Defense Systems
Report details deficiencies in UAV testing
A recent annual report to Congress by the office of Operational Test & Evaluation details areas in which the services have missed the mark in mitigating vulnerabilities and deficiencies in tests of UAVs.
Defense Systems
DOD plans to invest $600M in unmanned underwater vehicles
Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter told sailors that the Defense Department big plans for UUV over the next five years.
Defense Systems
Army developing a universal control for all of its drones
The TOGA system will reduce the number of pilots required while better integrating ISR with its tactical network.
Defense Systems
ULA's Air Force launch contract under scrutiny
The Air Force is considering early termination of a launch support contract option, as Sen. John McCain renews a push to ban use of the Russian-made RD-180 engine.
Defense Systems
Army adds $97M to Shadow drone deal
The service is acquiring more of the catapult-launched ISR unmanned aircraft, which has also been used in concert with Apache helicopters.
Defense Systems
Tactical mobility coming into the picture for on-ground soldiers
Officials discuss what's next for mobile devices in the military — from real-time video to head-up displays.
Defense Systems
Ultra-high-speed chip could make the spectrum feel less crowded
DARPA's analog-to-digital converter can analyze large swaths of the electromagnetic spectrum, keeping systems alter to jamming and other interference.
Defense Systems
Army building an airfield for drone training
The site next to the National Training Center in California will accommodate training on the Gray Eagle ISR aircraft.
Defense Systems
Orbital ATK, SpaceX to develop prototype rocket engines
The Air Force shores up its effort to get a next-generation booster off the ground.
Defense Systems
Air Force looks to 're-define' ISR sensor suites
In a solicitation, the service said it is looking for ISR sensors that are capable of detecting targets obscured by natural or man-made means.
Defense Systems
Air Force wants sense and avoid technology for large drones
The service is looking for sense and avoid technology for aircraft such as the Predator and Global Hawk that could also be transitioned to smaller drones.
Defense Systems
Army adding gigabit wireless to its tactical network
Aruba's Command Post Wi-Fi brings NSA-approved wireless to WIN-T at the battalion level.
Defense Systems
Palm-sized atomic clock could reduce reliance on GPS
A DARPA program is calling for a small, low-power but extremely accurate clock that could maintain location data when GPS goes out.
Defense Systems
NRL tests low-power, long-endurance sail drone
The Naval Research Lab, in partnership with Penn State, tested algorithms designed to increase the endurance of unmanned sailplanes that ride thermals the way some large birds do.
Defense Systems
Northrop wins contract for GPS upgrades
The company will support modernization efforts for the embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System.
Defense Systems
Navy wants small drones that can see in the dark
The service is looking for small tactical unmanned aerial vehicles capable of providing ISR in both day and night operations in adverse environmental conditions.
Defense Systems
Tern gets closer to extending ships' ISR reach at sea
The DARPA-ONR program to develop long-range, vertical-lift drones for smaller ships moves into Phase 3.
Defense Systems
Navy awards large deal to upgrade satellite communications
Raytheon gets a contract that could be worth up to $467 million for Navy Multiband Terminals, which will quadruple capacity while providing anti-jamming features.
Defense Systems
Three steps the Army can take toward multinational force interoperability
Achieving interoperability among global forces is no small feat; it requires a multi-pronged approach, SolarWinds’ Joel Dolisy writes.
Defense Systems