Defense Systems
Press delete: Sandia's idea for nuclear-powered UAV not practical
A research project by Sandia National Laboratories to create a nuclear-powered unmanned aerial vehicle that could stay aloft for days without refueling was eventually cast aside because "political realities" would not allow its development.
Defense Systems
Revamped satellite launch schedule expected soon, Shelton says
The Air Force will soon release the terms of its revised multiple-year approach to purchasing launch services for military and intelligence satellites, says Gen. William Shelton.
Defense Systems
DOD must fix glitches in satellite programs, says GAO
The Defense Department continues to struggle on next-generation military satellite programs with such problems as cost overruns, shortages of ground-segment software and problems with beyond-line-of-sight terminals, reports the General Accountability Office.
Defense Systems
Army PM DCATS transition means many contracting opportunities
The Army's Defense Communications and Army Transmissions System program is ready to issue new contracts to industry.
Defense Systems
UAV connectivity top challenge with shift in terror war
The military will rely more frequently on commercial communications satellites for connectivity needed to operate unmanned aerial vehicles and provide the bandwidth required to handle more sophisticated sensors and the data they transmit.
Defense Systems
ITT Exelis gets GPS III satellite payload deal
ITT Exelis has won a $32 million contract to build the navigation payloads for the third and fourth Global Positioning System III space vehicles.
Defense Systems
EMARSS is gone, but the integration lab lives on
Army LTC Dean Hoffman, product manager for Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems, discusses what's next for the service after its Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System failed to receive funding in the 2013 defense budget.
Defense Systems
Navy dreams of ocean-traversing undersea robots
It may not be in the cards yet, but the Navy hasn't given up hope that one day it will have underwater UAS that can journey across the ocean. And in fact, some universities are already working on the technology.
Defense Systems
Can US and Pakistan mend differences over UAV strikes?
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will convene a special meeting of his nation's parliament March 20 in an effort to improve his government's strained relationship with the United States.
Defense Systems
New names, new contract structures alter UAS market
The military unmanned aircraft systems market is changing in more ways than one.
Defense Systems
WGS: Model satellite procurement with cost-cutting efficiencies
Once intended as a satellite project meant to plug a major gap in communications capabilities for the U.S. military, the Wideband Global Satcom constellation has emerged as the primary backbone for moving the Defense Department’s wideband data.
Defense Systems
DISA nears end of commercial satellite services build-out
DISA and GSA are close to putting in place the final piece of their jointly managed Future Commercial Satellite Communications Services Acquisition program.
Defense Systems
Space sector efficiencies may help DOD save money, executives say
The commercial space industry is proposing a number of leasing options that might help the DOD trim costs.
Defense Systems
New satellite capabilities target UAV needs
UAV operations are driving new developments in waveforms and spacecraft to support mission needs.
Defense Systems
Blimp video caught soldier's surrender after Afghanistan massacre
A surveillance camera mounted on a blimp hovering above a combat outpost in Afghanistan captured video of the surrender of a U.S. Army staff sergeant who allegedly murdered 16 Afghan civilians during a shooting spree in Afghanistan.
Defense Systems
Satellite comms offers warfighters multiple data paths
To compensate for budget shortfalls and also meet the growing demand for bandwidth, DOD is being forced to come up with creative ways to meet warfighter communications needs.
Defense Systems
Domestic UAVs would be kept on tight leash
The Federal Aviation Administration is drafting a rule that would allow only unmanned aircraft of less than 55 pounds to be operated inside the United States.
Defense Systems
DIA takes the lead on developing a common desktop environment
Grant Schneider, DIA's deputy director for information management and CIO, discusses the path toward common links between the intelligence agencies.
Defense Systems
Battlefield intelligence to benefit from Web-based tool
A Web-based system that fuses real-time operations data and accumulated intelligence will be tested at the Network Integration Evaluation.
Defense Systems