Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: carlson@haven.mitre.org (Bruce Carlson)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Pentagon budget: sexy vs. boring
Message-ID: <1991Mar12.232325.29940@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 12 Mar 91 23:23:25 GMT
References: <1991Mar6.035953.22789@cbnews.att.com>
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From: carlson@haven.mitre.org (Bruce Carlson)
In article <1991Mar6.035953.22789@cbnews.att.com> cromar@math.rutgers.edu (Scott Cromar) writes:
>
>From: cromar@math.rutgers.edu (Scott Cromar)
>While the recent conflict demonstrated the effectiveness of several of
>the weapons in the US arsenal, it also demonstrated some real
>weaknesses in our military.  In particular, our lack of fast sea lift
>capability could have proven disastrous, and our mine sweeping
>capability was inadequate.  Sexy, sleek weapons have their place, but
>so do the more "boring" pieces of equipment.
>Does anyone know whether the Pentagon is adjusting its budget to fill
>in some of the gaps in the less exciting parts of its arsenal?
>--Scott Cromar
>cromar@math.rutgers.edu

(the info on SINCGARS was from an article in a commercial magazine;
Defense Electronics, if I remember correctly)

I think another significant "missing link" in our tactical
capabilities is the sad condition of most of the Army's
tactical communications equipment.  Nearly all Army units in the
gulf are still using the VRC-12 family of VHF radios, which is
a mid 60's design.   The SINCGARS radios (that replace the VRC-12
series) have been issued only to a few units, primarily the 82d Airborne
and other high priority units.   SINCGARS is now at full production
but there wasn't enough time to produce the radios and train the
thousands of personnel that have to operate them.

If we had to operate for an extended period of time, especially in
hot weather, I think there could have been significant commo
problems within the Division and Corps units.  The VRC-12 radios
work, but they have a very low MTBF compared to newer radios and
they don't tolerate heat very well.  It seems ironic that we can
spend money on weapons systems that may have a multi-million dollar
cost per unit, but can't afford to buy the equipment that allows
the commander to control his tactical troops.  

If you look at HF radio equipment the situation is even worse.  There are 
so many things that can break or malfunction in the HF radio-teletype
rigs that most units feel they are doing pretty well if they
can keep about 50% of them operational and on the air.  The newest piece
of equipment in the RATT rigs is the teletype, which can transmit
at up to 1200 baud.  However, since all the other equipment (modem,
etc.) is so old the rigs still operate at 75 baud.  The archival
storage capability is punched paper tape that uses 5-level baudot
code.

Bruce Carlson
carlson@gateway.mitre.org

Disclaimer:  The opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of my employer or the US Government.