Category: Military

Unmanned Aircraft: Reaper – "Thinking" Ahead

Not uncommon for the military to develop technologies that will eventually be applied within the private/commercial sector.

Delivering Devastation, (Washington Times)…Sara A. Carter

Unmanned aircraft controlled from U.S. fly over Afghanistan, Iraq on ‘kill’ missions.

Air Force officials say that the Predator and Reaper are just the first in a revolution in cyber and warfare technology that will take pilots out of the skies and put them behind computers and joysticks.

“We believe we’ll have a computer with as much computing power as a human no later than 2012,” Gen. Peterson said in reference to meetings he had with IBM and other computer technology firms. “We want the aircraft to initially think through the problem and offer the pilot a couple of solutions to choose from.”

Although the technology is still being developed, he said he hopes that one day advanced aircraft will be able to “plan ahead” and evaluate changes in the mission if required.

Military Transformation – Pacific Command

Exercise Yama Sakura, Camp Asaka, Japan — What is it?

Yama Sakura is the most important bilateral exercise the U.S. Army conducts with our closest ally in the Pacific; Japan. Yama Sakura (meaning Mountain Cherry Blossom in Japanese) is a weeklong command post exercise scheduled this year from Dec. 7 to 13 at Camp Asaka, Japan.
What has the Army done?

In the past, I Corps played the pivotal partner and training role, but this year U.S. Army, Pacific (USARPAC) will test and train the transformed Theater Army command and control structure, including the main command post (MCP), operational command post (OCP), and early entry command post (EECP); as well as four of our theater enabling commands. Both the EECP and OCP will provide the U.S. Pacific command (USPACOM) commander additional flexible command and control throughout the region when their transformation is complete in the coming years. During Yama Sakura, USARPAC will also be further strengthening our ties to the Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF) and serving as full partners for the JSDF’s ongoing efforts to integrate their service components into joint operations.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

USARPAC is heavily engaged in support of USPACOM’s Theater Security Cooperation Program and Phase 0 Operations. We build capacity, capability, enhance interoperability and strengthen the bonds of friendship with our neighbors and allies through numerous exercises and exchanges with 36 countries in the Pacific region. These engagements reassure friends and allies of America’s long-term commitment to peace and stability in the Pacific region. This year, USARPAC forces will participate in approximately 75 events which include joint, bilateral and multilateral exercises in China, India, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Bangladesh, hilippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Cambodia. Yama Sakura is just one of the five bilateral exercises in which USARPAC and Japan participate. Next year, USARPAC will be major participants in exercises with Japan including Keen Edge, Northwind, Orient Shield, and Rising Warrior. Additionally, the 2009 Pacific Armies Management Seminar will be held in Tokyo.
Why is this important to the Army?

This exercise is a shining example of the continued commitment by the United States and Japan to work as dedicated partners in support of the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance, and for continued peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

USARPAC Web site: http://www.army.mil/institution/organization/unitsandcommands/commandstructure/usarpac/>

Regional Military Partnerships

Productive Partnerships Make Region Stronger, (Miami Herald)…James Stavridis, Dec 2, 2008

For the past two years at U.S. Southern Command our approach to security cooperation with the 45 nations and territories of Latin America and the Caribbean has been simple — “real and vibrant partnership for the Americas.”

So, is there a real and vibrant partnership for the Americas? As we learn together from each training exercise and every cooperative opportunity, this partnership will only get stronger, more capable and more diverse. Are there disagreements and controversies? Of course. But together, all the nations of this region can continue to forge a true ”Partnership for the Americas” in the years ahead.

Admiral James Stavridis is commander of the U.S. Southern Command.

Defense Dept: Supply Chain and Vulnerabilities

Inside The Ring, By Bill Gertz, Washington Times, December 4, 2008, Pg. B1

Pentagon suppliers

The chairman of a congressional China commission said the panel is concerned that the Pentagon’s reliance on Chinese suppliers has threatened U.S. computers, weapons systems and equipment with sabotage or other remote electronic tampering.

“On defense supply chain, the commissioners remain concerned about the integrity of the defense supply chain, and we are not sure that the defense logistics system managers know what they are getting from China,” said Larry Wortzel, co-chairman of the U.S. China-Economic Security Review Commission. “It is not secure,” he said of the current Pentagon supply chain.

Mr. Wortzel, in an interview, was commenting on one little-noticed finding of the commission in its report made public Nov. 20. The report to Congress warned that widespread Chinese government computer hacking poses risks because of Chinese-supplied parts in U.S. computer networks.

“Components in these computers and networks are manufactured overseas – many of them in China,” the report said. “At least in theory, this equipment is vulnerable to tampering by Chinese security services, such as implanting malicious code that could be remotely activated on command and place U.S. systems or the data they contain at risk of destruction or manipulation.”

In one case, the Pentagon was found to be using hundreds of counterfeit computer routers made in China. “This suggests that at least in part, Defense Department computer systems and networks may be vulnerable to malicious action that could destroy or manipulate information they contain,” the report said.

Mr. Wortzel said the Pentagon logistics agencies in charge of buying the Chinese-made parts gave the commission the “runaround” when panel members asked about the problem.

