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Daily News
By Gail Helmer

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Monday November 26, 2001

PC News
WWII Online V1.40 Released
Cornered Rat Software has officially announced the release of version 1.40 for their massively multiplayer online game World War II Online . The new patch will download automatically when you log on to the game or you can download it here. The patch is 10.5MB.

1.40 features a number of bug fixes, including new terrain and terrain buildings. New sounds have been added and sound bugs have been fixed. New sounds include main gun reloads for tanks and FPS mode. All new map icons have been added and icons in general have been revamped to appear much sharper at all distances. "Death Cam" has been enhanced, yellow flags are gone, "forced exit" on death has been added and there is even an in-game clock.

New ACMVIZ Version 3.0
Digital Insight has released an updated version of their free visualization program. ACMVIZ 3.0 is a Windows application that plays back air combat maneuvers in animated 3D. The new version includes the ability to view VHS files recorded in Falcon 4.0. It also includes an ACMI data window showing information such as aspect ratio, turn radius and closure rate. Click here

Military News
Sixth Development Test Clears Way For JASSM LRIP
Lockheed Martin's The US Air Force has completed the sixth Development Test of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), demonstrating end-to-end performance by destroying a target in a flight test at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico earlier this week.

The missile was launched from a US Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon. As planned, the missile used its seeker to provide precision guidance and destroy a relocatable target. The development test was designed to further demonstrate robust JASSM system performance.



"This development test flight success adds to our demonstrated production readiness," said Mike Inderhees, Lockheed Martin JASSM programme director. "The JASSM production readiness is now supported by a number of guided flight successes, successful system level qualification, a vehicle that is production representative and a proven production facility and process. These successes and accomplishments provide a key component in support of the Air Force's DAB process and clears the way for an LRIP decision."

One of the US Department of Defense's highest priority programmes, JASSM, a 2,250-pound cruise missile, is designed to give Air Force and Navy pilots long-range standoff capability against a wide array of high value, heavily defended targets. Its anti-jam GPS satellite navigation system, state-of-the-art infrared seeker, 1,000-pound penetrator warhead and stealth airframe makes it extremely difficult to defend against.

The warhead is capable of destroying soft and distributed surface targets or deeply buried, hardened structures. It can fly in adverse weather, day or night, from standoff ranges well beyond enemy air defences. The range is classified, but officials said it is beyond 200 nautical miles. Its stealth characteristics and on-board anti-jam countermeasure components make it extremely difficult to defend against.

The Air Force originally planned to buy 2,400 JASSMs, but there are ongoing efforts to greatly increase that number. Current plans call for the missile to be carried on the F-16, B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress.

Hungary Chooses Gripen
Sweden and Hungary have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under which Hungary will lease 14 JAS 39 Gripen aircraft currently operational within the Swedish Air Force over a period of 10 years.

At the same time, Gripen International, owned jointly by Saab and BAE SYSTEMS, has negotiated an offset agreement connected to the Gripen contract. The offset agreement will be signed as early as December this year, and will afford Hungary industrial co-operation and economic development.



"This is a breakthrough in Europe and an important step for us on the international market," says Ake Svensson, President of Saab Aerospace, which will be modifying the aircraft to Hungarian specifications.

Hungary is the third country to choose the Gripen, after Sweden and South Africa. Pilots and engineers will initially be trained in Sweden. Adjustments and modification to, among others, NATO standard will be carried out at Saab Aerospace. The first Gripen aircraft will be delivered to Hungary in autumn 2004, and will be fully operational the following summer.

Rumsfeld Says Afghan Change of Power 'Not Chaotic'
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said recent events in Afghanistan might mean the most orderly change of power in that country in decades.

"It's not chaotic," Rumsfeld said aboard the plane en route to Fort Bragg, N.C. "In fact, it's really amazingly orderly."

He said historically changes of regime in Afghanistan have been messy affairs. "I suspect there's not been a change of power in that country in decades that has been as orderly and with (such) very limited loss of life," the secretary told reporters traveling with him.

He said there have been some serious battles between the Taliban and opposition groups. But much of the opposition progress has been through Taliban forces changing sides and Al Qaeda troops fleeing.

It helps that the Afghan people never wanted them there to begin with, the secretary explained. "The Al Qaeda are not very popular," he said. "Afghans have never wanted foreign troops on the ground."

Rumsfeld didn't rule out "differences among the various tribes and elements among the Northern Alliance" as the groups try to hammer out a functioning government. He said these differences would likely revolve around "who ought to be where and who ought to do what and who ought to be in charge of what among themselves."

Representatives of the Northern Alliance and several other Afghan factions and tribes are set to meet under United Nations auspices in Berlin next week to try to set up an interim administration for the country.

A critical aspect of the opposition forces' success has been the Afghan people's faith that the American forces don't intend to occupy the country, Rumsfeld said. "We have no interest in that piece of real estate at all," he said. "We want the Afghan people to have that country."

That confidence in American intentions paired with humanitarian relief the U.S. forces have been providing makes opposition forces a desirable alternative to the brutally repressive Taliban, Rumsfeld said.

He hopes that same good will eventually leads to someone turning in Osama Bin Laden or other members of the Al Qaeda or Taliban leadership.

"It seems to me that combination is what's creating the advances that have occurred thus far," he said.


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