Editor's corner.

The U.S. Special Operations Command had seen its modernization funds drop considerably in recent years, but the budgetary outlook is much brighter now. During the next five years, the command will receive an extra $3.4 billion that had not been planned before September 11. The money will be used mostly for aircraft modernization and other programs. However, there are still concerns about shortfalls in the science and technology accounts assigned for the special operations forces. More details on this topic can be found on page 40.

Meanwhile, Pentagon officials are sorting out their priorities in the research and development arena, which also has seen an influx of new funding. The Defense Department research, development, test and evaluation budgets saw a 10 percent hike--$5.5 billion--in fiscal 2003. The reshaped priorities include winning the war on terrorism, improving joint war fighting capabilities and various initiatives aimed toward the "transformation" of the armed services. You can read more about this on page 18.

Our cover story this month takes us to the waters off the coast of North Carolina, where representatives from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Army tested an Australian catamaran, called the Joint Venture. The services are considering this ship as an alternative to current transport vessels. Originally designed as a car ferry, the catamaran can operate in only 12 feet of water, so it can get close to the shore. It could operate both in deep seas and coastal waters. The Navy is even evaluating the possibility of adapting a catamaran as a mine-countermeasures ship, to replace its aged command and control ship, the USS Inchon. Turn to page 30 for this story.

One of our features this month addresses the problems the U.S. Army is experiencing in trying to lower its logistics footprint. There are plans to field fuel-efficient trucks, to help curb fuel and transportation costs. The Army also needs to find ways to control the escalating expenses of maintaining a fleet of nearly 240,000 trucks. In an interview, Maj. Gen. N. Ross Thompson, the head of the Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, outlines the need for fewer but more capable trucks. The story begins on page 35.

For its part, the Marine Corps is expected to buy more than 1,000 heavy trucks to replace its aging fleet of battlefield re-supply vehicles. Industry officials await a formal solicitation, which is to be released this month. The program is called the Logistics Vehicle System Replacement. See page 38.

The Marines also are working on refining their urban combat training techniques-- learning new skills that can help in guarding embassies such as the one in Kabul, Afghanistan. Senior writer Elizabeth G. Book reports from a recent live exercise in North Little Rock, Ark. The commander of the 4th expeditionary brigade, dedicated to anti-terrorism, shares his thoughts on current and future threats. For details go to page 22.