Defense Systems
Military airship programs plagued by wide range of problems
The Defense Department has invested more than $1 billion in at least nine airship programs across the military services in an effort to provide persistent surveillance to ground troops, but so far has almost nothing to show in operational airships.
Defense Systems
Air Force ground control stations get secure info-sharing boost
Boeing has delivered a tactical cross-domain solution designed to boost secure information sharing to General Atomics for integration into the ground control stations used for Predator and Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defense Systems
Special Ops forces seek mobile battlefield net
The Special Operations Command is seeking input from industry on how to construct a wireless network to connect ground troops and equipment such as vehicles and unmanned aircraft.
Defense Systems
Data tool would help alert Navy to high-seas threats
The Navy is seeking a real-time analytical tool that can sift through data from radars related to maritime traffic and alert naval officers to hostile threats at sea.
Defense Systems
House tries to breathe life into Global Hawk Block 30 program
The House Armed Services Committee has designated $260 million in its mark-up of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013 for the Air Force to continue operating its Block 30 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defense Systems
Afghan cyber war heats up with Taliban site hack
Unidentified hackers crippled the Taliban's main website twice last week, replacing its usual victorious rhetoric with images of executions and also support for the Afghan government and security forces in English, Arabic and Pashto.
Defense Systems
Air Force readies second AEHF satellite for launch
The Air Force will launch its second Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite May 3 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Defense Systems
Flexrotor UAV scheduled for flight control upgrade
The Office of Naval Research has awarded Aerovel a contract to develop the flight controls component for the Flexrotor vertical take-off-and-landing unmanned aerial vehicle.
Defense Systems
US to expand scope of UAV strikes in Yemen
The Obama Administration has granted the CIA and the U.S. military greater flexibility to strike al Qaeda operatives in Yemen with armed unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defense Systems
Airborne ISR still years away from futuristic swarm concept
The Defense Department's strategy for employing airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensors and platforms against adversaries is threatened on a number of fronts, and the best solution to address the existing challenges is years away.
Defense Systems
Navy puts new Fire Scout model on fast development track
The Navy has awarded a $262 million contract to Northrop Grumman to develop the first batch of the new MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters designed to have greater range and other improvements beyond the existing MQ-8B model.
Defense Systems
Air Force to automate tracking of space debris
Air Force personnel charged with tracking space debris in orbit to ensure that it doesn't interfere with operational satellites will begin using a new suite of automated equipment later this year to perform the complex task.
Defense Systems
Marines' future tech wish list includes powerful comms networks
The Marine Corps' blueprint for future technologies includes advanced networks, sensors and scanners.
Defense Systems
DOD's new espionage unit to cover broader range of targets
The Defense Department has established a new espionage unit that would have a much broader focus than the department's existing one.
Defense Systems
Army purchases Puma small UAS for units in Afghanistan
The Army has awarded a $20.4 million contract to AeroVironment to furnish its RQ-20A Puma small unmanned aircraft systems for use as a surveillance platform in Afghanistan.
Defense Systems
Reaper UAV upgrades would substantially extend flight time
The Air Force's premier armed unmanned aerial vehicle would be able to fly for nearly two days straight if upgrades proposed by its manufacturer, General Atomics, were made to the Reaper MQ-9 fleet.
Defense Systems
Navy explores hunter-killer concept using Tomahawks, UAVs
The Navy is working with other military services to pair cruise missiles and small unmanned aerial vehicles in hunter-killer teams that can be used by U.S. special forces, said a top Navy official.
Defense Systems
Army invites contractors to NIE industry day
The U.S. Army will host a Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) Industry Observation Day on June 1 at Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
Defense Systems
Bigger isn't always better: Air Force looks to simplify satellite systems
The Air Force is reflecting on the size of its satellite systems, but not in the traditional military sense, where bigger has always seemed to be better.
Defense Systems