Defense Systems

Air Force moves ahead with GPS III preparations

The service gives Lockheed Martin a $395 million contract modification for work on the ninth and tenth of the 32-satellite constellation.

Ideas

Progress or Oppression—You Decide, Obama Tells the UN in His Final Address

From mass migration to North Korea’s nukes, Obama’s lofty speech contained little guidance about how to resolve the world’s intractable problems.

Policy

The Intelligence Picture Over Iraq and Syria Has Gotten Much Cloudier

The leader of Air Combat Command says new players on the battlefield are complicating the air fight against ISIS.

Defense Systems

Pentagon wants an imaging sensor that can think

Under the ReImagine program, researchers seek to develop a programmable array of pixels that can use machine learning to react to what they’re seeing, as a way to improve situational awareness.

Science & Tech

Tomorrow’s Downed Pilots May Be Rescued by an Osprey-Black Hawk Team

A U.S. Air Force chief of staff who was shot down over Serbia has reenergized the debate over the best way to do combat search and rescue.

Science & Tech

The Air Force Is Starting to Think About Its Next Strike Aircraft

Service leaders are laying groundwork for a new strike capability — even as they work to unground their F-35s.

Ideas

How Mistakes and Mission Creep Are Shaping Libya’s Future

Lost in the din of developments at the UN this week is a British report on the ‘failed’ intervention that has turned the country into an 'unmitigated disaster.'

Defense Systems

DARPA goes to next phase of Squad X

The research agency awards Lockheed a contract to continue work on bringing a command-and-control view to the squad level.

Defense Systems

Navy awards $32.8M deal for tactical radios

The deal calls for Link 22 radios that support interoperable communications between U.S. and NATO forces.

Science & Tech

Sikorsky’s New Ace in the Hole: Lockheed’s Skunk Works

The newly acquired helicopter maker is tapping into Lockheed Martin’s famed advanced tech division.

Science & Tech

Tomorrow’s Laser-Armed Helicopter Drones

First come powerful generators, then autonomy, then directed energy, says LightningStrike maker.

Ideas

After Mosul Falls, How Much Rebuilding Help Should the US Give?

Restoring stable governance means creating a government that can supply basic services — and there are several ways the United State can provide assistance.

Ideas

What to Do About Zero-Day Hacks? Try A Middle Road

A system of government incentives will keep us safer than trying to buy up all newly discovered vulnerabilities, or outlawing their sale.

Ideas

The Indian Army Just Suffered Its Biggest Attack in a Decade as Tensions Rise with Pakistan

Sunday’s terrorist attack that killed 17 New Delhi troops occurred alongside a new Kashmir crackdown that has killed 85 so far.

Ideas

The Other Front Line: Iraqi Schools Need Our Help

The ultimate success of the coming military assault on Mosul will depend on reviving a shattered educational system.

Business

US Air Force Grounds F-35s It Just Declared Ready for War

Crumbling avionics lines are the latest setback for the jet, which had been riding a wave of progress.

Ideas

The UK Is Having the War Debate That America Isn't

The U.S. and Britain both intervened in Iraq and Libya. Only one is now seriously reckoning with those choices.