Defense Systems
New bids wanted for massive satellite terminal program
The Air Force May 11 invited other companies to submit alternate bids for a multi-billion dollar program for next-generation satellite communications terminals as the service continues to negotiate with Boeing on cost reductions to the program.
Defense Systems
What news I learned at the DISA show: A reporter's notebook
Defense Systems Editor-in-Chief Barry Rosenberg spent three days at the Defense Information Systems Agency customer forum in Tampa the week of May 7 and has more than a few juicy tidbits of information to share.
Defense Systems
New Air Force chief of staff announced; new CIO, too
The service has some big personnel moves going on, including Gen. Norton Schwartz passing the baton as the Air Force chief of staff.
Defense Systems
Air Force pledges action on Netcents II award protests
The Air Force wants the GAO to dismiss a group of protests over its NetCents II awards because it plans to take corrective action on its own to remedy the situation.
Defense Systems
Air Force ISR success rides on common architecture, says deputy chief
A common architecture for ISR must be established that allows data to be moved from all domains and across dissimilar platforms rapidly and efficiently, says a top Air Force official.
Defense Systems
AEHF-2 satellite launch delayed due to rocket glitch
The United Launch Alliance launch of the Air Force's second Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellite was scrubbed May 3 because of a lack of helium flow from the ground support equipment to the interstage adapter compartment on the launch vehicle.
Defense Systems
Military airship programs plagued by wide range of problems
The Defense Department has invested more than $1 billion in at least nine airship programs across the military services in an effort to provide persistent surveillance to ground troops, but so far has almost nothing to show in operational airships.
Defense Systems
Air Force ground control stations get secure info-sharing boost
Boeing has delivered a tactical cross-domain solution designed to boost secure information sharing to General Atomics for integration into the ground control stations used for Predator and Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defense Systems
House tries to breathe life into Global Hawk Block 30 program
The House Armed Services Committee has designated $260 million in its mark-up of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013 for the Air Force to continue operating its Block 30 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defense Systems
Air Force readies second AEHF satellite for launch
The Air Force will launch its second Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite May 3 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Defense Systems
Airborne ISR still years away from futuristic swarm concept
The Defense Department's strategy for employing airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors and platforms against adversaries is threatened on a number of fronts, and the best solution to address the existing challenges is years away.
Defense Systems
Air Force to automate tracking of space debris
Air Force personnel charged with tracking space debris in orbit to ensure that it doesn't interfere with operational satellites will begin using a new suite of automated equipment later this year to perform the complex task.
Defense Systems
Reaper UAV upgrades would substantially extend flight time
The Air Force's premier armed unmanned aerial vehicle would be able to fly for nearly two days straight if upgrades proposed by its manufacturer, General Atomics, were made to the Reaper MQ-9 fleet.
Defense Systems
Air Force selects 9 for NetCents II
Commercial products to be sold through the contract include networking equipment, servers and storage, peripherals, multimedia, software, and identity management/biometric hardware and associated software.
Defense Systems
Space Fence on track for final build-out
Raytheon recently completed a comprehensive preliminary design review of its Space Fence system designed to demonstrate the S-band radar's technical maturity in its ability to detect and track the increasing amount of space debris orbiting the Earth.
Defense Systems
Lawmakers contest Air Force personnel cuts
A number of U.S. lawmakers have gone on record with their opposition to proposed budget cuts by the Air Force.
Defense Systems
Budget cuts change the landscape for satcom and satellite usage
Satellite communications take on a new role as military space assets redeploy and budgets decline.
Defense Systems
Iowa Air National Guard charts path to scalable comms
The Iowa Air National Guard has chosen C4i's Switchplus IP as its upgrade for its antiquated communications system for the 132nd Fighter Wing, based in Des Moines, Iowa.
Defense Systems
What can UAV analysts learn from 'Jersey Shore'?
The Air Force might soon be adopting practices used by reality television producers to efficiently manage the large volume of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data gathered from unmanned aircraft sensors and cameras.
Defense Systems