Defense Systems

Flexrotor UAV scheduled for flight control upgrade

The Office of Naval Research has awarded Aerovel a contract to develop the flight controls component for the Flexrotor vertical take-off-and-landing unmanned aerial vehicle.

Defense Systems

US to expand scope of UAV strikes in Yemen

The Obama Administration has granted the CIA and the U.S. military greater flexibility to strike al Qaeda operatives in Yemen with armed unmanned aerial vehicles.

Defense Systems

Airborne ISR still years away from futuristic swarm concept

The Defense Department's strategy for employing airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors and platforms against adversaries is threatened on a number of fronts, and the best solution to address the existing challenges is years away.

Defense Systems

Air Force to automate tracking of space debris

Air Force personnel charged with tracking space debris in orbit to ensure that it doesn't interfere with operational satellites will begin using a new suite of automated equipment later this year to perform the complex task.

Defense Systems

Ground sensors play key role in battlefield snooping

New efforts seek to fuse systems for faster force reaction, greater situational awareness

Defense Systems

Navy investigates UAS crashes as programs move forward

Navy forges ahead with key UAS programs while trying to figure out what caused two of its Fire Scouts to crash recently.

Defense Systems

A holistic approach to tactical comms

Wireless ad-hoc mesh networks can make voice and data tactical communications possible in austere environments where infrastructure may not exist and electrical power is scarce.

Defense Systems

Cargo-hauling robots slated for testing in Afghanistan

The Defense Department plans to test in the harsh terrain of Afghanistan autonomous vehicles and legged robots that can haul gear for ground troops.

Defense Systems

What can UAV analysts learn from 'Jersey Shore'?

The Air Force might soon be adopting practices used by reality television producers to efficiently manage the large volume of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data gathered from unmanned aircraft sensors and cameras.

Defense Systems

Compact military VSATs have big impact

Military VSATs offer benefits that are fueling solid growth, but users must make tradeoffs, experts say.

Defense Systems

UAVs cornerstone of DOD's 30-year aviation plan

The Defense Department intends to increase its armed and long-range surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles by at least 45 percent over the next decade.

Defense Systems

Lawmakers ask FCC to reconsider on LightSquared

A quartet of lawmakers has asked Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski to find a viable solution that will allow prospective wireless provider LightSquared to launch its planned 4G network.

Defense Systems

Navy sensor would hunt for pirate ships

The Navy is developing a sensor system for unmanned aircraft that would be able to distinguish a pirate vessel from other craft.

Defense Systems

China's navy to develop UAVs to hunt submarines

China's People's Liberation Army Navy has begun deploying unmanned aerial vehicles aboard its ships. They may eventually hunt submarines.

Defense Systems

Enhanced sensor systems to help Army shed light in the darkness

The Army has named five winners of $1.8 billion in contract awards for its Warrior Enabling Broad Sensor program.

Defense Systems

Army awards unattended ground sensor contract

The Army has awarded Northrop Grumman a five-year, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract to furnish Scorpion I and II unattended ground sensor systems for force protection and intelligence gathering purposes.

Defense Systems

Will the Air Force ever catch up with its UAV data backlog?

It may be years before the Air Force has the human resources and tools in place to keep up with the enormous amounts of data gathered from its fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles and the sophisticated sensors that they employ on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, says Air Force Secretary Michael Donley.

Defense Systems

LightSquared might opt for voluntary bankruptcy, Falcone says

Hedge fund manager Philip Falcone said in an April 4 interview that he is giving serious consideration to filing a voluntary bankruptcy for LightSquared.

Defense Systems

Looking for a sharper image with sensors for unmanned platforms

The military's shift to high-definition sensors requires many changes.

Defense Systems

Raven tactical UAV to get sensor boost

Aerovironment's Raven RQ-11B unmanned aerial vehicle will get a new miniature, gimbaled sensor payload that will give warfighters better situational awareness via higher visual fidelity and continuous observation of an item of interest.