Basic Research in Information Science and Technology for Air Force Needs (BMSA)

Released 12/15/05

The U.S. Air Force is developing new force capabilities appropriate to an emerging array of threats. It is clear that advances in information science and technology (IS&T) are essential for most of these new capabilities. As a consequence, the Air Force is finding it necessary to refocus its IS&T basic research program to provide stronger support for reaching these goals. To assist this effort, the AFOSR asked the NRC for a study to create a vision and plan for the IS&T-related programs within the Office’s Mathematics and Space Science Directorate. This report provides an assessment of basic research needs for Air Force systems and communications, software, information management and integration, and human interactions with IS&T systems. The report also offers a set of priorities for basic IS&T research, and an analysis of funding mechanisms its support.

Network Science (BAST)

Released 12/7/05

The military is currently attempting to develop itself into a force capable of network-centric operations. While this effort has highlighted the military’s dependence on interacting networks, it has also shown that there is a huge gap between what we need to know about networks and our fundamental knowledge about network behavior. This gap makes the military vision of NCO problematic. To help address this problem, the Army asked the NRC to find out whether identifying and funding a new field of “network science” could help close this gap. This report presents an examination of networks and the military, an analysis of the promise, content, and challenges of network science, and an assessment of approaches to creating value from network science.

Linkages: Manufacturing Trends in Electronics Interconnection Technology (BMED)

Released 11/29/05

Over the past two decades, the Department of Defense has been moving toward commercial-military integration for manufacturing, while at the same time, the printed circuit board industry has been moving steadily offshore. Today, many lack a clear understanding of the importance of high-quality, trustworthy printed circuit boards (PrCBs) for properly functioning weapons and other defense systems and components. To help develop this understanding, DOD requested the NRC to identify and assess the key issues affecting PrCBs for military use. This report presents an assessment of how to ensure DOD's access to reliable printed circuits; an assessment of its vulnerability to the global printed circuit supply chain; and suggestions about ways to secure the design and manufacture of printed circuits. In addition, this report offers recommendations to help DOD preserve existing systems’ capabilities, improve the military’s access to currently available PrCBs, and ensure access to future PrCB technology.

Interim Design Assessment for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (BAST)

Released 11/14/05

Because of concerns about incineration, the Department of Defense plans to use alternative means to destroy the chemical agent stockpiles at the Pueblo and Blue Grass facilities. The DOD contracted with Bechtel Parsons to design and operate pilot plants for this purpose. As part of the NRC efforts to assist the DOD with its chemical demilitarization efforts, the Department requested a review and assessment of the Bechtel designs for both plants. An earlier report presented an assessment of the Pueblo design. This report provides a review of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant based on review of data and information about the initial design and some intermediate design data. Among other topics, the report presents technical risk assessment issues, an analysis of delivery and disassembly operations and of agent destruction core processes, and an examination of waste treatment.

FORCEnet Implementation Strategy (NSB)

Released 9/26/05

FORCEnet is the Department of Navy’s approach for enhancing its capability to perform network-centric operations. In 2002, the concept was introduced by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) who incorporated it into the Navy’s Sea Power 21. A NRC study, Network-Centric Naval Forces, was instrumental in the establishment of FORCEnet. Nevertheless, an accepted definition of FORCEnet is still lacking. To help resolve this issue, the CNO asked the NRC to advise it on the adequacy of the definition first announced by the CNO and on actions required to implement FORCEnet. This report provides an illustration of a FORCEnet vision of networked operations, characteristics required to achieve this vision, and challenges facing implementation. It also presents analyses of these challenges and recommendations for an implementation strategy.

Review of (AFOSR) Mechanics Research Proposals and Review of Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Materials Research Proposals (NMAB)

Released 9/28/05

These two letter reports provide technical evaluations of research proposals submitted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) in the areas of mechanics and materials. They are part of a project to provide these evaluations in the areas of materials, solid and structural mechanics, fluid mechanics, and propulsion. Each research proposal was reviewed by at least four reviewers, typically two panel members and two outside reviewers. For each report, a panel met to examine and discuss all review comments to define a consensus assessment for each proposal.

Monitoring at Chemical Agent Disposal Facilities (BAST)

Released 08/29/05

Under the direction of the U.S. Army’s Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) and mandated by Congress, the nation is destroying its chemical weapons stockpile. Over the past several years, the Army has requested several studies from the NRC to assist with the stockpile destruction. This study was requested to advise the CMA about the status of analytical instrumentation technology and systems suitable for monitoring airborne chemical warfare agents at chemical weapons disposal and storage facilities. The report presents an assessment of current monitoring systems used for airborne agent detection at CMA facilities and of the applicability and availability of innovative new technologies. It also provides a review of how new regulatory requirements would affect the CMA’s current agent monitoring procedures, and whether new measurement technologies are available and could be effectively incorporated into the CMA’s overall chemical agent monitoring strategies.

