Defense Systems
PlayStations power Air Force 'supercomputer'
The Air Force Research Laboratory has built a supercomputer that is driven in part by several hundred Sony PlayStation 3 consoles.
Defense Systems
Air Force cyber unit begins operations
The 24th Air Force received approval Jan. 25 to begin performing critical elements of its mission to protect Air Force cyber assets and support joint warfighting efforts.
Defense Systems
Electronic warfare goes on the offensive
The effort to build and deploy a aircraft-jamming pod that contains electron pulses, information-scrambling data streams and invasive algorithms will see the pendulum swing toward using electronic warfare in the attack mode.
Defense Systems
Fight is on to combat Air Force SOA attacks
Raytheon Co. will work to protect the Air Force against malicious software attacks under a $2.9 million contract.
Defense Systems
Air Force deploys wireless LANs for better field access
Systems integrator Telos developed a secure network using Aruba's mesh network and encryption technologies from Harris Corp. and L-3 Communications.
Defense Systems
Air Force gets support for space launch efforts
Booz Allen Hamilton will provide engineering and integration services to the Air Force under a $38.4 million contract.
Defense Systems
Air Force awards support work for Predator, Reaper
The Air Force has awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. a $266 million contract to provide an array of program and technical support for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial systems.
Defense Systems
Next-gen strike aircraft to have intell capabilities
The follow-on aircraft to the now-discarded Next-Generation Bomber is likely to have key intelligence-gathering capabilities and also be able to disrupt enemy networks and sensors, Aviation Week reports.
Defense Systems
Lack of Predator video encryption raises questions
Readers of Defense Systems were stunned that the military failed to encrypt Predator video feeds.
Defense Systems
Encryption of Predator video feeds will take time
It could take as long as five years before video feeds from Predator and Reaper drones are fully encrypted and U.S. forces are able to keep enemy forces from intercepting the information, reports Ellen Nakashima in the Washington Post.
Defense Systems
Military Predator video intercepted by Iraqis
Iraqi insurgents have used inexpensive off-the-shelf software to intercept video feeds from Predator unmanned aerial vehicles during the past year, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Defense Systems
Gorgon Stare to accompany Afghanistan surge
The Air Force plans to deploy the new Gorgon Stare sensor to Afghanistan in spring 2010 to enhance surveillance of insurgent activities and give U.S. forces a boost during anticipated spring offensives, reports Colin Clark at DOD Buzz.
Defense Systems
Unmanned long-strike capabilities might get budget boost
Manned and unmanned global strike programs are among the Defense Department weapons programs that might benefit from a $100 billion infusion of new funds over a five-year period, reports Vago Muradian at Defense News.
Defense Systems
Airborne, maritime joint network passes key milestone
The component of the Joint Tactical Radio System intended for airborne and maritime platforms and installations has successfully completed a critical design review that capped more than six months of system and subsystem assessments.
Defense Systems
Air Force acknowledges stealth UAV
Air Force officials confirmed the existence of an unmanned aerial vehicle Dec. 4 that incorporates stealth design characteristics and has been sighted in Afghanistan, report David Fulghum and Bill Sweetman in Aviation Week’s 'Ares' blog.
Defense Systems
Joint Strike Fighter to get better targeting abilities
The stealth fighter plane will be fitted with new sensor technology.
Defense Systems
New software targets Air Force bombers' accuracy
Boeing Co. has won a $23 million contract to upgrade software on Air Force bombers, increasing their sniper-like precision and single-moving-target kill capabilities.
Defense Systems
Pros and cons of video from space
U.S. intelligence specialists and military officials currently are assessing a European-pioneered technology that would offer yet another way to monitor battlefields and areas of potential conflict around the globe, reports Ben Iannotta at Defense News.
Defense Systems
Space Command defends far reaches of cyberspace
Air Force Space Command commander Gen. Robert Kehler discusses the challenges of defending cyberspace, Global Positioning System capabilities and space assets.
Defense Systems