitek, with the X-52 HOTAS and rudder pedals, with the sim itself being X-Plane 9.   During my brief time on this 'device' I found that the stick took a fair amount of force to manipulate as I had to move the entire chair. This was a bit tiring after a five minute flight in a Piper Malibu, and I imagine after a dogfight you'd either have an iron arm or it no arm at all. Perhaps it wouldn't be so tough if the seat were to be balanced. I also found it to be a bit disorienting during the flight as the chair would return to level after an input, but the a/c would either be inverted or in a steep bank.   The website is below, and has a few pics/drawings, and a video. http://renegadelight...com/#/SIMULATOR     Hot Seat products The Hot Seat lineup uses placed speakers and sub-woofers to add to the immersion of the sim. Monitors also add to this, depending on rig that you have (anywhere from one to four monitors can be set up). HS had five of their rigs on display, and I was able to three of they a run. More information can be found on their web site. http://www.hotseatsim.com/   Here goes...       Combat Sim (FSX Acceleration, CH Fighter Stick, CH Pro Throttle, CH Pro Pedals)     The placement of the controls seemed to be pretty comfortable and adjustable. A second monitor was available to display the GPS unit in FSX.         Helisim (FSX, CH Pro Pedals, cyclic and collective controls unknown) Same basic setup, but with proper helicopter controls. This has been the only time I've flown the chopper in FS and haven't been five minutes behind the aircraft.   Flight Sim Pilot Pro (FSX, CH Eclipse Yoke & Pro Pedals, Saitek Pro Flight Radio Panel, Multi Panel, Switch Panel, Instrument Panel   I must say, this was the coolest rig they had (and I'm sure the most expensive!). I felt right at home piloting the light Cessna around. The combination of 68-degrees of vision, dedicated monitor for the panel, CH & Saitek hardware made this a joy to fly!                           Driving rigs (PS3, XBOX 360) Hot Seat also makes rigs for ground based sims. I didn't try any out, but included a shot of another guy trying it out.   X-Plane 10 Not an in-depth review, but it was pretty neat to play it on an iPad!

    First GPS IIF satellite on station
    Erik
    By Erik,
        First GPS IIF satellite on station   By Air Force News Agency on August 11, 2010   LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.: Officials from the Air Space Command's Global Positioning Systems Wing at the Space and Missile Systems Center here have announced the first GPS IIF satellite arrived on station Aug. 1. This indicates the satellite is in its designated orbital position and ready for its final phase of on-orbit checkout and testing, to be completed before September. The satellite then will be cleared to serve navigation and timing users as part of the operational GPS constellation.   The next-generation GPS IIF satellites will provide improved accuracy through advanced atomic clocks, a longer design life than legacy GPS satellites and a new operational L5 civil signal that benefits civil aviation and other safety-of-life applications. It also will continue to deploy the modernized capabilities that began with the eight modernized GPS IIR satellites, including a more robust military signal.   GPS IIF satellites will provide improved signals that will enhance the precise global positioning, navigation and timing services supporting both the warfighter and the growing civilian needs of the global economy. The GPS constellation remains the most robust and capable system in the history of space.   Air Force Space Command and Space and Missile Systems Center personnel are charged with developing, acquiring, fielding and sustaining the world's best space and missile capabilities for warfighting forces and for the nation. Air Force specialists are committed to providing uninterrupted GPS service at or above our performance commitments for decades to come.       Defense Talk

    U.K. Eyes Improved Counter-IED Capabilities
    Erik
    By Erik,
        U.K. Eyes Improved Counter-IED Capabilities   By Robert Wall London   The U.K.’s effort to upgrade the Astor ground-surveillance aircraft to enhance detection of improvised explosive devices (IED) is one in a series of equipment upgrades European militaries plan to bolster their military presence in Afghanistan.   The effort comes as the debate over the course ahead in Afghanistan continues in many European countries, signaled most starkly by the formal end of the Dutch participation in the operation on Aug. 1.   The U.K. has been operating the R1 Sentinel Airborne Standoff Radar (Astor) and supporting ground forces by monitoring routes that logistics convoys have to pass through, in some cases augmenting their own sensors with unmanned aircraft. U.K. military officials note that includes forensic analysis to determine where insurgents have come from or headed after an attack.   The ground moving target indicator capability also has been used to help alert ground personnel to the potential presence of IEDs. So far, however, that has concentrated on monitoring ground movements and, when locals notably avoid an area, alert troops on the ground about a potential threat at that location.   But further, more sophisticated technical steps are in the works, including using the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to conduct change detection analysis on the fly. Under such a system, Astor would be used to detect small changes in the ground to alert troops about the potential emplacement of an IED. The Royal Air Force recently conducted trials of this capability at the Salisbury Training Area. The initial SAR system could not perform that function, but with software advances, change detection “is developing,” says a ground operations officer who had deployed with the R1 Sentinel in support of Afghanistan operations.   The U.K. also has been flying unmanned aircraft in the hunt for IEDs, with indications that advanced payloads are being quietly operated in the theater.   On a visit last week to RAF Waddington, where the R1 Sentinels are based, U.K. Defense Minister Liam Fox noted that “highly detailed imagery provides our ground forces with the incredibly accurate information they need to detect insurgent activity and spot potential IEDs.”   Providing ground forces improved airborne intelligence collection also is on the agenda in Germany, where there has been controversy much of the year over concerns that deployed forces are under-equipped. The German parliament’s military ombudsman, Hellmut Konigshaus, has repeatedly urged that known shortcomings be rectified. Most of those concerns have focused on ground equipment, which Berlin is trying to take great strides to improve, benefiting other materiel along the way.   For instance, the German air force this month expects to field a third Heron-1 unmanned aircraft in Mazar-e-Sharif. The Heron-1s are providing direct tactical support to ground forces, while the reconnaissance Tornados, now equipped with a real-time imaging pod, support headquarters functions. Germany acquired four real-time digital RecceLite reconnaissance pods for the Tornados, and in 2012 expects to field four more. The imagery from those sensors is also helping detect IEDs using change detection algorithms.   The German mission to Afghanistan will require parliamentary renewal in the coming months. The current mandate expires Dec. 13, but equipment planners are betting that troops will remain in country in 2011, when a raft of upgrades to ground equipment are due to hit the field.   Meanwhile, the Afghan National Army Air Force has begun live-fire training launching rockets from its Mi-17 helicopters for ground attack. The helos, used for troop transport, eventually also are to supplant the Mi-35s in a ground support capacity.   Credit: High G Technologies               Aviation Week

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