Raytheon's Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile successfully intercepted a maneuvering unmanned aircraft system (UAS) during a flight test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
"This test highlighted the flexibility and adaptability networked sensors and shooters bring to the warfighter to respond to today's evolving threats," said Pete Franklin, vice president for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' National and Theater Security Programs.
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Friday, June 5, 2009
Boeing Submits Proposal For USMC Unmanned Cargo Aircraft Demon
Boeing has submitted a proposal offering its A160T Hummingbird for the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory's Immediate Cargo Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Demonstration Program.
"The Marines have identified an urgent need for unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver supplies in lieu of putting trucks and personnel on dangerous roads," said John Groenenboom, A160T program manager for Boeing.
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"The Marines have identified an urgent need for unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver supplies in lieu of putting trucks and personnel on dangerous roads," said John Groenenboom, A160T program manager for Boeing.
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Thursday, June 4, 2009
New Armor Passes Tough Test
You all might remember we reported a new kind of flexible body armor being developed by pre-Dragon Skin designer Allan Bain back in October.
At the time, Bain had tested his armor against some pretty mean armor-piercing rounds (a Swiss-made armor piercing round that is more powerful than the one specified by the Army) shattering the tiles but slowing down the round enough to keep it from penetrating the Dyneema backing.
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At the time, Bain had tested his armor against some pretty mean armor-piercing rounds (a Swiss-made armor piercing round that is more powerful than the one specified by the Army) shattering the tiles but slowing down the round enough to keep it from penetrating the Dyneema backing.
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DARPA killer AI robots to 'participate in own construction'
You've got your robots which can make copies of themselves, of course. That's pretty scary - a runaway exponentially-multiplying machine horde, potentially able to overrun the human race in an eyeblink. But how much more scary would it be if you had a machine which could not only make copies of itself once complete, but could also participate in its own construction while it was still being built?
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US raygun jumbo jet now firing live blasts in flight
The US Missile Defence Agency's long awaited blaster-cannon-in-a-jumbo-jet, the Airborne Laser (ABL), is now carrying out inflight test zappings. Reports suggest that the actual laser is doing well so far, but that the carrying 747 is suffering technical problems having been grounded for a lengthy period while its energy weapon was fitted.
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Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Powerful Ideas: Electronics Grown by Germs
Ancient germs that hunt bacteria are now getting recruited to assemble the electronics of the future. Scientists are using viruses to build solar cells and other gadgets that are dramatic improvements over their existing counterparts. These new techniques also manufacture the devices in a way that is far safer for the environment than current methods.
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Inside the Military’s Secret Terror-Tagging Tech
The story that the CIA uses tiny homing beacons to guide their drone strikes in Pakistan may sound like an urban myth. But this sort of technology does exist, and might well be used for exactly this purpose. It might even have been the “secret weapon” that Bob Woodward said helped the American military pacify Iraq.
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Princeton Optronics gets Navy contract to develop powerful blue VCSEL arrays
Princeton Optronics (Trenton, NJ), which develops some very interesting high-power vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), as well as low-noise solid-state lasers, has received a $750K two-year-duration Navy Phase II SBIR contract for developing blue-laser arrays that consist of frequency doubled high-power VCSEL arrays.
The objective of the program is to develop high-energy pulsed blue lasers with energies of greater than10 mJ per pulse for Navy light detection and ranging (LIDAR) applications. The phase II contract follows a successful completion of a phase I SBIR contract received last year.
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The objective of the program is to develop high-energy pulsed blue lasers with energies of greater than10 mJ per pulse for Navy light detection and ranging (LIDAR) applications. The phase II contract follows a successful completion of a phase I SBIR contract received last year.
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Concerns Over Recovering AF447 Recorders
The French accident investigation office (BEA) believes the suspected crash site of Air France AF447 may make recovery of flight data and cockpit voice recorders a challenge and is bracing for having to rely on other datapoints to try to unravel the mystery of the crash of the Airbus A330-200.
It's not just the depth of the ocean where the A330 went down that's at issue, but also the rough terrain of the sea-bed in that region, says Paul-Louis Arslanian, head of the BEA. "This will not be an easy investigation," he notes.
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It's not just the depth of the ocean where the A330 went down that's at issue, but also the rough terrain of the sea-bed in that region, says Paul-Louis Arslanian, head of the BEA. "This will not be an easy investigation," he notes.
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ABL Laser Gets MDA Nod Thus Far
The director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) says he is pleased with the performance of the Airborne Laser’s (ABL) mission systems to date, but the 747-400F platform has recently had problems with flight worthiness.