Going to Extreme: Meeting the Emerging Demand for Durable Polymer Matrix Composites (NMAB)

Released 08/12/05

Advanced polymer matrix composites (PMC) have many advantages such as light weight and high specific strength that make them useful for many aerospace applications. Enormous uncertainty exists, however, in predicting long-term changes in properties of PMCs under extreme environmental conditions, which has limited their use. To help address this issue, the Department of Defense requested a study from the NRC to identify the barriers and limitations to the use of PMCs in extreme environments. The study was to focus on issues surrounding methodologies for predicting long-term performance. This report provides a review of the challenges facing application of PMCs in extreme environments, the current understanding of PMC properties and behavior, an analysis of the importance of data in developing effective models, and recommendations for improving long-term predictive methodologies.

Review of Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Fluids Research Proposals (ASEB)

Released 08/11/05

This letter report provides technical evaluations of research proposals submitted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) in the area of fluids. It is part of a project to provide these evaluations in the areas of combustion and diagnostics, and space power and propulsion. Each research proposal was reviewed by at least four reviewers, typically two panel members and two outside reviewers. A panel met to examine and discuss all review comments to define a consensus assessment for each proposal.

Autonomous Vehicles in Support of Naval Operations (NSB)

Released 05/15/05

Recent naval operations have consistently demonstrated the utility of autonomous vehicles (AV) for a wide range of missions. In addition, the growing need to defend foreign and homeland ports against a variety of threats point out the potential value of expanded us of such vehicles. This step, however, will require the solution to a host of operational and technical challenges. To help with this effort, the Chief of Naval Operations asked the NRC to review the experience with and status of autonomous vehicles in support of naval operations, and technical challenges to and plans for development of these concepts. This report presents an assessment of naval vision about AV operations and applications; capabilities and potential of aerial, surface, and undersea vehicles; and integrating autonomy into network-centric operations.

Naval Analytical Capabilities (NSB)

In the current national security environment, the United States must be prepared to deal with a large number of diverse threats under complex and uncertain circumstances. Current U.S. defense strategy calls for the capability to deal with the full spectrum of threats within available resources. This strategy has led to an emphasis on capabilities-based planning (CBP) by DOD and the Services. To assist with its efforts, the Department of the Navy asked that the NRC to hold a workshop to assess the Navy’s analytical capabilities and its CBP practices. This report presents a discussion of the key elements of CBP and analysis, a review of the Navy’s analytical methods and processes, an assessment of Navy participation in DOD-wide CBP, and an examination of potential future efforts.

Impact of Revised Airborne Exposure Limits on Non-Stockpile Chemical Material Program Activities (BAST)

The U.S. Army’s Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel program is responsible for dismantling former chemical agent production facilities and destroying recovered chemical materiel. In response to congressional requirements, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2003, recommended new airborne exposure limits (AELs) to protect workforce and public health during operations to destroy this materiel. To assist in meeting these recommended limits, the U.S. Army asked the NRC for a review of its implementation plans for destruction of production facilities at the Newport Chemical Depot and the operation of two types of mobile destruction systems. This report presents the results of that review. It provides recommendations on analytical methods, on airborne containment monitoring, on operational procedures, on the applicability of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and on involvement of workers and the public in implementation of the new AELs.

Effects of Nuclear Earth-Penetrator And Other Weapons (DEPS)

Underground facilities are used extensively by many nations to conceal and protect strategic military functions and weapons’ stockpiles. Because of their depth and hardened status, however, many of these strategic hard and deeply buried targets could only be put at risk by conventional or nuclear earth penetrating weapons (EPW). Recently, an engineering feasibility study, the robust nuclear earth penetrator program, was started by DOE and DOD to determine if a more effective EPW could be designed using major components of existing nuclear weapons. This activity has created some controversy about, among other things, the level of collateral damage that would ensue if such a weapon were used. To help clarify this issue, the Congress, in P.L. 107-314, directed the Secretary of Defense to request from the NRC a study of the anticipated health and environmental effects of nuclear earth-penetrators and other weapons and the effect of both conventional and nuclear weapons against the storage of biological and chemical weapons. This report provides the results of those analyses. Based on detailed numerical calculations, the report presents a series of findings comparing the effectiveness and expected collateral damage of nuclear EPW and surface nuclear weapons under a variety of conditions.

