Scott Reis is on a mission.  An anti-corrosion mission, that is.
 
He and fellow Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center employees carry out the mission of the Aviation and Missile Command’s Corrosion Program Office to promote corrosion prevention programs for a wide range of AMCOM systems. They study the way metals, coatings and finishes develop corrosion; engineer design and materials solutions for corrosion issues in the field; train Soldiers on how to prevent equipment corrosion; and tout the ill effects of corrosion on the Army’s missile and aviation systems.
 

 Submitted by admin on Wed, 12/14/2011, By KARI HAWKINS, Assistant editor, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Earth is being moved to make way once again for missile production on Redstone Arsenal.
 
And while a recent visit to a site in the southeastern edge of the Arsenal revealed heavy machinery being used to move dirt in preparation for the construction of Raytheon’s $75 million, 70,000 square-foot Standard Missile production facility, it’s the dirt work that happened prior to the corporation’s midsummer ground breaking that will have the most lasting impact on the environment.

Wed 11/09/11 Redstone Rocket By SOFIA BLEDSOE, PEO Aviation Public Affairs

MESA, Ariz. – The world’s most lethal attack helicopter just got even better.

Inside a hangar against a backdrop of lights, fog, and looking as intimidating as ever, the first AH-64D Longbow Apache Block III was revealed to the public for the first time during a roll out ceremony Nov. 2 at the Boeing Apache production plant in Mesa.

"Wow!" exclaimed Col. Shane Openshaw, project manager for Apache helicopters. "To say that I’m proud would be a tremendous understatement. Today marks the completion of the first step of the journey to the future of the Apache. This first step took a tremendous amount of teamwork and is a reflection of great accomplishment with the combined efforts of this team."
 

That teamwork was certainly reflected by the impressive attendance of approximately 500 that included several dignitaries such as former vice chief of staff of the Army, retired Gen. Dick Cody who flew the first AB3 prototype, retired Gen. Thomas Allen Schwartz, former Army Forces commander, various congressional representatives, other retired general officers, several international defense military representatives, current and former Apache project managers, and some members of the Boeing work force.

"They’re here to say thank you to this entire team for your hard work and dedication to deliver this aircraft," Maj. Gen. Tim Crosby, program executive officer for aviation, said. Directing his attention to the work force, he added, "What we’re talking about today is the achievement of that vision (Army modernization). Every one of you that have worked on this aircraft is part of that success. Don’t take this lightly. You will save lives of our American Soldiers by what you have done. You have reduced the burden on that Soldier."

Before the ceremony, a sacred blessing of the aircraft was performed by the White Mountain Apache Tribe led by chairman Ronnie Lupe who is also a Korean War veteran, assisted by his executive officer Jerry Gloshay Jr. and spiritual leader Ramon Riley. The blessing was steeped in Apache tradition that included a prayer, a "smudging" of the aircraft, the singing of two songs and a final blessing. The semi-private ceremony was held on Boeing’s flight line at dawn with approximately 30 attendees.

The Apache Block III is the next evolution of the Army’s premier attack helicopter and is the only rotorcraft with the ability to operate at 6,000 feet and 95 degrees at an out-of-ground effect hover with a full mission payload. The new Apaches will be stronger, faster and less constrained in extreme combat conditions. Besides the increase in top speed, it will turn faster and tighter, making it almost impossible for the enemy to hide. It will have a combat speed of approximately 164 knots, about 20 knots faster than those currently in service. The Block III aircraft brings back the performance of the early model and adds significant capabilities for today’s fight.


Some of the key upgrades to the Apache Block III include a more powerful engine and drive train, and composite rotor blades that provide more lift and will allow the aircraft to fly over any mountain in austere places like Afghanistan.

"The Block III brings back the power margins that crews had at roughly 3,000 or 4,000 pounds lighter gross weight than the Block II model," Lt. Col. Dan Bailey, Apache Block III product manager, said.

The aircraft had become heavier over the years when the Army added upgrades to the subsystems, making the pilot power margins more limited. "Now we’ll be able to go to all those places where the enemy tends to hide from us," Bailey said.

Another key upgrade with the Apache Block III is its more advanced computer processing system called the Future Networked Force, which will ensure connectivity to the next generation of networked capabilities, making the aircraft viable and sustainable through 2030-40. Bailey explained that when the Block II aircraft was built in the 1990s, it was based off of older computer technology.

The Block III’s open system architecture will allow the Army to put new subsystems onto the aircraft in a more efficient manner which means it will be faster, less expensive to maintain, and more flexible to integrate any additional new technologies. As the pilots learn and as the environment changes, the Army can adapt the aircraft to whatever enemy force they encounter.

"The Apache Block III is the leading edge today in terms of rotorcraft, and it’s the most advanced attack helicopter in the world. We want to maintain that, and the only way we can is by resetting the aircraft from an architecture perspective," Bailey said.

