Defense Systems

Soldiers need better communications training

Government would not spend millions of dollars on a weapons system and not train its operators. Communications systems must be held to the same standard.

Defense Systems

The road ahead for Cyber Command

With Cyber Command finally getting its first commander — and one with the smarts and expertise of Gen. Keith Alexander — work can begin moving forward in earnest to tackle the tough questions that confront us in the cyber era.

Defense Systems

Protecting our critical infrastructure

The protection of critical infrastructure assets has important ramifications for the military, which relies heavily on that infrastructure, writes Kevin Coleman.

Defense Systems

Revealed: Our picks for the best password strategies

Our readers offer hundreds -- literally -- of good ideas for building and managing strong passwords. Who's idea comes closest to covering all the bases?

Defense Systems

Navy picks three for shipboard local area network support

Three contractors will vie for up to $502 million in shipboard network infrastructure and related engineering work over the next eight years that will support network infrastructure for Navy ships.

Defense Systems

When it comes to government data gathering, public trust is hard to come by

The public doesn't trust government to protect Americans' information, and laws reflect that mind-set, blogger Matthew Weigelt writes.

Defense Systems

Trustworthy battlefield software depends on better testing

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research is taking a new approach to software testing in an effort to significantly reduce the number of errors found in software used in-theater.

Defense Systems

Virtual-reality training plunges soldiers headlong into combat

The Joint Forces Command is testing a helmet-mounted, virtual reality training system designed to prepare troops bound for combat zones to make sound tactical decisions in the heat of battle.

Defense Systems

Navy goes full-ahead with open architecture

The Navy’s Common Processing System will harness commercial products and powerful middleware to keep mission-critical systems online.

Defense Systems

DARPA builds Cyber Range to test security measures

DARPA’s National Cyber Range is automated to ensure that new concepts can be moved rapidly from a test bed to an operational environment.

Defense Systems

DARPA looks for stealthier Internet access

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is seeking technologies to give the military “anonymous Internet communications to bypass techniques that suppress, localize and/or corrupt information.”

Defense Systems

Secure smart phones outpace policy

The Defense Department and civilian leadership in the field have a mobile option for classified e-mail and voice, but DOD leaders haven't formulated a policy for where and when a secure smart phone can be used.

Defense Systems

Special Ops leads the charge for specialized data delivery

A new generation of technology is putting more agile and capable ISR systems in the hands of special operators and those who support them in the field. That holds promise for empowering regular forces as the technology is perfected and costs come down.

Defense Systems

Why smart phones might become the Army's secret weapon

The Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development, and Engineering Center is testing how smart phones and their applications can boost situational awareness for dismounted troops.

Defense Systems

Smart phones prepare for battle

Jason Sypniewski, branch chief of the Product Manager C4ISR On-the-Move's Integrated Event Design and Analysis branch, discusses how handheld devices will be integrated into the upcoming E10 exercise.

Defense Systems

JTRS puts networking waveforms to the test

Capt. Jeff Hoyle, Joint Tactical Radio System’s Network Enterprise Domain program manager, spoke recently with Defense Systems about the challenges of developing and managing networks, upcoming tests and demonstrations, and efforts to meet user needs.

Defense Systems

DARPA plans to SMITE insider enemies

DARPA is looking for technologies to deal with attacks originating from within.

Defense Systems

Army applies boot camp approach to acquisition workforce

The program aims to train new contracting professionals to take on work with minimal oversight, writes Harry Hallock, executive director of the Army’s TACOM Contracting Center in Warren, Mich.

Defense Systems

Army gives battlefield networks high priority

Brig. Gen. Lee Price, Army program executive officer of command, control and communications-tactical, discusses network architecture, technology transition and the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical program.

Defense Systems

Navy Reserve moves final network to NMCI

The Navy Reserve on May 17 shut down the Navy Reserve Net (NAVRESNET), its last legacy computer network, in a move that will save the service $1.2 million.