Defense Systems

Air Force considers switching vendors on GPS III program

After delays with Lockheed Martin Space Systems’ production of the first satellite, the service is looking for alternatives.

Defense Systems

DARPA, Navy want long-range ISR drones for smaller ships

The Tern program plans to build a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS that doesn’t need an aircraft carrier for take-off.

Defense Systems

Army, Navy fund Northrop for electronic warfare system

The company will produce pre-production units of its advances radar warning receiver and electronic warfare management system for aircraft.

Defense Systems

UAS training to be basic training for Marine officers

The Basic School for new officers is adding a course on the RQ-11B Raven, a small, lightweight system that can provide ISR in the field.

Defense Systems

Army, Marines get new blue force tracking system a step closer

The user friendly, mobile battlefield command and control tool gets a workout during NIE exercises at Fort Bliss.

Defense Systems

Move over Spider-Man, Z-Man can climb walls, too

DARPA’s gecko-inspired technology would enable soldiers to scale walls without ropes or ladders.

Defense Systems

Army boosts bandwidth with new suitcase-sized satellite terminals

T2C2, now a program of record, takes portable battlefield communications from kilobits to megabits per second.

Defense Systems

Air Force awards deal for Space Fence to track orbital debris

Lockheed Martin wins the $914.7 million contract to build a system to track even small bits of space junk.

Defense Systems

Army opens up competition for tactical field radios

The service is launching a “radio marketplace” for Rifleman Radios as it ramps up its purchasing plans.

Defense Systems

Army researchers unearth next-gen construction simulations

REDCOM system lets soldiers train in groups in a variety of virtual terrains.

Defense Systems

Army testing a real-time smartphone system for the battlefield

The system, called SULSAT, would provide streaming video and images, giving everyone from foot soldiers to company commanders the same view.

Defense Systems

A drone by any other name is … an RPA?

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey has a point about saying “remotely piloted aircraft” rather than “unmanned” or the dreaded “drone.” But it might be too late to do anything about it.

Defense Systems

Army wants simulations that don’t make soldiers sick

Simulator sickness is becoming a more common problem as training moves into virtual environments. The Army Research Institute is looking for an answer.

Defense Systems

Could smarter robots turn against their masters?

An AI researcher warns that the military's rush to build fully autonomous systems could have unintended consequences.

Defense Systems

Joint forces, 13 countries test ability to work together

The Joint Staff’s “Bold Quest” exercise puts interoperable tactical communications to the test.

Defense Systems

Cyber charges against China could raise the stakes for US commands

The first-of-a-kind cyber espionage charges against five Chinese military officials will sharpen the focus on the cyber domain.

Defense Systems

Feel the force: Army tests tactile comm for the battlefield

The Army Research Lab’s haptic system helps soldiers navigate, communicate and identify targets at night without having to look at a screen.

Defense Systems

Army builds an immersive simulator for armored vehicles – and builds it fast

The TRICT, developed by Army engineers in 18 months, provides a realistic exterior and interior environment for training on MRAPs.

Defense Systems

DISA plan outlines a mobile, cloud-based military

The agency’s Strategic Plan for 2014-2019 says mobility is the "primary benefit" of the Joint Information Environment.

Defense Systems

Android app quickly connects Army’s tactical radios

ODIN, developed in six months from an open Android framework, could cut the time of aligning radios from days to minutes.