The key enabler with the open system architecture is the ability of the Apache Block III to perform at Level 4 Interoperability with an unmanned aircraft system. This means that the pilot can now control the flight path, weapons systems and sensors on a UAS. "Only the Block III aircraft with its new computer processors and open architecture allows this to happen," Bailey said.

Lt. Col. Edward Vedder, commander of the 1st Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade from Fort Riley, Kan., said he is excited for his unit to be the first unit equipped with the Block III aircraft.

"This is a great capability that we’re going to be able to deliver to the battlefield," Vedder said. "Right now somewhere far away, there’s a group of Soldiers at a combat outpost that are scared, they’re away from home, and we’re going to be able to provide that comfort to them because they know when that Apache comes over the horizon, everything is going to be OK."

Training on the Apache Block III is scheduled to begin soon; and it will take some time to field the aircraft and train everyone in the unit.

"But we have a great program laid out ahead of us in coordination with PEO Aviation, Operational Test Command and Fort Riley," Vedder said. "They’re going to come and train our Soldiers there at Fort Riley so they’re going to be able to spend a little bit more time at home."

During his keynote remarks, Maj. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield, commander for the Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker, reflected on his own experiences as an Apache pilot who departed for Iraq during Desert Shield/Desert Storm the day his son was born and tasked to fly an aircraft that was not yet tested in battle.

"It was the A model Apache," Crutchfield said, describing its battlefield success. Following on that story and relating it to a more current war, he talked about a group of Marines who heard the unmistakable sound of the Apache helicopter and knew that they were going to be all right. "You are the Boeing Soldiers who help make that happen," he said.

Already ahead of schedule, to date the Army has inducted 29 aircraft under the Apache Block III program. Fielding of the Block III Apaches to the first unit is slated to begin in 2012, and the Initial Operational Test is planned for spring. The first unit will be fully equipped with the new Apache Block IIIs in fiscal 2013. Currently, the Army is approved for 51 AB3 aircraft under the low rate initial production.

The Apache Block III is fundamentally a re-manufacture program, taking existing Longbow Apaches, inducting them, taking them apart, upgrading and refurbishing components, and adding the new Block III specific capability insertions. The Army’s acquisition objective stands at 690 Apache Block III aircraft with 634 remanufactures and 56 new builds.

Wed, 11/09/2011 Redstone Rocket

There is still time to register for the Small Business Forum being sponsored by the Army Engineering and Support Center on Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to noon at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, University Center.
 
Preregistration for the 12th annual Small Business Forum is encouraged to help ensure appropriate representation of subject matter experts. Registration is free with information available on the web at http://www.hnd.usace.army.mil. If you have questions or comments, send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

This is an annual event that provides an opportunity for small businesses to talk with contracting professionals, program managers and subject matter experts from Huntsville Center about their programs and upcoming opportunities.
 
The Huntsville Center supports very specialized missions that require unique technical expertise in programs that are generally regional or global and are very broad in scope. The center supports tasks that require a centralized management structure, integrated facilities or systems that cross geographic division boundaries; and tasks that require commonality, standardization, multiple-site adaptation or technology transfers. For more information about Huntsville Center programs, visit http://www.hnd.usace.army.mil and review the "Fact Sheets."
 
The biggest procurement opportunities for small business concerns during fiscal 2012 will be support for the following programs: Renewable and Alternate Energy Power Production; Architect and Engineering Services for Medical Repair and Renewal; and Design/Build Services for Access Control Points and Energy Conservation Investment Program. (Army Engineering and Support Center release)

Wed, 11/09/2011, By SKIP VAUGHN, Rocket editor, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

 Army aviation doesn’t just mean helicopters.
 
About 350 fixed wing aircraft serve the Army worldwide. Their missions include providing a platform for executive travel for senior leadership of the Army, not just in the United States but also in Iraq and Afghanistan. They include special electronic mission aircraft which provide intelligence to commanders on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are also used to support the joint improvised explosive devices efforts in theater.
 

September 12, 2011, By Mr. Jason B. Cutshaw (USASMDC/ARSTRAT)

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - In the Concepts and Analysis Laboratory, contributions can come from freshmen in college as well as seniors in their field of expertise.

Members of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's CAL, along with the assistance of college students and interns, are using existing technology to support the Counter-Rockets, Artillery and Mortars program.

"We started working with the Projectile Tracking System Radar," said Kevin Nash, CAL supervisor. "It was a test bed, developed at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., for the Crusader gun system. It was developed to track outgoing rounds off the gun and help them adjust their fire accordingly. We turned it around to track incoming rockets and mortars. We have used three different variants of the PTS interferometer radar technology in support of C-RAM since 2004.

"And what we have done is bring our young people out and they actually do the sensor operations," he added. "We don't need any contractors with them. We have a contractor there in case the system breaks, but we do all of the target tracking ourselves and then we do the data analysis afterwards.

Although the CAL's students and interns' contributions are limited to helping them as they capture and understand test results, their assistance is key in supporting C-RAM testing.

