Defense Systems
Future UAVs might have two-way voice to speed communications
The U.S. military is working on improving the man-machine interfaces between unmanned aircraft operators and the aircraft they remotely fly on missions.
Defense Systems
Phantom Eye holds promise, but has long way to go
Boeing's massive hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye UAV performed its first test flight at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center June 1 reaching an altitude of 4,080 feet and a cruising speed of 62 knots, which is short of the performance attributes the military wants it eventually to achieve.
Defense Systems
Air Force takes corrective action, reopens bidding on NetCents 2
The Air Force has reopened the bidding for its $6.9 billion NetCents 2 products contract, according to an announcement on the FedBizOps website.
Defense Systems
Are the US military services in sync for net-enabled warfare?
It might seem as if the Army's strategy for tackling hybrid threats and the Air Force and Navy doctrine for AirSea Battle go off in different directions at a time when strategic synthesis is sorely needed in light of shrinking defense funding, but do they really?
Defense Systems
Air Mobility Command on prowl for handheld, touch-screen devices
The Air Mobility Command wants industry input on handheld, touch screen-controlled devices with which it might equip its personnel, according to a request for information.
Defense Systems
DOD achieves record throughput in WGS bandwidth test
Defense Department researchers were able to transmit a 1.3 gigabits/sec carrier signal through the Wideband Global Satcom constellation Hawaii facility in a test designed to determine the full capability that the next-gen satellites can provide to warfighters around the globe.
Defense Systems
Common data sharing essential to AirSea Battle doctrine
The "AirSea Battle" concept championed by top Navy and Air Force brass has a long way to go since there is a noticeable lack of data-sharing protocol between the two military services.
Defense Systems
Air Force regroups in wake of failed ERP project
The failure earlier this year of an IT system designed to streamline the Air Force' supply chain management and provide an integrated approach to purchasing is one of the key reasons the service is at "moderate risk" of failing to meet congressional deadlines to improve its financial records.
Defense Systems
Will more nations be jumping on the WGS bandwagon?
The United States is open to more nations signing up to support its Wideband Global Satcom program, and if additional countries express an interest, the U.S. will consider building more than the 10 WGS satellites already scheduled.
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