Defense Systems

NRL project would collect solar power in space

The orbiting solar array could collect solar energy unencumbered by atmosphere, then transmit it to Earth via microwaves.

Defense Systems

Navy strikes deal for backpack anti-IED jammers

The military is continuing to invest in giving ground troops portable electronic warfare tools.

Defense Systems

Boeing's new autonomous UUV can run for months at a time

The 51-foot long unmanned Echo Voyager, which runs on a rechargeable power system, can operate without a surface support vessel.

Defense Systems

Army, Silicon Valley to tackle social media challenge

As part of DOD's effort to collaborate with industry and academia, two projects will work on how to counter adversaries’ malicious use of social media.

Defense Systems

SmartCAR makes soldiers wise to chem-bio threats

The handheld device tests for pathogens on the spot and communicates results up the chain of command via Nett Warrior smartphones.

Defense Systems

The 4 prongs of DOD's cybersecurity discipline plan

The Pentagon's implementation plan looks to enforce better cyber hygiene throughout the department.

Defense Systems

DARPA's high-speed vertical-lift plane goes to Phase 2

Aurora Flight Sciences' design for the VTOL X-Plane project aims to improve hovering efficiency while also increasing airspeed.

Defense Systems

Survey: Nation-states overtake insiders as DOD's top cyber threats

A new survey of DOD IT pros by SolarWinds finds that foreign governments are now seen as the greatest source of IT security threats.

Defense Systems

Air Force steps up the competition for a new rocket engine

Aerojet Rocketdyne and United Launch Services join two other companies in developing prototypes to replace the Russian-made RD-180 engine.

Defense Systems

DARPA's sensor-laden quadcopter zooms around indoors at 45 mph

The Fast Lightweight Autonomy program could give soldiers and rescue teams a look inside unstable buildings with a minimum of operator effort.

Defense Systems

Army, Navy display joint communications in Hawaii

Combining the Navy's global MUOS satellite systems with Manpack radios and the Army's Joint Battle Command-Platform could fill gaps in the Pacific.

Defense Systems

Cockroaches inspire a new breed of disaster-site, battlefield robots

Researchers at UC Berkeley and ARL look to mimic the insect's flexibility, strength and speed.

Defense Systems

DOD's $6.7B cyber budget focused on emerging threats

The request for fiscal 2017 takes into account increased activity by Russia, China and other potential adversaries.

Defense Systems

Special Ops wants to correct the Parallax view in optical systems

The command is holding a challenge to find an algorithm that can compensate, in near-real time, for different views from offset optical sensors.

Defense Systems

Navy aims for the next generation of integrated warfighting tech

ONR is looking to let sensors, weapons and other systems talk to each other clearly.

Defense Systems

Final GPS II satellite goes into orbit as Air Force gets ready for GPS III

With ULA launching the last of the second generation, the service awards Lockheed a contract to help the transition to the next generation.

Defense Systems

DARPA looks to develop a high-res brain-computer interface

The NESD program aims to communicate with up to a millions neurons at a time, in a device the size of a couple of stacked nickels.

Defense Systems

Army developing a universal control for all of its drones

The TOGA system will reduce the number of pilots required while better integrating ISR with its tactical network.

Defense Systems

IARPA wants to improve human/machine forecasting

The agency's Hybrid Forecasting Competition is intended to improve how humans and computers interact on geopolitical and geoeconomic analysis.

Defense Systems

Navy putting $49.8M into upgrading its EW test center

AAI Corp. will perform test environment system upgrades to the division's Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division's Electronic Combat Simulation and Evaluation Laboratories.