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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The GAO has a constant stream of reports, which got
disrupted by the government shut down. Here are some recent releases whose
titles sound like they may have something to do with drones.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Defense Acquisitions: Navy Strategy
for </span></font><b><font size=4 color="#993300" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#993300;font-weight:bold'>Unmanned
</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Carrier-Based Aircraft System Defers Key Oversight
Mechanisms, GAO-13-833, September 26<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a
href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-833">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-833</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I know that the US Navy has been
testing various kinds of autonomous drones, which can land and take off from
Aircraft Carriers, without a human in the loop. I do not know how they avoid
colliding with all the manned aircraft doing the same thing.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>GAO found that in fiscal year 2014,
the Navy plans to commit to investing an estimated </span></font><b><font
color="#993300" face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:#993300;
font-weight:bold'>$3.7 billion</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> to develop, build, and field from </span></font><b><font
color="#993300" face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:#993300;
font-weight:bold'>6 to 24 aircraft</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> as an initial increment of Unmanned
Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) capability.</span></font>
<font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> This
is more than I knew before, and that is a staggering sum of money, but it is
not clear from GAO summary, if they talking about autonomous or not. Further,
the GAO is not happy with the state of oversight or accountability, has some
advice for Congress and the Secretary of Defense. From the summary: </span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>This report <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>(1) assesses the UCLASS acquisition
strategy, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>(2) identifies key areas of risk
facing the system, and <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=3 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>(3) notes areas where the Navy's
strategy contains good practices. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>To do this work, GAO reviewed the
Navy's acquisition strategy and compared it to DOD's acquisition policy, among
other criteria; and reviewed Navy acquisition documents and spoke with Navy and
Office of the Secretary of Defense officials.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I downloaded a copy of the full
report, to review later.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Here is its link: <a
href="http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/658236.pdf">http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/658236.pdf</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I named my copy: GAO Drones Military
USN UCLASS 2013 Sept.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>It is 1.2 Meg size, with 26 pages.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Defense Headquarters: DOD Needs to
Reassess Options for Permanent Location of <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
<st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place> Command, GAO-13-646, September 9<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a
href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-646">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-646</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I know that there are a lot of drone
operations, many places, including <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I glanced at the summary. It does
not sound like this report involves drones.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Basically, AFRICOM HQ is in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region> because DoD asserts that’s cheaper
than in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region>, but GAO is
not convinced that exporting over 4,000 jobs is in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s best interests.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Global Positioning System: A
Comprehensive Assessment of Potential Options and Related Costs is Needed,
GAO-13-729, September 9<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a
href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-729">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-729</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I know that many drones navigate by
GPS which can be hacked.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>If I am reading the summary
correctly, ½ of current USAF budget is eaten by outer space growth in GPS satellites
from 24 to 30. GAO says USAF cost analysis is a good start, but more is
needed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>National Airspace System: Improved
Budgeting Could Help FAA Better Determine Future Operations and Maintenance
Priorities, GAO-13-693, August 22<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><a
href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-693">http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-693</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I know that FAA has deadlines to
approve dramatic increase of drones in NAS. I suspect the sequester and other
federal budget issues may have impacted that work.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>This is about ATC Nex Gen, which is
a plan to replace ground based Air Traffic Control with some GPS variant. I
can see many things which could go wrong, off-topic here, more suitable for
RISKS.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I have heard NOTHING about Nex Gen
impact on drone operations. I suspect the portions of the gov focused on
drones, and on Nex Gen, do not talk to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>GAO is concerned about ATC
overworked from current operations, before drones added to the picture, and main
reason ATC capacity problem is facilities falling apart from old age to such a
degree that it is unsafe to send humans in to fix them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>If you are interested, I can forward
off-list. I also have links to scores of other GAO reports recently released,
on topics of:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Homeland
Security<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Military<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Foreign
“Aid”<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Food
safety<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Federal
finances<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Economy<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Education<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>IRS<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Post
Office<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>A list
of private companies with GAO investigations … I don’t
recognize any as drone manufacturers, but I don’t have the complete
list in my head.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>And other
topics<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>In my prior downloading of GAO
reports, I have learned that <font color=black><span style='color:black'>GAO
reports are works of the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region>
government, not subject to copyright protection in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>. They may be reproduced
and distributed in their entirety without further permission from GAO.<a
style='mso-footnote-id:ftn1' href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>[1]</span></font></sup></span></sup></span></a> However, because
these works may contain copyrighted images or other material, permission from
the copyright holder may be necessary if you wish to reproduce any of the
content separately.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I previously downloaded:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>4 other
GAO reports on Drone Military topics + 1 more today.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>2 on
Drones worldwide (all nations)<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>5 on
Drones in NAS (domestic)<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Al Mac = Alister William Macintyre </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div style='mso-element:footnote-list'><br clear=all>
<hr align=left size=1 width="33%">
<div style='mso-element:footnote' id=ftn1>
<p class=MsoFootnoteText><a style='mso-footnote-id:ftn1' href="#_ftnref1"
name="_ftn1" title=""><span class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><span
class=MsoFootnoteReference><sup><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>[1]</span></font></sup></span></span></font></sup></span></a>
Thus it would be <b><font size=2 color="#993366" face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#993366;font-weight:bold'>Ok
for me to upload to Scribd</span></font></b> and other places. But before I
share with lots people, I want to study them myself.</p>
</div>
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