More than 400 members of the US, British, and Canadian militaries are testing new combat identification technologies and procedures for coalition units at the US Joint Forces Command-sponsored Bold Quest Plus demonstration that runs through July 25 at Eglin AFB, Fla. The parties seek to field CID systems that maximize the ability to place a weapon on the proper target through the chaos and fog of war, while minimizing the chances of accidentally firing on friendly forces. One of the systems being evaluated allows forward air controllers to transmit data on the locations of friendly forces and enemy positions quickly to the cockpits of coalition aircraft. Representatives from Australia, Denmark, France, and Germany are on hand as observers. (AFPS report by Gerry J. Gilmore)
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.
