SECRECY NEWS
from the FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Volume 2016, Issue No. 71
August 24, 2016

Secrecy News Blog: http://fas.org/blogs/secrecy/

ACTIVE PROTECTION FOR COMBAT VEHICLES, & MORE FROM CRS

Efforts to develop Active Protection Systems (APS) to defend military combat vehicles against rocket-propelled grenades or anti-tank missiles are reviewed in a new report from the Congressional Research Service.

An Active Protection System is supposed to detect an incoming threat, such as a grenade or a missile, and employ countermeasures to destroy or deflect it, all within a very brief period of time.

"A number of nations have operationally deployed APS on combat vehicles -- Russia and Israel most notably -- and some experts characterize U.S. efforts as somewhat lagging," the CRS report said. "U.S. military officials contend there are still a number of developmental and safety challenges that must be overcome before current APS systems are suitable for battlefield deployment."

See Army and Marine Corps Active Protection System (APS) Efforts, August 23, 2016:

Other new and updated Congressional Research Service reports that have not been publicly released include the following.

Stealing Trade Secrets and Economic Espionage: An Overview of the Economic Espionage Act, updated August 19, 2016:

The Zika Outbreak Is Declared a Public Health Emergency in Puerto Rico, CRS Insight, August 17, 2016:

Organization of American States: Background and Issues for Congress, updated August 22, 2016:

U.S. Trade with Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Partners, updated August 18, 2016:

Fact Sheet: Selected Highlights of the FY2017 Military Construction Appropriations Bills, August 18, 2016:

Navy John Lewis (TAO-205) Class Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated August 18, 2016:

Navy Columbia Class (Ohio Replacement) Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated August 18, 2016:

Taxation of U.S. Olympic Medal Winners, CRS Insight, August 18, 2016:

How Treasury Issues Debt, updated August 18, 2016:

Overview of CEQ Guidance on Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change, CRS Insight, August 18, 2016:

Iran: Politics, Gulf Security, and U.S. Policy, updated August 19, 2016:

Presidential Appointee Positions Requiring Senate Confirmation and Committees Handling Nominations, updated August 23, 2016:

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Secrecy News is written by Steven Aftergood and published by the Federation of American Scientists.

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