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NRL Demonstrates New Fiber Laser Sensor Technology for Structural Health Monitoring Systems

Researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Optical Sciences Division, in collaboration with the laboratory’s Material Science Division, for the first time have demonstrated successful detection of acoustic emission from cracks in riveted lap joints using a distributed feedback fiber laser-acoustic emission sensor. “An automated, in-situ structural health monitoring (SHM) system, capable of monitoring

US Navy”s New Super Stealth Destroyer Getting Ready to Test Its New Guns and Missiles

The Navy”s new “first-of-its-kind” stealthy destroyer will soon go to San Diego, Calif., where it will go through what’s called “ship activation” – a process of integrating the major systems and technologies on the ship leading up to an eventual live-fire exercise of its guns and missiles. As part of this process, the Navy will

How Lasers Could Make the F-35 More Effective

As the Air Force completed a month-long series of F-35 weapon tests, the Marine Corps is lobbying to add laser weapons to its version of the costly multi-role fighter. Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, the Marine Corps” deputy commandant of combat development and integration, told reporters this week that directed energy weapons would lighten the fighter

Lab Showcases Futuristic Resupply Vehicle

Ongoing research on the Hoverbike, funded through the DSIAC contract, continues to demonstrate how new and disruptive technologies are being embraced by senior leadership within the US Army and DoD to change how we train and fight current and future battles. The following video shows the new U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM)

Picatinny Statistics Group Pioneers New Mathematical Method to Aid Weapon Modeling and Simulation

In case you”ve forgotten the adage that “uncertainty is the only certainty,” Picatinny Arsenal”s Statistics Group is prepared to remind you. Its latest initiative known as “Uncertainty Quantification” focuses on studying engineering modeling and simulation uncertainty from a statistical standpoint and leveraging it as a more credible approach to weapon and munition product development. Uncertainty

Fueling the Future: Air Force Title III Program Working to “Home-Grow” Biofuels for DOD, Industry

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — Creating, maintaining, protecting and expanding critical technology and technology resources is paramount to national security. A need to address increases in petroleum costs with an environmentally-friendly fuel source has led to a new way of looking at production—and the Defense Production Act Title III Program Office, part of the

Army Developing Safer, Extended Range Rocket-assisted Artillery Round

The Army is developing a new 155 mm artillery round that will extend cannon range to more than 24 miles (40km), with the added benefits of greater safety for service members and the ability to deliver near-precision strike capability. The XM1113 Insensitive Munition High Explosive Rocket Assisted Projectile, or XM1113 RAP, will replace the aging

AF Lab Investigating Microscopic Crack Formations, Metal Fatigue

The B-52 Stratofortress is one of the oldest legacy aircraft in the Air Force. Since the 1950s, the B-52 has led the force in its dominance as the world’s best; however, just as humans begin to age, so do aircraft. Repeated loading and unloading, changes in air pressure, exposure to altitude and more, contribute to

Recycling Technology Converts Plastic Waste to Energy

NASA’s expertise in rocket engine improvement helps optimize plastic recycling process equipment. As good as it feels to throw plastic items into the recycling bin, the fact is most of that plastic goes unrecycled, according to Jim Garrett, a veteran of the oil and gas industry. “It’s a dirty little secret in America that 90

Forging the KC-46: New Training Center Opens to Prepare Tanker Aircrews

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) — A new training center for the KC-46 Pegasus was officially dedicated here Aug. 30, along with the activation of the 56th Air Refueling Squadron, which will be the formal training unit for the Air Force’s next-generation refueling aircraft. The integration of the KC-46 into the Air Force is

Iodine-Compatible Hall Effect Thruster

The Hall effect thruster (HET) was designed for long-duration operation with gaseous iodine as the propellant. Iodine is an alternative to the state-of-the-art propellant xenon. Compared to xenon, iodine stores as a solid at much higher density and at a much lower pressure. Because iodine is a halogen, it is reactive with some of the

Abrams Tank Upgrades Will Give Marines ‘Killer Edge’

The Marine Corps is modernizing one of its most reliable battle platforms: the M1A1 Abrams tank. A trio of upgrades to the tank commander’s weapon station will give tank commanders and gunners a “hunter-killer edge” over the enemy, according to an announcement from Marine Corps Systems Command. The improvements include better sights on the Abrams