Defense Systems
DOD memo sets tone for Army’s future after FCS
A memorandum issued June 23 confirms the recommendations made earlier this year by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to replace the single, giant program with a number of smaller modernization efforts.
Defense Systems
GAO finds silver lining in FCS failure
A GAO official told a Senate subcommittee that though the Army's Future Combat Systems failed to live up to expectations, successive programs will benefit from its trial and error.
Defense Systems
DOD seeks $5.4B for unmanned systems in 2010
The Defense Department is seeking an increase of 18.4 percent, or $870 million, in funding for unmanned systems in fiscal 2010 over the amount spent for such systems in 2009, Defense Update reported.
Defense Systems
Army gives soldiers access to Twitter, Facebook
A recent Army order directs network managers to give soldiers access to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Defense Systems
Army awards $363M Sincgcars contract
ITT Corp. will furnish continuing support for the Army’s Single-Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System.
Defense Systems
Army gets more WIN-T terminals
General Dynamics Corp. will furnish a large number of additional satellite terminals to the Army to support its next-generation tactical communications network.
Defense Systems
Army tests battle command backup
A validation test for the Army’s first Network Service Center in Germany proves that a brigade can replicate its battle command applications when deploying overseas, yet also reveals the need for faster recovery for digital failover.
Defense Systems
Panel: Warfighters want more flexible intelligence systems
Members of the defense intelligence community participating in a panel at the 2009 DODIIS Conference said that flexible systems would make it easier for them to carry out specific intelligence missions.
Defense Systems
DOD develops radio technologies to overcome spectrum limitations
The pressing need of ground troops for wireless communications is sparking new research into dynamic spectrum allocation.
Defense Systems
VSAT proves crucial to battlefield communications
VSAT technology, which allows for real-time voice, video and data transmission without communications infrastructure or line-of-sight positioning, is proving to be an indispensable tool for military command and control.
Defense Systems
Ground mobile program worth the wait
JTRS Joint Ground Domain Program Manager Col. Daniel Hughes discusses the progress of engineering efforts to enhance wideband communications capabilities for Army and Marine vehicles.
Defense Systems
Industry Recon
Marine Corps Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle gets liquid-cooled enclosures to protect electronics; Nortel’s Optical Multiservice Edge 6500 is approved for mission-critical networks; and the military orders more friend-or-foe digital transponders and towed decoys for aircraft.
Defense Systems
Data Packets
Top defense officials are moving to cancel the FCS program and transfer spinouts to a another program. GAO has warned of problems with GPS satellites. Intell community CIOs report progress on technology integration. The Air Force Personnel Center plans to move its personnel support applications to a software-as-a-service model. And a Marine Corps general urges tailoring C4ISR to small units.
Defense Systems
Bid made on phase two of Army missile defense project
Northrop Grumman submitted a bid this month for the second round of a competition to serve as the prime contractor for an integrated Army air and missile defense system.
Defense Systems
Army to begin virtual support group for amputees
The Army wants to develop virtual technology for support groups for amputees and their families.
Defense Systems
Humans and robots bond on the battlefield
The U.S. military has deployed thousands of robots on modern battlefields where they are now fighting side by side with humans who have grown to depend heavily on them for their assistance, reports LiveScience.com.
Defense Systems
Administration to cancel FCS, establish new program
The Defense Department’s chief arms buyer, Ashton Carter, said May 18 the administration was on the verge of canceling the entire Army Future Combat Systems program in its present form, according to media reports.
Defense Systems
Two up for top information warfare posts
The Obama administration has nominated Maj. Gen. Dennis L. Via to head up Army C4 Systems and Gen. William T. Lord to serve as chief of warfighting integration for the Air Force.
Defense Systems
DOD to receive support for communications systems
Computer Sciences Corp. will furnish systems engineering and program support services to the Army project manager responsible for maintaining communications transmission systems under a contract potentially worth $226 million over three years.
Defense Systems