• A new report from the unaligned CSBA think tank [PDF] states that “the growth and proliferation of anti-access/area-denial capabilities, together with short-range guided munitions, have the potential to bring the era of the aircraft carrier to an end, obviate the ability of short-range, tactical U.S. air power to operate from forward bases, and substantially raise the difficulties and costs of moving heavy ground forces into overseas theaters, much less sustaining them once there.” 

• The IISS use the first day of the Shangri-La Dialogue to unveil its latest study of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

• Canada sends out mixed messages regarding negotiations for overseas bases.

• Boeing delivers 2 more F100-powered F-15Ks to Daegu AB in South Korea. That makes 10 planes, from the 21-plane F-X-2 batch.

• Nanotechnology advances may lead to the transformation of combat fatigues and and bulky equipment into lightweight do-it-all battle uniforms.

• Mexico’s drug wars driving armored car maker Texas Armoring Corporation’s rapid growth.

ECWCS-III: all 7 layers

Over 20,000 more sets. (May 10/11)

“During Operation Mountain Lion I found myself praying for bad weather, the first time in my military career I was actually begging for a cold front to come through. I knew my soldiers could handle it and the enemy couldn’t. ECWCS allowed my men to outlast the enemy on their own terrain. When the enemy was forced out of the mountains due to the bitter cold to take shelter, that’s when we got them.”
—LTC Christopher Cavoli, US Army 10th Mountain Division, Afghanistan

This third generation of the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS-III) is a radical re-design of the cold weather clothing system for the U.S. Army. So, exactly what’s in the ECWCS-III?

• The ECWCS-III Clothing System [updated]
• Contracts & Key Events [updated]
• Additional Readings
  Continue Reading… »

• DARPA’s Prophecy project looks to stay a step ahead of virus evolution, something with strong public health relevance as well as defensive military uses. That’s good, because the US State Department’s new arms control compliance report shows that there is a lot we do not know about the world’s germ warfare programs.

• Research and Markets: The South African defense industry is expected to continue its consolidation trend, with fewer firms competing for more international business. No surprise, given its weak domestic market.

• F-35 flight tests suspended, due to issues with fuel-system software on all variants and with a door hinge on the Marines’ F-35B.

• At least one person on Cryptome thinks the Stuxnet worm is too sloppy to be Israeli malware, and that the “myrtus” aspect of it has a non-biblical explanation. Meanwhile, Iran blusters – and may be about to implement the accompanying social hack.

• Collateral Economy: US military’s 17 facilities in Maryland generate $36 billion annually in economic activity, according to a University of Baltimore report [PDF].

• Cleveland Rocks: Defense News reports that Cleveland Ship has bid for Northrop Grumman’s shipbuilding unit, which Bloomberg estimates to be worth up to $4.6 billion.

• Canada’s AirBoss-Defense gets $22 million worth of orders to supply CBRN protective boots and gloves to the US military.

• Up to $8 million to Kratos for IT and cybersecurity support for the US Navy’s Pacific region network.

USMC boot

Combat boots remain one of the infantry’s most important and least-appreciated pieces of gear. Unless you’ve served in the infantry, of course. After decades of “Army boots” being used as a term for old-fashioned, heavy, uncomfortable items worn by serving soldiers and the mothers of childhood antagonists, modern professional militaries have begun to get smarter about footwear. Their new aim is to leverage civilian advances in design and materials, in order to build or buy new boots that are more comfortable, longer lasting, and support the efforts of troops in the field, rather than acting as a limiting factor. The US military has been following this path for some time now. Other nations like Britain are also coming on board with the trend.

A set of contracts were issued in 2007, with future option years to follow. This article tracks those specific contracts, and is meant to be representative, not a comprehensive look at all US military combat boot orders. Participating firms and orders include:

New USAF ABU

In March 2006, “Fractal Creep: New Digitized Camo Uniforms for USAF, USN, Jordan” looked at some of the new fractal camouflage patterns emerging on the market, and the some of the design decisions behind the uniforms themselves. The new uniform design is a pixilated tiger stripe, with 4 soft earth tones of tan, grey, green and blue. The Air Force Battle Uniform will have a permanent crease and will be offered in 50-50 nylon-cotton blend permanent press fabric, eliminating the need for winter and summer weight uniforms. It will also be available in more body sizes, tailored for men and women. A tan T-shirt and polish-free suede cowhide boots in matching green-gray color will accompany the uniform, and will be available in men’s and women’s sizes. So will a fleece.

