CFB Bagotville

Canada’s Air Force currently has a traditional structure based around air wings. The inauguration of Mission Support Squadrons of self-sustaining logistics teams has begun to change that, and Canada has taken another step toward more modern concepts with the formation of an Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) at CFB Bagotville, Quebec. Bagotville is currently home to 3 Wing, and one of only 2 CF-18 fighter bases in Canada (the other is Cold Lake, Alberta).

The Department of Defense Multi-disciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) is a multi-agency Department of Defense program that supports research teams whose efforts intersect more than one traditional science and engineering disciplines. They’re especially interested in efforts where cross-fertilization can accelerate research progress, hasten the transition of basic research findings to practical applications, further key infrastructure such as research instrumentation development, or just help to train students in science and/or engineering in areas of importance to the US DoD.

In April 2007, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research announced the FY 2007 competition MURI awards, which will fund 10 awards to to 29 academic institutions, totaling about $60 million over 5 years. MURI awards are typically larger and longer in duration than traditional awards, with a 3-year base period plus a 2-year option contingent upon both availability of appropriation funds and satisfactory research progress. Topics ranged from “Dynamic Decision making in complex task environments: Principles and neural mechanisms” to “Biologically-Inspired Flight for Micro Air Vehicles” and many points in-between; this PDF file contains the entire list. Winners included teams at:

• Boston University, MA
• Brown University, RI
• University of Colorado
• George Mason University, VA
• Harvard University, MA
• University of Michigan
• Northwestern University, IL
• Princeton University, NJ
• Stanford University, CA
• University of Virginia
  Continue Reading… »

CAP Cessna 182
Skylane

The US Civil Air Patrol was established as the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force in 1941, just before the Pearl Harbor attack. It has now been placed under the Air Force Homeland Security Directorate. CAP’s volunteer pilots fly reconnaissance missions for homeland security, search and rescue and disaster relief, and even counterdrug reconnaissance at the request of government or law enforcement agencies. They transport medical personnel and supplies, blood and live tissue. In times of disaster, they assess damage and transport emergency personnel from site to site. Now, a modest modernization is underway.

Overall, it’s an exceptionally effective, and cost-effective, force. DID offers details regarding a recent contract, as well as CAP’s force structure, budget, and ongoing modernization programs.

• CAP: Forces and Plans
• CAP: Contracts and Budgets, FY 2004 – Present
• Additional Readings
  Continue Reading… »

Yes, that’s a whole boat

Last September, DID’s “Robins AFB Wins Shingo Gold Prize” covered the C-5 Programmed Depot Maintenance workforce’s receipt of an award that BusinessWeek magazine referred to as the “Nobel prize of manufacturing,” awarded annually to companies that demonstrate world-class business results through the implementation of Lean Manufacturing principles and practices. Robins AFB were the first public sector winner of the Shingo (Gold level) prize.

This year, 3 groups from the 402nd Maintenance Wing of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center accepted awards at the Shingo Public Sector Conference on September 7th….

B-52H: gas guzzler

The rising cost of fuel has received extensive coverage and military attention of late. This includes US Air Combat Command (ACC) officials, who are reportedly bracing for a “budget crisis” while looking for future fuel alternatives and simulators to pick up some of the slack.

The USAF reports that it paid about $4.2 billion for petroleum in FY 2005, with JP-8 jet fuel at $1.74/gallon and BP as the #1 fuel provider among many thanks to its lowest-cost bid. That was still almost $1.4 billion more than fiscal 2004, and more than the $3.57 billion spent on petroleum in FY 2005 by the US Army, Navy and Marines combined. Indeed, ACC reportedly faced an FY 2005 shortfall of $825 million in must-pay funds.

Recent prices reflect a 31% jump to about $2.53 per gallon, and there are consequences…

The Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH has awarded an $850 million firm-fixed-price, time and materials and cost-reimbursement contract among a number of firms. It’s a consolidated acquisition of professional services approach, using indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contracts that will cover a wide range of technical/management support at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH.

Located near the home of the Wright Brothers’ first flight, Wright-Patterson AFB may well be the largest, most diverse and organizationally complex air base in the world. Missions range from acquisition and logistics management, to research and development via the Air force Research Laboratory, education, flight operations, and many other defense related activities. To cover support for such a wide range of activities, the contract must also have a very wide scope…

Desert Hawk UAV

DID covered the U.S. Defense Department’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Planning Task Force’s “Unmanned Systems Roadmap 2005-2030” back in August 2005. The US Air Force did not get the full authority over UAVs that it wanted, but it has recently completed a vision document focused on UAV operations and management.

“The U.S. Air Force Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Strategic Vision” [USAF release | PDF format] is not directive in nature. Instead, it lays out a broad vision and provides recommendations. These include developing common terminology, adequately funding relevant science and technology, coordinating efforts with other services, managing cost and performance expectations, reviewing and updating laws and policies, and integrating unmanned aircraft with manned and space platforms. The new strategic vision document also addresses the historical context of UAVs, the unique attributes of the aircraft, and the various challenges in fielding them.

King Abdullah II in KA2

Back on January 9, 2006, DID ran a very popular article discussing the growth of fractal camouflage patterns, including Canada’s trail-blazing CADPAT, the Marines MARPAT, and HyperStealth’s advanced digital KA2 camouflage pattern created for Jordan. HyperStealth had also developed technologies to apply these patterns to aircraft, vehicles, and buildings. Digital camoufalge is a definite trend.

Since then, DID has covered the US Army’s ACUPAT scheme and other improvements to the new Army Combat Uniform. Meanwhile, there are further developments. The US Navy now has a pixilated uniform based on MARPAT, approved and released in early March. The US Air Force has just released its Airman Battle Uniform, based on a slightly pixilated tiger stripe pattern. In Jordan, over 300,000 uniforms have now been produced in variants of HyperStealth’s digital KA2 pattern, including a new Civil Defense Directorate KA2 Blue/Grey digital pattern. Research into night/urban, vehicle and aircraft camouflage patterns is also continuing. Details follow…

IL-78MK with SU-30MKIs
(click to expand)

India Defence notes India’s Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi’s recent remarks that Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to acquire more advanced fighters, sophisticated defence systems and smart long-range weapons, as the country’s “strategic boundaries have been redefined” by its growing energy needs and participation in disaster management operations. Tyagi said the current scenario “necessitated a strategic reach to safeguard our national interests”.

Tyagoi acknowledged the effect that delays in the LCA Tejas fighter were having on India’s force structure, but noted that India would react in a number of ways. His response touched on everything from AWACS and revised MiG-21 modernization numbers to precision weapons and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

In its search to improve aircraft maintenance turnaround and improve quality, The US Air Force spliced elements of several civilian efficiency programs to develop “Smart Operations 21” (AFSO 21). The program is based on both Lean and Six Sigma business process improvement tools, and focuses on saving time and money, reducing waste and improving quality. The January 9, 2006 article “Air Force improving production with Smart Operations 21” describes the concepts behind Smart Operations 21, some examples of changes made as a result of applying these principles, and its envisioned applicability beyond aircraft maintenance and logistics.

Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, USA has already applied a number of related principles to its efforts. As the 58th Maintenance Group’s commander Col. Debra Shattuck noted: