Daily News
by Gail Helmer
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Ship Date And Demos For Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
Novalogic announced today that DF: BHD would slip its ship date to March 28th, 2003.
The company also announced that a single and multiplayer demo for the game would be available at the beginning of February. No further details yet but we'll keep you posted.
Set in Somalia in 1993, Delta Force: Black Hawk Down is based upon and around the Operation Restore Hope and Task Force Ranger campaigns and follows members of the elite Delta Force, U.S. Army Rangers, 10th Mountain Division and the Night Stalkers as they participate in a number of daring raids against the oppressive Somali warlords in and around Mogadishu.
Game Site: Novalogic
PC Hardware News
Intel Cuts Prices of Mobile Processors
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp. INTC.O , the world's largest computer chip maker, on Monday cut prices on many of its processors used in laptops by between 10 percent and 38 percent.
The price cuts, announced on Intel's Web site on Sunday, came ahead of the company's introduction of a new higher performance mobile processor. The Centrino package of chips, chip sets and wireless networking software for laptops is expected to be released sometime before July, it has said.
With its Pentium 4 Processor M, Intel dropped the price of its 2.20 gigahertz version by 38 percent to $348; its 2.0 GHz by 31 percent to $241; 1.90 GHz by 18 percent to $198; and 1.80 GHz by 14 percent to $171.
More...
Commercial Simulation News
Quantum3D Image Generators Support Weapons System Training on F-16 Mission Training Center Program
Quantum3D, Inc. a leading provider of open architecture realtime visual computing solutions and products, announced today that Lockheed Martin has chosen Quantum3D's AAlchemy open architecture image generators (IGs) for Maverick missile weapons system training for Lockheed Martin's F-16 Mission Training Centers (MTCs). Lockheed Martin has deployed the AAlchemy-based weapons systems trainers at Shaw AFB, S.C., and Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
Quantum3D AAlchemy systems were selected for the Maverick missile application for their ability to meet the program's requirements, which include high-resolution, sustained 60Hz frame rates, geo-specific imagery, and high-fidelity sensor simulation capabilities. The trainers with AAlchemy systems support realistic target identification and tracking simulation out to 26 nautical miles. Another important aspect of Quantum3D's solution is the integration of Lockheed Martin's own Readi-Sim(TM) SE-view software suite enabling the IGs to provide important mission functions, comprehensive load management, and host integration.
"Lockheed Martin selects technologies and products that will provide best value for our MTCs," said Charles McCoy, F-16 MTC program director for Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems, Akron, Ohio. "Quantum3D was able to meet the performance requirements to support realistic target masking by terrain and 3D features out to this real-world visibility range, which is essential for training pilots as they fight."
The F-16 MTC program represents another in a growing list of aviation and ground vehicle programs in which Quantum3D IG products have been deployed over the past four years. These include the Lockheed Martin SOF C-130 aviation training and simulation system, UK CATT, AGTS and other military ground vehicle and gunnery systems.
"The F-16 MTC Maverick project further illustrates how well our collaborative efforts with Lockheed Martin work," said Ross Q. Smith, Quantum3D co-founder and executive vice president of marketing and business development. "Lockheed Martin's expertise in training systems integration and Quantum3D's realtime visual computing solutions have proven themselves time and again on many major programs within the US military, and our allies. We're pleased to be a part of this important program."
Quantum3D develops and markets realtime 2D/3D visual computing subsystems, integrated systems, software and solutions for the visual simulation and training and embedded visual computing markets.
Military News
Friendly Fire Hearing to Begin
An Article 32 hearing beginning Jan. 13 will investigate the charges against two F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots involved in a "friendly fire" incident in Afghanistan last year.
Majs. Harry Schmidt and William Umbach of the Illinois Air National Guard's 170th Fighter Squadron face charges stemming from an April 17 incident in which four Canadian soldiers were killed and another eight injured at Tarnak Farms, near Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Schmidt reportedly dropped a 500-pound bomb on the Canadians, who were conducting night training.
The hearing, directed by Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson, 8th Air Force commander, will be held at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
Schmidt is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, eight counts of assault, and dereliction of duty by failing to exercise appropriate flight discipline and failing to comply with the rules of engagement in Afghanistan. The charges were filed under Articles 119, 128 and 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Umbach faces the same charges in addition to an allegation that he, as flight commander at the time, failed to ensure that Schmidt complied with the rules of engagement.
