Defense Systems

Embattled missile program meets its demise

After weeks of speculation, poor performance and doubts about its efficiency, the Defense Department approved an Army recommendation to cancel the Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System precision-attack missile program.

Defense Systems

How the Army ensures the reliability of its troop-tracking system

The Blue Force Tracking system uses a global network to deliver command and control and situational awareness to the soldier in the field, and the Army has turned to NitroSecurity for security management.

Defense Systems

Army to get assistance with materiel management

Science Applications International Corp. will provide support services to the Army under a four and a half year contract that has a total value of more than $128 million, if all options are exercised.

Defense Systems

Army to make enemy networks the next battleground

Army forces in Afghanistan are testing several small and sophisticated aircraft packages that will broaden their ability to exploit the electromagnetic spectrum, reports Sean Meade at Aviation Weeks’ Ares Blog.

Defense Systems

Social media and the generational divide

The use of social networking tools underscores the generational divide, but crossing that divide will help agencies accomplish their missions, panelists at the 2010 Open Government Innovations Conference say.

Defense Systems

Battle command network drives Army modernization

In its 2010 Modernization Strategy, the Army outlines its near-term future as it moves to become a taut, versatile and efficient force centered on the battle command network.

Defense Systems

In defense of PowerPoint

After Pentagon leaders criticize the use of PowerPoint presentations, readers come to the software's defense, laying the blame for bad presentations at the users' feet.

Defense Systems

Army lines up lifecycle support for missile defense system

Lockheed Martin Corp. will supply the Army with assistance fielding and maintaining a weapon system designed to defend against short-and-midrange ballistic missiles under a new contract.

Defense Systems

Army puts safeguards in place for satellite transmissions

Efforts are under way to boost transmission security for very small aperture terminals that are an integral part of satellite communications on the battlefield.

Defense Systems

CERDEC director shares vision for C4ISR innovations

Gary Blohm, director of the Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, on integration of C4ISR technologies with existing platforms, the upcoming C4ISR On-the-Move exercise and third-generation/fourth-generation networking technologies.

Defense Systems

Army, Marine Corps rationalize robotics systems

Army and Marine Corps officials want to increase the number of robots in the battlefield but reduce the types of robots they buy to make robotic systems more interoperable.

Defense Systems

Pick to lead cyber command lays out battle plans

Army Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander says that militarizing cyberspace is not part of his agenda, and reveals what is at the top of the list.

Defense Systems

Afghan IEDs show chilling improvements, data analysis says

An impressive collection of data on IED attacks in southern Afghanistan and western Pakistan shows not only an increase in attacks but also a rapid acceleration of bomb making skill and use.

Defense Systems

Data Packets

The Army tries its hand at rapid software development, the Defense Department strives to balance needs for conventional versus asymmetrical warfare, and the Defense Information Systems Agency deploys its network infrastructure to assist in the Haiti earthquake relief effort.

Defense Systems

Army confronts battle to globalize its network resources

The Army released its long-awaited RFP for enterprise messaging, but its larger push for global network enterprise services promises to be a challenge.

Defense Systems

Army grapples with sensor overload

The military pushes for plug-and-play tools to improve sensor-to-shooter situational awareness.

Defense Systems

Army awards contract for next phase of WIN-T

Award represents next step for the WIN-T program, an important step for the Army transformation to an advanced, mobile, modular force.

Defense Systems

Army pushes for universal UAS ground control system

The Army is pushing to develop a single ground control station system to operate unmanned aircraft with and without weapons, according to an interview with Col. Gregory Gonzalez.

Defense Systems

Does the military have too many drones?

The military might be taking on more unmanned aircraft than it can handle.

Defense Systems

The Army's smart turn to battlefield apps

Smart phone technology is taking over the rest of the world, it seems, so why should the U.S. military be immune? The Army, at least, seems to be willing to see how far it can go, even on the front lines.