Science & Tech
Navy still bullish on lasers but widely-deployed directed-energy ship defense remains years away
Quest gains urgency as enemy drones and missiles get better, cheaper, and more widely used.
Science & Tech
Near-autonomous satellites could be coming in a decade, Space Force envisions
AI-powered spacecraft would need fewer vulnerable ground stations, chief buyer said.
Science & Tech
Pentagon planning huge experiment for its connect-everything concept
“We see significant progress,” in opening up DOD data, one observer said. But a bigger, multinational test is coming.
Science & Tech
New NSA tool aims to automate cyber-defense tests
Agency chief says AI-powered platform will help intel-community suppliers evaluate their network defenses much more cheaply and rapidly.
Science & Tech
As new gear flows to Army units, experiments reveal risks and rewards
The 25th ID commander says his units are reaping the benefits of a new Army fielding strategy.
Science & Tech
A boom in space-based intelligence is coming. Can ground networks keep up?
Companies that used to sell pictures and pixels are selling analysis—and looking for ways to move faster.
Exclusive
Science & Tech
Can AI speed up the discovery of new materials? Army aims to find out
Two contracts to a Google spinoff seek innovations in vehicles, electrical systems.
Science & Tech
Pentagon’s new Arctic strategy focuses on adversaries, new tech
China and Russia and working more closely in the Arctic, DOD says. That’s forcing more research into unmanned systems.
Defense Systems
New design for next-gen UK-Italy-Japan fighter unveiled
But it’s no longer clear that Britain wants to prioritize a sixth-generation jet, much like the U.S. Air Force.
Threats
US shouldn't learn the wrong lessons about Ukraine’s drones, expert says
Unmanned strikes get the attention in reports and social media, but Ukrainian forces are increasingly using drones to sow mines and haul supplies.
Science & Tech
Senators seek to advance AI capabilities at national labs
Proposed legislation looks to give the U.S. national laboratories a strong artificial intelligence infrastructure while acknowledging associated risks.
Science & Tech
Can nanotech help solve the Pentagon’s corrosion problems?
Lockheed and Hawaii-based Oceanit are testing a new coating on tactical aircraft.
Science & Tech
Ukraine bets on land robots for next phase of war
As it continues to defend against Russian invasion, Ukraine is also seeking billions to supercharge its domestic arms industry.
Science & Tech
The US intelligence community is embracing generative AI
Intelligence agencies are using generative AI for a variety of purposes, including content triage and assisting analysts.
Exclusive
Science & Tech
DARPA wants to use AI to find new rare minerals
With spectral analysis, it’s possible to “tell the difference [between] cocaine that came from one cartel’s area of Colombia versus another.”
Science & Tech
Defense One Radio, Ep. 159: Tech Summit: DARPA’s Stefanie Tompkins
We conclude our 2024 Tech Summit coverage with an interview featuring DARPA Director Stefanie Tompkins.
Science & Tech
Meet the Air Force’s secretive long-range drone that flies for days
The robot surveillance aircraft can fly for 80 hours without refueling.
Science & Tech
What Estonian drone companies are learning from Ukraine
Estonian companies are getting lightning-quick user feedback and real-world electronic warfare testing, thanks to hands-on experiments in Ukraine.
Science & Tech
US soldiers will get electronic warfare backpacks later this year
The system is a portable combination of a jammer and scanner.
Science & Tech