• FBI worried about surge in sales of book detailing airport security gaps

    A book detailing gaps in airport security enjoys a surprising surge in sales; the FBI, which keeps track of sales of books which may benefit terrorists — and also of similar library books being checked out — wants to know more

  • BAA in Heathrow RFID trial

    BAA begins Heathrow trial for RFID-based baggage tracking system

  • IAI's Stark subsidiary eyeing U.S. defense, homeland security markets

    IAI establishes a U.S. subsidiary to market its UAVs and payloads in the U.S. defense and homeland security markets; IAI is eyeing the U.S. coast guard and border patrol; first goal: Offer IAI’s Heron 1 as an alternative to General Atomics’ Predator

  • Modeling and simulation course for newcomers to the field

    Modeling and simulation are growing in importance, and a new certificate program provides training in applying M&S to military and business challenges

  • Diminished strategic focus caused lax Air Force nuclear security

    Last year, six nuclear-tipped missiles were flown by mistake from North Dakota to Louisiana; it took more than thirty-six hours for the Air Force to discover the mistake, or even realize that nuclear missiles were missing

  • Israel's use of UAVs expands

    UAVs are assuming more and more military, intelligence, and homeland security missions; Israel has pioneered the broad-based use of UAVs for all types of missions, and is years ahead of other militaries in incorporating the systems into its operational planning; to know where UAV developments — and deployments — are heading, it would be a good idea to study the Israeli case

  • Airport security challenges // by Lynn Welch

    TSA needs to formulate – and enforce — standards for perimeter defense

  • Aussies worried about security of small planes, regional airports

    In Australia, only planes with thirty seats or more must have impregnable cockpit doors; interest in the security of small planes and of regional airport intensifies as a woman on a nineteen-seater plane in New Zealand stormed the cockpit of a small aircraft on Friday, stabbing two pilots in midflight

  • South Africa to bolster airport security

    South Africa security authorities contend that some of the main gaps in airports security are the result of inconsistent and uneven security standards among air, land, and rail transportation; a private industry-government conference in Johannesburg aims to formulate agreed-upon security terms of reference

  • Congress wants tighter look at passengers claiming to be policemen

    Currently, all one has to do at an airport to prove he or she is a law enforcement officer — and, thus, entitled to bring a weapon on board — is show a photo ID and a letter from the law enforcement agency employing them; both documents can be easily forged

  • Northrop Grumman, L-3 awarded EPX contract

    EPX aims to create a shore-based, manned aircraft which will provide intelligence, surveillance, and targeting (ISRT) support to carrier strike groups

  • Billions spent on airport security, but major security gaps remain

    In the post 9/11 rush to bolster airport security, billions were spent and different technologies and systems were tried, but experts — and government watchdog organizations — say major security gaps remain; Congress, TSA, and the industry are increasingly anxious; the latest hope: Millimeter wave machines, which can see through clothes by analyzing the reflection of radio frequency energy bounced off passengers

  • TSA reacts to blog posting

    Earlier in the week TSA launched a Web blog to which passengers can post comments and suggestions; the agency has already responded to suggestions made by several passengers: It halted a practice at some airports that required travelers to remove all electronic equipment from carry-on luggage during security screenings

  • India's Tata Group, U.S. company to manufacture defense equipment

    India is worried about China’s growing military might; Indian companies see an opportunity here, and more and more of them are looking to enter the defense market — with U.S. companies as partners; the U.S. government, too, is intensifying its defense cooperation with India

  • EU and industry launch Clean Sky technology initiative

    The initiative, a joint EU-industry scheme in which $2.3 billion will be invested between 2008 and 2014, aims to speed up technological breakthrough developments and shorten the time to market for new green aviation solutions