Defense Systems
Common data sharing essential to AirSea Battle doctrine
The "AirSea Battle" concept championed by top Navy and Air Force brass has a long way to go since there is a noticeable lack of data-sharing protocol between the two military services.
Defense Systems
House rolls back export restrictions on satellites
The House of Representatives has passed an amendment to the 2013 defense authorization bill that would ease export restrictions on commercial satellites and simplify their export to allies and partners.
Defense Systems
Army puts new comms systems to the test at third NIE
Several thousand soldiers participating in the Army's third Network Integration Evaluation under way at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico will test at least three key communications systems and evaluate another 36 systems.
Defense Systems
Cybersecurity chief steps down, plans long Harley ride
White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt plans to step down at the end of May after serving as the Obama administration's point person for efforts to develop a national and international cybersecurity strategies designed to protect vulnerable computer networks.
Defense Systems
Navy to test 4G LTE command and control network at sea
The Navy recently established a year-long pilot program for the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group to test a portable maritime command and control system built around Oceus Networks' Xiphos cellular technology.
Defense Systems
Air Force regroups in wake of failed ERP project
The failure earlier this year of an IT system designed to streamline the Air Force' supply chain management and provide an integrated approach to purchasing is one of the key reasons the service is at "moderate risk" of failing to meet congressional deadlines to improve its financial records.
Defense Systems
DARPA wants small satellites to test fractionated concept
The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency wants bids from contractors capable of furnishing four small satellites that would be able to demonstrate its fractionated spacecraft architecture in orbit.
Defense Systems
Army looks to GSA for fast purchase of vehicle radios
The Army might turn to the General Services Administration to fill an urgent need to outfit a brigade combat team scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan in 2013 with commercially developed, vehicle-mounted radios.
Defense Systems
That's an order: The summer reading list from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has selected 18 books for his "Chairman's Professional Reading List" that he believes can help prepare personnel in all of the military services for the future.
Defense Systems
X-47B moves closer to carrier demo in 2013
Navy technicians will perform arrested landings and catapult launches of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland this year in preparation for a carrier demonstration in 2013.
Defense Systems
Will more nations be jumping on the WGS bandwagon?
The United States is open to more nations signing up to support its Wideband Global Satcom program, and if additional countries express an interest, the U.S. will consider building more than the 10 WGS satellites already scheduled.
Defense Systems
Web apps latest weapon against modern-day pirates
The Defense Department has begun funding a project that seeks to develop Web-based applications that would assist multinational navies police the world's oceans against international pirates, the Office of Naval Research.
Defense Systems
Wireless venture LightSquared files for bankruptcy
LightSquared filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection May 14 hours before the scheduled expiration of a deal to keep the wireless venture from defaulting on its debt.
Defense Systems
House shoots down DOD plea to alter commercial products definition
The House Armed Services Committee has turned down a request by the Defense Department to correct a commercial products definition that defense acquisition officials believe is being applied too broadly.
Defense Systems
New bids wanted for massive satellite terminal program
The Air Force May 11 invited other companies to submit alternate bids for a multi-billion dollar program for next-generation satellite communications terminals as the service continues to negotiate with Boeing on cost reductions to the program.
Defense Systems
Marines extend use of cargo UAV in Afghanistan
The Marines have extended for two more months their use of a pair of Lockheed Martin's K-MAX unmanned cargo helicopters in Afghanistan in what might be a positive sign that there is a clear need for such equipment on the battlefield.
Defense Systems
US wants global special ops network for allied nations
The U.S. Special Operations Command sees a need to build a worldwide network that would link special operations forces of allied and partner nations to better coordinate operations that are carried out against global terrorism.
Defense Systems
DOD expands voluntary cyber info-sharing program
The Defense and Homeland Security departments have expanded a key cybersecurity and information assurance pilot program begun in 2011 to allow all defense industrial base companies that might be eligible for the program to participate in it.
Defense Systems
Navy awards major C2 contracts for engineering and technical support
The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic in Charleston, S.C., has awarded approximately $145 million, including options, in contracts to eight companies for the procurement of integrated command and control engineering and technical support services for command centers.
Defense Systems