Science & Tech

'Hey Siri, Fire For Effect': US Army Seeks Voice-Controlled Gear

In the desert, a dusty touchscreen might not recognize a soldier’s sand-covered gloves. There might be a way around that.

Defense Systems

DARPA demos sense-and-avoid system

The drop-in ALIAS system, tested in a small drone, helps both manned and unmanned aircraft detect and evade incoming air traffic.

Science & Tech

Nailed It: SpaceX's Reusable Rocket Makes Historic Landing

Falcon 9’s successful mission shows how the cost of space access is headed down as reusable rockets head up.

Defense Systems

Milley: Robots won't take over the future battlefield soon

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley tells Congress that unmanned systems will plays a significant role in ground combat, but he’s not expecting a revolution in the next 10 years.

Defense Systems

Army's latest challenge: cyber awareness on the battlefield

The service is focusing on a software-based prototype model associated with cyber situational awareness.

Defense Systems

Army wants drones to act as scouts for ground vehicles

The service is asking for demonstrations of short-distance, low-altitude autonomous UAS navigation.

Science & Tech

In Libya, You Can Buy an Anti-Aircraft Gun on Facebook

An online marketplace for illicit weapons is thriving in the Middle East and North Africa, according to a recent study that found sales of machine guns, rocket launchers, and anti-aircraft guns on private Facebook groups in Libya.

Ideas

Don’t Let the Pentagon Become the Next Enron

Bad financial assumptions and unwillingness to make hard choices threaten to undermine national security.

Science & Tech

US Christens First Ghost Ship (and The Dawn of The Robotic Navy)

Autonomous vessels like this submarine hunter will play a growing role in future naval missions and will soon crowd the seas.

Defense Systems

Army unveils far-reaching network strategy

The service’s plan for 2025-2040 focuses on incorporating "leap-forward" technologies, including the Internet of Things, software-defined networks and a variety of sensors and analytics.

Defense Systems

Rogers’ nightmare: weaponization of cyber by terrorists

In testimony to lawmakers, Cyber Command chief Adm. Michael Rogers highlighted the potential damage non-state actors could inflict in cyberspace going forward.

Defense Systems

DOD, Silicon Valley team up on 'lean startup' approach

Stanford University initiative looks to streamline DOD and intelligence agency tech acquisition.

Ideas

A Firewalled Nuke Fund Is Bad Budgeting and Bad Planning

It’s a budget gimmick that would promote waste and push off hard choices about tomorrow’s nuclear arsenal.

Defense Systems

Army making 'tremendous' progress in cyber

Officials at a recent conference outlined quickly the Army is filling out its cyber mission force.

Defense Systems

Air Force adds to deal for cyber weapon system

The service has more than doubled its investment it what it said in January was its first cyber weapon.

Business

Carter Seeks New Powers for Joint Chiefs, Top Commanders in War on Terrorism

Obama’s defense secretary unveils his Goldwater-Nichols reform plan, and the most sweeping changes to the military's top command in a generation.