National Defense Technology Rush Hits All Time High Jacob Pruckner National Defense Technology Rush Hits All Time High Abstract As we begin to fight smaller regimes and continue our war on terrorism, the U.S. defense focus has been mainly on staying technologically ahead of our foes. The U.S. is planning on spending 496 billion dollars next year on defense (Korb) so you can expect a lot of new and improved weaponry and defense systems. Much of this spending is going to be used for new technology such as more advanced drones, exoskeletons for special operations, and smart bomb technology. Though most of these concepts require a vast knowledge on technology to fully understand, the purpose of this paper is to break them down in a way that is understandable to the normal U.S Population Drones We are now entering the very controversial world of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones. While drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 predator have dominated the defense department’s fixed wing drone landscape, the MQ-8C is the first purchase of a rotary wing UAV by the Department of Defense (DOD) (Barrie). The latest installment of these helicopters is considered to be a massive upgrade capable of flying for double the length of the original MQ-8 and carrying three time ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) information. The drone will be utilized by the navy and is capable of landing on any warship, regardless of whether or not the ship has a proper landing zone. Northrop Grumman, the main producer of this aircraft says, that the aircraft is capable of carrying 2,650 pounds at up to 17,000 feet of altitude and has a range of 14 hours, allowing it to be utilized in some of the longer missions. The Rolls Royce 250-C47B engine is capable of reaching around 160 miles per hour. This past winter the MQ-8 was used aboard the USS Jason Dunham to test for operational use (Barrie). The benefits of these UAVs is quite obvious, they can mitigate the human error of flying as well as the loss of an aircraft going down. We are now able to have helicopters that are capable of flying themselves on autonomous landings and takeoffs (56% of all aircraft accidents) . Now these machines are translating to the civilian world such as Amazon’s plan to use drones to deliver packages from their warehouses. Another thing to consider when talking about UAVs is how to transport them in and out of warzones. Currently the DOD is researching an idea that would solve that problem. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is currently seeking help from defense contractors on a system that would allow drones to be launched from inside large aircraft such as the C-130 or C -17 and then recovered on the same aircraft. Though this technology is still under researched it could change the way we see ISR platforms, and the U.S. government is offering a significant amount of money for bids for the project (Howell). Exoskeletons If you played the newest Call of Duty you would know that the concept of exoskeletons for military members is considered “Advanced Warfare.” This actually isn’t the case as the Navy is currently testing exoskeletons for their sailors from the ship yard to the battlefield. The Fortis exoskeleton designed by Lockheed Martin has been said to be the newest technology changing the game for home front efforts. The Fortis is capable of helping military personnel carry up to 36 pounds with little to no effort. From the tests, it was also determined that the suits reduce muscle fatigue of the user by 300 percent, allowing our troops to stay in the fight or at work longer, leading to an overall increase in production by up to 27 times(Szondy). The Navy plans on using the Fortis for their day-to-day employees in shipyards, domestic and abroad. To increase battlefront efforts, the military is researching into using either the HULC by Lockheed or XOS by Raytheon. The Raytheon XOS 2 is capable of helping its user lift 200 pounds hundreds of times with no strain (Hanlon). This also translates to being capable of punching through a 3 inch thick board (Hanlon). The major problem with the XOS 2 is its power usage which needs to be reduced heavily (60%) to be a solid option for our troops who might be on movements for days at a time. The suit is powered by an internal combustion engine and uses hydraulics to power the limbs to conserve energy and avoid using lithium ion batteries. According to the Vice President of Operations for Raytheon, “We believe [lithium ion batteries] are extremely dangerous. If one gets breached, it can explode and cause a fireball that's similar to a magnesium flare” (Hanlon). On the other end of the spectrum is the HULC (Human Universal Load Carrier) which is being researched and developed by Lockheed Martin. The HULC runs on rechargeable batteries which is highly revered due the stringent conditions of military deployments. The lifting capabilities of this exoskeleton are very similar to the XOS, but the HULC boasts a constant run speed of 7 mph and can cause the user to reach speeds of 10 mph in small bursts with ease (Hanlon). All of these exoskeletons will make their users much more effective at their respective jobs. If we are able to use