"The current trend toward a hydrogen economy presents DOD with some special challenges, because a pure hydrogen fuel likely will not satisfy many DOD requirements. The resolution of this problem will take decades. DOD should engage on this issue in the near term in order to influence and leverage the national hydrogen initiative and to have in place an infrastructure to assure that DOD energy needs are met, in particular those related to fuel requirements for low-altitude, high-performance aircraft missions."
The authors argue that the U.S. Navy is not prepared for the 'chilling' effects of global warming. New research indicated that global warming may lead to a period of global cooling by disrupting the North Atlantic current which regulates global temperatures. They conclude with suggestions for how to adapt the Navy for a cooler world.
The author argues that the global resource base is shifting from geology (oil & metal) to biology (genes). He envisions that "Conflicts may arise between gene-rich, technology-poor countries that control the basic raw materials of a biobased economy and gene-poor, technology-rich nations that control the production methods" and that "homeland defense will have to consider heartland defense, as agricultural fields will assume the same significance as oil fields."
After more than 30 years of technology development and many billions of dollars in investment, the U.S. military is poised to operationally deploy its first high-energy laser (HEL) weapon system, the airborne laser. Dr. Elihu Zimet reviews the technical specifications of the HEL and then examines the strategic and policy implications of this development.
The authors argue that the computing capabilities provided by the Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative will allow the U.S. to sustain the existing nuclear stockpile and adequately test new designs without conducting new nuclear tests.
The authors propose the development of a virtual border security program that would protect the U.S. from terroist use of the intermodal transportation system to attack the homeland.
Two views from the U.S. National Defense University on what the military can learn from MMPORGs like Sony's Everquest and the upcoming Star Wars Galaxies. The authors argue that the U.S. military should pay attention to the social ecology of the gaming communities to develop more effective simulations and virtual training environments, a lesson the Army seems to have taken to heart with its "America's Army" RPG.
In this essay for the Center for Technology and National Security Policy at the U.S. military's National Defense University, the authors summarize the status and potential of the nanotechnology revolution and evaluate its likely impacts on national security and defense policy.
The authors examine the potential of Unmanned Aerial Combat Vehicles but caution that several policy issues --including the impact UCAVs will have on existing arms control agreements and concerns over allowing machines to autonomously fire weapons -- will need to be resolved first.