Aussie researchers warn Chinese ‘overwhelmingly’ ahead in sensor research

Aussie researchers warn Chinese ‘overwhelmingly’ ahead in sensor research
Aussie researchers warn Chinese ‘overwhelmingly’ ahead in sensor research

Of 10 advanced sensor tech areas, China leads in seven and the US in three, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

DoD Spending On JADC2 Jumps, With Increased Focus On Interoperability: Report

DoD Spending On JADC2 Jumps, With Increased Focus On Interoperability: Report
DoD Spending On JADC2 Jumps, With Increased Focus On Interoperability: Report

Govini’s Billy Fabian said that for some JADC2 problems, the DoD has a “closing window… before the next generation of capabilities are too far along in development. Otherwise, it risks making its interoperability challenges even worse.”

China Bill Doubles DARPA’s Budget, Adds $52B For US Chips

China Bill Doubles DARPA’s Budget, Adds $52B For US Chips
China Bill Doubles DARPA’s Budget, Adds $52B For US Chips

“This is a strong start,” Sen. Sasse said of the 2,400-page, $250 billion legislation designed to bolster the US in its competition with China.

Sen. Young: ‘Go On Offense’ In China Tech Race; Bipartisan Bill Gathers Steam

Sen. Young: ‘Go On Offense’ In China Tech Race; Bipartisan Bill Gathers Steam
Sen. Young: ‘Go On Offense’ In China Tech Race; Bipartisan Bill Gathers Steam

“Some do not believe this is an appropriate role for the government…” Republican Sen. Young said in an interview. “…[B]ut, simply, the private sector and venture capital community is not up to shouldering this task on its own.”

OSD Writes Hypersonic Flight Test Guidelines

OSD Writes Hypersonic Flight Test Guidelines
OSD Writes Hypersonic Flight Test Guidelines

“I don’t want to get into any specifics,” Mike White told me, “but some of the challenges we’ve had so far getting to flight have been, in certain instances, avoidable.”

Most Overlooked Defense Stories Of 2020!

Most Overlooked Defense Stories Of 2020!
Most Overlooked Defense Stories Of 2020!

The most overlooked story of 2020, including by this publication, is that having a president largely divorced from making military decisions worked pretty well for the US military.

OTAs Soar & Army Leads The Way: CSIS Report

OTAs Soar & Army Leads The Way: CSIS Report
OTAs Soar & Army Leads The Way: CSIS Report

Army Contracting Command still accounts for 45 percent of all DoD Other Transaction Authority obligations, but the Air Force and, belatedly, the Navy are starting to catch up.

BD Checks Out Army’s Robotic Gun: ATLAS

BD Checks Out Army’s Robotic Gun: ATLAS
BD Checks Out Army’s Robotic Gun: ATLAS

The Army will soon hold live-fire tests of an AI that can algorithmically spot targets and aim at them — but a human still has to pull the trigger. Will ATLAS let future tanks fight better with smaller crews?

DARPA’s Hypersonic OpFires Aims For Army 1,000-Mile Missile

DARPA’s Hypersonic OpFires Aims For Army 1,000-Mile Missile
DARPA’s Hypersonic OpFires Aims For Army 1,000-Mile Missile

With ground tests this year and a full-up flight test in 2023, OpFires hopes to become the Army’s long-term solution for its Mid-Range Capability missile.

Army Tripled OTA Prototyping To $4.8B In Just 3 Years: GAO

Army Tripled OTA Prototyping To $4.8B In Just 3 Years: GAO
Army Tripled OTA Prototyping To $4.8B In Just 3 Years: GAO

Other Transaction Authority prototyping tripled from 2017’s $1.6 billion, while other non-traditional vehicles, like research grants, declined from $730 million to $590 million.

Lockheed Aims For Laser On Fighter By 2025

Lockheed Aims For Laser On Fighter By 2025
Lockheed Aims For Laser On Fighter By 2025

How do you keep a laser focused on a target moving at hundreds of miles per hour? The answer is crucial to Lockheed lasers being fitted on Army trucks and Air Force fighters over the next few years.

Robots & Puddles: Surprises From Army RCV Test

Robots & Puddles: Surprises From Army RCV Test
Robots & Puddles: Surprises From Army RCV Test

Experimental Robotic Combat Vehicles are outperforming Army expectations. But soldiers are finding plenty of quirks to fix.

Troops To Test AFRL’s THOR Drone Killer This Fall

Troops To Test AFRL’s THOR Drone Killer This Fall
Troops To Test AFRL’s THOR Drone Killer This Fall

THOR puts high-powered microwaves to fry drone swarms’ electronics in a rugged and deployable package.

SASC Trims Hypersonics & Robot Ships, Boosts Ships & F-35

SASC Trims Hypersonics & Robot Ships, Boosts Ships & F-35
SASC Trims Hypersonics & Robot Ships, Boosts Ships & F-35

Skeptical senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee want to slow down bleeding-edge prototypes, while building up more traditional weapons.