Defense Systems
Aircraft buying plan would double UAVs by 2020
A new 30-year aircraft buying plan submitted by the Defense Department to Congress predicts that the number of unmanned aerial vehicles in the U.S. arsenal will double over the next nine years.
Defense Systems
Air Force orders secure comm systems to halt fratricide
The Air Force has chosen Raytheon Co. to supply it with almost 2,000 additional encrypted communications systems aimed at preventing fratricide among U.S. and coalition forces.
Defense Systems
Air Force wants sensors to track endangered squirrels
The service is seeking acoustic fingerprinting technology to locate and track the endangered Mohave squirrels on Edwards Air Force Base.
Defense Systems
Air Force seeks even smarter space satellites
The military is seeking a more grown-up version of its current satellites, one that can take care of itself, according to a new solicitation request.
Defense Systems
Air Force awards pair of contracts for UAS support
Dynamics Research Corp. will continue to provide engineering and technology services to the Air Force, having won a pair of two-year delivery orders worth a combined $24.5 million.
Defense Systems
New missile warning satellite launched into orbit
A military satellite designed to substantially boost the Air Force's missile defense and detection capabilities was launched into space May 7 atop an unmanned Atlas 5 rocket.
Defense Systems
Cloud poses challenges for warfighter data sharing
IT staffs confronted with providing unlimited capacities for warfighter data face a daunting task.
Defense Systems
DOD issues 'should-cost' guidance for achieving acquisition savings
DOD Undersecretary Ashton Carter is expanding on plans he announced last September to reign in runaway acquisition spending on major weapons programs.
Defense Systems
Air Force seeks tiny UAV that can paint targets
The Air Force wants assistance from industry in developing a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle that could drop "dust" on a confirmed or suspected enemy soldier or terrorist, thus allowing them to be tracked from a distance.
Defense Systems
Infrared missile-spotting satellite nears launch
The first of four new missile-spotting satellites will launch on May 6.
Defense Systems
New task to support CENTCOM, bridge service gaps
Intelligent Software Solutions Inc. will help the Defense Department -- under an Air Force task order worth $49.9 million -- improve situational awareness within the U.S. Central Command and create a cloud-based system to share data across various branches.
Defense Systems
Air Force to expand mission of missile defense satellite
The Air Force's troubled infrared missile detection satellite can be used to gather intelligence.
Defense Systems
DOD prepares personnel for government shutdown
The Defense Department will divide its employees into "excepted" and "nonexcepted" from the governmentwide shutdown, and is releasing some details about how it will proceed if funding runs out this weekend.
Defense Systems
Strong cyber defense requires better human skills
The best defense against cyberattacks on military assets is the establishment of strict security procedures for military and civilian personnel handling information, a top Air Force official says.
Defense Systems
Air Force builds high-performance data center
Hill Air Force Base's Project Bonfire is ready to be a model for how the government can consolidate data centers -- and improve the delivery of IT services.
Defense Systems
NASA plans laser method for clearing space junk
A laser-based method could help sweep debris from Earth's orbit, by slowing it down until it re-enters the atmosphere and burns up.
Defense Systems
U.S., South Korea hammer out Global Hawk sale
The United States and South Korea have reached a tentative agreement for the sale to the latter of four Global Hawk unmanned surveillance aircraft.
Defense Systems
Air Force awards satellite study contract
The Air Force has awarded Hughes Network Systems LLC a contract to conduct an architectural study of system capabilities for commercial communications satellites.
Defense Systems
Intelligence edge requires sharp eyes on ground and in sky
Geospatial information must be supplemented by local knowledge to ensure force safety, say U.S. commanders who have served in Afghanistan.
Defense Systems