Author: Thomas J Ackermann

When Russia shows off equipment at this year’s annual victory parade, included in that number will be an armed robot that Russia claims saw action in Syria. The Uran-9 looks like a tank in miniature ― 30mm cannon on a turret on top of a small tracked body. But unlike the armored beasts of war…

The completion of the east campus is scheduled for 2028 and will include a total of six buildings and house more than 20,000 employees.   The National Security Agency and Cyber Command marked the official opening of a new $500 million building May 4, one that is designed to integrate cyber operations across the U.S.…

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew) Thermal cameras are all over the modern battlefield, from intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets such as drones or vehicle and dismounted targeting systems. But recognizing a face with software in real time has long been out of reach. A new technology may lead to enhanced real-time biometrics…

Signature-based solution, using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA’s).   Imagine explosive charges so precise they can cut apart an incoming warhead milliseconds before it hits your vehicle. That’s the operating principle for Iron Curtain, an Active Protection System whose computer brain makes 50,000 calculations in the time you take to blink.     Installed on…

Basically: live hacking of drones to take control of them. Downside: it seems this works signature-based; leaving it open to non-recognized drones.   This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew) As drones are becoming an increasing threat, South Korea has been acquiring new counter-drone systems. Department 13 International has signed an exclusive distribution agreement…

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew) DeTect has completed the commissioning of a HARRIER Ground- Based Sense-and-Avoid (GBSAA) radar in Spain. The system, supplied to a provider of aerial emergency services in Spain, will provide beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) for drone and UAS operations at project sites throughout Spain and Europe for wildfire…

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew) Ride-hailing service Uber and the US Army Research Lab announced a plan to explore some of the toughest technology challenges in delivering the rotorcraft of tomorrow. The new research agreement may result in quieter unmanned aircraft.     The focus involves a novel approach: “stacked co-rotating” rotors…

Open Source works: and the business models around it, too! Next step: go all open-source and lose the black-boxed proprietary stuff.   Microsoft and Red Hat are deepening their existing alliance around cloud computing. The two companies will now offer a managed version of OpenShift, Red Hat’s container application platform, on Microsoft Azure. This service…

In modern warfare, information is king. The United States military has long relied on its superior ability to obtain, process, access and share data within the U.S. Joint Forces and with allies as an “offset” to the capabilities of other states. The next step? Moving to the “cloud” — remotely accessible systems for storing data,…

The arm of the U.S. Marine Corps charged with tackling emerging threats has inked a deal that it says will allow it to do more realistic testing. “You want a sparring partner who reflects your adversary’s capabilities,” said Lt. Col. Dan Schmidt, head of the field testing branch at the USMC Warfighting Lab. Enter MD5,…

Several laser attacks on U.S. aircraft in Djibouti are another way the Chinese appear to be making their presence felt in Africa. One analyst calls it a warning shot to other countries in the region. THE PENTAGON: The United States is accusing the China of using high-powered military lasers to target U.S. military aircraft flying…

The term “bioconvergence” summons images of Terminator-type cyborg warriors, but that isn’t quite what the Army has in mind. At its Mad Scientist 2018: Bio Convergence & Soldier 2050 event, held in early March in Menlo Park. California, the Army Training & Doctrine Command (TRADOC) convened military and industry experts to ponder a future in…

The Navy’s Expeditionary Fast Transport, or EFP, class of ships may be vulnerable to hackers and isn’t achieving key performance milestones, including some related to the cybersecurity of the ship’s systems, according to a new inspector general’s report. The aluminum catamaran-style ships, which are designed to quickly move troops and supplies, “lacks capability,” an April…