Science & Tech

Northrop Secretly Building Jet for Air Force Trainer Competition

Northrop Grumman has abandoned plans to jointly pitch the BAE Systems Hawk jet training plane for the U.S. Air Force, instead opting to build a new aircraft.

Defense Systems

Lighter, mesh antennas can help cut satellite costs

Harris and Vanguard are developing a lightweight, high-density mesh for satellite antenna reflectors that unfurl in space.

Science & Tech

Here’s What You’ll Find on the Fighter Jet of 2030

Military leaders reveal their hopes and fears for the 6th Generation fighter they will desperately need.

Defense Systems

Budget requests reveal military's R&D priorities

From cyber to lasers and dual manned/unmanned systems, the military services focus on the future.

Defense Systems

DOD leaders take their place in the Fed 100

FCW's annual list honoring people doing great things in public-sector IT includes 22 Defense Department honorees.

Defense Systems

Strategic Command adds Germany to its space surveillance network

The alliance of nations and international organizations will share data on objects orbiting the Earth.

Policy

Buying a New Air Force One Is Complicated

Buying a new jet to fly the American president around the world is more complicated that cutting Boeing a check for a new 747.

Defense Systems

SpaceX drops lawsuit, as Air Force continues ULA contract

An agreement will let Elon Musk's company compete for future military launches while the service maintains its current contract with ULA.

Defense Systems

Air Force adds funds for developing better GPS equipment

Rockwell Collins gets a $21.8 million modification to speed up development of more powerful, M-Code-capable receivers.

Defense Systems

Air Force puts $50M more into airborne communications system

Northrop Grumman’s BACN system bridges the gaps in air and ground communications.

Defense Systems

Air Force's new acquisition plan aims to boost innovation, cut costs

The Bending the Cost Curve program will increase early collaboration with industry while looking for acceptable trade-offs in performance.

Defense Systems

Air Force looks to speed development of modernized GPS gear

Service gives L-3 Communications an extra $8.5 million to accelerate work on the Military GPS User Equipment program.

Science & Tech

New Air Force Bomber Is a Critical Piece of the Pentagon’s Pacific Weaponry

The Air Force’s new radar-evading nuclear bomber is the first large piece of weaponry being purchased with the Pentagon’s Pacific pivot in mind. By Marcus Weisgerber

Science & Tech

The F-35 Has To Phone Texas Before Taking Off

Recent tests revealed the F-35 flies well enough, but not without calling Texas first. By Patrick Tucker.

Science & Tech

The Air Force Needs a Lot More Drone Pilots

An internal memo between top Air Force generals shows there are too few pilots to fill the Pentagon's growing demand for air strikes over places like Iraq and Syria. By Hanna Kozlowska

Defense Systems

Making civilian skies safe for unmanned aircraft

How the Army is working with the FAA and other military services to prevent drone collisions with other aircraft.

Business

Air Force Cancels Its Plans for Layoffs in 2015

The Air Force planned to carry out involuntary separation boards to meet budgetary requirements. This week, the plan changed. By Eric Katz

Defense Systems

DOD continues push to boost supercomputing power

The high-performance modernization program awards two $30 million contracts to increase computing capacity at its HPC centers.

Science & Tech

V-22 Osprey Could Get Some Serious Firepower

The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey has relied on its agility to defend itself, but forward-firing rockets could give the tiltrotor more lethal firepower. By Marcus Weisgerber

Defense Systems

Air Force explores more efficient, jam-resistant data links

The service is looking for feedback on higher-frequency directional links that can increase capacity, spectral efficiency and jam resistance in tactical environments.