Defense Systems

Navy to deploy Fire Scouts to Afghanistan

The Navy's Fire Scout UAVs will provide coalition forces with more eyes over the battlefield.

Defense Systems

Ka-band satellite constellation to benefit military forces

Inmarsat's new constellation of communications satellites will offer military and civilian users improved broadband wide-area network service.

Defense Systems

Navy awards contract for bomb-disposal robots

The Navy has awarded iRobot Corp. a $230 million contract to provide its PackBot man-transportable robotic system and support services for explosive ordnance disposal missions.

Defense Systems

Navy subs to get tactical updates through Deep Siren

An acoustic communications system is allowing U.S. Navy submarines to receive tactical data while submerged.

Defense Systems

Air Force to expand mission of missile defense satellite

The Air Force's troubled infrared missile detection satellite can be used to gather intelligence.

Defense Systems

Navy places order for aircraft mission computers

A General Dynamics unit will deliver additional advanced mission computers for Navy Super Hornet aircraft under a new contract.

Defense Systems

Alliance touts benefits of hosted satellite payloads

New space industry alliance seeks to help match up federal customers and their payloads with private satellite firms.

Defense Systems

DARPA asks public to vote on combat vehicle design

DARPA is using crowdsourcing techniques to design a next-generation combat vehicle.

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.