According to Col. Craig A. Smith, chief of the military justice division for the Air Force Legal Services Agency at Bolling AFB, D.C., the military justice system affords the two officers significant rights, many not available in the civilian criminal justice system.
"Every effort has been made throughout this entire matter to ensure that impartial officers and commanders evaluated the evidence against Majors Schmidt and Umbach," Smith said. "They have been, and continue to be, represented by experienced Air Force and civilian defense counsel, who will ensure that the rights guaranteed to them by the U.S. Constitution, the UCMJ and the Manual for Courts-Martial are protected."
On April 18, Gen. Tommy R. Franks, commander of U.S. Central Command, directed an investigation board to convene to determine the facts and circumstances of the incident. The board found the cause of the incident to be failure of the two pilots to exercise appropriate flight discipline, which resulted in violation of rules and an inappropriate use of lethal force.
The board also found that failures within the pilots' immediate command structures were contributing factors, but that they did not cause the incident.
On Sept. 11, Brig. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant, the U.S. co-president of the Coalition Investigation Board that investigated the incident, preferred charges against Schmidt and Umbach. The preferral of charges initiates the formal court-martial process, which includes the upcoming Article 32 hearing.
According to military law, the convening authority may dismiss the charges or continue the process by referring the charges to court-martial.
"The Article 32 investigating officer will submit a written report, with recommendations," Smith said. "General Carlson will then determine how the charges will be handled. He may dismiss some or all of them, forward the charges to a subordinate or senior commander for disposition, or refer charges to a court-martial."
Although the Article 32 hearing is similar to a civilian grand jury proceeding, there are some important differences, Smith said.
Article 32 hearings "differ in certain important rights afforded to an accused that are not present in a civilian grand jury proceeding," he said. "For example, a servicemember has the right to be present at the hearing, to be represented by appointed military defense counsel at the investigation, to request an individual military defense counsel by name and hire a civilian attorney at no expense to the government. The servicemember, through his attorney, has the right to cross-examine witnesses against him, and he may testify and call witnesses of his own."
The important thing to remember about an Article 32 investigation, Smith said, is that it is not a trial.
"The primary purpose of the Article 32 investigation is to investigate the charges," he said.
[ Send Us News | Archives ]
by Gail Helmer
Monday, January 13, 2003
- Ship Date And Demos For Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
- F-16 Mission Training Center Program
- Intel Cuts Prices of Mobile Processors
- Friendly Fire Hearing to Begin
Ship Date And Demos For Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
Novalogic announced today that DF: BHD would slip its ship date to March 28th, 2003.
The company also announced that a single and multiplayer demo for the game would be available at the beginning of February. No further details yet but we'll keep you posted.
Set in Somalia in 1993, Delta Force: Black Hawk Down is based upon and around the Operation Restore Hope and Task Force Ranger campaigns and follows members of the elite Delta Force, U.S. Army Rangers, 10th Mountain Division and the Night Stalkers as they participate in a number of daring raids against the oppressive Somali warlords in and around Mogadishu.
Game Site: Novalogic
PC Hardware News
Intel Cuts Prices of Mobile Processors
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Intel Corp. INTC.O , the world's largest computer chip maker, on Monday cut prices on many of its processors used in laptops by between 10 percent and 38 percent.
The price cuts, announced on Intel's Web site on Sunday, came ahead of the company's introduction of a new higher performance mobile processor. The Centrino package of chips, chip sets and wireless networking software for laptops is expected to be released sometime before July, it has said.
With its Pentium 4 Processor M, Intel dropped the price of its 2.20 gigahertz version by 38 percent to $348; its 2.0 GHz by 31 percent to $241; 1.90 GHz by 18 percent to $198; and 1.80 GHz by 14 percent to $171.
More...
Commercial Simulation News
Quantum3D Image Generators Support Weapons System Training on F-16 Mission Training Center Program
Quantum3D, Inc. a leading provider of open architecture realtime visual computing solutions and products, announced today that Lockheed Martin has chosen Quantum3D's AAlchemy open architecture image generators (IGs) for Maverick missile weapons system training for Lockheed Martin's F-16 Mission Training Centers (MTCs). Lockheed Martin has deployed the AAlchemy-based weapons systems trainers at Shaw AFB, S.C., and Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
Quantum3D AAlchemy systems were selected for the Maverick missile application for their ability to meet the program's requirements, which include high-resolution, sustained 60Hz frame rates, geo-specific imagery, and high-fidelity sensor simulation capabilities. The trainers with AAlchemy systems support realistic target identification and tracking simulation out to 26 nautical miles. Another important aspect of Quantum3D's solution is the integration of Lockheed Martin's own Readi-Sim(TM) SE-view software suite enabling the IGs to provide important mission functions, comprehensive load management, and host integration.
