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SpecOps Secret Attacks on al-Qaida
November 11, 2008
Military.com

SpecOps warriors have attacked al-Qaida in neutral countries for years...

U.S. military forces have used secret authority to conduct previously undisclosed attacks on al-Qaida in Syria and Pakistan since 2004. The secret order was described to the New York Times by current and former military and intelligence officials, and by senior Bush administration policy officials.

Laser Weapons Quickly Becoming Reality
November 1, 2008
Economist.com

When this occurs it will change the balance of power and revolutionize the battlefield.

LIKE so much else in science fiction, the ray gun was invented by H.G. Wells. In the tentacles of Wells’ Martians. It was a weapon as unanswerable by earthlings as the Maxim Machinegun in the hands of British troops was by Africans. In Science fiction, though, it has remained. Neither hand-held pistols nor giant, orbiting anti-missile versions of the weapon have worked. But that is about to change. The first serious battlefield ray gun is now being deployed. And the next generation, now in the laboratory, is coming soon.

Analysis: Army seeks to replace M4 and M16
October 30, 2008
SpaceWar.com
Adam Verwymeren (UPI)

Since the Vietnam War, soldiers have fought with the M16 rifle and its little brother the M4 as their main weapon, but that may change soon as the Army steps up its search for a replacement.

Debate Over Armys FCS Heats Up
October 24, 2008
Military.com
by Greg Grant

Two Different Ideas Clash for Army's Future Combat System

Two distinct groups are emerging in the Army with different views on the nature of future wars the U.S. may fight, and the decisions the service should make about future force structure and weapons.

Successful Live-Fire Testing Of Shadow TUAS (UAV)
Oct. 22, 2008
SpaceWar.com
by Staff Writers

Shadow UAV successfully uses Laser Designators to Paint Targets

AAI has announced that the U.S. Army has successfully completed live-fire testing of laser designation capability for the RQ-7 Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS). The event confirmed the system's precision, with all missiles hitting their intended targets.

Inside The Ring
China UAV
October 23, 2008
Washington Times
Bill Gertz

More evidence of China as a growing military power and threat.

An internal Chinese government document says China is working to develop an advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as part of a strategy to combine civilian and military technology in weapons and nonmilitary equipment.

Rucksack Generates Electricity, Lightens Troops' Loads
October 2008
National Defense Magazine
Grace V. Jean

More cool stuff to help the foot soldier's life.

Anyone who has tried running while wearing a backpack knows how cumbersome a small load can become even after a short distance. On the battlefield, troops carry as much as 80 pounds of battle gear and they lug an additional 20 to 30 pounds of batteries to power their portable electronic devices.

Russia Eyes New Customers For Mobile Ballistic Iskander E Missile
Oct 3, 2008
SpaceWar.com
Washington (UPI)
by Martin Sieff

Russian seeking to sell New, cheap Pre-Emptive Missile System to U.S. Allies& Foes

The Iskander-E is relatively small and light, with a launch weight of 3,800 kilograms (8,360 pounds), RIA Novosti said. That means it can be moved on a transporter erector launcher -- TEL -- vehicle that can hold two of them, greatly increasing survivability from pre-emptive air attack and doubling the launch system's firepower.