Black boxes in the B-1B

Article Abstract:

The development of the B-1B bomber illustrates how grandiose estimates and time schedules can make the military's procurement process look highly inefficient. The idea of a bomber that could penetrate Soviet airspace was pushed through Congress in 1981 and the aircraft scheduled for use by 1986. The plane and its associated electronic systems were to be developed concurrently in order to meet the deadline. Now, in late 1988, the plane's electronic counter-measure (ECM) system, the AN-ALQ-161, is still not ready. Eaton Corp's AIL Division is still trying to complete the difficult technical specifications. This has been made more difficult by the intervening Soviet weaponry changes, which have forced Eaton to modify and upgrade the original specifications. The Air Force and Congress are wondering whether the $3.5-billion ECM system will ever be finished or work as specified. Eaton estimates that it will cost $450 million to $750 million to provide further changes. Congress will be reviewing these and other alternatives in 1989.

Contracts, United States. Air Force, Eaton Corp., Purchasing Systems, Aircraft, Increasing Costs

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Data communications

Article Abstract:

The number of facsimile machines doubled to 1.2 million in the US as the prices dropped and they became available for computers. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency set up a Computer Emergency Response Team to deal with such security problems as electronic trespassing. OSI has slowly become available and the universal networking standard has been given a boost by a mandate that all Federal purchasing be OSI-compatible by 1990, and by support from IBM Corp and other large manufacturers. Although the performance and cost-effectiveness of local area networks improved in 1988, tying together incompatible equipment can still be a problem.

Electronic computers, Computer viruses, Telecommunications transmission technologies, Virus, Local area networks, LAN, Business conditions, Facsimile, Data Communications, OSI Standard, Review of Past Year

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