Defense Systems

Air Force regroups in wake of failed ERP project

The failure earlier this year of an IT system designed to streamline the Air Force' supply chain management and provide an integrated approach to purchasing is one of the key reasons the service is at "moderate risk" of failing to meet congressional deadlines to improve its financial records.

Defense Systems

Special Operations Forces take surveillance arsenal to war

New tools and equipment help safeguard elite and redeploying troops in Afghanistan.

Defense Systems

Wireless venture LightSquared files for bankruptcy

LightSquared filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection May 14 hours before the scheduled expiration of a deal to keep the wireless venture from defaulting on its debt.

Defense Systems

Web apps latest weapon against modern-day pirates

The Defense Department has begun funding a project that seeks to develop Web-based applications that would assist multinational navies police the world's oceans against international pirates, the Office of Naval Research.

Defense Systems

Will more nations be jumping on the WGS bandwagon?

The United States is open to more nations signing up to support its Wideband Global Satcom program, and if additional countries express an interest, the U.S. will consider building more than the 10 WGS satellites already scheduled.

Defense Systems

DOD expands voluntary cyber info-sharing program

The Defense and Homeland Security departments have expanded a key cybersecurity and information assurance pilot program begun in 2011 to allow all defense industrial base companies that might be eligible for the program to participate in it.

Defense Systems

US wants global special ops network for allied nations

The U.S. Special Operations Command sees a need to build a worldwide network that would link special operations forces of allied and partner nations to better coordinate operations that are carried out against global terrorism.

Defense Systems

Marines extend use of cargo UAV in Afghanistan

The Marines have extended for two more months their use of a pair of Lockheed Martin's K-MAX unmanned cargo helicopters in Afghanistan in what might be a positive sign that there is a clear need for such equipment on the battlefield.

Defense Systems

New bids wanted for massive satellite terminal program

The Air Force May 11 invited other companies to submit alternate bids for a multi-billion dollar program for next-generation satellite communications terminals as the service continues to negotiate with Boeing on cost reductions to the program.

Defense Systems

House shoots down DOD plea to alter commercial products definition

The House Armed Services Committee has turned down a request by the Defense Department to correct a commercial products definition that defense acquisition officials believe is being applied too broadly.

Defense Systems

Long-awaited NGEN RFP released, with goal of taking back control the network

The Navy's long-awaited NGEN solicitation has been released, marking an official step forward for the service.

Defense Systems

Navy awards major C2 contracts for engineering and technical support

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic in Charleston, S.C., has awarded approximately $145 million, including options, in contracts to eight companies for the procurement of integrated command and control engineering and technical support services for command centers.

Defense Systems

Is 2012 the year for DOD financial management reform?

The Defense Department has long been troubled by poor financial management, but some signs optimistically point to the agency being on the verge of turning itself around.

Defense Systems

DOD picks BlackBerry 7 devices for widespread use

Defense Department personnel can now use the BlackBerry 7 line of products across the department's enterprise network.

Defense Systems

What news I learned at the DISA show: A reporter's notebook

Defense Systems Editor-in-Chief Barry Rosenberg spent three days at the Defense Information Systems Agency customer forum in Tampa the week of May 7 and has more than a few juicy tidbits of information to share.

Defense Systems

New Air Force chief of staff announced; new CIO, too

The service has some big personnel moves going on, including Gen. Norton Schwartz passing the baton as the Air Force chief of staff.

Defense Systems

Catastrophic sequestration just around the corner?

If Congress and the president can't come to an agreement and soon, the Defense Department could be heading straight for sequestration.

Defense Systems

Army data-center consolidation efforts all about the applications

COL Chris Miller, director of the Army Data Center Consolidation Program at the CIO/G6, on the progress being made toward reducing the Army's large number of data centers.

Defense Systems

Joint Staff re-establishes J6 directorate with many new responsibilities

The Joint Staff has reestablished it's J6 directorate, approximately two years after it was axed by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates "due to the increased importance of and dependence upon information technology and the networks," according to a March 29 memorandum.

Defense Systems

We're failing at cybersecurity, literally

Cybersecurity came in dead last in the assessment of core capabilities in the National Preparedness Report.