Defense Systems

Air Force gives Lockheed $735M deal for satellite support

The contract calls for continued support of three generations of satellite communications.

Policy

What President Obama Thinks on Iraq, Iran and Israel

Obama speaks about the state of U.S. policy in the Middle East in a wide ranging interview with The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg.

Threats

A New Turkish-Saudi Thaw is Helping Rebels in Syria and Worrying Washington

Turkey and Saudi Arabia are finally working together to fight terrorism, and that’s good and bad news to the Obama administration.

Threats

Navy Unveils Video of Manmade Islands in South China Sea

Defying Chinese orders to get lost, a Navy P-8 patrol plane flew over the reefs Beijing is turning into full-fledged footholds.

Threats

Iraq Is Losing Control of the Nearly 100,000 Militiamen Enlisted To Fight ISIS

Almost three dozen Shiite militias have joined Iraq's fight against ISIS, a battle initially thought to be short-lived. As the militias extort from the population, the public's patience is wearing thin.

Business

Punish US Generals for Mismanaging Afghan War Funds, Says Inspector General

The Army failed to stop the construction of never-to-be-used $36 million command center.

Defense Systems

NRL patents a small, orbital space junk sensor

The low-power, low-cost Optical Orbital Debris Spotter will allow for greater monitoring of the space debris threatening critical satellite infrastructure.

Defense Systems

China's military calls for 'online Great Wall'

Amid a massive military build-up in the South China Sea, the PLA argues in a commentary that "sovereignty" in cyberspace is the front line in competition with the West.

Defense Systems

How brainwaves could teach software to ID threats

ARL has started research into using the EEG readings of experienced soldiers to train algorithms that would in turn help future soldiers.

Science & Tech

Special Operators Are Using Rapid DNA Readers

Conducting a midnight SEAL raid on a terrorist compound? Positive DNA identification is just 90 minutes away.

Ideas

It’s Time To Arm the Sunni Tribes

The United States must work with what partners it has available in Iraq, not fictitious ones it might prefer.

Policy

NSA Domestic Spying Will Start Stopping This Week

Lawmakers only have until Friday—not June 1—to resolve their standoff over the NSA's domestic surveillance, according to a new memo from the Obama administration.

Science & Tech

VA’s ‘Grand Challenge’: Open-Source Prosthetic Limbs for Veterans

The VA hopes a contest will spur innovation in replacement limbs the way DARPA jumpstarted self-driving cars.

Science & Tech

The Navy Is Trying To Hack-Proof Its Drones

Aerial robots weren't expected to become part of the Internet of Things, but now the Navy needs to protect them from cyber threats.

Science & Tech

The Air Force's Secret Space Drone Is Headed Back To Orbit

Less than five years ago, the X-37B became the first U.S. spacecraft to land on a runway autonomously. Now, as before, few know what its mission actually is.

Threats

This Is What Bin Laden Was Reading Just Before He Was Killed

The English-language books in particular present a fascinating picture of the terrorist's interests, including journalist Bob Woodward’s account of president Obama’s wars.

Defense Systems

Air Force takes steps to fix drone pilot shortage

The service is boosting pay and retention bonuses, training more pilots and reducing the number of missions.

Defense Systems

NAVAIR looks to bolster cyber defenses for weapons systems

The command’s Cyber Warfare Detachment is seeking proposals to fill gaps in cyber warfare capabilities and defenses across the board.