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

Navy sets course to better link shipboard networks

Achieving interoperability across multiple domains and networks poses a formidable challenge as the Navy embarks on its Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services program.

Defense Systems

Army improves airborne intelligence

Army Col. Keith Hirschman, project manager of aerial common sensors, talks about the differences between the Task Force ODIN and EMARSS programs, the destination of EMARSS, and the road map for deploying it.

Defense Systems

Navy selects contractor for maritime drone support

Science Applications International Corp. will furnish technical and engineering support to the Navy office that manages unmanned aircraft systems that conduct maritime surveillance under a task order potentially worth $39 million over five years

Defense Systems

Superior imagery creates battlefield advantages

Defense agencies and their industry partners are working to improve the quality of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance images available to warfighters and make the images more easily accessible.

Defense Systems

ISR technology key to victory in Afghanistan, Cartwright says

Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaking at the GEOINT 2010 Symposium called for broader and better fielding of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technology in Afghanistan.

Defense Systems

DOD intell tested by Afghanistan, info leaks, nuclear threat

A top DOD official says intelligence capabilities in Iraq are weakened by the troop drawdown, and threats posed by Iran, Russia, China and WikiLeaks remain top fears.

Defense Systems

New satcom contract opens for business

The Future Commercial Satellite Communications Acquisition contract now has enough contractors to begin competitions for work under the $5 billion Schedules program.

Defense Systems

NGA shifts focus to high-tech world

An apps store for the intelligence community and more participation in crisis response are in the cards for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, according to its new director, Letitia Long, as the agency works to

Defense Systems

Navy Cobras to get improved night optics

Elbit Systems of North America will upgrade night targeting systems for AH-1W Cobra helicopters under a five-year, $45.5 million contract.

Defense Systems

Data feeds are all in the wrist with new display technology

The Army is testing eight lightweight, wrist-mounted prototypes that are built with flexible materials and new phosphorescent technology, and can display live video feeds and other images from a variety of different applications.

Defense Systems

Navy takes anti-submarine tracking to next level

Lockheed Martin will help the U.S. Navy fleet improve its capability to detect and track submarine threats through the use of advanced acoustic and signal processing methods under a $24 million contract.

Defense Systems

Sharing lessons learned crucial to jointness

The U.S. military can further its organizational and networking objectives in the realm of joint operations by sharing lessons learned.

Defense Systems

Navy on course for smarter shipboard networks

Capt. D.J. LeGoff, program manager of the Navy's Tactical Networks Program Office, discusses critical elements of the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services program, including integration of existing systems and contract milestones.