“Our recommendation is that Congress haul them in and have a classified hearing on this,” Mr. Wortzel said.

Chinese Embassy spokesman Wang Baodong could not be reached for comment. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry official Qin Gang said in a statement Nov. 24 that the commission views China “through tinted lens” and is undermining U.S.-China cooperation by “tarnishing and attacking China deliberately and misleading the general public.”

New Policy: Irregular Warfare

U.S. To Raise ‘Irregular War’ Capabilities, (Washington Post)…Ann Scott Tyson, Dec 4, 2008

The Pentagon this week approved a major policy directive that elevates the military’s mission of “irregular warfare” — the increasingly prevalent campaigns to battle insurgents and terrorists, often with foreign partners and sometimes clandestinely — to an equal footing with traditional combat.

The policy, a result of more than a year of debate in the defense establishment, is part of a broader overhaul of the U.S. military’s role as the threat of large-scale combat against other nations’ armies has waned and new dangers have arisen from shadowy non-state actors, such as terrorists that target civilian populations.

“The U.S. has considerable overmatch in traditional capabilities . . . and more and more adversaries have realized it’s better to take us on in an asymmetric fashion,” said Michael G. Vickers, assistant secretary of defense for special operations/low-intensity conflict and interdependent capabilities, and a chief architect of the policy.

The new, 12-page directive states that irregular warfare “is as strategically important as traditional warfare.”

Defined as “a violent struggle among state and non-state actors for legitimacy and influence over the relevant population(s),” irregular warfare “favors indirect and asymmetric approaches . . . to erode an adversary’s power, influence, and will,” the directive states.

Battlefield Surveillance Brigade

The initial design of the BFSB was outlined in the Operational and Organizational Concept for the Battlefield Surveillance Brigade in 2007. Both active component and reserve component BFSBs have been approved for the Army, and brigades are already participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom.At Fort Knox, KY., the Maneuver Center of Excellence’s Maneuver Battle Lab conducted a Computer Assisted Map Exercise (CAMEX) from Oct. 20 to 24. The experiment, involving participation from both Active and Reserve Component BFSBs, as well as subject matter experts from various proponents, addressed the brigade’s mission and capabilities. Initial insights from the experiment identified a wide variety of actions to be taken, as well as validating the need for further research to improve the Army’s ability to exploit the BFSB’s capabilities.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?The Chief of Armor will present the initial insights developed during the October BFSB CAMEX at the Reconnaissance Summit held in November 2008 at Fort Knox. This venue is expected to provide refined guidance from a variety of senior leaders (to include the TRADOC Commander) that will drive the way ahead for the BFSB doctrine refinement as well as organizational and material actions. The Maneuver Center of Excellence will continue to develop the BFSB’s concept throughout Fiscal Year 2009 culminating with the initial release of FM 3-55.1, The Battlefield Surveillance Brigade.

Cyber-Attack: Defense Dept Computers

Cyber-Attack On Defense Department Computers Raises Concerns, (Los Angeles Times)…Julian E. Barnes, Nov 28, 2008.

Senior military leaders took the exceptional step of briefing President Bush this week on a severe and widespread electronic attack on Defense Department computers that may have originated in Russia — an incursion that posed unusual concern among commanders and raised potential implications for national security.

The invasive software, known as agent.btz, has circulated among nongovernmental U.S. computers for months. But only recently has it affected the Pentagon’s networks. It is not clear whether the version responsible for the cyber-intrusion of classified networks is the same as the one affecting other computer systems.

The malware is able to spread to any flash drive plugged into an infected computer. The risk of spreading the malware to other networks prompted the military to ban the drives.

System Improvement: Guard and Reserve

Gates: Review Military’s Role In Homeland Defense, (Washingtonpost.com)…Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press
Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday ordered his top department leaders to conduct a broad review to determine whether the military, National Guard and Reserve can adequately deal with domestic disasters and whether they have the training and equipment to defend the homeland.

Gates: Active Force, Reserves Must Integrate, (ArmyTimes.com)…William H. McMichael
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates took a giant step Monday toward more tightly blending the active-duty military and reserve components into an “integrated total force,” calling for wide-ranging personnel policy changes, codifying the reserves’ homeland defense role and adequately funding 

 The Commission on the National Guard and Reserves – Report

Cyber Security DoD

Pentagon Bans External Flash Drives, (Washington Times)…Unattributed, Nov 22, 2008

The Pentagon has banned, at least temporarily, the use of external computer flash drives because of a virus threat detected on Defense Department networks.

Although defense officials would not publicly confirm the ban, messages were sent to department employees informing them of the new restrictions. As part of the ban, the Pentagon was collecting any of the small flash drives that were purchased or provided by the department to workers, according to a message distributed to employees.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman would provide no details on the virus Friday, but he described it as a “global virus” that has been the subject of public alerts.

The Pentagon has acknowledged that its vast computer network is scanned or probed by outsiders millions of times each day. Military leaders have consistently warned of potential threats from a variety of sources including countries such as China, terrorists and self-styled cybervigilantes.