Defense Systems

ScanEagle gets hydrogen-powered fuel cell

The successful test of a flight of a Boeing Insitu ScanEagle using a hydrogen-powered fuel cell will enable the unmanned aircraft system to carry an increased payload capacity.

Defense Systems

Poseidon P-8A delivered to Navy, ready for BAMS integration

Naval Air Station Jacksonville celebrated the arrival of the first new, network-enabled P-8A Poseidon multi-mission aircraft in late March.

Defense Systems

Mass layoffs loom large on defense industry horizon

The U.S. defense industry might experience hundreds of thousands of layoffs if members of Congress don't take action to head off an additional $500 billion in defense budget cuts that could take effect in January 2013, a top Pentagon official told Congress.

Defense Systems

Who will get to fly Navy UAVs?

The Navy has decided that unmanned aerial vehicles weighing more than 55 pounds will be operated as adjuncts to manned aircraft systems.

Defense Systems

Winners and losers in the fiscal 2013 budget

It's been several weeks since the release of the fiscal 2013 defense budget, and heads are certainly still spinning in the Pentagon. Here are some of the winners and losers at each of the services.

Defense Systems

Military training suffices for cyber qualifications, says Navy CIO

The Navy will give the same weight to military training completed in the IT and cyber fields that it does for commercial certification, said Terry Halvorsen, the Navy's CIO.

Defense Systems

Nothing proprietary in Navy CANES contract

The Navy's Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Service project to upgrade shipboard communications is off to a brisk start following an initial contract award in February.

Defense Systems

DOD must fix glitches in satellite programs, says GAO

The Defense Department continues to struggle on next-generation military satellite programs with such problems as cost overruns, shortages of ground-segment software and problems with beyond-line-of-sight terminals, reports the General Accountability Office.

Defense Systems

Navy dreams of ocean-traversing undersea robots

It may not be in the cards yet, but the Navy hasn't given up hope that one day it will have underwater UAS that can journey across the ocean. And in fact, some universities are already working on the technology.

Defense Systems

New names, new contract structures alter UAS market

The military unmanned aircraft systems market is changing in more ways than one.

Defense Systems

Alleged Chinese Facebook con dupes NATO officers

A fake profile for NATO's senior commander convinced other officers to accept a friend request, compromising personal information in the process. The scam has reportedly been traced to China.

Defense Systems

Sequester could paralyze Pentagon, CNO says

U.S. military operations could grind to a halt under sequester, says Adm. Jonathan Greenert.

Defense Systems

9 companies compete for Navy ISR contracts

The contracts for equipment and services could reach half a billion dollars if all options are exercised.

Defense Systems

Mobile user satellite launch heralds shift to comms-on-the-move

The launch of the first Mobile User Objective System satellite in February marks a major step forward for the military’s communications-on-the-move projects.

Defense Systems

Hosted payloads and synergistic design alter military satellite landscape

The military is still striving to increase bandwidth, linking satellite and terminal design while turning to commercial suppliers for hosted payloads and more capabilities.

Defense Systems

Spy blimps may get shot down by delays, costs

The Navy has deflated its MZ-3A blimp, the Army’s airship has had development roadblocks and the Air Force may ground one of its large blimps.

Defense Systems

Three companies get up to $874 million for ISR work

AAI, CSC and Insitu have each been awarded an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for unmanned aircraft intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services.

Defense Systems

First MUOS satellite launched, second AEHF satellite delivered

Lockheed Martin says the Navy's first Mobile User Objective System satellite was successfully launched in February, and also reports delivering the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite to the Air Force for April launch.

Defense Systems

Navy says all IT options open

Dan DelGrosso, director of Naval Networks and Enterprise Services, discusses Navy IT efficiencies, cloud computing and enterprise services.

Defense Systems

Navy dragging its feet on NGEN procurement?

The request for proposal for the $7 billion to $10 billion NMCI-follow-on procurement is almost two months behind schedule.