Awarded by the US Defense Information Systems Agency, the agreement covers the continuance of operational and sustainment services for the Pentagon and the National Capital Region’s digital connectivity.

Work for the network, used by over 55,000 users, will be accompanied by the optimization of related IT environments to enhance the “speed, security, and reliability” of the infrastructure.

Associated tasks will be performed for a one-year base period and two six-month options.

“Enhancing the Pentagon’s network infrastructure will further advance technological superiority for our warfighters,” GDIT Defense Senior Vice President Brian Sheridan stated.

“We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with [Defense Information Systems Agency] and reimagining new ways to provide a modern, secure and reliable network.”

GDIT’s Latest DoD Projects

GDIT’s renewal contract followed the firm’s acquisition of a cyber firm based in Florida to improve its ongoing support for the US Special Operations Command and international allies.

In May 2024, the company received a $185-million award to provide digital security services for the US Air Force’s civil engineering division in Texas.

This followed another $922-million project two months earlier to apply a widescale update for the US Central Command’s IT infrastructure.

Alongside technical support, GDIT has also partnered with the Department of Defense to assist in training courses for over 200,000 combatants under the US Army’s III Armored Corps.

The post Pentagon Renews General Dynamics Network Infrastructure Support Contract appeared first on The Defense Post.

The partnership seeks to create “new possibilities” for enhancing naval drone defenses amid rising geopolitical tensions.

According to Rheinmetall, both companies bring “complementary skills” in developing and integrating laser weapon technologies.

The two firms previously worked together on a laser demonstration onboard a German Navy frigate, successfully firing over 100 test shots at representative targets.

With the new collaboration, Rheinmetall and MBDA hope to introduce a maritime product to the defense market within the next five to six years.

Low-Cost Solution

There have been increasing calls for more affordable solutions to neutralizing drone threats, with a Pentagon official acknowledging that the costs of firing counter-drone weapons and munitions are becoming “too high.”

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have mocked the US for using $2-million air defense missiles to intercept drones that cost only $2,000.

Even US Department of Defense undersecretary for acquisition William LaPlante admitted that current military efforts to eliminate enemy drones now exceed $100,000 per shot.

Laser weapons present a cost-effective alternative, with the UK saying its DragonFire can shoot down drones at $13 per shot.

Israel’s Rafael also claims its 100-kilowatt Iron Beam ground-based laser air defense system has “almost zero cost per interception.”

While promising, laser weapon development poses challenges, as it requires extensive research and design processes.

The post Rheinmetall, MBDA to Jointly Develop Maritime Laser Weapon appeared first on The Defense Post.

Under the partnership, Anduril will integrate its Lattice open software platform into the revolutionary goggles to enable operators to see threats faster across the battlespace.

The software utilizes sensor fusion, computer vision, edge computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect, track, and classify every object of interest in the operator’s surroundings.

Once activated, Lattice is expected to augment IVAS’ capabilities, enhancing soldier survivability in complex and contested environments.

“It’s one of the Army’s most critical programs being fielded in the near future,” Anduril founder Palmer Luckey said, referring to the IVAS. He added that the goal of the partnership is to ensure the device “gets the right data to the right people at the right time.”

‘Bringing a Full Picture’

According to Anduril, Lattice works by fusing multiple sensors, data, and assets into a single, AI-enabled software interface to automatically detect and monitor threats.

It employs advanced data processing techniques to filter high-value information, enabling operators to react to the most immediate threats first.

The software can also be used to further investigate threats by coordinating with other available platforms, such as drones and aircraft.

The company noted that its Lattice platform is also suited for monitoring land and maritime borders, as it can alert human operators to objects of interest through their desktop or mobile phones.

“IVAS brings a full picture of the battlefield to every soldier, enabling safer and more effective operations,” Microsoft VP of Mixed Reality Robin Seiler stated.

“Our collaboration with Anduril to integrate their suite of critical sensors … demonstrates the transformative capability of this fighting goggle and will allow us to further expand the impact IVAS will have for every US soldier.”

Struggling Program

Launched in 2018, the IVAS program aims to produce augmented reality goggles that are said to revolutionize how soldiers train and operate on the battlefield.

However, the initiative has faced challenges, with soldiers reporting disorientation, dizziness, eyestrain, and headaches after trying the equipment.

User feedback also revealed that fewer targets were hit when they used the early versions of the device.

The US Congress has already withheld nearly $350 million in funding for the goggles, with a Pentagon official claiming that the US Army might just waste billions of dollars on the program.

US Army Futures Command head Gen. James Rainey also stated that the upcoming operational tests of the IVAS goggles may determine the fate of the troubled initiative.

The post Anduril to Revive US Army’s Troubled IVAS Program, Partners With Microsoft appeared first on The Defense Post.

The investment is part of the government’s “Secure Enclave” strategy, which seeks a secure, reliable supply of microelectronic hardware for defense applications.

Funding for the initiative was sourced through Washington’s CHIPS and Science Act, bipartisan legislation signed in 2022 to improve production, supply chains, corresponding research and development, and the workforce associated with the semiconductors used for national security purposes.

“Intel is proud of our ongoing collaboration with the US Department of Defense to help strengthen America’s defense and national security systems,” Intel Federal General Manager and President Chris George stated.

“Today’s announcement highlights our joint commitment with the US government to fortify the domestic semiconductor supply chain and to ensure the United States maintains its leadership in advanced manufacturing, microelectronics systems, and process technology.”

Intel’s award follows another $8.5-billion CHIPS and Science Act award received by the company in March 2024 to develop critical semiconductor infrastructure at multiple US locations.

The project sites will be built in Arizona, Ohio, New Mexico, and Oregon and will incorporate manufacturing and experimentation facilities.

