Washington Pulse

May 2005

Military Scientists Don’t Take Names

In the world of military hardware projects, the right name—and acronym—can make a huge difference when seeking political and financial support on Capitol Hill. A case in point is an underwater surveillance system developed by the Office of Naval Research. The project initially was named “Persistent Undersea Surveillance.” But once ONR officials realized the acronym was PUS, they concluded the name had to be changed. “I didn’t think I could get the Hill to fund ‘PUS,’” says Rear Adm. Jay M. Cohen, chief of naval research. The fix was simple. “We added ‘littoral’ and we went from ‘PUS’ to ‘PLUS’ … And who’s going to argue with ‘PLUS?’”

Air Force Touts Role in Hunting Insurgents

The Air Force is finding new ways to target insurgents in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Walter E. “Buck” Buchanan III, commander of the air component of the U.S. Central Command, told a seminar on Capitol Hill. Aircraft equipped with advanced sensors are being used to track suspected enemies and pass their location to U.S. forces on the ground, he said. For instance, aerial reconnaissance helped located an Iraqi whose house was full of brand-new copper stolen from the country’s government and industrial facilities.

Coast Guard Aircraft Unfit for Duty? …

The safety record of the Coast Guard’s aircraft fleet is nothing short of alarming, according to senior officials. Aging helicopters are the primary culprits. Although several programs already are under way to upgrade and replace outdated aircraft, the fleet is displaying troubling evidence of poor health, notes Vice Adm. Terry M. Cross, vice commandant of the Coast Guard. In 2003, the fleet recorded 63 potential engine failures per 100,000 hours of flight. Last year, they jumped to 329 out of 100,000 hours. By comparison, the Federal Aviation Administration standard is 1 per 100,000.

… Revised Wish List Raises Eyebrows

The Coast Guard, meanwhile, recently submitted to Congress a much anticipated revised requirements document for its multibillion-dollar Deepwater program. Under Deepwater, the Coast Guard will spend between $19 billion to $24 billion during the next two decades to replace its aging aircraft and ships. The program started in 1999. After 9/11, however, the Coast Guard’s expanded missions prompted a lengthy review of the hardware requirements. Of note in the revised plan is a dramatic change in the aircraft mix. The original idea was to buy six C-130J transports and 35 C-235 maritime patrol aircraft. The new blueprint calls for 22 C-130s and 20 C-235s. The updated procurement plan also eliminates the Bell/Agusta AB139 helicopter from the program.

Busy Depots Safe From BRAC

Army depots are working beyond capacity and show no signs of slowing down, says Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey. With these industrial facilities operating 24/7 to keep up with equipment repair workloads, the Army is not in a position to close any of them, even as a round of base closures looms, he asserts. This year, the service’s eight depots and arsenals will generate 19 million direct labor hours. Next year, the number is going up to 25 million direct labor hours. “We have surge capacity within that, and we pay very close attention to having that capability,” says Harvey. The Base Realignment and Closure Commission will have to take that into account. “We are going to maintain the capability to be able to surge—in the 25 million to 30 million range.”

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