these on our conventional forces, I am very interested to see how U.S Special Operations command will utilize these suits to fight our aggressors. Aircraft The newest aircraft to enter the military spectrum is the F-35 Lightning. This strike fighter (meaning mainly intended for air-to-air combat) is the newest in aircraft technology. The F-35 program has been in place since 2001 and is finally coming to a spearhead in the 2014- 2015 fiscal year. Every branch in the military except for the Army is planning on purchasing these strike fighters to add to their inventories. One of the larger technological advances in these aircraft is its use of stealth technology. The panels on the planes exterior are meant to deflect radar signals so that the plane cannot be detected by enemy radar. The aircrafts programming is supposed to detect optimal ways to cool the exhaust fumes, remove jet noise, and change the heating of the aircraft so even enemy thermal detectors will not be able to see that our planes are in their airspace. One of the coolest new technologies in the F-35 is the cockpit design. The design is completely digital, meaning that in the helmets of the pilots, as well as on the glass of the cockpit, will be the different instruments and switches. This allows the pilot to keep his hands on the sticks without having to be distracted with analog instruments while cruising at over 1,000 mph. Every branch looks to be trying to order their own distinct version of the aircraft. The Air Force is looking for the most intense anti-detection software, while the Navy is more concerned with the ability for their fighters to be landed on aircraft carriers and collapsed so they can put a large amount of planes in a small space. The navy also is beginning the first steps of what is called “beyond the horizon” technology which is meant to detect ships well beyond their current horizon both above and below the surface. The Marine Corps are requesting the biggest variation, a jet that is capable of taking off vertically. They have had similar fighters in the past, but none that were capable of landing and taking off 90 degrees vertically. The major problem with the new F-35 is its cost. The Conventional aircraft will cost around 111.6 million dollars while surprisingly the marine version will only cost 109 million per aircraft. The Navy’s carrier capable aircraft comes in at the highest price tag of 142.9 million dollars. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have been competing for the DOD contract, but it appears that Lockheed Martin will most likely receive it with their aircraft planning on being operational late this year (Military). Recently Jan Scheurmann, who is a quadriplegic, has been working with scientists to use electrodes attached to implants in the brain to use mechanical devices such as robotic arms. Recently she used the implants to fly an F-35 simulator (Mcgarry). Using this technology, the U.S. plans to assist pilots by picking up on their frequent reactions to different maneuvers and then adjust the plane’s movement during certain actions to reduce stress on the pilot (Mcgarry). It is not very uncommon for pilots to be close to, if not actually passing out when performing high stress maneuvers that require the body to take on multiple G forces. This technology should be able to limit such stress on our pilots and allow them to even fly the plane with their minds if need be. Now the U.S is researching into a new Stealth Bomber to operate alongside the B-2, the Air Force’s newest stealth bomber which was put in action in the early 1990s. The pentagon is said have been looking into a “Next Generation, Super-Classified, High Priority” Bomber and is currently accepting bids for the contract that should have these bombers operational by the mid-2020s (Cohen). The biggest competitors for the bid are Northrop Grumman(Creator of the B-2) along with Boeing and Lockheed Martin. One of the top priorities of the new bombers is the ability for it to be very long range, meaning that it doesn’t need refueled on long range missions. The DOD has also pondered upon the idea of having the plane be operated without a pilot on routine missions and still able to be piloted manually in the event that the pilot is necessary, such as missions that require eyes on identification of a high priority target (Cohen). Though the technology is important, it does not come at a small price tag. The Air Force is requesting 1.2 Billion just in research for the new aircraft and estimates that each plane will cost around 550 million dollars (Cohen). This is not nearly as expensive as the B-2 which comes in at around 2 billion a plane. Overall the future of our nation’s aircraft is looking bright, but also very expensive. Munitions Though not brand new technology, I think the incorporation of precision guided munitions in our modern fights in Iraq and Afghanistan is a very important addition to the U.S. war effort. The EGBU27 is a set of parts and systems that turn conventional bombs into precision guided pieces of explosive technology. The bombs are capable of being dropped from aircraft from over 10,000 feet and be guided to a target by a JTAC (Joint Terminal Air Controller). The bombs are also programmed