Perceptions of Threat More Important to Winning Global War on Terrorism than Politics or Economy

business wire ^ | 3/4/04

[knak]

Battelle Survey at AUSA Conference Also Identifies Knowledge/Intelligence Developments as Key to Preventing Attacks on U.S. Soil

When it comes to winning the global war on terrorism, technology is critical, but don't underestimate tenacity, according to defense technology industry and military leaders assembled at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Winter Symposium and Exposition. A survey released today by Battelle, a global leader in science and technology, found that a majority of AUSA attendees (54%) believe Americans' perceptions of the terrorism threat at home and abroad will have a greater impact on the nation's ability to successfully battle terrorism than the 2004 Presidential election (20%), the health of the U.S. economy (11%), Congressional resolve (11%) or other factors.

"Because this conference draws some of the top minds in defense technology, we saw a great opportunity to take the pulse of this community and identify needs and trends for the global war on terrorism," said Steve Kelly, senior vice president and general manager of Battelle's National Security Division. "What we found was strong consensus among military personnel and defense contractors alike, about technology and other factors critical to defending America."

When asked to name the one technology that has the greatest potential to prevent terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, respondents most frequently selected knowledge visualization systems to identify emerging threats (41%) and chemical, biological and radiological, nuclear and explosive detection at major U.S. ports of entry (37%). Another preemptive technology, biometric identifiers for passports (18%), indicated an overall preference for early action in preventing terrorist attacks in the U.S.

Survey participants also had a chance to volunteer the types of technology developments they believe will be most critical to winning the global war on terrorism. In response to this, 40% of the survey participants mentioned knowledge- or information-based solutions, with 24% specifically using the word "intelligence."

"It's not surprising that information and intelligence are top of mind with so many in the defense community," said Kelly. "There's a great awareness of the need to not only collect, but also to assemble and analyze massive amounts of data. This is driving the demand for cutting-edge tools, such as knowledge visualization systems."

When asked what technologies would most benefit today's warfighter in Iraq or Afghanistan, half of the respondents (50%) selected improved stand-off bomb detection followed by advancements in body and vehicle armor (35% combined). These results indicated a preference for prevention and protection technologies over other battlefield tools, such as lighter fuel cells and improved night-vision sights.

Survey Background

Battelle conducted face-to-face interviews with 256 attendees at AUSA's Winter Conference and Exposition, "Balancing the Army for the Joint Force Commander," on March 2 and 3, 2004. Survey participants were represented by military contractors (37%), current military personnel (active, 19%; Reserve, 3%; and National Guard, 2%), and retired military personnel (16%). The remainder primarily consisted of civilian military employees and consultants. The survey has a sampling error of plus or minus four to six percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

About Battelle

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle has been a pioneer in technology research and development in nearly every field of science since its founding in 1929. Today, we oversee 16,000 staff members in 100 locations worldwide, responsible for $2.7 billion in annual research and development activity. Battelle innovations include the development of the office copier machine (Xerox), pioneering work on the compact disc, and medical technology advancements.

With more than 50 years' experience in military chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense programs, Battelle is a leader in using science and technology to detect hazards and protect people and facilities against weapons of mass destruction. Battelle's expertise covers all aspects of anti-terrorism defenses--from threat and vulnerability assessments, to testing of security systems, equipment, vaccines, and medical and community response; and training and evaluations.

For additional survey findings, details and comment from Battelle spokespeople, contact Myllisa Kennedy (202/486-3642) or George Thompson (703/969-6219

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