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Internet
library
DEFENCE
personnel and their families will benefit from the recent release
of the new Australian Defence Library web site on the Internet.
In
launching the site at Canungra, in the Gold Coast Hinterland,
the former Minister Assisting the Minister of Defence, Danna
Vale, said the new service would allow the Defence community
to access a Defence-focused library service for personal and
professional development.
"The
new service provides wider access to selected resources already
available on the innovative Defence Library Service Portal on
the internal Defence computer network," she said.
"It
will provide personnel and their families with a self-help facility
to access reference information about educational, professional
and home/work balance needs.
"It
will particularly benefit reservists, personnel serving overseas
or working from home and those located in regional and rural
Australia without easy access to other library facilities.
"The
e-Learning system will provide military and civilian staff,
particularly those in regional and rural areas, with greater
and more flexible access to training and development opportunities."
Once
registered, Defence staff and their families will have access
to the Defence Library catalogue and specially selected electronic
journals, databases and web sites, many of which are not available
on the Internet.
New
Black Hawk tested
SIKORSKY
recently tested the latest version of the US Army's UM-60 Black
Hawk helicopter.
The
UH-60M model completed its first flight without incident and began
the next step in the process towards becoming the standard configuration
for all new US Army Black Hawk production from 2007.
Changes
incorporated into the new version include upgraded engines, rotor
blades and stabilisation systems, keeping the utility helicopter
up to date with the latest technologies.
Laser
training system
THE
Federal Government has announced the signing of a $7.9 million
contract with Swedish company SAAB Training Systems for a new
simulation-based training capability for the Army.
Minister
for Defence Robert Hill said the Precision Gunnery Training System
was a laser-based capability for training Leopard tank crews.
The
systems will be employed at the School of Armour and 1 Armd Regt
to enhance the gunnery skills of Leopard crew commanders and gunners.
The
new training system uses laser technology to simulate all aspects
of gunnery training.
Senator Hill said this was an example of an effective use of simulation
technology to achieve low risk, cost-effective training.
"The
contract will also provide for training, maintenance support and
technical documentation," he said.
"An
initial production version of the systems will be trialed in August
2004, with the full capability due to be introduced into service
by December 2004."
40
years bridging the gap
FIRST
Ground Liaison Group (1GL) recently celebrated it's 40th birthday.
As
the link between ground and air, 1GL personnel were a key component
of recent joint-force deployments.
Adjt
1GL Capt Luke Homann said the unit supported airlift operations
and offensive air support operations.
"This
broad responsibility has seen ground liaison officers deployed
on Op Falconer in support of F/A-18 and C-130 operations, and
on Op Anode in support of Caribou operations," he said.
"The
group has also played an important role in supporting the remediation
of the Parachute Battalion Group and Exercise Crocodile 2003."
NASA
tests Aussie UAV
RESEARCHERS
from DSTO recently demonstrated to NASA, a UAV equipped with an
array of simple sensors for navigation and collision aversion.
The
concept, based on several years of research into how insects fly
and navigate, could be adapted for operating unmanned aerial probes
over Mars.
Through
studying dragonflies the team found a complex optical and neural
arrangement that helps the insect maintain level flight under
adverse conditions.
A
sun compass, using the polarisation pattern of skylight was a
key navigation feature of the demonstration aircraft, as there
is no magnetic field on Mars.
DASS
info online
DEFENCE
has launched a new intranet site to better inform Defence members
of the Defence Assisted Study Scheme (DASS).
DASS
is designed to support ADF members and reservists who are rendering
continuous full-time service of 12 months or more who wish to
further their professional education or development through studies
and courses.
Members
considering education and professional development courses are
advised to find out more on the web site.
The
DASS web site can be found at http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/det/dass/
DSTO
designs weapons sim
DSTO's
Weapons System Division has developed a world-class weapons simulation
capability for Australia to help simulate the characteristics
of weapons and provide information to develop warfighting capabilities.
The
program, MSTARS, is also helping Australia plan for the acquisition
of its complex inventory of sophisticated and effective weapon
systems and provide in-service support to weapon programs.
MSTARS
is currently being used in an international cooperative effort
involving Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United
Kingdom to look at problems common to multiple environments.
Larry
Lewis, a weapons analyst with the US Air Force Research Laboratory
and Munitions Directorate, Eglin, has been in Australia for the
past two years helping develop MSTARS and believes Australia's
simulation systems are world class.
"Australia
has a world class weapons simulation capability in MSTARS that
is very intuitive and easy to use, modify and visualise,"
he said.
Designed
for the rapid prototyping of new guided bomb and missile concepts,
and for the evaluation of new technology performance, MSTARS includes
libraries of munitions subsystems representing the accelerometer,
rate gyro, autopilot, seeker, inertial navigation system, control
surfaces, and air vehicles, with complete six-degrees-of-freedom
flight dynamics.
Simplified
models of a launch aircraft and threatening targets are also incorporated
in the component library.
Better
access to local industry
DEFENCE
can benefit from a new database designed to best match suppliers
and purchasers.
The Industry Capability Showcase (ICS) database was designed by
Industry Capability Network Ltd, with the aim of helping Australian
firms gain access to national and international supply chains.
The
ICS will provide online information about individual companies
and their abilities, with important factors such as a supplier's
accreditation, price and contact details all readily available.
Businesses
registered with the ICS will also have better access to upcoming
contracts in the defence industry, allowing defence to choose
from a wider range of bids from more companies than before.
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