Defense Systems
Unmanned aircraft system new arsenal in battling pirates
ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system is a new tool in the escalating war against pirates.
Defense Systems
Next-gen Blue Force Tracking system gets major boost
Blue Force Tracking 2 will greatly improve situational awareness on the battlefield for soldiers and Marines in helicopters and combat vehicles.
Defense Systems
Army keeps tight grip on tactical network project
Army Col. William Hoppe, project manager of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical system, discusses new developments with the program, its future road map and the effect of budget cutbacks.
Defense Systems
$4.5B budget cut won't keep Air Force from new ventures in 2012
Although the Air Force's budget is smaller for fiscal 2012, savings gained through efficiency measures will be applied to readiness and modernization, official says.
Defense Systems
Gorgon Stare test uncovers major glitches
Gorgon Stare, a sophisticated video capture system with nine cameras that provides wide-angle surveillance images, has significant operational glitches and is not ready to be fielded at this time.
Defense Systems
DOD approves requirements for coalition waveform
The military component responsible for the Joint Tactical Radio System has signed off on the operational requirements for a wideband networking waveform that will ultimately enhance interoperability among U.S. and coalition forces around the globe.
Defense Systems
BAE adds imaging company to its portfolio
BAE Systems has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Fairchild Imaging Inc., a privately held company specializing in solid-state electronic imaging components and systems for scientific imaging applications.
Defense Systems
Innovative tools advance fight against IEDs
New technologies surface as the counter-IED fight intensifies in Afghanistan.
Defense Systems
DOD fields handheld device to foil IEDs
A relatively new weapon in the counter-improvised explosive device fight is a handheld device designed to detect illicit cell phones inside correctional facilities.
Defense Systems
Next-generation battle tech gets put to the test
To ensure that newly developed technologies can share data, the military must conduct plenty of testing in labs and field situations.
Defense Systems
New drones offer out-of-theater advantages
Unlike the current Predator and Reaper drones, the next-generation models have jet engines and the ability to avoid enemy radar.
Defense Systems
Australia, DRS team on vehicle surveillance kit
A unit of DRS Technologies Inc. will furnish a multi-spectral surveillance suite tailored for a light armored vehicle to the Australian Defence Department under a $30 million contract.
Defense Systems
Army HQ flooded with requests for more drones
Requests from Army units in Afghanistan for unmanned aircraft systems are at an all-time high, and in response, officials are hammering out a set of principles for how the systems will be acquired and fielded, reports Kate Brannen at Defense News.
Defense Systems
Air Force slowly phases out predator drone
Beginning in February 2011, the Air Force will accept its last Predator delivery as it moves to the faster Reaper drone over time.
Defense Systems
Air Force buys tracking system for pilots of remote aircraft
Air Force operators of remotely piloted aircraft are getting a new set of software tools with which to track data and communicate with the military units they support.
Defense Systems
Army hires contractor to help with counter-IED effort
The Army has awarded a new contract to CACI-WGI to furnish various support services to the military organization responsible for developing tactics and tools to combat improvised explosive devices.
Defense Systems
Army orders more radar kits for Sky Warrior drones
Northrop Grumman Corp. will supply the Army with 40 additional STARlite wide-area surveillance radars for the MQ-1C Sky Warrior extended-range, multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicle through a contract option.
Defense Systems
Barbero nominated to head IED defeat office
An Army officer with an appreciation for the continuing problems U.S. ground forces face combating insurgents in Southwest Asia has been nominated to lead the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, reports Irene Smith at Army News Service.
Defense Systems
11 defense contracts worth watching
Washington Technology ranks the largest and most important contracts that will hit the market in the next 12 months.
Defense Systems