UA research needed for defense, intelligence, senator says

Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark
Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark

FAYETTEVILLE -- Research being done at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville is vital for the state and region's economic health and for national security, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton said today,

Cotton, R-Ark., brought his entire staff from his state and Washington, D.C. offices to Fayetteville to learn more about that research.

Cotton cited the plan unveiled by the Northwest Arkansas Council, a group of the region's business and community leaders, in July that called for doubling research and development spending at the university to roughly $300 million a year. The federal government can contribute more research funding to diversify both the research base and the ideas being developed.

Cotton, an Army veteran, is a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Service and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He said he could not discuss in detail what he and university research administrators talked about this morning, but the work is important.

"We learned some hard lessons with the F-35," a fighter airplane that has run far over budget and hasn't met expectations, Cotton said. "One of those lessons is fix the requirements we want early and also to invest in modular technology." Modular technology, for instance, would allow changes and improvements to the weapon guidance system without interfering with the navigation system or other electronics.

Modular systems can use technology developed anywhere instead of relying on one integrated supplier for the whole weapons or intelligence-gathering system, Cotton said. That creates greater opportunities nationwide for universities and other researchers to innovate, contribute and compete for contracts, he said. Research into more capable materials using nanotechnology, along with artificial intelligence and other information technologies, is critical, he said.

Cotton joined his staff for the start of the tour at the Engineering Research Center, located on 700 Research Center Blvd. in south Fayetteville.

NW News on 10/27/2018

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