Defense Systems

AKO to add blogging, wikis and Facebook-like features as it approaches its billionth user served

In a session on the "State of the Union" of Army Knowledge Online and Defense Knowledge Online, AKO/DKO project manager Col. Earl Nobel said that additional Web 2.0 capabilities, including blogging, wikis and a social networking function similar to Facebook, will be added.

Defense Systems

Defense in depth’ strategy key to fight cyber threats, says Army NOSC deputy

One of the concepts that network security administrators have at their disposal is similar to the traditional Army’s “defend in depth” strategy, which is a defense designed to withstand repeated enemy incursions, versus forward defense, which is a single line of defenders that can be more easily pierced by an overwhelming force.

Defense Systems

Chief Casey to LandWarNet 2008: “I want to see a squad leader with a hand-held device from which he can draw the knowledge of the Army”

A 21st Century Army will have to evolve to meet six trends head on: globalization, resource competition, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, climate change, failed and failing states, and demographic trends.

Defense Systems

"BlackBerry-like" services for the soldier — Lt. Gen. Sorenson says it’s possible

The Holy Grail of interactivity is the ability to use a BlackBerry like device with a single phone number and single email address that stays with soldiers and lets them access the data they need to prosecute their missions.

Defense Systems

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson gives opening address at the LandWarNet 2008 Conference

Organizing a Network Service Center construct is critical to the future of LandWarNet, particularly if the Army is to deploy modular, expeditionary forces with connectivity from fort to foxhole.

Defense Systems

Army CIO Sorenson acknowledges concern over cyberwarfare,

Not that Army information technology officers needed a wake-up call about the need to secure their networks, but the recent cyberattacks against Georgian networks that originated in Russia certainly served as reinforcement of that need.

Defense Systems

LandWarNet to Feature Interoperability Program

The growing importance of IT to military operations, particularly those conducted by the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, is evident by the record number of exhibitors and registrants signed up for this year’s LandWarNet Conference.

Defense Systems

Army Lt. Gen Ann Dunwoody confirmed

Army Lt. Gen Ann Dunwoody became the first female four-star general in the U.S. military after the Senate confirmed her by unanimous consent July 23. She will head Army Materiel Command (AMC), based at Fort Belvoir, Va.

Defense Systems

Battlefield satcom

When the 3rd Infantry Division outran its ability to erect line-of-sight communication antennas during the charge to Baghdad, losing its terrestrial radio capacity, the planners knew something needed to change.

Defense Systems

All solutions go

After three years of wrangling, Defense Department and civilian agencies are finally digging into the Army’s Information Technology Enterprise Solutions-2 Services contract.

Defense Systems

The digitized battlefield

If survivability is the major goal of any system designed to be carried by soldiers into combat, the Army’s Land Warrior system has demonstrated its qualifications.

Defense Systems

Interview with Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson

Army CIO Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson spoke with Defense Systems contributing editor Barry Rosenberg about some of the challenges he’s tackling.

Defense Systems

ICS Is the heart of the future

The core of the Army’s Future Combat Systems, the networked hub of Land Warrior, and the rest of the digitally enhanced warfighter systems are elements of computer systems built largely with commercial components.

Defense Systems

Army studies biofuel cells for sensors

The Army is investigating whether a new type of fuel cell that uses biologically active enzymes as a catalyst could provide a longer-lasting power source for unattended ground sensors.

Defense Systems

COTS creates challenge

Almost every version of Microsoft’s operating systems can be found in the military, and the Army only recently upgraded its Standard Army Maintenance System from MS-DOS to Windows XP.

Defense Systems

Army prepares test of new wireless war game gear

In August, the Army will conduct its first functional field test of a wireless tactical training system that it will eventually embed in Future Combat Systems vehicles and weapons systems.

Defense Systems

Africom builds cooperation with collaboration

Challenges inherent in Africom’s mission — focused more on promoting regional security than warfighting — call for a somewhat different structure and create a challenge for Africom’s C4 operations.

Defense Systems

Army renews contract for munition logistics automation

The Army Joint Munitions Command has renewed a contract with Savi Technology to continue developing and supporting a government-owned software system that handles depot-level ammunition logistics.

Defense Systems

The future is slow to arrive

The Army's Future Combat Systems project is changing to meet criticisms and shifting priorities, but critics doubt the changes are coming soon enough to matter.

Defense Systems

Much more than a game

America’s Army provides an enterprise platform for Army training