My Unmanned System is Better than Your Unmanned System

The Unmanned Bloggers are not above cross-posting some good video material.

See the following post from DefenseTech.org on the future of unmanned aerial combat. Just goes to how many companies out there are experimenting with vehicles of all sorts of shapes and sizes.

-Mike

In Other Words

I certainly didn't need any more threats to be frightened of. Now the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute has released this report to add to the QDR threat matrices.

And I thought hybrids were a good thing.

-Bill

Much Ado About China

Or not. Yesterday officials from China and the U.S. met to discuss economic issues. In typical non-committal form, the two sides smiled and agreed that talks were pleasant without any clear conclusions.

This sentence pretty much sums up relations:

“Suffice it to say we had a healthy exchange of views.”

Here's to yet another round of talks that will result in, well, another round of talks.

-Bill

Can you hear me now?

Apparently not. Many issues persist with net-centricity from the technology to the analysis to actionable items. See this Federal Computer Week article.

Surprised? Didn't think so.

See the Defense Science Board studies from April 2007:

Information Management for Net-Centric Operations Volume I

Information Management for Net-Centric Operations Volume II

-Ace

On and Off Buttons

Good read from Global Guerrillas on Internet Systems Disruption.

Gird your IPs!

-Bill

Is it hot in here? Or is it just me?

Excellent post today by The Dew Line on the green issues associated with commercial aviation. Find it here. Look for a more in-depth feature in an upcoming issue of Flight Magazine.

-Bill

See No Evil, in E-Form

According to the OpenNet Initiative, state sponsored censorship of the world wide web is increasing.

From the BBC:

The study of thousands of websites across 120 Internet Service Providers found 25 of 41 countries surveyed showed evidence of content filtering.

Websites and services such as Skype and Google Maps were blocked, it said.

Such "state-mandated net filtering" was only being carried out in "a couple" of states in 2002, one researcher said.

"In five years we have gone from a couple of states doing state-mandated net filtering to 25," said John Palfrey, at Harvard Law School.

Mr Palfrey, executive director of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, added: "There has also been an increase in the scale, scope and sophistication of internet filtering."

-Bill

Counting Greys

Business managers and executives in the defense/aerospace industry are keenly aware of the age-range issue. Bringing in young talent to replace the wave of retiring professionals has been an area of interest for years and has gained some media interest.

While attracting talent is important, there is very little discussion on how to keep these young folks in the business. This is becoming increasingly important as advanced technology is no longer a niche defense capability. The next 5-10 years may see higher rotations, particularly amongst engineers, migrating to competing industries such as IT and software engineering.

-Mike

A Lot of Lute

The Bush Administration has picked their ‘war czar’ for the war in Iraq. According to multiple sources, Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, U.S. Army, has been selected for the position.

-Bill

Networks in the News

Forbes magazine is running a special feature on networks. It’s good to know Forbes sees the value in networks beyond technology. Please see the following sections:

Networks – Breakthroughs

Networks – Lifestyle

Networks – Technology

Networks – Community

(Excellent post on The Long Tail blog to this Forbes series here.)

Also see the new publication from Dr. David Alberts and Dr. Richard Hayes on planning complex endeavors.

And while you’re in a net-centric place, take a look at the inaugural issue of the International C2 Journal.

-Mike

Diplomacy? Never heard of it.

When diplomatic relations get tense, blame the music.

See here, here, here and here.

-Bill

Snapshot: China

A few links on thoughts regarding China. -Bill

China’s Economic Prospects: 2006-2020 (CEIP)

China vs. Earth (Council on Foreign Relations)

Doing Business in China: A McKinsey Survey of Executives in Asia (McKinsey)

CNA Corporation Establishes China Studies Center (Center for Naval Analyses)

“Still Optimistic on China,” Thomas P.M. Barnett Weblog Posting

A New Direction for China’s Defense Industry (RAND)