Defense Systems

JLENS tracks swarming boats in test

During a recent test, a Raytheon JLENS (Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensors) aerostat system simultaneously detected and tracked double-digit swarming boats, hundreds of cars and trucks, non-swarming boats, and manned and unmanned aircraft, according to a Raytheon press release.

Defense Systems

American Systems to support SIPRNet for Army Reserve Command

The U.S. Army Reserve Command (USARC) awarded a $56 million GSA Connections II task order to American Systems to provide voice and Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) communications support services at USARC facilities nationwide.

Defense Systems

Army vice chief of staff to be nominated as CENTCOM commander

President Barack Obama plans to nominate GEN Lloyd Austin as the next commander of U.S. Central Command, with overall responsibility for the Afghanistan war.

Defense Systems

Xplore Technologies sells 900 tablets to the military

In its largest-ever order from the military, Xplore Technologies of Austin, TX, has received a “multi-million-dollar” purchase order for more than 900 rugged tablet PCs.

Defense Systems

Department of Navy IT/CIO conference approved for January

The Department of the Navy’s CIO/information technology conference, which is typically held in conjunction with the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association’s (AFCEA) West conference and exhibition in San Diego, was approved by Navy Assistant for Administration Carla Lucchino.

Defense Systems

Proposed Internet regulation would not include some nations

A proposal to monitor Internet communications is slated for consideration at the World Conference on International Telecommunications.

Defense Systems

Senators Levin and McCain call for answers on failed Air Force ERP program

Calling the Air Force’s failed Expeditionary Combat Support System (ECSS) program “one of the most egregious examples of mismanagement in recent memory,” Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and John McCain (R-AZ), chairman and ranking member respectively of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta Dec. 5 asking for answers on the $1 billion in wasted money spent on the enterprise resource planning system.

Defense Systems

Fire Scout breaks endurance records during latest deployment

The Navy’s fourth Fire Scout detachment returned to Mayport, Fla. on Dec. 1 after achieving several milestones during its five-month deployment.

Defense Systems

Textron, Bell and AAI launch collaboration in manned/unmanned teaming

Textron Systems and Bell Helicopter, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., have opened the Textron Systems Integration and Collaboration Lab, as well as the Bell Helicopter/AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems Manned/Unmanned Operations (MUMO) Capability Development Lab.

Defense Systems

Rockwell Collins will produce about half of the two-channel AN/PRC-155 Manpack radios recently ordered by the Army

Rockwell Collins has received a contract from General Dynamics C4 Systems to produce approximately half of the 3,700 Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit (HMS) AN/PRC-155 Manpack radios recently ordered for the U.S. Army.

Defense Systems

Raytheon receives first order for GPS anti-jam land product

Raytheon UK, a subsidiary of the Raytheon Company, was awarded what it describes as a “significant” contract by the UK Ministry of Defense for delivery of a new GPS anti-jam antenna system.

Defense Systems

Army intelligence awards $149 million IT contract to SAIC

The U.S. Army awarded Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) a contract potentially worth $149 million to provide information technology design, implementation and operational sustainment support services to the G2 Army Military Intelligence (MI) Enterprise. 

Defense Systems

DARPA expanding Insight program for real-time analysis of ISR data

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is moving forward with its Insight program to develop an analytical framework for global, integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) by issuing a Broad Agency Announcement for phase two of the program.

Defense Systems

4 capabilities essential for future national defense

A new report identifies four critical capabilities and assets that the Defense Department will need to counter the predominant threats to national security in the next decade.

Defense Systems

X-47B UCAS completes land-based catapult launch

The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator has successfully completed a land-based catapult launch at Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

Defense Systems

Marines look to ViaSat for help with secure mobile comms

ViaSat has won a $2.4 million contract from the Marine Corps Systems Command to engineer advanced information security into common, off-the-shelf mobile devices.

Defense Systems

First MUOS satellite begins limited operations

The U.S. Strategic Command has accepted the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite for initial operational use.

Defense Systems

SAIC to furnish IT support for Army intelligence enterprise

Science Applications International Corporation has won a task order potentially worth as much as $149 million from the Army to deliver IT design, implementation and operational sustainment support services to the Army Military Intelligence Enterprise.

Defense Systems

What was the motive behind the secret directive on cybersecurity?

Information recently was leaked to the press and quickly became public about a classified presidential policy directive, PPD-20, that was signed by President Obama just weeks before the presidential election.

Defense Systems

Army seeks managed services assistance for tactical communications

The Army is seeking a provider of managed service communications services to furnish network and services in support of the Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical assets.