Defense Systems
AeroVironment wins $4.2M Switchblade order
An extension to an existing AeroVironment contract with the Air Force includes engineering services, operational Switchblade systems and operator training.
Defense Systems
3 reasons the Air Force is buying fewer UAVs
The Air Force will buy fewer unmanned aerial vehicles, but fly more missions.
Defense Systems
Why did the Navy decide to cancel a key UAS program?
Navy officials offer an explanation for why they decided to cut the Medium-Range Maritime Unmanned Air System program.
Defense Systems
Throwable robot able to peer into the dark
The Army Contracting Command has awarded ReconRobotics a contract for 1,100 Recon Scout XT micro-robot kits.
Defense Systems
Harris introduces pair of frequency-hopping waveforms
One waveform provides very fast frequency hopping rates while the other delivers improved throughput while frequency hopping.
Defense Systems
DARPA's budget haircut only a light trim
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's $2.8 billion budget would be cut only $1.4 million under the Obama administration's fiscal 2013 budget, less than a half-percentage point drop.
Defense Systems
UAV data analysis remains daunting challenge
The Air Force has upwards of 70,000 persons working to process all of the data and footage it is gathering from unmanned aerial vehicles in an effort to detect patterns worth exploiting in the pursuit of insurgents in Afghanistan and other global hot spots.
Defense Systems
Army speeds acquisition of networking equipment
The Army is taking a new battlefield communications approach, which involves service officials holding regular meetings with industry officials to involve them earlier in the acquisition process and testing equipment before major purchases.
Defense Systems
Army completes battlefield test of software-defined radio
Rifleman Radio allowed the 75th Ranger unit in Afghanistan to establish a mobile, ad-hoc network.
Defense Systems
Raytheon boosts satellite capacity for airborne radio terminals
Raytheon is tripling the satellite capacity for all AN/ARC-231 airborne radio terminals through an upgrade to Integrated Waveform software.
Defense Systems
Network lets Marines share data over 250 miles
The Marine Corps is conducting the first practical test of the Distributed Tactical Communications System that enables commanders to send text, data, video and voice messages via satellite to Marines ashore from up to 250 miles away in open water.
Defense Systems
Special ops forces have pressing need for VTOL recon
Special Operations forces are looking at a rise in numbers and also exploring new reconnaissance capabilities in a time when they will be relied on more heavily to spearhead U.S. military efforts around the globe.
Defense Systems
DARPA puts squad support robot through obstacle tests
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency just completed its first outdoor test of a semi-autonomous, four-legged robot that ultimately will be used by soldiers and Marines to haul upwards of 400 pounds of squad gear at a time.
Defense Systems
DOD to craft new terrorist-hunting strategy for Afghanistan
The U.S. military plans to revisit its terrorist-hunting strategy and make key adjustments to the way it employs Special Operations forces in Afghanistan.
Defense Systems
Air Mobility Command to purchase iPads for flight crews
The Air Mobility Command might purchase as many as 18,000 Apple iPads to replace paper charts and technical manuals used by its flight crews.
Defense Systems
Shyu nominated for Army acquisition chief
President Barack Obama has nominated Heidi Shyu to serve as the Army's top weapons buyer.
Defense Systems
US Special Forces to take lead in Afghanistan strategy shift
Special Operations forces will become the primary U.S. military tool to continue the hunt for insurgent leaders and to train local troops to assist in those and other missions as the United States winds down its combat role in Afghanistan.
Defense Systems
NATO finds funds for ground surveillance system
NATO has found a funding solution for its Alliance Ground Surveillance system intended to help its member nations deploy joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets.
Defense Systems
Unmanned helo supplies Marines in Afghanistan
The Marine Corps is using the K-MAX remotely piloted helicopter to deliver supplies to Marines in the field in Afghanistan.
Defense Systems