Defense Systems
The Army unfolds a roadmap for unmanned aircraft systems
The roadmap provides a grand vision for how all of its various unmanned aircraft technology eventually will work together, writes blogger Brian Robinson.
Defense Systems
Satellite system won't see space anytime soon
As current military satellites become obsolete, time is running out to get the new Mobile User Objective Satellite program off the ground. Now, the Navy is looking to Congress and the commercial sector for help.
Defense Systems
Afghan IEDs show chilling improvements, data analysis says
An impressive collection of data on IED attacks in southern Afghanistan and western Pakistan shows not only an increase in attacks but also a rapid acceleration of bomb making skill and use.
Defense Systems
Afghanistan tests limits of unmanned sensors
The rural nature of Afghanistan is creating a huge demand for intelligence information and also serving as a proving ground to test new sensors designed to detect enemy threats and locations, reports David Fulghum at Aviation Week.
Defense Systems
Industry Recon
Boeing wins a contract to provide networked gear to an Army brigade combat team, Northrop has completed test flights of its Bat unmanned aircraft systems, and Falcon introduces an ultralight lithium-polymer battery pack to lighten vehicle power loads.
Defense Systems
Navy schedules work on surveillance, unmanned systems
Science Applications International Corp. will furnish technical and engineering support services to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific under a contract with a potential value of $63 million.
Defense Systems
Navy gets assistance with tactical command support system
CACI International Inc. will outfit the Navy with a variety of information technology and software services under a $219 million prime contract.
Defense Systems
Boeing readies UAS flight demonstrations
Boeing Co. will conduct a first flight to two different unmanned aircraft systems in the next 10 months as part of the company’s initiative to get its UAS business back on track, reports Amy Butler at Aviation Week.
Defense Systems
Burroughs to direct Navy PEO C4I
Rear Adm. Jerry K. Burroughs will take over as program executive officer for command, control, communications, computers and intelligence at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) San Diego.
Defense Systems
Future warfare gets funding nod, but little prioritization
The Quadrennial Defense Review and the fiscal 2011 defense budget are in sync on the need for new strategies for programs such as unmanned aerial vehicles. But critics say they still focus too much on current conflicts and not enough on the future.
Defense Systems
Army turns to aerial sensors for battlefield precision
Col. Robert Carpenter, project manager for the Army’s Aerial Common Sensor Program, discusses the program's changing mission and near-term objectives.
Defense Systems
DARPA wants razor sharp optics for satellite surveillance
DARPA is looking to fund a new program that would develop a diffractive optics membrane and related equipment and structures for use in a geosynchronous orbit telescope.
Defense Systems
NETCENTS-2 stalls with new delays
A series of delays has kept the Air Force’s Network Centric Solutions-2 program in a holding pattern. Two of the four request for proposals expected at the end of January have still not emerged, and the remaining RFPs might be months away.
Defense Systems
DOD's reliance on commercial satellites hits new zenith
The military's ad hoc reliance on commercial satellites is prolonging efforts to meet warfighters' urgent demands for bandwidth.
Defense Systems
Army puts ground sensor program on fast track
The Army plans to bring networked sensors to the battlefield as part of the first stage of the Early Infantry Brigade Combat Team program.
Defense Systems
Army wants to soup up Shadow UAV
Army officials are contemplating issuing a solicitation to boost the capabilities of the Shadow RQ-7C unmanned aerial vehicle, reports Kate Brannen at Defense News.
Defense Systems
Navy schedules support for ship modernization
Alion Science and Technology will provide acquisition management support to the Navy for modernization of various ships under a new contract.
Defense Systems
Sensory overload: Military is dealing with a data deluge
Sensors provide invaluable information to the warfighter, but they produce an enormous amount of data.
Defense Systems
Leaner defense budget aims for realistic reform
The Defense Department's $708 billion fiscal 2011 budget request closely adheres to priorities set forth in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review.
Defense Systems