Defense Systems

Military establishes space-focused center to counter China, Russia

The Air Force and Rand Corp. have established the China Aerospace Studies Institute to focus on the persistent threat China and Russia poses to U.S. technological and military superiority.

Defense Systems

Army awards contract for WIN-T Increment 2

The Army has awarded General Dynamics $219 million for full-rate production of systems for its battlefield network.

Defense Systems

Air Force concludes fast-acquisition 'PlugFest' test

The event was part of the broader Bending the Cost Curve program, which aims to cut acquisition cycles for some program from years to weeks.

Defense Systems

Coast Guard sees natural gas exports as potential cyber issue

Adm. Paul F. Zukunft says the Coast Guard’s cyber defense capabilities must protect against nation states that might feel threatened by a growing U.S. natural resource export market.

Defense Systems

Army tests giving ground forces control of Gray Eagle payload

The tests of the One System Remote Video Terminal are part of a long-range plan to improve UAS interoperability.

Defense Systems

DARPA wants to put real-time links into tiny satellites

The Pentagon’s research arm is looking for lightweight and low-power communications links for CubeSats.

Defense Systems

How might the US respond to cyber attacks?

It would start with information sharing and would not necessarily be limited to actions in cyberspace.

Defense Systems

What drives Army acquisition? Threat assessment and S&T

Assistant Secretary of Army, Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Heidi Shyu outlined Army acquisition strategies and priorities at an address at the Atlantic Council.

Defense Systems

Marines using virtual reality to lighten real-world load

The Office of Naval Research ETOWL, a 3D computer simulation program, lets users load up an avatar to study the stress points on warfighters.

Defense Systems

Army tests satellite-independent battlefield radio

The service has developed a method for improved communications without the need for satellites by using vehicle-mounted, high-bandwidth networking radios.

Defense Systems

ISIS is attracting a loose cadre of cyber warriors

The security company FireEye says that sympathizers, acting as "lone wolves," represent "a different type of cyber actor."

Defense Systems

DOD coming up short on insider threat safeguards, GAO says

A report released by the Government Accountability Office notes significant flaws in the department’s program to prevent breaches from inside.

Defense Systems

Army outfits mine-resistant vehicles with anti-rollover technology

The Army will soon begin integrating electronic stability control into Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to prevent what has been a common problem.

Defense Systems

Mabus says delays are hurting UCLASS development

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus voiced some frustration over the delays in the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike program, which Congress wants to focus more on strike capabilities.

Defense Systems

Army researchers use simulations to make better bullets

ARDEC and the Army Research Lab use modeling to cut the time and expense of improving ballistics.

Defense Systems

General Dynamics upgrades computer system for Marines' fighter jet

The company has just delivered the third software release for the mission system computer in the AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft.

Defense Systems

Lockheed wins C4ISR security contract for Coast Guard cutter

The company was recently awarded a $72 million contract to provide a C4ISR system for the Coast Guard’s eighth National Security Cutter.

Defense Systems

Special Forces: Why use a Cadillac when a Ford will do?

Budgetary pressures and the wide variety of threats prompt SOCOM to prioritize its ISR resources to reflect each threat.

Defense Systems

Future of unmanned capabilities: MALE vs HALE

While the U.S. has had a lot of success with medium-altitude unmanned aircraft against non-state actors, more technologically formidable militaries such as China's could be a problem.

Defense Systems

Airman's 'Frankenphone' connects ground forces, drone pilots

An Air Force sensor operator uses scrap parts to develop a low-budget solution to streamline communication between drone pilots and forward operators calling in air strikes.