Science & Tech

The Biggest Lesson from the Army’s Connect-Everything Experiment

New labs to test interconnections are the key to joint all-domain command and control.

Ideas

How China Is Planning For a Tech Decoupling

PLA strategists are already working on counters to anticipated U.S. moves.

Exclusive Science & Tech

Pentagon’s Top Science Official Adds to Tech-Breakthrough Wishlist

Heidi Shyu, R&D undersecretary, said she went looking for tech areas to trim—and found that some vital ones had been overlooked.

Business

Lockheed Opens New Hypersonic Weapons Factory In Alabama

The manufacturing plant is the third digital factory opened by the world’s largest defense contractor this year.

Science & Tech

Soldiers’ Super Suits Will Sense Surroundings Soon

Tooth microphones and spider senses could be coming to a battlefield near you.

Science & Tech

Air Force Chief Anticipates ‘Something Special’ for B-21 Public Debut

The Raider is still on schedule to make its first test flight with the next year, Air Force chief says.

Ideas

Users Can’t Be Afterthoughts in the Pentagon’s AI Efforts

The troops, commanders, and civilians who will use artificial-intelligence tools have vital roles to play in creating, training, and improving them.

Threats

Vulnerabilities May Slow Air Force’s Adoption of Artificial Intelligence

More data on the battlefield means a wider attack surface, something the Defense Department has yet to prepare for, experts say.

Ideas

AFA Conference Wire: Keeping AI Safe From Bad Data

News and notes from the 2021 Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber conference.

Science & Tech

US Air Force Developing Combat Tanker-Airlifter that Can Land on Water

In a conflict with China, aircraft will need flexibility in basing, and that means water takeoffs, landings.

Business

Five Ways 9/11 Changed the Defense Industry

More outsourcing, more services contracts, more generals on corporate boards—and that's just for starters.

Science & Tech

USAF Wants Wearables to Spot Outbreaks Faster

Top officials are also looking into data integration and digital traceability tools to help keep staff healthy.

Ideas

The Taliban Reportedly Have Control of US Biometric Devices

Up to 32 million Afghans are tagged in a system that DOD and the Afghan government used for criminal prosecutions, background checks, and voter registration.

Science & Tech

House Bill Aims to Bridge Acquisition ‘Valley of Death’ In Race to Counter China

A draft of the House NDAA markup outlines two provisions to fix the gap between research and acquisition.

Science & Tech

Hypersonic Missile Defense May Depend on Low Earth Orbit Satellites

Sensors in relatively low orbits may be the best way to spot superfast missiles—but they can’t do the job alone.

Science & Tech

Floating Robot Gas Station To Get Pentagon Trial

The aim is a kit to convert barges into self-propelled, expeditionary replenishment platforms for rotary wing aircraft, surface vessels, and shore stations.

Business

US Air Force, Venture Firms Make $60 Million Bet on Hypersonic Aircraft Startup

The deal calls for Georgia-based Hermeus to accelerate development of reusable test aircraft.

Science & Tech

Can We Spot Illegal Fishing Fleets from Space?

The Defense Innovation Unit is offering prizes for using satellite-mounted radar to fight a growing national-security problem.