Defense Systems
Army studies biofuel cells for sensors
The Army is investigating whether a new type of fuel cell that uses biologically active enzymes as a catalyst could provide a longer-lasting power source for unattended ground sensors.
Defense Systems
Rugged PCs and filtering screens
The Land Warrior and upcoming Ground Warrior systems are only part of General Dynamics’ rugged military electronics business.
Defense Systems
Letters from the editor: Transformation
Defense Systems magazine has a renewed focus and a new design. In the past few months, we’ve been working toward a relaunch of this magazine to align it with what’s become the permanent evolution of networkcentric warfare and the reality that blurs the lines between the logistics chain, the back office and the front lines.
Defense Systems
Navy begins test of tube-launched UAV
A Navy rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle designed to be fired from a sonobuoy launch tube will enter what is planned to be a final phase of testing under a $10.5 million contract award to Lite Machines, of West Lafayette, Ind.
Defense Systems
Unmanned supply helicopter demonstrated
Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace have demonstrated to the Army and Marine Corps the feasibility of transporting supplies to ground troops by an unmanned helicopter
Defense Systems
Coast Guard stretches with Deepwater
After decades of using aging communications equipment and ships, the Coast Guard is attempting to create a comprehensive command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) system.
Defense Systems
COTS creates challenge
Almost every version of Microsoft’s operating systems can be found in the military, and the Army only recently upgraded its Standard Army Maintenance System from MS-DOS to Windows XP.
Defense Systems
Air Force leaders step down
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley told reporters that failure to maintain consistent technical and process discipline was the primary cause of the slips in nuclear security that ultimately led to his firing.
Defense Systems
APP speeds medical supplies
The Defense Logistics Agency has awarded three contracts to General Dynamics Information Technology to help streamline and strengthen the military’s medical supply chain.
Defense Systems
Africom builds cooperation with collaboration
Challenges inherent in Africom’s mission — focused more on promoting regional security than warfighting — call for a somewhat different structure and create a challenge for Africom’s C4 operations.
Defense Systems
Neural nets find niche
Artificial neural networks are close to being deployed on Navy ships as part of a firedetection system, based on work that the Naval Research Laboratory oversees.
Defense Systems
Debriefing: Joint Space Operations Center's departing director, Col. Stephen Whiting
Defense Systems contributor Sami Lais spoke recently with Air Force Col. Stephen Whiting, former JSpOC commander and director. In June, Whiting handed over command of JSpOC to Col. Richard Doltz after being selected for the Chief of Staff Air Force Fellows program.
Defense Systems
Game processor in warfighting apps
The advanced processor technology that lets Sony PlayStation 3 jet jockeys blow enemy fighters out of the sky in games such as “Warhawk” might soon help real warfighters do the same in combat.
Defense Systems
GAO eyes global strike ISR
If the Defense Department wants to hit targets across the world with rapidly deployable weapons, it must better synchronize weapons development with the pace of advancements in ISR technologies.
Defense Systems
Waved off
Once again, errors in the procurement process have thrown a major Air Force program’s future into doubt. And critics say that the Government Accountability Office report’s damning tone in this case indicates a wider problem in defense procurement.
Defense Systems
Army renews contract for munition logistics automation
The Army Joint Munitions Command has renewed a contract with Savi Technology to continue developing and supporting a government-owned software system that handles depot-level ammunition logistics.
Defense Systems
Instant picture
Instead of a visual scan that can take several minutes with a periscope, the camera can provide an instant full view of the surface.
Defense Systems
Army prepares test of new wireless war game gear
In August, the Army will conduct its first functional field test of a wireless tactical training system that it will eventually embed in Future Combat Systems vehicles and weapons systems.
Defense Systems
Reaching out to tech firms
Each year, new network-centric technologies vying for command-level attention get a tryout at the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration.
Defense Systems