Editors' corner.

A major polluter of the environment during the Cold War, the Defense Department now spends billions of dollars cleaning up hazardous waste throughout the United States. The military services, additionally, are investing large sums in programs aimed at pollution prevention.

Among the agencies in charge of these efforts ate the Army Environmental Center, in Aberdeen, Md., and the Navy's Pollution Prevention Division in Carderock, Md. Both organizations are the subject of exclusive reports that begin on page 18. We expect to cover environmental stewardship work by the U.S. Air Force in a future edition of National Defense.

An old debate within the U.S. Army--whether commercial trucks are robust enough to do what Humvees (high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles) do--is being rekindled as a result of the Combatt (commercially based tactical truck) program sponsored by the Army National Automotive Center. The Ford Co., Daimler Chrysler and General Motors appear to be interested in gaining entry to the military truck market. But can they perform like the rugged and battle-tested Humvees? There are many points of view on this issue, some of which are the focus of our cover story.

Ground-combat systems, meanwhile, are expected to change drastically in the future, as the Army marches on with its "transformation" plan. The combat platforms of 2020 will be small, lightweight, networked and sensor-heavy. But vehicles alone won't do the job. The Army is looking for advanced munitions that can hit targets many miles away with pinpoint precision, like some of the new Navy and Air Force missiles. But, unlike today's heavy tank projectiles, future munitions are expected to be compact and lighter. The technological and organizational challenges surrounding the Army's emerging needs for sophisticated bullets and missiles are probed in a detailed report, beginning on page 32.

This month, we also delve into some new developments in naval warfare. The U.S. Navy recently commissioned its newest destroyer, the USS Winston S. Churchill, called DDG-81. Managing Editor Harold Kennedy spent a few days onboard the ship and saw first-hand some of the cutting-edge technologies that the Churchill is introducing to the surface fleet. One of the highlights of the new ship is the deployment of a bigger five-inch gun, which will be firing smart projectiles against land targets. His complete account starts on page 28.

Staff News: This month, we are pleased to announce that Roxana Tiron has joined the editorial staff of National Defense. She will be reporting on defense policy, technology and industrial developments.

Sandra I. Erwin