"Between 2005 and 2007 we observed intercepts with an infrared camera for the entire engagement of each target," Nash said. "The students created time-stamped movies of what happened and provided those to our C-RAM customer. That way the customer could assess the lethality of their engagements.

"On the radar side, our role is test support to record all of the tracks, so the customer can perform an assessment of how well their tactical radars tracked the targets," he added.

During the summer months, there are approximately 20 students and interns working in the CAL. There are others that continue throughout the year and intertwine working at SMDC with their college schedules.

"There are two main ways the students assist us," Nash said. "One is the actual operations of the sensors. We bring the students out to perform target tracking with radar and, previously, infrared.

"What they are spending the most hours on is helping develop data analysis software," he added. "One of the challenging things for the radar is that we have to make sure our track quality is good, so the students write programs that analyze the track and help give us a quality assessment so that when we turn in the data it is correct.

"The students' efforts help us improve our performance on the ground out at the test ranges. We want to track 100 percent of the targets and we want to have good quality data," he added. "Their products get us into high success ratings and our product here at SMDC helps the C-RAM program office characterize and assess their performance at the test range before they deploy to the field."

Nash talked about what he is most proud of when watching the students he supervises as they progress in the CAL.

"It is amazing the contributions that these students are making," Nash said. "Just watching them grow as some come back every summer as they progress and their skills blossom is really amazing to see."

Many of the students are hired at SMDC through the Redstone Arsenal summer hire program while others are traditional Co-Op students. Nash said that one of the main ways students come aboard is through the Department of Defense Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship program.

As some students use the summer hire and intern programs as building blocks in their future, some of them become permanent members of the SMDC family.

"Starting here as a student was great," said Marcus Ratcliff, a general engineer in the CAL since 2008, who started out as an Auburn University student in 2004. "It got me excited about going out into the workforce and gave me something to focus on while I was in college.

"The work here is interesting and exciting, especially working with the C-RAM program," he added. "If any college student is considering coming to work here for SMDC, I definitely recommend it. They will get a lot of experience that is helpful with both school and their careers."

 Photo:  Kevin Nash, Concepts and Analysis Laboratory supervisor, and Marcus Ratcliff, a general engineer in the CAL, discuss work being conducted on the Counter-Rockets, Artillery and Mortars program.

Skies Unlimited For Youth Program's New Facility

August 10, 2011

By Ms Kari Hawkins (AMCOM)

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.--Karvellis Lee is looking forward to inviting Redstone-connected children to the new home of SKIES Unlimited.

In October, the doors will open at the SKIES Unlimited multi-purpose facility (building 3153) situated on Youth Center Road between the Youth Center and Child Development Services.

And with the new 5,568-square-foot facility, Lee believes SKIES Unlimited will definitely take a big step forward in providing the best services around for children wanting to explore their talents, skills and interests.

“SKIES Unlimited is pretty unique because it’s an instructional program for any child who has an interest they want to explore,” the former educator said. “We take all kids. If they want to learn how to play softball, we teach them the basic rules of the sport. If they want to learn keyboard, we teach them the basics to play music on a keyboard. We teach the rules and build a foundation for a child’s enjoyment.”

SKIES stands for the School of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills. It is an instructional program offered through Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation’s Child Youth and School Services Program for ages 2 to 19. It includes classes in martial arts, dance, SAT/ACT prep, driver’s education, piano, guitar, percussion/drums, tennis, tumbling, tap dance and theater.

“Classes are offered on a month-by-month basis, meaning that children can try an interest and, if they don’t enjoy it, they can easily go on to something else,” Lee said. “Parents are only obligated to pay class fees a month at a time. Our goal is to help a child find the things that they enjoy and that keep them on task. That’s what will make them successful.”

Promoting The Best For School Children

August 10, 2011

By Ms Kari Hawkins (AMCOM)

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.--With the school year beginning, it’s time for Barbara Williams to sit back and breathe a sigh of relief.

The Garrison school liaison officer has had a busy summer. As the September deadline nears for all Department of the Army moves related to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, Redstone Arsenal has welcomed hundreds of new employees. With those employees have come families " and school-age children.

And that’s what’s kept Williams busy. She has spent the summer providing information on area school systems and schools to new Redstone-connected families with school-age children, both by email and through one-on-one meetings in her office at Family and Morale Welfare and Recreation’s Child Youth and School Services, building 1500. School handbooks, uniform policies, documents needed for registration, the area’s school zones, school calendars, graduation requirements, after-school care and busing are all topics that families new to the area want to know about.

“This summer has been the busiest since I’ve been here,” said Williams, who has served as the school liaison officer for nearly three years following a 32-year career with Huntsville City Schools. “The number of parents who have come to see me has probably tripled. We have a lot of senior leaders, Army civilians and contractors all wanting school information. We have a lot of email traffic from parents moving their families here from all over the U.S. and the world. And I’m here to help them.”

Learning The Inside Story Of Army Operations

August 10, 2011

By Kari Hawkins