Defense Systems

DOD workforce cuts buys short reprieve from sequestration

A Republican House member has proposed a new plan that aims to slash 10 percent of the federal workforce to avoid the first year of sequestration cuts to the Defense Department.

Defense Systems

Navy's X-47B on truck trailer mistaken for UFO

Some Kansas residents mistook the fuselage of a Navy X-47B unmanned aircraft being shipped across country by truck for a flying saucer that had been found by public officials.

Defense Systems

Lawmakers urge Army to review requirements process

The restructuring of several of the Army’s major acquisition and research programs hasn't escaped the watchful eye of Congress; lawmakers have advised the secretary of the Army to consider a review of the requirements process.

Defense Systems

Air Force awards C-130J enhancement contract

The new configuration for the Super Hercules aircraft will include a communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management data link, an enhanced inter-communication system, and updated Identification Friend or Foe, among other items.

Defense Systems

Global Hawk sale to South Korea put off for further study

The sale of up to four Northrop Grumman Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles to South Korea to boost that nation’s reconnaissance capability has been postponed by the U.S. Congress for further study.

Defense Systems

Air Force UAV operators face long hours, erratic schedules: survey

About half of the operators of Air Force unmanned aerial vehicles have high levels of job-related stress mostly tied to the long and erratic hours they work.

Defense Systems

Defense bill puts data center consolidation plans at risk

The 2012 defense bill contains language that could block DOD-DISA partnerships in cloud and enterprise e-mail.

Defense Systems

Outgoing GPO chief appoints first female deputy public printer

Position is the second highest office at GPO.

Defense Systems

Navy, Raytheon in final phase of destroyer software project

The Navy has awarded Raytheon a $254 million contract modification to complete software development for the DDG 1000 destroyer program.

Defense Systems

Marines’ unmanned cargo copter on duty in Afghanistan

The Marine Corps flew its first combat supply mission with an unmanned helicopter on Dec. 17 in Afghanistan.

Defense Systems

Military prepares MUOS satellite for February launch

Lockheed Martin delivered the Navy’s first Mobile Uses Objective System satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., in preparation for launch in February 2012 aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.

Defense Systems

Military pushes for more capable sensor inputs for UAVs

Warfighters continue to press for more imagery from a broader range of high-resolution sensors.

Defense Systems

No Senate vote, no GPO chief

Government Printing Office chief will step down after the Senate does not confirm him before its holiday break.

Defense Systems

Army Rangers take smart phone to Afghanistan

The Army's 75th Ranger Regiment will have as part of its gear in Afghanistan an Android GD300 smart phone that will be paired with the Joint Tactical Radio System AN/PRC-154 Rifleman Radio.

Defense Systems

DOD enterprise strategy to drive further consolidation

The Defense Department has released a new document that outlines its enterprise IT strategy that seeks to save up to $5.2 billion during the next five years through infrastructure consolidation and increased use of enterprisewide services.

Defense Systems

Army seeks hand-launched aerostats for squad intell

The Army's Rapid Equipping Force has issued a request for information for small hand-launched aerostats that would give infantry squads another method to conduct reconnaissance in their immediate areas of operations.

Defense Systems

Army Command Web offers window into operational environment

The Army is testing a Web-based system that gives commanders access to previously unavailable data residing on thick-client applications.

Defense Systems

Air Force Space Command CIO to get some help

Col. Kimberly Crider set ro rise to general, take role at Space Command.

Defense Systems

3 reasons UAVs excel at nuclear spying

The ability of unmanned aerial vehicles such as the RQ-170 Sentinel captured by Iran earlier this month to conduct nuclear surveillance greatly outstrips that of satellites and manned spy planes, and therefore it's little surprise the United States has chosen to employ UAVs in that role and risk their possible loss.

Defense Systems

LightSquared demands investigation into lower-band test leaks

LightSquared is demanding an investigation to determine the source of possibly leaked data from recently completed Global Positioning System (GPS) interference tests conducted by the U.S. government that evidently contradict more favorable test results recently touted by the company.