Light-speed Weapons Could Be a Less Costly Alternative, and more...

Speed-of-light Electronic Weapons Promise Lower Cost In the future, non-explosive weapons that can immobilize, destroy, or otherwise disable an enemy's rockets, mortars, and ballistic systems may be part of the solution to handling the shrinking defense budget in the U.S. That's because the latest generation of electronic weapons — including airborne electronic disablers, high-power microwave devices, lasers, etc., plus artificial brains to manage them — could very well be less expensive than traditional kinetic counterparts. One significant advantage vs conventional weapons is the logistics of ammunition. Here, issues of distribution, re-supply, and weapon maintenance fall by the wayside. Mike Booen, Raytheon's vice president for directed-energy systems suggests "...By using the speed of light, you can beat the simultaneity problem [of lots of incoming projectiles] that you face with kinetic weapons."   Low $ Shipboard 900W UPS Mil-STD-1399 Compliant Powerstar, Inc. Comply with UID Marking Regulations with Epilog Epilog Laser Corp. Powerstar since 1993 introducesPS503-1000 short tower (Double Conversion) Naval UPS. 99PFC input. 1000VA/900W output. With all the features of our larger true onlines. Emergency power off contacts. USB. 0ms switchover. Full ruggedization and hull mounting plates available. Built to be MIL-STD-1399 compliant. SNMP and 8-10 year batteries available. Laser-etch barcodes, data-matrix codes, serial numbers, and more with a FiberMark system from Epilog. Whether applied to an individual part or a non-removable tag, the FiberMark provides a cost-effective solution for UID regulations. Featuring a 12 in. x 24 in. worktable and user-friendly controls, the FiberMark helps meet all your marking needs. LEMO's Lightweight Compact Aluminum Connectors for Harsh Environments LEMO USA, Inc. New 20-1000 MHz Combiners and Directional Couplers Werlatone, Inc. LEMO now offers a precision engineered connector series specifically designed for military and harsh environment applications. The M Series connection solution offers a new innovative design which is made of high-strength aluminum and is one of the lightest and most compact connectors in the LEMO product line of connectors. Werlatone recently expanded its offering of High Power Combiners and Directional Couplers to include a new product line supporting a full 20-1000 MHz bandwidth. The new, low loss 20 to 1000 MHz Combiners address power requirements ranging from 10 to 500 W CW. These broadband units are perfect for military and commercial applications.
Load Cells . . .
Military Load Cell Applications Strainsert
Strainsert load cells have been successfully used to support military hardware developments and control programs in a large variety of applications. There are many different load cell types manufactured by Strainsert, and we'll work with you to identify the optimal solution. The load cell can be mounted in a variety of locations and configurations so the testing process provides comprehensive and accurate data.
Materials . . . Designing Metamaterials for Invisibilty   University of Illinois researchers are working on refining the fabrication of large sheets of metamaterials that currently make objects behind them look faded. Further refinements on the grid designs and their metamaterial printer are expected to bring total object cloaking closer to fruition. By funneling captured photons around an object, an optimally designed metamaterial would eliminate the entire shadow of an object. Material Evolves from Running Shoes to Protecting Troops The materials technology originally developed to cushion Nike running shoes, has been refined andmodified to protect U.S. troops. With the slogan "Protecting things that matter," Skydex Technologies has adapted the thermoplastic polyurethane material, which features opposing hemi-ellipsoid shapes that absorb energy, to perform in body armor, helmet pads, armored-vehicle floors, and more. See how the material can be re-engineered by changing parameters (video). Communications & Surveillance . . . Powerful Spying Eye in the Sky One of the newest U.S. military's recon drone is a helicopter-like aircraft that needs no runway. What's impressive about the Argus-IS (Autonomous Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance-Imaging System) is its ability to track people from 20,000 ft as well as vehicles. Equipped with a 1.8 gigapixel camera, this new spy in the sky tracks multiple windows at the same time and streams 10 fps video in real time. Enemy Thine via Portable Radar A surveillance breakthrough, this 3.5 lb radar system boosts situational awareness for soldiers in enemy territory. The book-sized unit helps small military units track moving personnel at >500 m over a 40 acre area. Small size, light weight, and low 9 W power consumption make the system readily "backpackable." Via a Web-based user interface, set up takes 30 minutes.   