"Lockheed Martin selects technologies and products that will provide best value for our MTCs," said Charles McCoy, F-16 MTC program director for Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems, Akron, Ohio. "Quantum3D was able to meet the performance requirements to support realistic target masking by terrain and 3D features out to this real-world visibility range, which is essential for training pilots as they fight."
The F-16 MTC program represents another in a growing list of aviation and ground vehicle programs in which Quantum3D IG products have been deployed over the past four years. These include the Lockheed Martin SOF C-130 aviation training and simulation system, UK CATT, AGTS and other military ground vehicle and gunnery systems.
"The F-16 MTC Maverick project further illustrates how well our collaborative efforts with Lockheed Martin work," said Ross Q. Smith, Quantum3D co-founder and executive vice president of marketing and business development. "Lockheed Martin's expertise in training systems integration and Quantum3D's realtime visual computing solutions have proven themselves time and again on many major programs within the US military, and our allies. We're pleased to be a part of this important program."
Quantum3D develops and markets realtime 2D/3D visual computing subsystems, integrated systems, software and solutions for the visual simulation and training and embedded visual computing markets.
Military News
Friendly Fire Hearing to Begin
An Article 32 hearing beginning Jan. 13 will investigate the charges against two F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots involved in a "friendly fire" incident in Afghanistan last year.
Majs. Harry Schmidt and William Umbach of the Illinois Air National Guard's 170th Fighter Squadron face charges stemming from an April 17 incident in which four Canadian soldiers were killed and another eight injured at Tarnak Farms, near Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Schmidt reportedly dropped a 500-pound bomb on the Canadians, who were conducting night training.
The hearing, directed by Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson, 8th Air Force commander, will be held at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
Schmidt is charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, eight counts of assault, and dereliction of duty by failing to exercise appropriate flight discipline and failing to comply with the rules of engagement in Afghanistan. The charges were filed under Articles 119, 128 and 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Umbach faces the same charges in addition to an allegation that he, as flight commander at the time, failed to ensure that Schmidt complied with the rules of engagement.
According to Col. Craig A. Smith, chief of the military justice division for the Air Force Legal Services Agency at Bolling AFB, D.C., the military justice system affords the two officers significant rights, many not available in the civilian criminal justice system.
"Every effort has been made throughout this entire matter to ensure that impartial officers and commanders evaluated the evidence against Majors Schmidt and Umbach," Smith said. "They have been, and continue to be, represented by experienced Air Force and civilian defense counsel, who will ensure that the rights guaranteed to them by the U.S. Constitution, the UCMJ and the Manual for Courts-Martial are protected."
On April 18, Gen. Tommy R. Franks, commander of U.S. Central Command, directed an investigation board to convene to determine the facts and circumstances of the incident. The board found the cause of the incident to be failure of the two pilots to exercise appropriate flight discipline, which resulted in violation of rules and an inappropriate use of lethal force.
The board also found that failures within the pilots' immediate command structures were contributing factors, but that they did not cause the incident.
On Sept. 11, Brig. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant, the U.S. co-president of the Coalition Investigation Board that investigated the incident, preferred charges against Schmidt and Umbach. The preferral of charges initiates the formal court-martial process, which includes the upcoming Article 32 hearing.
According to military law, the convening authority may dismiss the charges or continue the process by referring the charges to court-martial.
"The Article 32 investigating officer will submit a written report, with recommendations," Smith said. "General Carlson will then determine how the charges will be handled. He may dismiss some or all of them, forward the charges to a subordinate or senior commander for disposition, or refer charges to a court-martial."
Although the Article 32 hearing is similar to a civilian grand jury proceeding, there are some important differences, Smith said.
Article 32 hearings "differ in certain important rights afforded to an accused that are not present in a civilian grand jury proceeding," he said. "For example, a servicemember has the right to be present at the hearing, to be represented by appointed military defense counsel at the investigation, to request an individual military defense counsel by name and hire a civilian attorney at no expense to the government. The servicemember, through his attorney, has the right to cross-examine witnesses against him, and he may testify and call witnesses of his own."
The important thing to remember about an Article 32 investigation, Smith said, is that it is not a trial.
"The primary purpose of the Article 32 investigation is to investigate the charges," he said.