Defense Systems

DOD under pressure to safeguard tech investments in climate of cuts

DOD officials are calling for the prioritization of science and technology funding to enable a more agile future force, but that may be easier said than done with billions in budget cuts coming down the pike.

Defense Systems

DARPA's cheetahbot: Fastest thing on two -- robot -- legs

The Cheetah, part of the agency's research into all-terrain robots, has just won the land speed record for legged robots.

Defense Systems

DOD cyber training aims to prevent future data spills

The Defense Department will spend $190 million to train professionals to use threat detector.

Defense Systems

Brigade fires up UAS to get the big picture

A task force of an Army aviation brigade for the first time deployed to a training scenario with its own unmanned aircraft system troop organic to it.

Defense Systems

Officials undecided about Global Hawk savings

Air Force officials have told the House Appropriation Committee's defense subcommittee that the service isn't sure what it will do with the money it saves by cutting the RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 30 unmanned aircraft program.

Defense Systems

Lawmakers strum notes on dueling cyber bills

The alternative cybersecurity bill introduced by Republican senators encourages voluntary information sharing between the government and private sectors, but includes no requirements for securing privately owned critical infrastructure.

Defense Systems

DISA beefs up its ground game for better satellite services

DISA's Program Executive Office for Communications will focus in 2012 on the ground segment of satellite communications.

Defense Systems

DARPA seeks mapping of RF spectrum for deployed troops

The RF Mapping program seeks to help small tactical units such as platoons or companies that rarely carry equipment for monitoring radio emissions.

Defense Systems

IG finds more than 5,400 cybersecurity incidents at NASA

Cybersecurity problems at NASA range from installing malicious software to intruders stealing credentials for employees.

Defense Systems

Army acquisition reform is progressing despite naysayers

Army officials say acquisition reform efforts are already yielding dividends, particularly in fielding networked capabilities.

Defense Systems

Experimental UAV seeks to control deadly vibrations

An experimental unmanned aerial vehicle will use computing power to control "flutter" that can shake airframes apart.

Defense Systems

Air Force scales back AEHF upgrade

The Air Force is deferring scheduled upgrades to its highly secure constellation of communications satellites so it can fund other Defense Department programs.

Defense Systems

Companies, government mine social media for intel

Companies are seeking to combine open-source data to predict future events.

Defense Systems

Even cyber defense is not immune to politics

The White House says a cybersecurity bill put together by GOP senators isn't tough enough.

Defense Systems

DISA Internet outage affects Pentagon, others in DC area

'Technical issues' tripped up Internet access at the Pentagon and other DISA facilities March 1.

Defense Systems

Mobile user satellite launch heralds shift to comms-on-the-move

The launch of the first Mobile User Objective System satellite in February marks a major step forward for the military’s communications-on-the-move projects.

Defense Systems

Hosted payloads and synergistic design alter military satellite landscape

The military is still striving to increase bandwidth, linking satellite and terminal design while turning to commercial suppliers for hosted payloads and more capabilities.

Defense Systems

The unsolved case of the Army's missing bomb jammers

Thieves stole two Toyota Land Cruisers from a coalition base in Kabul, Afghanistan, that contained two sets of top-secret Duke radio frequency jammers used to block the signals that detonate remote-controlled improvised explosive devices.

Defense Systems

Three companies get up to $874 million for ISR work

AAI, CSC and Insitu have each been awarded an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for unmanned aircraft intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services.

Defense Systems

Spy blimps may get shot down by delays, costs

The Navy has deflated its MZ-3A blimp, the Army’s airship has had development roadblocks and the Air Force may ground one of its large blimps.