Report Summary

Nanotechnology for the Intelligence Community (NMAB)

The emergence of nanotechnology as a major science and technology research topic has sparked substantial interest by the intelligence community. In particular the community is interested both in the potential for nanotechnology to assist intelligence operations and threats it could create. To explore these questions, the Intelligence Technology Innovation Center asked the National Research Council to conduct a number of activities to illustrate the potential for nanotechnology to address key intelligence community needs. In 2004, workshop reports were issued on power systems and on positioning and sensing technologies. The final report provides an assessment of a wide range of additional technologies. The report also presents a series of findings and recommendations about areas of opportunities for the intelligence community and strategies for exploiting these opportunities.

Avoiding Surprise In An Era Of Global Technology Advances (DEPS)

The global spread of science and technology expertise and the growing commercial access to advanced technologies with possible military application are creating potentially serious threats to the technological superiority underpinning U.S. military strength. Key to dealing with this situation is the ability of the U.S. intelligence community to be able to provide adequate and effective warning of evolving, critical technologies. To assist in performing this task, the Technology Warning Division of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) asked the National Research Council (NRC) to undertake a study examining technology warning issues. This report provides the first part of that study. It presents an assessment of critical, evolving technologies; postulates ways potential adversaries could disrupt these technologies; and provides indicators for the intelligence community to determine if such methods are under development. The intention of this report is to establish the foundation for a long-term relationship with the technology warning community to support the examination of technology warning issues.

Report Summary

The Navy’s Needs in Space for Providing Future Capabilities (NSB)

The United States must operate successfully in space to help assure its security and economic well being. The Department of the Navy is a major user of space capabilities, although those capabilities are now primarily provided by DOD, the Air Force, and NOAA. Following a DOD assessment of national space security management in 2001, the Navy commissioned a Panel to Review Space to assess Navy space policy and strategy. As an extension of that review, the NRC was requested by the Navy to examine its needs in space for providing future operational and technical capabilities. This report presents a discussion of the strategic framework of future space needs, the roles and responsibilities for meeting those needs, an assessment of Navy support to space mission areas, and a proposed vision for fulfilling Naval forces space needs.

Interim Design Assessment for the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (BAST)

In 1996, Congress enacted directing the Department of Defense to assess and demonstrate technology alternatives to incineration for destruction of the chemical weapons stored at Pueblo Chemical and Blue Grass Army Depots. Since then, the National Research Council (NRC) has been carrying out evaluations of candidate technologies including reviews of engineering design studies and demonstration testing. Most recently, the NRC was asked by the Army to evaluate designs for pilot plants at Pueblo and Blue Grass. These pilot plants would use chemical neutralization for destroying the chemical agent and the energetics in the munitions stockpiles of these two depots. This report provides the interim assessment of the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) to permit adjustment of any significant problems as soon as possible. The report presents an analysis of the issues about the current PCAPP design and a series of findings and recommendations about ways to reduce concerns with involve the public more heavily in the process.

Report Summary

Proceedings of the 25th Naval Hydrodynamics Symposium (NSB)

The Naval Hydrodynamics Symposium Series provides an international, unclassified forum for the scientific and technical exchange of naval hydrodynamics research developments of common interest to all the countries of the world. The Twenty-Fifth Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics was held in St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada from August 8-13, 2004. Seventy-six papers were presented in 14 topical areas. The areas covered in this meeting were selected because of recent scientific and technical advances and their importance to the overall field of naval hydrodynamics. The Proceedings, including all authored papers plus discussion questions and responses, are available on a compact disk.

Review and Assessment of the Bechtel National, Inc. Proposal for the Design and Operation of the Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant at Pueblo, CO (BAST)

The DOD has contracted with Bechtel National, Inc. to design and operate pilot plants for the destruction of chemical agent at both the Pueblo and Blue Grass chemical weapons storage facilities. As part of the NRC efforts to assist the DOD with its chemical demilitarization efforts, the Department requested a review and assessment of the Bechtel proposals for both plants. This letter report presents the review of the proposal for the Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP). This letter report presents that assessment along with one of an alternative design suggested by Mitretek and of the desirability of technically viable alternatives developed by the NRC study committee. These assessments are primarily the result of the consensus judgments of the committee based in the substantial project management experience of its members. A second letter report will be issued on the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant design.

2003-2004 Assessment of the Army Research Laboratory (ARLTAB)

Released 06/15/05

In 1995, the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) asked the NRC to perform an annual review of the scientific and technical quality of the lab. In particular, ARL requested findings and recommendations about the quality and appropriateness of the R&D for each of the lab’s technical areas. In 1999, the review was changed to biennial. The current report is the third in that series and presents an assessment of the quality of work being performed by the Lab. It also gives an assessment of ARL’s response to the 2001-2002 review, a discussion of how well ARL personnel connects with similar work in other organizations, and an analysis of specific opportunities for and challenges facing the lab.