Army Testing Combat Gizmos

White Sands Missile Range, N.M. -- The Army is conducting pass-or-fail tests here of battlefield communications systems, including wideband versions of the Joint Tactical Radio System, and robots and sensors, said Paul Mehney, a spokesman for the service's integration operation.

The tests run through the end of September but have already attracted a bunch of high level visitors, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey. If successful, the equipment could provide some truly advanced and proven battlefield gadgets and gizmos.

On Friday, the Army hosted uniformed and civilian VIPs, reporters and analysts from the Government Accountability Office. I'll report back on Sept. 20 on what I saw and learned.

And, in case I forgot the Army still likes to do things real early in the morning, the press tour kicked off at 0600.