Defense Systems

Mixed reality scenarios prime recruits for combat

Spiral two of the Joint Forces Command’s Future Immersive Training Environment featured a mixed-reality environment that allowed Marines to rehearse squad-level tactics for urban combat in Afghanistan.

Defense Systems

Navy awards four cybersecurity work

Four of the nation’s largest government contractors have won Navy task orders under a multiple-award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a total potential value of $204 million over five years if all options are exercised.

Defense Systems

Army keeps tight grip on tactical network project

Army Col. William Hoppe, project manager of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical system, discusses new developments with the program, its future road map and the effect of budget cutbacks.

Defense Systems

Intelligence edge requires sharp eyes on ground and in sky

Geospatial information must be supplemented by local knowledge to ensure force safety, say U.S. commanders who have served in Afghanistan.

Defense Systems

Commercial satellites plug bandwidth gap for military satcom

The Defense Department is increasingly turning to commercial satellite providers to relay messages and images for networked warfighters.

Defense Systems

Army probe looks into alleged 'mind control' of lawmakers

In Nov. 2009, a special arm of the Army that specializes in psychological operations was assessing how U.S. propaganda was being accepted in enemy territory. Three months later, it was ordered to use the same mind games on Americans, according to a new report.

Defense Systems

Military to focus on smart phone security chasms

Researchers at the antivirus software company Symantec explained in a recent briefing that security might become a major preoccupation for smart phone users in the military as interest in the devices buoys.

Defense Systems

Army cyber unit expands as fast as it can

The Army Cyber Command has established its command structure and is actively seeking new personnel.

Defense Systems

Meeting NATO's satcom needs is no simple task

NATO members are partnering on a satellite constellation to serve troops around the world.

Defense Systems

Army aims for maximum return from cloud investment

Gary Winkler, Army program executive officer for enterprise information systems, discusses the PEO's first Senior Executive Service-level deputy, cloud computing and Army enterprise resource planning.

Defense Systems

Kundra describes vision of three huge federal data centers

In the future, federal data center consolidation could go much further and create three huge "digital Fort Knox" centers, Kundra said.

Defense Systems

Cyber framework better than strict rules

The 2011 RSA Conference provided a forum for a continuing dialogue about the difficulties inherent in defining and crafting a cyber warfare policy.

Defense Systems

Federal government shutdown FAQ

The impending government shutdown is raising a a lot of questions about what's to come and what employees should do. Here are some answers.

Defense Systems

DOD arranges critical IT support for anti-IED offices

CACI International Inc. will provide mission support and IT services to two Defense Department organizations under a four-year, $20 million task order. The award falls under the $494 million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity Comprehensive Support Services contract that CACI won in August 2009.

Defense Systems

Law lets men, mules continue forward without funds

If money for supplies runs out, an old law can save the day.

Defense Systems

DOD to slash senior-level civilian positions

The Defense Department is in the process of cutting 209 civilian senior executive positions, with 126 to be eliminated and 83 downgraded.

Defense Systems

Robot ranks expand on the battlefield

Robots are playing an ever-expanding role in the Afghanistan war and the ratio of such machines to troops is 1 to 50, reports William Matthews at NextGov.

Defense Systems

Ground troops to get access to Army's smart phone network

Gen. Pater Chairelli views the Army's Common Operating Environment as the potential game changer to get the service's network planned for smart phones to "the lowest levels" possible.

Defense Systems

Top CBP procurement execs show lighter side at Industry Day

Many of the top IT and procurement officials at Customs and Border Protection were on hand to share information and a few candid remarks at Tuesday's Industry Day.

Defense Systems

DARPA looks to boost tactical networks with cloud

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency looks at battlefield cloud networking and mobile wireless nodes to push data down to individual soldiers.