Back in 2006, Brig. Gen Robert R. Allardice said that they:

• South Korean Navy conducts anti-submarine warfare drills off west coast as tensions run high over North Korea’s sinking of ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772), a Pohang-class patrol combat corvette. South Korean ambassador to the US ponders the aftermath. [PDF]

• University of Pittsburgh gets $12 million contract to develop regenerative medical procedures for injured US military personnel.

• Rust never sleeps. As the F-22A fighter fleet found out recently.

• Northrop Grumman sets integrated circuit speed record – at a frequency that could double the bandwidth of military communications networks – as part of DARPA’s Terahertz Electronics program.

• CSIS analysts skeptical of costs savings from 2009 Weapon System Acquisition Reform Act.

• BAE delivers 2nd dome set to Spain’s S-80 submarine project.

• BAE and GD-ATP deliver 1st production element of the DDG-1000 “destroyer’s” 155mm Advanced Gun System.

• First flight of ScanEagle SECC, which could be launched from submarines or aircraft.

• Harris snags $27 million order to supply additional JTRS-approved Falcon III AN/PRC-152-C multiband handheld radios and AN/VRC-110 vehicle amplifier adapters for M-ATVs.

• Who’s your tailor? US Marine Corps chooses new tailor for recruits and military personnel at Parris Island, SC.

• North Korea’s sinking of the ROKS Cheonan is causing South Korea to rethink its planned Defense Reform 2020 restructuring and procurement program. Among other changes the Navy could see a shift toward more FFX type light patrol frigates.

• US Army’s next generation Ground Combat Vehicle IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) attracting teams & bids. GDLS with Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and MTU Detroit Diesel; BAE Systems with Northrop Grumman; and Future Combat Systems leads Boeing and SAIC with Germany’s KMW.

• Orders in Afghanistan: no HMMWVs off-base, only MRAPs. Similar orders were issued in Iraq, at the height of the fighting.

• Reuters special report: How the Obama White House learned to love UAV strikes as its main tool in the war.

• US deploys Patriot missile battery, US soldiers to Poland to train Polish military on system.

• US Cyber Command is up and running with Gen. Keith Alexander in charge.

• UK military personnel in Afghanistan sport new camouflage, the 1st new design in over 40 years.

• Lockheed Martin delivers the 1st new AEHF secure broadband communications satellite to the USAF, for a planned July 30/10 liftoff.

• Small businesses organize against US government’s in-sourcing of contractor work.

• US Senate is unlikely to take up the House-passed IMPROVE Act, which would reform the US defense acquisition process.

• USAF C-130Hs dispatched to spray dispensants on the growing Gulf of Mexico oil slick, as it approaches critical shorelines. Too little, too late?

• A US federal grand jury indicts 6 people and 3 companies with conspiring to defraud the US government of $40 million by supplying aircraft countermeasure flares that included banned Chinese magnesium. US DoJ release | Associated Press | Buffalo News

• From the “yeah, we’ve noticed” department: Chinese defense industrial ramp-up, penchant for unauthorized knock-offs, turning it from major Russian arms client to minor/non-client and competitor.

• Can computer aggregated probability modeling help US Intelligence agencies to avoid ther long history of filtering out dissenting opinions, and blowing big calls?

• Clould computing, biometrics, and major network programs are featured in the US Army’s 2010 modernization plan.

• Shock and Awe: General Dynamics, ATK get USMC contract to demonstrate Medusa 66mm flash-bang grenade and launcher.

• Having 20% of its Eisenhower-era KC-135 aerial tankers in depot at any one time makes it hard to meet 2 of 3 USAF MCRS scenarios.

• Back to the Future: Canadian Navy reinstates 1910 “executive curl” on naval officers’ rank insignia.

US Navy Working TFU

American Apparel in Selma, AL received a maximum $8.1 million firm-fixed-price with indefinite-quantity contract to supply items for the US Navy Task Force Uniform (TFU).

The original Navy TFU contract was awarded to Wellstone Apparel in 2007; American Apparel purchased Wellstone in 2009.

The Navy TFU was redesigned in 2006 to provide a single working uniform for all ranks.

Marines in MARPAT Uniform

Government Sewing & Apparel (dba Columbia Sewing Co.) received a maximum $8.6 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract to supply the Marine Corps combat utility uniform, including battle dress, desert and woodland camouflage blouse and trouser sets. The company, which won the original contract in 2006, will make the uniforms at its Arkansas and Puerto Rico facilities. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia received 10 responses to its original solicitation. This contract (SP0100-06-D-0362) is exercising option year 3. The date of performance completion is June 25/10.

DID has more on the Marine Corps MARPAT camouflage uniforms…