Defense Systems

Air Force deems drone virus more nuisance than threat

The Air Force stated on Oct. 12 that the virus that recently infected the remote cockpits of its fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles operating over war zones was swiftly and easily contained.

Defense Systems

Air Force base failed to promptly report drone virus

Officials at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada knew for two weeks about a virus that infected the operation of drones flown remotely from the base over warzones in Southwestern Asia, but they chose not to inform Air Force cybersecurity officials about the situation.

Defense Systems

Air Force's Blue Devil airship undergoes testing

The Air Force is running tests on its optionally manned, giant airship Blue Devil Block 2 in preparation for deployment in Afghanistan by the middle of next year.

Defense Systems

US armed drones struck by tenacious computer virus

Unmanned aerial vehicles flown remotely over Afghanistan and other areas have been struck by a computer virus that logs pilots' keystrokes.

Defense Systems

AF deploys infrared staring sensor via commercial launch

SES Government Solutions, Orbital Sciences and Science Applications International have teamed with the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center to launch a new infrared surveillance sensor into orbit via an SES-2 commercial satellite.

Defense Systems

Air Force wants industry to streamline space programs

The Air Force's acquisition chief has called on the space industry to reduce the complexity of space programs, cut launch costs, and shorten development times, as the military service struggles to deal with a flattening budget from 2012 to 2016.

Defense Systems

Air Force mulls scale back of ISR programs

The Air Force has some tough decisions to make concerning which intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs to cut as it scales down to a smaller intelligence force structure capable of meeting various types of threats in future decades.

Defense Systems

First ORS satellite in orbit passes systems check

The Air Force Space Command says the Operationally Responsive Space-1 satellite is now fully operational in the wake of successful on-orbit deployment and subsequent checkout of all systems.

Defense Systems

LightSquared's proposals not viable, general says

LightSquared's proposed network cannot exist with the U.S. military's Global Positioning System technology, said Gen. William Shelton.

Defense Systems

Air Force tackles ISR portfolio review

An effort to rebalance the Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance spending plans might be similar in its execution of the effort the military service used previously to construct a cohesive family of systems for long-range strike aircraft.

Defense Systems

White House might have interfered with general's testimony

Air Force Gen. William Shelton has told lawmakers during a classified briefing earlier this month that the White House tried to persuade him to change his testimony to make it more favorable to a company with ties to a key Democratic donor.

Defense Systems

Pentagon orders more high-capacity satellites

Boeing announced Sept. 13 that it has won a $1.1 billion Air Force satellite contract, which makes the win the fourth major satellite contract the defense contractor has landed in the past two years.

Defense Systems

Air Force to get IT combat systems boost

The Air Force will get support for its combat systems from Lockheed Martin, which will integrate commercial, open source and government software components.

Defense Systems

Cyber domination requires joint mindset

It's been more than a year since the Defense Department established its cyber components, but they all still must overcome one key challenge: their own traditional structures.

Defense Systems

Better image tagging improves warfighter situational awareness

As networking makes all types of data readily available to warfighters, technical planners are continuing to enhance techniques to make sure warfighters can find the files they need.

Defense Systems

Planners of Bin Laden raid relied on long-range comms node

The Defense Department was able to draw on sophisticated capabilities involving long-range communications and intelligence planning in the run up to the assault on Osama Bin Laden's compound in Pakistan.

Defense Systems

Air Force, Boeing sign new WGS satellite contract

The Air Force has awarded Boeing a $1.1 billion contract to expand the constellation of satellites that belong to the Wideband Global Satcom system.

Defense Systems

Air Force schedules IT upgrade at 4 bases

Harris Corp. has won a quartet of Air Force contracts worth a combined more than $12 million to upgrade the service's IT infrastructure at four bases.

Defense Systems

Air Force orders mobile Global Broadcast Service suites

The Air Force has awarded a contract with a potential value of $900 million over five years to General Dynamics C4 Systems to furnish ground terminals that will deliver critical information via voice, data and video to mobile users on the battlefield.

Defense Systems

New bomber program might include escort UAVs

The Air Force's next-generation, long-range bomber likely will be paired with unmanned reconnaissance support aircraft to help it successfully penetrate enemy airspace and make precision strikes.