Przykładowe Materiały Egzaminacyjne JĘzyk angielski poziom 3 Czytanie
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Text 20Army Logisticians Get SatCom Boost When the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division heads back to Iraq later this year, their logisticians will bring new satellite communications terminals called Very Small Aperture Terminal (CSS VSAT) that will help them provide improved combat support. Army logistics were determined to fix problems during the March 2003 drive to Baghdad, where support troops equipped with antiquated terrestrial communications systems often had to wait days to use ad hoc line-of-sight communications towers, causing severe delivery delays. And the first priority of the towers was to go to the tactical formations, so it was taking three or four days before the support units had the priority. The introduction of VSAT should considerably reduce threats for the supply personnel who had to literally rely on the ‘sneaker net’ and physically carry information around the theatre. The crucial supply data could have been not only lost but also seized by the enemy intelligence to further hamper already slow supplies. Developed recently by the Army's G-4 acquisition shop in the Pentagon and its transmission systems program office at Fort Monmouth, the CSS VSAT dish is smaller - only 4 feet in diameter - and easier to use. Contrary to the existing system, once the VSAT device is set, it does not need further adjusting. It automatically links with either the Defense Satellite Communications System or commercial satellites and stays connected, which allows defence managers to monitor supply-chain instantly. The MoD plans to provide CSS VSAT systems to all Army divisions when they transform in the next several years into smaller, more modular brigade. CSS VSAT will replace those "not quite as sophisticated" devices now in the field.
Text 21Russia Outlines Giant ConsortiumA draft plan to create a Russian aircraft-building consortium to rival companies such as Boeing or EADS is on the desk of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. The Unified Aircraft-building Corp., or OAK, would be created in two years once its outline is approved by the Cabinet. The consortium would bring under one umbrella Aviation Holding Company Sukhoi, Russian Aircraft-building Corporation (RSK) MiG, Tupolev and Ilyushin Aviation Holding Co. One major problem that planners face, however, is how to bring these fiercely competitive, often rival companies together to make the most of the domestic and export markets. A source at one of the companies which is planned to be part of OAK said it is not yet entirely clear how the integration will take place or whether it is even necessary. “You can bring us all together, but this talk is pointless unless the government can provide for a substantial state arms purchase program,” he said. Russian companies have survived in the past decade mainly on income from arms exports. Russia’s defense industry in 2003 reached a record $5 billion in revenues. In the sphere of commercial aviation too, Russia has too many aircraft competing for a tiny domestic market. “Today, I have counted we have 14 projects of mid-range aircraft, and there will be more until a certain barrier is put before it,” said Alyoshin, deputy prime minister. “Mentally people are still in the past century and think that they can create a modern liner single-handedly.” The government, which before has kept tight control of Russia’s aircraft industry, is prepared to take just a blocking stake of 25 percent in OAK, leaving the venture open to foreign investors. The government this year will review current legislation that caps foreign participation in local industry at less than 25 percent, but it is not yet clear what the new limit will be.
Text 22Mortar Fire Challenge U.S. Army deployed its 20-year old upgraded TPQ-37 Firefinder Weapon Locating System to Iraq. The service developed new software to bring the system up to date. But the upgraded system failed to do what it was intended to do: detect mortar rounds. For members of the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, the TPQ-37 was more of a problem than an asset. The unit came under mortar fire 40 times in Iraq, but the system only detected rounds three times. The squadron suffered between 10 and 15 injuries from mortars. “We tried everything humanly possible to work out the system,” said Lt. Col. Reilly, squadron leader. The unit even fired its own mortars at the system. Several factors have complicated the use of TPQ-37s in theatre. For one, soldiers were trained only briefly on the new software before going to Iraq. “We did training with soldiers on the ground on the new software, but they didn’t get the full course of instruction, the months and years of peacetime training,” Col. Michael Bowman, Army program manager, said. Meanwhile, the Army is planning to send teams of Firefinder experts to the field to work on training, while Raytheon, the producer, are working to upgrade the TPQ-37’s performance. The use of the system in Iraq has prompted the Army to re-evaluate its future mortar detection systems. The TPQ-47, developed by Raytheon, originally expected in the field several years ago, is still in development and could get cancelled in favor of a short-range system that offers 360-degree coverage. The TPQ-47 model can detect artillery as far as 400 kilometers, but offers only 90-degree coverage. Raytheon is “disappointed” that the fate of the TPQ-47 is unclear because recent tests have been “very encouraging.”
Text 23 Directory: plik -> file -> Do pobrania - Mat. Egzaminacyjne -> Angielski Angielski -> Two texts. For questions 1 to 6 plik -> March 4th-8th 2000; ustroń, poland Download 1.02 Mb. Share with your friends:
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