Defense Systems
Navy looks to ultra-endurance UAV for critical comms link
The Navy has expressed an interest in the a solar-powered, ultra-endurance unmanned aircraft under development by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency as a way to furnish communications to carrier strike groups if satellites are knocked out of service.
Defense Systems
Phantom Eye UAV slated for fuel and flight tests
Boeing plans to fly its Phantom Eye long-endurance unmanned aircraft, a project which the company is funding from its own pocket in hopes of attracting defense customers, in late October or early November at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Defense Systems
Iran putting up a fight in drone wars
Despite the existence of international sanctions, Iran is holding a domestic contest in an effort to create its own arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defense Systems
Marine UAV operator pledges to mentor others
Sgt. Chad John, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator with Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 at Camp Leatherneck in southwestern Afghanistan, spends 12 hours a day viewing the stark landscape of Afghanistan through a camera attached to a small, lightweight RQ-7B Shadow in an effort to get sharp, crisp views of areas into which fellow Marines will be patrolling.
Defense Systems
First ORS satellite in orbit passes systems check
The Air Force Space Command says the Operationally Responsive Space-1 satellite is now fully operational in the wake of successful on-orbit deployment and subsequent checkout of all systems.
Defense Systems
Air Force tackles ISR portfolio review
An effort to rebalance the Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance spending plans might be similar in its execution of the effort the military service used previously to construct a cohesive family of systems for long-range strike aircraft.
Defense Systems
Israel readies UAV 'that can reach Iran' for operations
Before year's end, the Israeli Air Force is expected to begin operating a large unmanned aerial vehicle capable of furnishing a high-altitude beyond its immediate borders.
Defense Systems
US military receives new satcom terminals for tactical units
Raytheon will deploy advanced tactical terminals for satellite communications for the U.S. military with increased capacity to transmit voice, data and video and help warfighters achieve greater situational awareness.
Defense Systems
Global Hawk ground station to cover international variants
A common ground station under development for Air Force and Navy versions of Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk also will be able to control NATO and other international variants of the high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle.
Defense Systems
Predator UAV crashes in northwestern Pakistan
An armed Predator unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to the United States crashed in Pakistan's rugged northwestern tribal district of Waziristan Sept. 18 as a result of a technical malfunction.
Defense Systems
Pentagon orders more high-capacity satellites
Boeing announced Sept. 13 that it has won a $1.1 billion Air Force satellite contract, which makes the win the fourth major satellite contract the defense contractor has landed in the past two years.
Defense Systems
New breed of mission partners will support flexible field comms
Industry partners are stepping forward to provide the services that will enable field forces to connect and share information in real-time across multiple disperse locations, both in theater and around the world.
Defense Systems
Army to dedicate new C4ISR center at Aberdeen
The Aberdeen Proving Ground will hold back-to-back ceremonies Sept. 15 to mark the completion of the transfer of 11 organizations to the facility as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process and also the establishment of the C4ISR Materiel Center of Excellence at the proving ground.
Defense Systems
Navy drones offer advantages, but won't replace manned aircraft
Unmanned aircraft systems offer clear advantages to naval forces conducting certain types of missions, but they cannot replace the judgment a trained pilot can bring to bear in a particularly challenging situation.
Defense Systems
Planners of Bin Laden raid relied on long-range comms node
The Defense Department was able to draw on sophisticated capabilities involving long-range communications and intelligence planning in the run up to the assault on Osama Bin Laden's compound in Pakistan.
Defense Systems
Air Force, Boeing sign new WGS satellite contract
The Air Force has awarded Boeing a $1.1 billion contract to expand the constellation of satellites that belong to the Wideband Global Satcom system.
Defense Systems
Army's Prophet Enhanced system offers mobile intell
The Army's intelligence arm is building combat muscle as the service readies to expand the mobile Prophet Enhanced ground signals intelligence system that it says is proving vital through its flexibility and mobility on the battlefield.
Defense Systems
Air Force orders mobile Global Broadcast Service suites
The Air Force has awarded a contract with a potential value of $900 million over five years to General Dynamics C4 Systems to furnish ground terminals that will deliver critical information via voice, data and video to mobile users on the battlefield.
Defense Systems
Navy awards ground surveillance imaging contract
FLIR Systems has won a contract worth up to $52.1 million from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division to furnish imaging technology for persistent ground surveillance.
Defense Systems