“With this agreement, we are helping to incentivize over $100 billion in investments from Intel – marking one of the largest investments ever in US semiconductor manufacturing, which will create over 30,000 good-paying jobs and ignite the next generation of innovation,” US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said during the previous award.

“This announcement is the culmination of years of work by President Biden and bipartisan efforts in Congress to ensure that the leading-edge chips we need to secure our economic and national security are made in the US.”

The post Intel Bags $3B for Military-Grade Microchip Production in US appeared first on The Defense Post.

Named the Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept, the system combines beyond-visual-line-of-sight communication with advanced command-and-control capabilities to effectively detect, track, and counter drone swarms.

It integrates cutting-edge components, such as radars, radio frequency defeat capabilities, and AI-driven detectors for enhanced threat monitoring.

The weapon can be mounted on vehicles or deployed in fixed positions to protect high-value assets.

According to Honeywell electronic warfare director Norm Balchunas, the system can detect and neutralize drones while traveling at speeds reaching 70 miles (112 kilometers) per hour.

That capability is significant, he noted, because detecting a low, slow drone that suddenly accelerates poses a considerable challenge.

‘Multi-Layered Defensive Capabilities’

Unlike other counter-UAS solutions, the Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept system features multi-layered defensive capabilities to address multiple threats simultaneously.

It can disable drones by launching a kinetic interceptor, utilizing a directed energy weapon, or employing a soft kill method to disrupt their radio frequency.

AI also plays a crucial role in the system, enabling rapid threat detection in crowded environments and accelerating human operators’ decision-making.

“[The operators] got to make a decision. What target path is that? What effector should I use? Is this authorized within my rules of engagement?” Balchunas said. “Using AI, I can implement my rules of engagement so they’re automated.”

Honeywell is set to demonstrate the ground-breaking system to the US Air Force in January 2025.

The post Honeywell Unveils AI-Enabled System for Countering Drone Swarms appeared first on The Defense Post.

A request for proposals was issued in May for the four defense contractors selected for the RCV Phase I last year: Oshkosh, Textron Systems, General Dynamics, and McQ.

Oshkosh submitted its proposal along with a pair of RCV prototypes it built for phase I on August 19.

According to the contractor, “the Oshkosh RCV is purpose-built to provide soldiers with the capabilities necessary for increased performance, improved maintainability, and flexibility in multi-domain operations.”

Moreover, it is modular and platform-agnostic and supports the integration of future technologies.

RCV Program Phase II

A total of nine prototypes will be built for phase II by each participant at a base price of $118.9 million by early 2026.

The prototypes will be built on the phase I iterations, supporting platform mobility testing and soldier touchpoints as part of the Phase II source selection.

The winner is expected to be awarded a potential follow-on production contract of $607 million, with fielding starting in 2028.

“The Oshkosh team, with Pratt Miller Defense and QinetiQ US, has applied early feedback to deliver prototypes and a Phase II proposal that are soldier-centered and designed to keep pace with the evolving battlefield,” chief programs officer at Oshkosh Defense Pat Williams said.

“We remain steadfast in our collaboration with the U.S. Army to provide the most capable, mature, and production-ready RCV offering to achieve the program’s rapid prototype and fielding schedule.”

Robotic Combat Vehicle

The initiative aims to integrate human-machine integration on the battlefield, putting the uncrewed combat vehicles ahead of the soldiers.

The vehicle should have the capability to defeat light to medium-armored platforms, featuring anti-tank missiles and recoilless rifles.

Three RCV versions were initially envisioned by the service, which later zeroed in on the lighter version that can be transported by rotary-wing aircraft.

It should weigh around 8,500 pounds (3,855 kilograms), with a payload not exceeding 7,000 pounds (3,175 kilograms).

The program has four components: “the chassis, the network that connects the Robotic Combat Vehicle to a control vehicle, the control vehicle and modular payloads,” National Defense quoted Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Norman as saying.

The post Oshkosh Submits US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle Phase II Proposal appeared first on The Defense Post.

A long-range intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance sensor, the PASEO improves the survivability and lethality of infantry fighting vehicles and main battle tanks.

“It integrates high performance day and night all weather optronics sensors and offers 360° coverage with a high-rate sectorial scanning capability,” Safran explains.

“The PASEO Joint Fires includes Safran’s Geonyx inertial navigation system, which provides precise and reliable positions, even if satellite navigation signals are unavailable or inaccessible (GNSS-Denied environment).”

Additional Features

Additional capabilities include advanced image processing, optional assistance for early threat detection and assessment, and threat geo-localization.

“We are delighted to continue to support Australian Defence and Hanwha Defence Australia with yet another trusted and battle proven optronic solution where we will be supporting the design, integration and sustainment in the country,” Safran Electronics and Defense Australasia Head of Sales and Marketing Anthony Bianco said.

“It will be critically important that this superior capability is delivered to Australian Defence as we have done for the Army over the last five years.”

Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Hanwha Defence Australia has been contracted to provide 129 Australia-manufactured Redbacks for the Australian Army, with delivery running from 2027 to 2028.

The 4 billion Australian dollar ($2.68 billion) contract includes the development and delivery of training system and support system components.

The Redback is based on the South Korean K21 platform and is an intended replacement for the fleet of 403 M113AS4 armored personnel carriers, the first of which was inducted in the 1960s.

It features rubber tracks to minimize sound and vibration and advanced situational awareness systems.

Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with layered protection featuring advanced armor and an active protection system.

The post Safran to Integrate Targeting Sights on Australian Army Redback IFVs appeared first on The Defense Post.

The ministry’s department head of ideological work Alexander Ivanov shared his suspicions on the national talk show, