Defense Systems

Army kicks off first major test to thwart small drone attacks

The Army is putting its new counter small drone strategy to the test with its first demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground, focusing on how to limit damage when facing direct threats.

Defense Systems

VR, AR training helps forward observers direct fire support

The Office of Naval Research has developed augmented and virtual reality tools to make it easier to train the Marines who help protect infantry by keeping an eye on the ground situation and calling in necessary air artillery, mortar and naval gunfire.

Defense Systems

White House stands down SolarWinds, Microsoft Exchange cyber response groups

The White House is suspending the two interagency groups tasked with managing the government's response to the cybersecurity incidents involving SolarWinds and Microsoft Exchange, citing improving trends in patching.

Defense Systems

Augmented reality goggles and the future of defense acquisition

The Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System has been in the works for years, but the potentially multibillion deal could mark a paradigm shift in how the Defense Department buys and leverages technology.

Defense Systems

JAIC feels pressure to go faster as tight budgets loom

The Defense Department’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center believes AI-driven productivity gains could become "an economic necessity."

Defense Systems

Former Obama defense policy chief nominated for Army secretary

The White House announced plans to nominate Christine Wormuth, the Pentagon’s former top policy official, to be the first woman as Army secretary.

Defense Systems

Biden taps Inglis, Easterly for top cyber jobs

National Security Agency veterans will serve as first national cyber director and lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Defense Systems

IC warns that U.S. adversaries are ramping up cyber attacks

The worldwide threat assessment by the U.S. intelligence community comes one day before the heads of several agencies are scheduled to testify during open and closed session to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Defense Systems

Microsoft patches new Exchange CVEs, credits NSA with discovery

The new vulnerabilities found in Exchange servers running on-premises are separate from zero-day exploits discovered and announced in March.

Defense Systems

DOD eyes automation to improve data quality, business processes

The Defense Department expects that better use of data analytics will help it improve its business operations and decision-making, optimize the workforce and support digital transformation as it moves on from legacy systems.

Defense Systems

SecDef plans new screening, training to weed out extremism

The Defense Department has ordered several personnel policy changes to address extremism in the military, ranging from updating intake questionnaires for recruits to training to prepare service members for potential targeting by extremist groups.

Defense Systems

AFWERX invests in 5G-enabled IoT security

The Air Force’s innovation arm has awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research contract to Phosphorus Cybersecurity to help build a scalable security infrastructure to support 5G-enabled IoT devices.

Defense Systems

Could 2022 see the end of OCO?

As the Biden administration prepares to deliver its first budget, the question arises of whether there's enough political clout to end the controversial overseas contingency operations account.

Defense Systems

Space Force satcoms contract gets CMMC nod

A request for information for the Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network and Global Xpress contract was amended March 31 to include requirements for the CMMC pilot program.

Defense Systems

IG pushes DOD to update pandemic plans to support telework

Defense Department component agencies should ensure their IT and communications infrastructure can support maximum telework, according to a new report from the DOD inspector general.

Defense Systems

Biden taps DIU head for top Pentagon acquisition post

President Joe Biden nominates three for senior defense posts, including Michael Brown, the head of Defense Innovation Unit.

Defense Systems

Army's augmented reality goggles get $22B contract

The Army will be fielding more than 120,000 custom, ruggedized versions of Microsoft’s HoloLens headsets that use augmented reality to project situational awareness information directly onto a soldier’s visor.

Defense Systems

Mandatory review of DOD's compliance on CMMC is delayed

The Defense Department was supposed to submit a review to Congress by March 1 assessing whether components complied with the guidelines of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. That deadline has been pushed to June.

Defense Systems

Army eyes CAC-less physical security

The Pandemic Entry and Automated Control Environment aims to use the biometric and password metadata on CAC cards and related databases to secure access to sensitive areas.

Defense Systems

First set of CMMC certification orgs emerge

The Defense Department's unified cybersecurity program is making gains with its first tranche of certifying bodies, but assessments for defense contractors are a ways off.