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly says ABL’s laser has been fired and displayed atmospheric compensation beyond 100 kilometers (60 miles) 12 times, most recently in a test flight last weekend. The laser’s ability to compensate for particles in the atmosphere that can dissipate the laser energy is a key criterion to the success of the system.
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U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly says ABL’s laser has been fired and displayed atmospheric compensation beyond 100 kilometers (60 miles) 12 times, most recently in a test flight last weekend. The laser’s ability to compensate for particles in the atmosphere that can dissipate the laser energy is a key criterion to the success of the system.
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Pentagon Seeks More Power From Vehicles
A strong argument could be made that given the recent innovations in ground-vehicle armor, and vehicle-mounted communications and sensor equipment brought about by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military is in a “Golden Age” for tactical vehicles.
It’s jarring to think that just a few years ago, U.S. forces entered Iraq in thin-skinned, often doorless or roofless Humvees, vehicles that now seem more appropriate for museums than combat zones. The unforeseen needs of extra armor, especially underbelly armor to deflect roadside bombs, and the exponentially greater power-generation requirements of a force that increasingly relies on sensors and communications gear, has strained the fleet to its limits, and led to a revolution in vehicle technology.
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It’s jarring to think that just a few years ago, U.S. forces entered Iraq in thin-skinned, often doorless or roofless Humvees, vehicles that now seem more appropriate for museums than combat zones. The unforeseen needs of extra armor, especially underbelly armor to deflect roadside bombs, and the exponentially greater power-generation requirements of a force that increasingly relies on sensors and communications gear, has strained the fleet to its limits, and led to a revolution in vehicle technology.
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Joint Platform Tablet MRT Computers
DRS Technologies, Inc., announced today that it received a $217 million contract to produce rugged computing systems which include Joint Platform Tablet military rugged tablet (MRT) computers, keyboards, docking stations, interface cables and base plates in support of the Movement Tracking System (MTS) for the U.S. Army. The systems are designed and manufactured at the DRS Tactical Systems business unit in Melbourne, Florida. Deliveries will begin this year and continue into 2010.
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Joint War Games Test Today’s, Tomorrow’s Security Challenges
A series of seminar-type, joint-force war games being held at McLean, Va., are examining present and future threats, senior U.S. military officers said here today.
The war games began May 31 and are slated to conclude June 5.
The U.S. military “had a great model for deterrence” during the Cold War, Navy Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward, deputy commander for U.S. Joint Forces Command, based at Norfolk, Va., said during a conference call with reporters. That model mostly was based on the use of conventional military forces to deter the Soviet Union.
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The war games began May 31 and are slated to conclude June 5.
The U.S. military “had a great model for deterrence” during the Cold War, Navy Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward, deputy commander for U.S. Joint Forces Command, based at Norfolk, Va., said during a conference call with reporters. That model mostly was based on the use of conventional military forces to deter the Soviet Union.
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DARPA’s Hypersonic Vulcan Engine Meld
It might not be a Vulcan mind-meld, but it’s pretty close. The Department of Defense’s technology brain trust, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), has given 4 contractors the go-ahead to develop the advanced Vulcan combination engine system for hypersonic flight. The 8-month first phase features awards to: Alliant TechSystems, General Electric, Rolls Royce, and United Technologies.
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Lockheed Martin Conducts Successful Flight Of AFRL’s Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft
On Tuesday, June 2, Lockheed Martin and the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) successfully conducted the initial demonstration flight of the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (ACCA). This flight marks the final and most significant milestone of Phase II of AFRL’s ACCA program, in which Lockheed Martin replaced the mid/aft fuselage and empennage of a Dornier 328J aircraft with an advanced composite structure.
"Yesterday was one of those perfect days where I get to be the first to fly a new aircraft and everything goes as planned. The aircraft was a real pleasure to fly and we experienced no issues,"said Rob Rowe, Lockheed Martin test pilot.
ACCA took off to the east from USAF Plant 42 at 6:55 a.m. The aircraft then banked west and climbed to an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet where the two-pilot crew took the vehicle through a series of airspeed and stability and control tests. These tests are important to understand how the composite cargo aircraft performs at varying speeds, attitudes, and altitudes. This data will be used as a baseline for future tests.
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"Yesterday was one of those perfect days where I get to be the first to fly a new aircraft and everything goes as planned. The aircraft was a real pleasure to fly and we experienced no issues,"said Rob Rowe, Lockheed Martin test pilot.
ACCA took off to the east from USAF Plant 42 at 6:55 a.m. The aircraft then banked west and climbed to an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet where the two-pilot crew took the vehicle through a series of airspeed and stability and control tests. These tests are important to understand how the composite cargo aircraft performs at varying speeds, attitudes, and altitudes. This data will be used as a baseline for future tests.
