Defense Systems

Navy awards contract for bomb-disposal robots

The Navy has awarded iRobot Corp. a $230 million contract to provide its PackBot man-transportable robotic system and support services for explosive ordnance disposal missions.

Defense Systems

Cyber dominance requires strong leadership

With Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen leaving soon, the Defense Department must find replacements capable of providing the leadership necessary to navigate the new hybrid environment of cyber warfare.

Defense Systems

Navy subs to get tactical updates through Deep Siren

An acoustic communications system is allowing U.S. Navy submarines to receive tactical data while submerged.

Defense Systems

New bill pushes for more oversight on intell programs

Program officers would have to tell the director of national intelligence about their IT projects before they could spend money if a new spending bill becomes law.

Defense Systems

Air Force to expand mission of missile defense satellite

The Air Force's troubled infrared missile detection satellite can be used to gather intelligence.

Defense Systems

Digital oil: What is it?

Vivek Kundra speaks about the "black gold" of the future: digital infrastructure.

Defense Systems

Navy places order for aircraft mission computers

A General Dynamics unit will deliver additional advanced mission computers for Navy Super Hornet aircraft under a new contract.

Defense Systems

Cyber warriors must pass tough tests

Government agencies need qualified cybersecurity specialists with active government clearances but are having difficulty finding them, a new study finds.

Defense Systems

HHS names new health IT national coordinator

Dr. Farzad Mostashari takes the helm of the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, the office that facilitates distribution of $20 billion in economic stimulus law funds for digital medical systems.

Defense Systems

Navy's drone to perform mouse-click carrier landings

The first drone intended to fly off an aircraft carrier will be controlled by a mouse, Navy officials say.

Defense Systems

DOD maps out new command structure for Arctic region

The new Unified Command Plan redefines the boundaries and missions of the DOD's major commands.

Defense Systems

CIOs talk. Does anyone listen?

A lack of clout in departments' roundtable discussions must stand out clearly — even to those outside the federal IT community.

Defense Systems

Latest cyber threat has government in its sites

Symantec's Internet Security Threat Report details a shift toward online attacks that draw on social media information and target high-value victims, including government victims.

Defense Systems

Canadian Navy orders multiband satcom terminals

Harris Corp. will furnish multiband shipboard satellite communications terminals to the Canadian government under a new contract.

Defense Systems

Defense audit agency gets new second-in-command

Anita Bales has served at the agency for nearly 20 years.

Defense Systems

New GPS-guided mortar fires first round in Afghanistan

Precision Guided Mortar Munitions provide a sevenfold increase in accuracy.

Defense Systems

In shutdown, all DOD civilian employees still to report Monday

As the government creeps toward a potential weekend shutdown, Defense Department officials advised all civilian defense workers to report for work on their next regular workday even if the government should close its doors.

Defense Systems

DOD prepares personnel for government shutdown

The Defense Department will divide its employees into "excepted" and "nonexcepted" from the governmentwide shutdown, and is releasing some details about how it will proceed if funding runs out this weekend.

Defense Systems

Laying the foundation for future networks

In the ever-expanding world of defense networks, no other Defense Department agency has more on its plate than the Defense Information Systems Agency.

Defense Systems

Secure cellular comms could continue to be a hero

Military and intelligence agencies must take steps to improve cellular communications security against increasingly sophisticated hacking tools.