Motion Control for Military Applications ACE Controls Inc. Limit Manhole Access with McGard DuraShield McGard Special Products Division ACE Shocks for seats help protect drivers by absorbing energy from land mine/IED explosions. Gas springs provide lift assist for vehicle hoods, panels, and more. Hydraulic dampers provide motion control for swinging loads, doors, and hatches. Recoil dampers reduce felt recoil in high-powered weapons and improve accuracy. The DuraShield from McGard, your strong and durable security solution to prevent unauthorized access! Constructed of stainless steel with multiple security points, the DuraShield is lightweight, easy to handle and transport. It is installed in seconds, and removed without bending over. For info, call 888-888-9192 or visitwww.manholelocks.com. VR Solves Class III RoHS Soldering VR Industries, Inc. Night Vision Monitor Uses LED Backlights  General Digital Corporation A significant challenge in the defense industry is using leaded solder paste with RoHS components. The most severe challenge comes when using leaded solder paste and a RoHS BGA.VR Industries has overcome this challenge by developing specific processes and inspection capabilities in response to this unique defense industry requirement. LEDs last longer, use less power, and tolerate shock and vibration better than CCFL backlights. When configured with an all-LED backlight, our Saber PanelMount Solar™ LCD monitor provides 800+ nits of brightness and fully-dimmable night vision goggle-compatible capabilities. Easily passes MIL-STD-901D, Grade A / Class II Lightweight Shock requirements. Many configurations and sizes available. Electric/Electronic Components . . . Speeding Up Drone Communications Launched last month, a new fourth-generation communications satellite features the capabilities to more quickly transmit high-res images, video, and other huge intelligence files from unmanned aerial vehicles to U.S. troops on the ground worldwide. This fourth in a series satellite possesses capacity equivalent to four of its earlier counterparts in a new network that will ultimately replace the older Defense Satellite Communications System. PoF Communications Cable for Safety Engineers at Sandia National Laboratories designed a hybrid cable that utilizes fiber to regulate and send optical power. In low-power sensor and control applications where safety is critical — aviation, explosives, explosion-proof devices, security, and medical devices — the fiber cable replaces copper wire. In its first generation iteration, the power-over-fiber (PoF) communications cable functions as a cable in total isolation, converting signals from electrical-to-optical-to-electrical. Design & Assembly . . . Jet Boat Takes on Pirates and More Sporting jet engines and supercavitation to reduce hull friction, the Ghost is designed as the ultimate high-speed attack vessel to thwart piracy and counter swarm attacks in littoral waters. With a heavy weapons capability concealed in a hidden weapons bay, the craft features a significantly reduced radar cross-section and possesses a one-of-a-kind combination of maneuverability, speed, and fuel capacity to deal with small, high-speed attack boats. Non-lethal Weapon Surprises Among non-lethal weapons for the U.S. military, some are already in use, others need improvement, and those under development form a wish list. The latter includes a new, improved taser and a pulsed laser system to control enemy aircraft. Check out the "Non-Lethal Weapons Reference Book" from the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate that was recently leaked online by PublicIntelligence.org, as Wired reports.   Slip Rings — EMI Shielded Electro-Miniatures Corporation Auto-tuning RF Booster Amplifiers AR Modular RF Electro-Miniatures designed this slip ring for an airborne application that required strict EMI shielding from all outside signals and between circuits within the unit. It incorporates an encoder. Need tight packaging for demanding specifications? Learn more. AR offers auto-tuning 30-512 MHz Communications RF Booster Amplifiers units. The 50 Watt AR-50 vehicle unit is designed to carry legacy and emerging JTRS waveforms. It operates from 12/24 V vehicles or batteries, is JITC certified for the PSC-5D and the PRC-117G, offers two antenna ports, and switchable LNA plus SatCom filtering. Leading Edge E-beam Technology Solutions Provider Vistec Electron Beam Lithography Group A High Voltage Motor Control Solution ESI Motion Vistec Electron Beam Lithography Group is a world leader in design and manufacture of electron beam lithography systems, usable for a wide range of existing and emerging semiconductor and nanotechnology applications. The Group consists of two business units: Vistec Electron Beam GmbH (Jena, Germany) and Vistec Lithography, Inc. (Watervliet, U.S.A.). ESI's FIREFOX line of rugged high voltage (610 V), high temperature controllers drastically improve delivery time and affordability for extreme applications and are ideal for ground defense, aerospace, naval, and specialized industrial markets. ESI Motion is the industry leader in low risk, cutting-edge motor control systems and offers a range of off-the-shelf and custom controller products. FUTEK's Webinar: Exploring Load Cells: Through a Miniature S-Beam Jr. Sensor — 2/15/2012 On February 15, FUTEK Advanced Sensor Technology, Inc. will present "Exploring Load Cells: Through a Miniature S-Beam Jr. Sensor". Join your peers for this free, informative, and interactiveONLINE webinar — right from the convenience of your desktop. Learn more about FUTEK's S-Beam Jr. miniature load cells for test and measurement applications. Register today!