Defense Systems

Navy to continue tactical data link engineering support

The Navy has awarded a follow-on contract to Science Applications International Corp. to continue providing engineering and technical services support for tactical data link capabilities required for command and control operations.

Defense Systems

Army seeks robo-cart for IED hunt in Afghanistan

The Army is asking small business for assistance developing a semi-autonomous, remote-controlled, vehicle that is bigger than existing robotic devices now used to hunt for hidden improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan, reports Spencer Ackerman with Wired's Danger Room blog.

Defense Systems

Remote device might become battlefield angel

The Air Force Research Laboratory is working with industry to develop a device that can remotely determine a warfighter’s health status under combat duress with sensors that can be either worn or digested, reports Elizabeth Long with the Air Force’s 711th Human Performance Wing.

Defense Systems

Army orders more radar kits for Sky Warrior drones

Northrop Grumman Corp. will supply the Army with 40 additional STARlite wide-area surveillance radars for the MQ-1C Sky Warrior extended-range, multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicle through a contract option.

Defense Systems

Barbero nominated to head IED defeat office

An Army officer with an appreciation for the continuing problems U.S. ground forces face combating insurgents in Southwest Asia has been nominated to lead the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, reports Irene Smith at Army News Service.

Defense Systems

Navy selects contractor for maritime drone support

Science Applications International Corp. will furnish technical and engineering support to the Navy office that manages unmanned aircraft systems that conduct maritime surveillance under a task order potentially worth $39 million over five years

Defense Systems

Readers scorn Army's planned e-mail move

Defense System readers with first-hand experience using the Army’s existing e-mail services weigh in on the Army’s plan to move its enterprise e-mail to the Defense Information Systems Agency’s cloud computing environment.

Defense Systems

Navy Cobras to get improved night optics

Elbit Systems of North America will upgrade night targeting systems for AH-1W Cobra helicopters under a five-year, $45.5 million contract.

Defense Systems

Navy takes anti-submarine tracking to next level

Lockheed Martin will help the U.S. Navy fleet improve its capability to detect and track submarine threats through the use of advanced acoustic and signal processing methods under a $24 million contract.

Defense Systems

Navy readies solicitations for future enterprise network

The Navy will issue up to five requests for proposals over the next 12 months as it begins the transition from the massive Navy-Marine Corps Intranet to the successor program.

Defense Systems

Solar-powered drone would perform high-altitude missions

Boeing will develop and test a high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle fueled by solar and electric power for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency as part of Phase 2 of the Vulture demonstration program, company officials said.

Defense Systems

Predators deliver smaller munitions to target

Predator unmanned aerial vehicles are being outfitted with smaller munitions to avoid collateral damage, reports John Barry in a Newsweek blog.

Defense Systems

Shields moves to Joint IED Defeat Organization

Army Brig. Gen. Michael Shields has been assigned to serve as deputy director for operations and requirements at the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization.

Defense Systems

NSA certifies cryptographic module for joint tactical radios

A cryptographic module for tactical radios developed by General Dynamics C4 Systems has been certified by the National Security Agency to transmit secure classified information up to and including Top Secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information.

Defense Systems

Army readies missile-equipped drones for Afghanistan

The Army plans to deploy four versions of the Grey Eagle unmanned aircraft system outfitted with weapons to Afghanistan this fall in the wake of successful tests of the vehicle using Hellfire missiles, reports J.D. Leipold at Army News Service.

Defense Systems

Kehler to succeed Chilton as STRATCOM chief

Air Force Gen. Robert Kehler has been nominated by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to lead the U.S. Strategic Command, the Defense Department announced.

Defense Systems

Air Force buys new tools for intelligence workstations

Lockheed Martin Corp. will upgrade workstations for the Air Force’s Distributed Common Ground System under a new task order.

Defense Systems

Do UAVs really need HD cameras?

Industry seems to have solved the problem of how to outfit unmanned aerial vehicles with high-definition video, but the big question is what specific missions require such video clarity, reports Michael Hoffman at Defense News.

Defense Systems

Special operations forces to get manpack satcom systems

The U.S. Special Operations Command has awarded a five-year, $170 million contract to a unit of L-3 Communications for portable satellite communications systems that will give special operations forces high-speed transmission capacity for voice and data communications.

Defense Systems

DOD addresses urgent operational needs in Afghanistan

The Defense Department has managed to push through development in a short period of time a number of smaller programs designed to provide better protection for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, reports William Matthews of Defense News.