The pair of unmanned scout vehicles had enough AI smarts aboard to navigate cross-country, identify “enemy” forces, and open fire – but a human still decides whether to shoot.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.A major overhaul is coming in software for missile warning
Space Systems Command’s FORGE program is the first, major missile-warning software modernization effort in 20 years.
A worker died in 2017 scooping up explosive tetrazene by hand with a spatula. The Army and Congress agree an upgrade is long overdue — but it won’t be cheap.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
Today’s deals for designs — Large Unmanned Surface Vessels displacing 2-3,000 tons — reflect the ‘take it slow’ approach being forced on the service.
By Paul McLeary
Could mini-drones and robot trucks, coordinating via 5G, replace vulnerable manned convoys?
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
Experimental Robotic Combat Vehicles are outperforming Army expectations. But soldiers are finding plenty of quirks to fix.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
Instead of a traditional three-man crew, Brig. Gen. Coffman told Breaking Defense, “you have two humans with a virtual crew member, [sharing] the functions of gunning, driving, and commanding.”
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
A new approach to speed, scale and efficiency for the industrial base
Radars, EW, EO/IR, space imagery, and microelectronics are brought under one roof for a streamlined approach to common people and factories.
The draft RFP for the Bradley replacement, out today, also opens the possibility for a government design team to compete with private industry.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
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The company is using extensive automation and a new generation of high-efficiency gallium nitride materials to accelerate development of the Lower-Tier Air & Missile Defense Sensor, LTAMDS.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
20th century warfare was like football, with lines, phases, and pauses, the head of Army Futures Command told us. 21st century conflict is like hockey: unrelenting, brutal, and chaotic. So how do you coordinate your players well enough to win?
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
Boeing’s famous Phantom Works threw the kitchen sink at the problem: This is an aircraft with a helicopter-style main rotor, a tail rotor, a pusher propeller, and a wing-like “stabilator.”
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
Planning for a 21st century Navy of unmanned vessels, distributed operations, and great power competition has collapsed. Trapped by a 355-ship force goal, a reduced budget, and a fixed counting methodology, the Navy can’t find a feasible solution to the difficult question of how its forces should be structured. As a result, the Navy postponed…
By Mark Cancian and Adam Saxton
Six companies got $150,000 Field Artillery Autonomous Resupply contracts to study everything from exoskeletons that strengthen human ammo handlers to robots that might replace them.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
Gen. James McConville wants to connect Army networks with the Air Force and replace some soldiers — not all — with automation.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
Acquisition chief Will Roper wants to replicate the rapid-fire development of new fighter jets in the 1950s. He should focus on new drones instead.
By Bryan Clark and Dan Patt