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As they put the necessary pieces in place, Marines are mindful of tight resources and are seeking help from industry.

Looking past the alligators close to the boat, scientists prepare for the wars of tomorrow.

After a special operations deployment, handling state-of-the-art communications technology tops the list.

The upgraded RQ-7 could play a significant role in the Asia-Pacific region.

Declining defense funds and the rise of China may hinder strategic rebalancing efforts.

Iris Technology Corp., Irvine, Calif., is being awarded $7,811,874 for firm-fixed-price delivery order #0002 under previously awarded contract for the p

West 2013 Online Show Daily, Day 1

Quote of the Day:“’Flat’ is the new ‘up’ in this defense budget environment.”— Robert O. Work, undersecretary of the Navy

The military services are facing potentially crippling constraints if sequestration takes place in March. Defense officials foresee the likelihood of draconian budget cuts being imposed that will cripple the force just as it is being counted on to assume new strategic missions. In most cases, the services will have to choose to sacrifice some capabilities so that others will remain part of the force. In worse-case scenarios, the U.S. military may be unable to meet its obligations when a crisis emerges.

These and other points were hammered home by speakers and panels on the first day of West 2013, the annual conference and exposition hosted by AFCEA and the U.S. Naval Institute in San Diego. While the event has the theme of “Pivot to the Pacific: What Are the Global Implications,” the first day’s discussions largely focused on the dire consequences of the fiscal cliff as well as potential solutions to avoid completely gutting the military force. Audiences generally were aware of the looming budget crisis, but many were surprised by the bluntness of the assessments offered by high-ranking Defense Department civilian and military leaders.