SOTECH 2009 Volume: 7 Issue: 7 (September)
Starting with Admiral Eric Olson, commander, USSOCOM, the call for additional aerial firepower has been loud and clear. Read carefully Colonel Greg Lengyel’s interview in this issue of SOTECH. The message is the same. Operators on the ground need the mobile and lethal support that a gunship—in whatever form—provides, and AFSOC wants to deliver it. The mantra is always to do more with less, but that cannot mean to do with less of everything. In this case there is an urgent need for more gunships. Let’s hope the right people are listening.
On a different technology note, USSOCOM, through its Procurement Division (SOAL-K) on behalf of the Directorate of Advanced Science and Technology (SOAL-ST), recently released a broad agency announcement outlining specific areas of research and development of interest to the command’s individual directorates.
Identified areas of importance are: mobility platforms (ground/air/maritime); power and energy; weapons; materials; reconnaissance, surveillance and exploitation; command, control, communications and computers; intelligence; modeling and simulation; influence technologies; and environmental forecasting. This is a perfect opportunity for the host of small companies out there that, in many cases, have developed a solution based on lessons learned—usually by the company founders, themselves being special operators. Individual innovation and entrepreneurship have driven improvements in systems and equipment items and this opportunity to have your concept heard should not be avoided. USSOCOM states in the BAA that it wants to evaluate “innovative or unique configurations or use of commercial items and processes or concepts that are offered for further investigation for DoD applications.” So, if you are a supplier, innovator or inventor with a good idea (emphasis on “good”), you should check out this BAA and see if what you have fits what USSOCOM wants.
As always, please feel free to contact me directly with any comments or suggestions you want to share.
Best wishes.
 Jeffrey D. McKaughan Editor-In-Chief 301.670.5700 x130 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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