Defense Systems

Watch: Big Dog robotic mule gets a head-arm

Four-legged robot is now capable of throwing heavy objects.

Science & Tech

Drone Warfare Is Why We Can't Find Malaysian Airlines Flight 370

If you’re sick of not being able to find planes with today’s technology, just wait – it’s actually going to get worse. By Patrick Tucker

Policy

Insiders Split Over Military Aid to Ukraine

Most experts say Obama should send aid, but 43 percent said that stokes Russian fury. "We've already lost this battle. Putin is not pulling back." By Sara Sorcher

Ideas

Wake Up NATO, You’re No Deterrent to Russia

If NATO couldn’t finish the job against Libya, why would anyone think it’s ready for Russia? By Philip Seib

Ideas

How Western Bureaucrats Stirred Putin’s Petulance into a Cold War Crisis

From the beginning, all sides have been guilty of faulty assumptions and strategic miscalculation regarding Ukraine – and Putin. By James Kitfield

Policy

Russians Tell Hagel 'No Intention' of Crossing Into Ukraine

Secretary Hagel and Sergei Shoygu, in phone call, say neither intends to march into eastern Ukraine, said Pentagon spokesman. By Ben Watson

Threats

Putin Now Gets to Rewrite Rules Meant to Prevent World War III

The United Nations charter says clearly no country can annex another forcible. Now that Putin has, he gets to write some rules of his own. By Steve LeVine

Ideas

Iraq’s Do-Nothing Legacy

The 11th anniversary of the Iraq invasion finds U.S. leaders paralyzed and gun-shy to intervene anywhere in the Mideast. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Science & Tech

How the Military’s Bomb-Detecting Lasers Will Protect You From the Flu

High-powered, small and cheap UV lasers could detect biological containments of the lethal or simply annoying variety. By Patrick Tucker

Defense Systems

Air Force wants to toughen up aerial layer communications

The service is looking to spend nearly $10 million to upgrade current systems to operate in degraded, contested or outnumbered situations.

Defense Systems

Next phase of Mobile Hotspot program takes wing

DARPA hires L-3 to develop radio and router pods that can be mounted on a Shadow UAV, creating an airborne hotspot.

Defense Systems

DIA issues call for bids on $6 billion E-SITE contract

The contract will provide worldwide IT services and support for the defense intelligence community and its partners.

Threats

Nuclear Summit Not Expected to Advance Military-Grade Security

U.S. officials expect next week's Nuclear Security Summit to punt tougher military material security to 2016. By Douglas P. Guarino

Ideas

It’s Time to Award More Medals of Honor for Iraq Vets

No more excuses. No more sidestepping. Secretary Hagel should start naming living Medal of Honor recipients from the Iraq war. By Rep. Duncan Hunter

Threats

China’s Secret Satellite Killer, Revealed?

China said it launched this rocket to study the atmosphere. The Internet says China is learning how to launch an anti-satellite weapon. By Tim Fernholz

Defense Systems

Air Force gives flight to advanced targeting pod

Sniper ATP-SE now provides additional networking capabilities for ground forces.

Defense Systems

DARPA developing ‘radical’ copter/plane hybrid

The VTOL Experimental Plane program, which just awarded four contracts, looks to greatly improve both hovering and cruise efficiency.

Defense Systems

Security is on the menu for Joint Information Environment

Army Lt. Gen. Mark Bowman says users of JIE are seeing benefits.

Science & Tech

NSA 'Time Machine' Can Spy on Phone Conversations of Americans Abroad

A newly disclosed NSA program can collect ‘100 percent’ of a foreign country’s calls, including from Americans living and working there. Dustin Volz