Defense Systems

DOD policy targets weak link in information security

The Defense Department has issued a new policy to protect military information that travels between unclassified networks administered by contractors and the government, reports Federal News Radio.

Defense Systems

Army orders helicopter crew simulators

The Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation has ordered simulators on which to train helicopter crews for gunnery and cargo tasks.

Defense Systems

Marines line up combat training support

An L-3 Communications Corp. unit will furnish program and acquisition support to the Marine Corps for live and simulated training operations under a new task order.

Defense Systems

Certifications no substitute for technical acumen

Readers had strong opinions about the issues raised in the recent Defense Systems story “New threats compel DOD to rethink cyber strategy.”

Defense Systems

Multi-National Force - Iraq gets tech assistance

A unit of DRS Technologies Inc. will provide technical assistance for command and control functions to the Multi-National Force – Iraq under a $77.8 million contract.

Defense Systems

PlayStations power Air Force 'supercomputer'

The Air Force Research Laboratory has built a supercomputer that is driven in part by several hundred Sony PlayStation 3 consoles.

Defense Systems

Air Force cyber unit begins operations

The 24th Air Force received approval Jan. 25 to begin performing critical elements of its mission to protect Air Force cyber assets and support joint warfighting efforts.

Defense Systems

Electronic warfare goes on the offensive

The effort to build and deploy a aircraft-jamming pod that contains electron pulses, information-scrambling data streams and invasive algorithms will see the pendulum swing toward using electronic warfare in the attack mode.

Defense Systems

Air National Guard selects managed services provider

Harris Corp. will provide information technology support to the Air National Guard network and regional operations and security centers under a new contract.

Defense Systems

HP Enterprise Services stands up defense practice

HP Enterprise Services has established a new practice to assist current and future defense clients and appointed a former top DOD official to run the business.

Defense Systems

Tactical communications satellite ready for testing

The military’s Mobile User Objective System satellite moved one step closer to orbital delivery in January when its communications system module was attached to its propulsion core.

Defense Systems

Fire Scout completes video terminal interoperability demo

The Fire Scout vertical unmanned aircraft system has completed a successful demonstration of its ability to synchronize with the Army’s One System Remote Video Terminal.

Defense Systems

Army stays course for battle command support

CACI International Inc. will continue furnishing technical, logistics and business support services for Army battle command systems under a new contract.

Defense Systems

Tech delivers video recon to warfighter radios

Government and industry are searching for ways to make it possible for future users of the Joint Tactical Radio System to view video beamed from unmanned aerial vehicles, reports Keith Button at Defense News.

Defense Systems

Army kicks off consolidated buying season

The Army will open its semiannual consolidated buying program for desktop and notebook computers on Jan. 11, officials said today.

Defense Systems

Air Force awards support work for Predator, Reaper

The Air Force has awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. a $266 million contract to provide an array of program and technical support for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial systems.

Defense Systems

Marines to buy additional manpack radios

Harris Corp. has received a $311.4 million increase to an existing indefinite-delivery, indefinite quantity contract to provide the Marines with high-frequency manpack radios.

Defense Systems

Next-gen strike aircraft to have intell capabilities

The follow-on aircraft to the now-discarded Next-Generation Bomber is likely to have key intelligence-gathering capabilities and also be able to disrupt enemy networks and sensors, Aviation Week reports.

Defense Systems

Lack of Predator video encryption raises questions

Readers of Defense Systems were stunned that the military failed to encrypt Predator video feeds.

Defense Systems

Encryption of Predator video feeds will take time

It could take as long as five years before video feeds from Predator and Reaper drones are fully encrypted and U.S. forces are able to keep enemy forces from intercepting the information, reports Ellen Nakashima in the Washington Post.