C4ISR

The U.S. Army recently announced it is preparing to deploy three Boeing-built A 160 Hummingbird drones in mid 2012. According to the announcement, the Hummingbird significantly differs from its predecessors, as it is designed much like a helicopter and can perform vertical takeoffs/landings, and possesses hovering capabilities. The drones will also …

A volleyball-sized, free-flying robot on the International Space Station helped astronauts complete tasks with a smartphone controller, according to a recent report by NASA. The first successful flight took place last month. As part of NASA’s Technology Demonstration Missions, the agency launched the Human Exploration Telerobotics project where it installed …

DRS Technologies‘ tactical systems subsidiary will soon provide the U.S. Navy with joint platform tablet systems. The platform will provide a common interface between all C4ISR systems for special operations vehicle platforms. The Pentagon announced the platform tablet systems will aim to enable users to control and monitor all communications, navigational, …

ITT Exelis integrated and performed the initial power up of a full-size payload prototype for the U.S. Air Force‘s Global Positioning System III program, according to a company announcement. The company said the test was intended to show that the digital communications, telemetry and radio frequency interfaces are working properly. …

With the popularity of unmanned aerial vehicles increasing, the military is pushing to set the bar higher for UAV performance. A report by Defense Systems highlights changes taking place and areas of consideration for improving UAVs. As UAV flights are more prevalent, flight length and larger UAVs have made way …

Predator drones are not only sent to countries abroad, but are being used increasingly to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the Washington Post. Customs and Border Protection currently has five Predators flying over the southern border, with a sixth being added soon. CBP has eight of the drones total, …

Northrop Grumman Corporation has secured a follow-on contract from the Naval Air Systems Command to help integrate the LN-251 GPS systems on the U.S. Navy’s new CH-53K Super Stallion helicopter. According to Northrop, the LN-251 system is run by a fiber-optic gyro-based measurement unit and is classified as the world’s …

Rockwell Collins will be working with NASA to develop a control system to enable unmanned aircraft to safely fly in the national airspace system, the company announced Monday. Under the three-year partnership formed through NASA’s unmanned aircraft system communications research sub-project, the team will work to define the waveform for …

The Air Force is sending a General Atomics Predator C Avenger drone to Afghanistan, according to a Flightglobal report. The Avenger is referred to as a test aircraft, but Flightglobal reports the order meets Defense Secretary Leon Panetta‘s request for reconnaissance and strike capabilities. “This aircraft will be used as …

Thales today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire satellite communications firm Tampa Microwave. GovCon Wire covered the story, here. Tampa Microwave’s core capabilities include the design, development, and manufacturing of SATCOM terminals as well as custom SATCOM engineering and customer support. According to Tampa, its strategic focus areas will …

The U.S. Navy has awarded multiple award contracts, each with one base year and four one-year options, to contracting firms for work in command, control, communications, computers and intelligence at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific in San Diego. Awardees include: Kratos Defense and Security Solutions‘ technology and training …

RT Logic, a subsidiary of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc., will partner exclusively with information security management firm AlienVault to integrate the firms’ respective technologies and develop products and solutions for the satellite communications sector. RT Logic will exclusively market those solutions within the SATCOM industry. A Kratos release says …

Raytheon has successfully tested a mobile satellite terminal, commonly referred to as SMART-T, with an advanced extremely-high frequency satellite, the company announced last week. In doing so, the company said SMART-T became the first terminal fielded in operations to interoperate with an on-orbit AEHF satellite. The SMART-T is part of Raytheon‘s modular …

The U.S. Army has increasingly tested communications networks as it looks to upgrade its capabilities, and three contracting firms have helped the service branch conduct exercises. ITT Exelis, recently spun-off from former parent ITT Corp., is currently demonstrating several communications at the Army’s Network Integration Exercise, according to a company …

Raytheon Company has today been awarded a $14.6 million contract to develop new image processing technology for the Advanced Distributed Aperture System. The new processor will enhance the system’s high-resolution imagery while the technology upgrade includes thermal sensing cameras and a next-generation helmet-mounted display subsystem. The capabilities enable full-spherical situational …