to be able to be guided by GPS signals by the pilot or JTAC. According to ABC the precision guided weapons can be placed within 3 feet of a target after being dropped from over 20,000 feet. From speaking with military personnel myself, precision guided missiles have one of the single biggest advances we have had in the past 10 years of warfare. The kits for these projectiles are also relatively cheap at only $20,000 a kit (enhanced). Computer Intelligence Collection In the modern age of warfare, conventional battle is much less effective as quick and effective tactical strikes. This is why our defense budget had recently become very heavily dependent on special operations personnel to gather their intelligence from enemy computers. To help in these endeavors U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) is currently researching ways to drain computers of all of their files quickly and efficiently so operators are not forced to carry hard drives or entire computer systems back from the fight. SOCOM is asking for a program that is capable of stripping all of the hash code, phone numbers, names, email addresses, usernames, etc. in a hard drive in under 15 minutes, even in cases where hard drives are damaged or incomplete. According to DefenseTech.org, the DOD has received multiple offers to complete this project and testing of these programs will begin March 17th through the 27th (cox). Such a system would be very beneficial as current collection techniques are very antique and the sometimes damaged information on taken hard drives could be the difference between life and death overseas for our troops. Space Technology A lot of people don’t realize that our battle with other countries doesn’t just stop with aircraft. The space race is still an ever present threat to U.S. National Security. Elon Musk, known as the CEO and product architect of Tesla, is also CEO of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation or better known as SpaceX. The company is currently working on creating rockets that are capable of performing intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR) on our enemies and then land in such a controlled fashion that they are reusable by military personnel. To further the technology, the company plans on making the rocket GPS guided on reentry so that is capable of landing safely in any location we want including moving targets such as aircraft carriers. This technology would allow our space ISR platforms to be reusable and therefore save the DOD and the U.S government millions if not billions of dollars on space based ISR (SpaceX). Conclusion As you can see we have so many different projects going on within our defense department that are sure to give us the competitive edge on the battlefield and at home. While a lot of these systems are still in development or being researched, the DOD is known for putting stringent time schedules on defense contractors so expect to see many of these projects out in the next few years. The safety of our troops and even our private military contractors overseas is very dependent on our technological advantage over enemy such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Therefore we must continue to develop and work on defense platforms that are going to lead the next generation to success. Works Cited - Korb, L. (2014, April 24). A User's Guide to the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Budget. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/report/2014/04/24/88516/a-usersguide-to-the-fiscal-year-2015-defense-budget/ - Barrie, A. (2014, December 4). Navy taps new Fire Scout helicopter drone. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/12/04/navy-taps-new-fire-scouthelicopter-drone/"Statistic Analysis of Airplane Accidents." 1001 Crash. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. - Howell, E. (2014, December 9). Military Seeks Flying Aircraft Carriers to Launch Drones. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://www.livescience.com/49057-military-flying-aircraftcarriers-drones.html - Szondy, D. (2014, August 24). US Navy to test Fortis exoskeletons. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://www.gizmag.com/fortis-exoskeleton-us-navy/33403 - Hanlon, M. (2010, September 28). Raytheon XOS 2: Second generation exoskeleton. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://www.gizmag.com/raytheon-significantly-progressesexoskeleton-design/16479/"Military." - 'Enhanced' Smart Bomb Used in Iraq Strikes. (2015, March 20). Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=97687Harris, Tom. - Harris, T. (n.d.). How Smart Bombs Work. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/smart-bomb2.htmHowell. "Military Seeks Flying Aircraft Carriers to Launch Drones." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 9 Dec. 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2015. - Cox, M. (2014, November 19). USSOCOM Wants Computer-Draining Tech. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://defensetech.org/2014/11/19/ussocom-wants-computer-drainingtech/ - Cohen, Z. (2015, March 15). New U.S. stealth bomber shrouded in mystery - CNN.com. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/14/politics/u-s-air-forcestealth-bomber/