Editor's corner.

The U.S. Army plans to spend $500 million during the next several years to modernize its soldiers' equipment. Called the Objective Force Warrior, the idea is to develop a completely integrated soldier gear and uniform system--to be rolled out by 2006, as a follow-on to the Land Warrior. The concept sounds promising, because it focuses on lightening the more than 100-pound load that soldiers take to battle today. Rather than pick individual companies to design and produce separate component, the Army will hire a "lead technology integrator" to manage the program and subcontract the different pieces. A large number of firms plan to seek work in this project. More details on our cover story can be found on page 32.

Several stories in this edition of National Defense focus on high-tech battlefield equipment. The Joint Tactical Terminal--a software programmable intelligence radio--has not fully completed development, but nevertheless was fielded to forces in Afghanistan, because they needed a capability to receive threat-data broadcasts. The JTT, designed to replace 26 existing terminals from all the services, helps commanders find and track enemy forces in the area. The complete story is on page 22.

Another piece of new technology covered in this issue is the Marine Corps' Improved Airborne Command and Control Capability, or IAC3. It is a smaller, lighter version of the Army's Airborne Command and Control System. Engineers from the Naval Research Lab, who designed the system, and Marine aviators discuss the benefits and challenges in this program, expected to begin operational testing within the next couple of years. See page 14.

This month, we also provide an update on the Army's Fox chemical reconnaissance vehicle--which first saw action during the Gulf War. To supplement the fleet of heavy Fox vehicles, the Army is outfitting lighter platforms-in the form of Humvee trucks or light armored vehicles--to perform the same mission. That story is on page 12.

A special report on page 36, meanwhile, focuses on small arms. Both the Army and the Marine Corps are planning a series of improvements to their existing weapons. The story covers recent efforts to reduce the weight and increase the effectiveness of existing systems. M-16 rifles and M-4 carbines, which are being equipped with useful add-ons, such as removable carry handles, laser target designators and infrared illuminators.

The program to demilitarize the U.S. stockpile of obsolete conventional ammunition is the subject of a report on page 28. James Q. Wheeler, director of the U.S. Army's Defense Ammunition Center, explains that the United States a serious problem, because the stockpile of unwanted bombs, rockets and missiles keeps growing, while the funding available to demilitarize it keeps shrinking. From a peak of $106 million in 1995, the demilitarization account is down to $50 million in the 2003 budget.