Defense Systems

Navy awards $89M contract for submarine communications

Raytheon will deliver 25 of the high data rate systems for Navy and U.K. subs.

Defense Systems

How technology has changed intelligence collection

Advancements have enabled signals intelligence to supersede relying on human sources in the field, but progress has come with shortcomings of its own.

Defense Systems

DARPA wants to plumb the depths of an underwater Internet

The agency is looking for technologies to expand high-bandwidth communications and networking below the surface.

Defense Systems

Army awards $36M deal for tactical communications support

General Dynamics will produce and repair components of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 1 network.

Defense Systems

Army says intelligence system is getting easier to use

The service plans to reduce complexity and improve training for DCGS-A, which has met with criticism and resistance from users.

Defense Systems

Special forces aiming to lock down BlackBerry 10 devices

The command wants an "integrity agent" to ensure devices can operate in a trusted state and resist any kind of tampering.

Defense Systems

Reusable rocket race heats up with Vulcan

ULA rolls out a new U.S. rocket with reusable components, while SpaceX again narrowly fails to recover a spent launcher.

Defense Systems

Day of the LOCUST: Navy demonstrates swarming UAVs

ONR, in another breakthrough for autonomous technology, shows how a team of small drones can work together to protect an asset or attack an enemy.

Defense Systems

Pentagon's near-zero power plan could change the game for wireless sensors

DARPA's N-ZERO program would make devices that lie dormant but aware until triggered by a specified event.

Defense Systems

Blue Origin reports progress on new U.S. rocket engine

The BE-3 engine could serve as a future upper stage, and represents a step toward replacing the Russian-made RD-180, Jeff Bezos says.

Defense Systems

Marines, DARPA show what real-time air support looks like

The prototype Persistent Close Air Support System dramatically cuts the time from identifying a target to delivering a strike.

Defense Systems

Air Force begins construction of Space Fence tracking system

The system, being built by Lockheed Martin, will greatly increase the amount of orbital debris the service can keep tabs on.

Defense Systems

Air Force putting data analytics into a smart targeting platform

A data analytics specialist is working to develop a targeting system to automate what is now a manual process.

Defense Systems

Air Force awards $84M deal for electronic warfare simulations

The VIEWS II program will focus on testing the sensors and architectures that fuse data from multiple sources, including the F-22 and F-35.

Defense Systems

In mapping future tech, DARPA cites drone, ISR success stories

In its biannual report envisioning future military systems, the agency also lauds one-time new technologies for their effectiveness.

Defense Systems

Northrop splits ISR division to expand space business

The company also is building a $20 million Maryland Space Assembly and Test facility to focus on expanded payload production.

Defense Systems

Watch: How an airborne 'system of systems' attack would work

A DARPA video shows how the SoS concept could be applied to air operations involving manned and unmanned aircraft.

Defense Systems

STRATCOM commander: Threats from space are real

Adm. Cecil Haney outlines the dangers in space, from debris to potentially hostile space vehicles.

Defense Systems

Russia's hybrid warfare tactics gain upper hand in Ukraine

U.S., NATO officials call for better readiness against the tactic, which uses information warfare, cyberattacks, economic strategies and other steps to destabilize a country before the tanks roll in.

Defense Systems

Mobile mashup: The military's proliferating mix of smartphones and tablets

DOD is using mobile devices in conventional and unconventional ways, which brings a lot of challenges to go with the convenience.