Defense Systems
Northrop Grumman gets contract for BACN payloads
The Battlefield Airborne Communications Node payloads will be for two existing Block 20 Global Hawk aircraft.
Defense Systems
Air Force emphasizes skills training for cyber personnel
The Air Force has revised how it trains its cyber personnel by creating a training regime designed to update and improve skills throughout the course of a person's career.
Defense Systems
Greater UAV autonomy needed: former ISR chief
Finding ways for unmanned aircraft to process more sensor information on board will provide substantial benefits, says the Air Force's former Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.
Defense Systems
Air Force likely to retire Block 30 Global Hawks
The Air Force is likely to retire its fleet of Block 30 RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles, a surprising turn of events considering the Global Hawk was on the verge of replacing the five-decade-old U-2 manned spy plane program.
Defense Systems
Obama nominates chiefs for policy, readiness, acquisition
The president nominates three senior Defense Department officials to fill key management positions.
Defense Systems
Air Force to award NETCENTS 2 in 2012, official says
The long-delayed NETCENTS-2 contract vehicle is set to be awarded this year, says the Air Force's acquisition chief.
Defense Systems
LightSquared asserts latest GPS tests rigged
LightSquared and a former FCC chief engineer said Jan. 18 that the Global Positioning System test devices that were used recently to test the company's new network were rigged by makers of GPS receivers and government end users to produce "bogus results."
Defense Systems
Boeing gets nod for two more WGS satellites
The Air Force has authorized Boeing to develop and launch the eighth and ninth Wideband Global Satcom satellites.
Defense Systems
Fourth WGS satellite scheduled for launch
The Air Force will launch the fourth Wideband Global Satcom Satellite into space tonight as part of the continuing effort to deliver more communications bandwidth to warfighters.
Defense Systems
F-35s, UAVs may be caught in budget battle
With limited money, the Air Force may have to choose how much to spend for unmanned aerial vehicles and funding its advanced fighter.
Defense Systems
5 nations expected to join wideband satellite program
The United States is close to wrapping up an agreement with five more nations to support the Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) constellation program.
Defense Systems
NATO aircraft in Afghanistan increase surveillance flights
NATO has drastically scaled back the number of air strikes it conducts in Afghanistan while boosting the number of aircraft surveillance missions.
Defense Systems
Air Force shifts UAS operating systems to Linux
The Air Force might have switched the control systems from its unmanned aircraft systems from Windows to Linux in the wake of a virus outbreak with the the former, according to security professionals.
Defense Systems
Air Force awards contract for third and fourth GPS III satellites
The Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $238 million contract to build the third and fourth satellites in the Global Positioning System III constellation.
Defense Systems
Air Force releases RFI for revolutionary cyberspace tech
The technologies derived from the Air Force's latest request for information will likely affect the future of its cyberspace operations and may even be included in the branch's Cyber Vision 2025 study.
Defense Systems
Air Force taps Raytheon for continued tech, testing services
The nearly $180 million award calls for network-centric support and training at various Air Force centers.
Defense Systems
Air Force, Raytheon team on UAS electro-optical sensor work
Raytheon will improve the resolution of a key electro-optical sensor payload used for unmanned aircraft systems, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft under a new Air Force contract.
Defense Systems
Increasing number of civilians work in the UAS kill chain
Some senior military officials are questioning whether direct contractor support of unmanned aircraft systems is appropriate.
Defense Systems
Air Force makes tiny course corrections to save big satellite
Small thrusters and many pizzas helped save the AEHF-1.
Defense Systems