Materials Research to Meet 21st-Century Defense Needs (2003) / Chapter Skim
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1 Department of Defense Materials Needs
1 Department of Defense Materials Needs
Pages 9-20
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From page 9... ...
Because oceans surround the United States, it has in place a worldwide base structure to support forward-deployed forces. Whereas other nations tend to operate from their own territory, as a matter of strategic principle the United States projects military power over long distances with medium-range and short-range systems.
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From page 10... ...
The Navy, in effect, brings its overseas bases with it in the form of the fleet, taking advantage of freedom of the seas to move about the world. Low-cost, highly capable commercial technologies are increasingly enabling many nations, including some with very limited resources, to mount regional threats based on precision strikes from their own territories.
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From page 11... ...
Vulnerable infrastructure points include power grids and dams. The terrorist acts of September 1 1, 2001, highlight the need to address such threats.3 Marshall and others urged that the United States maintain its capability to project military power over long distances, harness advancing technologies to maintain its technological lead as long as possible (recognizing that other nations will be working to counter U.S.
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From page 12... ...
Because it anticipates that armored and airborne forces will continue to be essential for attacking an enemy, the Army will emphasize highly mobile lightweight vehicles equipped with next-generation armor and stealth to survive against high-intensity threats. Infantrymen face increasingly potent weapons and require a very high degree of information connectivity on the battlefield.
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From page 13... ...
; force protection (from nuclear, biological, chemical, kinetic, or explosive weapons through stealth, identification, armor, and active defense) ; engagement (highly concentrated and sustained firepower)
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From page 14... ...
Materials that increase capability but also increase cost must be compared to materials that provide current capabilities at reduced costs, including maintenance and upkeep costs. Because manpower is the single largest DoD cost, materials that reduce the need for manpower will be extremely beneficial.
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From page 15... ...
As the range of operations increases, it will be increasingly important for some elements to remain invisible for as long as possible using stealth technologies. This is an important area of research, particularly in multifunctional structural materials that incorporate a stealth capability and electronic and/or optical materials and devices that may actively respond to probes to achieve invisibility.
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From page 16... ...
The concept of multifunctionality encompasses many classes of materials and applications: Structural materials may be self-interrogating or self-healing, provide stealth, or protect against enemy fire; microscopic materials or systems may combine sensing, moving, analyzing, communicating, and acting.
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From page 17... ...
In fact, this is likely to become more common as strategic experiments, coupled with validated physical models, are incorporated into computer simulations that enable the virtual exploration of composition, structure, processing, and properties as a partial replacement for extensive laboratory experimentation. A move in this direction would also reduce development time and cost.
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From page 18... ...
In the materials and process arena, risk aversion translates to a reluctance to introduce new materials or processes unless the benefits have been clearly demonstrated and the risk is acceptably low. Minimizing risk implies minimizing the number of materials in use and identifying materials that simplify component or system design, which could reduce cost and risk assuming, of course, that the material meets all of the other risk minimization criteria.
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From page 19... ...
Finally, what will happen at the end of system life must be considered, taking into account recycling or reuse of as much of the system as possible and environmentally conscious disposal of the rest.
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