VTOL and VSTOL handling qualities specifications, an overview of the current status

The highlights of a comparative analysis between the current helicopter and VSTOL specifications and four representative rotary wing aircraft are presented. Longitudinal, lateral, and directional control power and dynamic stability characteristics were analyzed for hovering conditions. Forward flight static and dynamic stability were analyzed for the longitudinal and lateral-directional axes. Results of the analyses in terms of the applicability/utility of the MIL-H-8501A criteria are presented for each of the above areas. The review of the MIL-H-8301A criteria against those in MIL-F-83300 and AGARD 577 indicate many areas in which MIL-H-8501A does not give adequate design guidance

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF MARINE CORPS OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AIRLIFT: ALTERNATIVE ACQUISITION AND FORCE STRUCTURES FOR MARINE CORPS OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AIRLIFT

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) currently operates 28 operational support airlift (OSA) aircraft. The USMC must maintain the requirements set forth by the Department of Defense in a cost-effective way to ensure the OSA aircraft and personnel accomplish the mission. In this thesis, I use a cost-benefit analysis to examine the current OSA fleet, specifically the UC-12W and UC-35D platforms and several feasible alternative courses of action (COAs). In my analysis, by estimating the costs associated with operations, support, and personnel, I find that there are cost-saving opportunities of approximately $2 million over the five-year cost projection by implementing an alternative COA that adds three additional UC-12W aircraft to the OSA fleet. The findings of the cost-benefit analysis provide evidence that the current structure of medium- and short-range aircraft is not the most cost-effective; therefore, a restructuring of the UC-12W and UC-35D must be undertaken to ensure the OSA program maximizes cost savings.Captain, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

An overview of the Copernicus C4I architecture

The purpose of this thesis is to provide the reader with an overview of the U.S. Navy's Copernicus C4I Architecture. The acronym "C4I" emphasizes the intimate relationship between command, control, communications and intelligence, as well as their significance to the modern day warrior. Never in the history of the U.S> Navy has the importance of an extremely flexible C4I architecture been made more apparent than in the last decade. Included are discussions of the Copernicus concept, its command and control doctrine, its architectural goals and components, and Copernicus-related programs. Also included is a discussion on joint service efforts and the initiatives being conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. Finally, a discussion of the Copernicus Phase I Requirements Definition Document's compliance with the acquisition process as required by DoD Instruction 5000.2 is presented.http://archive.org/details/overviewofcopern00dearLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS OF THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A COMBAT MEDIC PRIMARY MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALIZATION WITHIN THE USMC

In this thesis, I investigate whether the United States Marine Corps (USMC) would benefit from producing and regulating its own medical support personnel. Currently, USMC troops rely on United States Navy (USN) corpsmen (HMs) for lifesaving assistance in battle. HMs are not trained riflemen nor permanently assigned to USMC billets. The Department of the Navy (DON) allocates "blue" and "green" monies to the USN and USMC. USN human capital (HMs and chaplains) and other direct support commodities not covered by green-dollar allocations are acquired using "blue-in-support-of-green" (BISOG) resources. Utilizing an ex-ante cost–benefits analysis methodology framework, I performed a feasibility analysis to compare two possible courses of action (COA). Each COA assumes annual throughput of 2,000 enlisted personnel and redistribution of existing USMC enlisted end-strengths to accommodate a combat medic primary military occupational specialty (PMOS). COA-1 uses the field medical training battalion platform to train USMC combat medics and would cost $24.3M annually. COA-2 utilizes the medical education and training campus training pipeline with an annual cost of$26.7M. Comprehensive cost comparisons between the status quo and COAs were not achieved due to ambiguity in BISOG budgeting toward procuring HMs. However, both COAs provide additional non-monetary benefits, including improved medical training interoperability, personnel continuity, force resilience, and diversity.Lieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

The Development of an Assault Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) Program

The purpose of this thesis is to document the history of the development of an Assault Directed Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) Program as well as Navy Program Office (PMA272) efforts to date, to initiate a new start ACAT II Program for Navy and Marine Corps helicopters starting in Fiscal Year (FY) 2006. It concentrates on the programmatic aspects of Assault DIRCM and does not go into detail on the design or technical aspects of the development of the system. This thesis will introduce emerging threats to helicopters operating in theater and describe the requirement for a DIRCM technology. It will also highlight program issues based on observations made over the past year as well as provide a recommended path forward for immediate program execution considering internal and external program and acquisition constraints both real and perceived

Rethinking the scale, structure & scope of U.S. energy institutions

This essay notes some of the key institutions created in the twentieth century for the purpose of delivering energy in North America. Those institutions are being challenged by a combination of stresses in three interconnected areas: reliability, economics, and environmental sustainability. The essay argues that these three stresses create an “energy trilemma” requiring institutional reform. We suggest that new and modi½ed institutions can best be understood if we evaluate them along three dimensions: institutional scale, structure, and scope. We consider real-world examples of recent institutions in light of each of these dimensions and note both successes and concerns that those factors illuminate. We conclude by noting that some institutional changes will be organic and unplanned; but many others, including responses to climate change, will bene½t from conscious attention to scale, structure, and scope by those engaged in designing and building the energy institutions needed in the twenty-½rst century