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Lockheed Receives $2bn Contract Modification for F-35 Lightning II Lot III
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is being awarded a $2,106,525,040 modification to definitize the previously awarded Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) air system low rate initial production Lot III advance acquisition contract (N00019-08-C-0028) to a cost-plus-incentive-fee/award-fee contract.
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How to retaliate in cyber attacks debated
In the murky world of computer espionage, the United States faces hard choices on how to retaliate when government or privately owned networks come under cyber attack, senior military and intelligence officials said Tuesday.
As the administration grapples with how best to defend its computer networks, debate is raging over how far the United States can go in pursuit of cybercriminals, and even what constitutes a digital act of war.
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As the administration grapples with how best to defend its computer networks, debate is raging over how far the United States can go in pursuit of cybercriminals, and even what constitutes a digital act of war.
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Boeing Looks for 'Silent Eagle' Development Partners
Boeing officials are in talks with several U.S. and foreign-based companies about forming a consortium to share development costs on the Chicago-based defense giant's new F-15SE "Silent Eagle" fighter aircraft.
The Silent Eagle is an updated version of Boeing's venerable F-15. It features a new coating to shield it from enemy radar, an internal weapon carriage, new avionics and a V-tail.
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The Silent Eagle is an updated version of Boeing's venerable F-15. It features a new coating to shield it from enemy radar, an internal weapon carriage, new avionics and a V-tail.
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Aerovironment’s Global Observer: Flying High, Again
The late Dr. Paul McReady’s Aerovironment, Inc. has achieved just renown for the success of its small UAVs like the Army’s RQ-11 Raven and the US Marines’ RQ-14 Dragon Eye/Swift. Outside the military sphere, however, it is best known for civil successes like the human-powered Gossamer Condor, the giant, solar-powered Pathfinder and Helios aircraft, and the flying Quetzalcoatlus northropi ornithopter on display in the Smithsonian museum.
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GaN: DARPA’s 3-Pronged R&D Strategy
DID has reported extensively on research contracts related to Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors, which offer significantly higher power and performance. Unfortunately, they present manufacturing and cost challenges that have stymied their use in commercial applications.
In May 2005, Compound Semiconductor Magazine offered an excellent overview of the GaN wide-bandgap semiconductors program and DARPA’s goals. Key program objectives include rapid transition of the technology developed into military systems. Other important goals include a “great” improvement in understanding the physical reasons behind device failures and the development of physical models to predict performance, reproducible device and MMIC fabrication processes, and improved thermal management and packaging. Reliability is expected to be a key challenge.
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In May 2005, Compound Semiconductor Magazine offered an excellent overview of the GaN wide-bandgap semiconductors program and DARPA’s goals. Key program objectives include rapid transition of the technology developed into military systems. Other important goals include a “great” improvement in understanding the physical reasons behind device failures and the development of physical models to predict performance, reproducible device and MMIC fabrication processes, and improved thermal management and packaging. Reliability is expected to be a key challenge.
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WNAN: DARPA’s Idea for Next-Generation Soldier Networks
At present, many soldiers don’t have communications radios because the hardware is too expensive. Buying 2-way radios from Radio Shack before deployments solved that problem for some soldiers, but insecure communications created others. On the high end, the US military’s JTRS program is expected to create radios that are much better at working together, and much easier to upgrade. As one might expect, however, the hardware appears to be on track to be more expensive, in return for that improved performance.
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Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Regular Light Bulbs Made Super-Efficient with Ultra-Fast Laser
An ultra-powerful laser can turn regular incandescent light bulbs into power-sippers, say optics researchers at the University of Rochester. The process could make a light as bright as a 100-watt bulb consume less electricity than a 60-watt bulb while remaining far cheaper and radiating a more pleasant light than a fluorescent bulb can.
The laser process creates a unique array of nano- and micro-scale structures on the surface of a regular tungsten filament—the tiny wire inside a light bulb—and theses structures make the tungsten become far more effective at radiating light.
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The laser process creates a unique array of nano- and micro-scale structures on the surface of a regular tungsten filament—the tiny wire inside a light bulb—and theses structures make the tungsten become far more effective at radiating light.
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Raytheon-IMI GPS-Guided Mortar Rounds Demo Capability During Tests
A new type of 120 mm precision-guided mortar round hit eight out of nine target areas during a recent U.S. Army-Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) cooperative research and development agreement demonstration.
The rounds made by an Israel Military Industries-Raytheon team hit short- and long-range targets, demonstrating greater range than current unguided 120 mm high-explosive mortar rounds in the U.S. Army's inventory.
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The rounds made by an Israel Military Industries-Raytheon team hit short- and long-range targets, demonstrating greater range than current unguided 120 mm high-explosive mortar rounds in the U.S. Army's inventory.
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Argon ST to Upgrade Navy Surface Ship Torpedo Defense Program
Argon ST, Inc., a leading systems engineering, development and services company providing full-service C5ISR (command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) systems and services to a wide range of defense and intelligence customers, today announced that it has received a $6.2 million award for engineering development in support of the U.S. Navy's Surface Ship Torpedo Defense (SSTD) program.
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LM To Develop USAF's Next-Gen Long-Range Radar
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] a fixed-price contract for nearly $25 million to develop a prototype for the next-generation 3-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR). Lockheed Martin was one of two industry teams placed under contract for the technical development of this new land-based radar.
The Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base leads the acquisition for the new radar. The Air Force plans to replace its entire TPS-75 long-range radar inventory with the 3DELRR, which will detect, identify, track and report aircraft and missiles. Following a 20-month Technical Development Phase, the Air Force has said it intends to competitively award one contract for system development in the 2011 timeframe.
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The Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base leads the acquisition for the new radar. The Air Force plans to replace its entire TPS-75 long-range radar inventory with the 3DELRR, which will detect, identify, track and report aircraft and missiles. Following a 20-month Technical Development Phase, the Air Force has said it intends to competitively award one contract for system development in the 2011 timeframe.
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Infrared Fuses Can Send Secret Messages
By combining cutting-edge chemistry with the ancient concept of signaling flares, researchers have made an information-dense fuse that transmits complicated messages as it burns.
The so-called “infofuse” is made from dots of lithium, rubidium and cesium laid on a line of fast-burning nitrocellulose. Different combinations of the metals produce different intensities and wavelengths of light, from visible to infrared. These characteristics can be precisely controlled, allowing the fuses to convey a form of chemical Morse code.
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The so-called “infofuse” is made from dots of lithium, rubidium and cesium laid on a line of fast-burning nitrocellulose. Different combinations of the metals produce different intensities and wavelengths of light, from visible to infrared. These characteristics can be precisely controlled, allowing the fuses to convey a form of chemical Morse code.
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U.S. Military Turns to Twitter for Afghan Hard News
"What are you doing?" For the U.S. military in Afghanistan, the answer to the latest social networking craze seems to be: "Killing Taliban."
U.S. commanders launched their "social networking strategy" for Afghanistan Tuesday, using the hugely popular website Twitter to release information about some of their operations (http://twitter.com/usfora)
Among their first postings about insurgents killed and detained, the military tweeted on Tuesday: "Afghan & coalition forces killed six militants in Paktika Province overnight during a (sic) operation to capture a Taliban commander."
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U.S. commanders launched their "social networking strategy" for Afghanistan Tuesday, using the hugely popular website Twitter to release information about some of their operations (http://twitter.com/usfora)
Among their first postings about insurgents killed and detained, the military tweeted on Tuesday: "Afghan & coalition forces killed six militants in Paktika Province overnight during a (sic) operation to capture a Taliban commander."
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In-depth communication
Raytheon has developed a technology that makes it possible to communicate with a submerged submarine at classified speeds and depths in real time.
The defence technology specialist demonstrated the new technology, called Deep Siren Tactical Paging (DSTP), for the UK's Royal Navy at an at-sea trial.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported that the Deep Siren system demonstrated ‘the first step toward a transformational capability that will change the way we operate submarines in the future’.
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The defence technology specialist demonstrated the new technology, called Deep Siren Tactical Paging (DSTP), for the UK's Royal Navy at an at-sea trial.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported that the Deep Siren system demonstrated ‘the first step toward a transformational capability that will change the way we operate submarines in the future’.
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Ground control
A highly controllable rocket system with the ability to manoeuvre planetary landers on future space missions has been demonstrated by US engineers.
Project partners Advanced Technology Associates (ATA) and Alliant Techsystems (ATK) have developed a proposed solid-fuel propellant system designed to offer the precision control needed to land NASA's Mars Science Laboratory.
Minneapolis-based ATK is working with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to develop propellants for a low-cost lightweight solid-propellant control system that could be used in payload descent and spacecraft cruise phases for planetary exploration missions.
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Project partners Advanced Technology Associates (ATA) and Alliant Techsystems (ATK) have developed a proposed solid-fuel propellant system designed to offer the precision control needed to land NASA's Mars Science Laboratory.
Minneapolis-based ATK is working with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to develop propellants for a low-cost lightweight solid-propellant control system that could be used in payload descent and spacecraft cruise phases for planetary exploration missions.
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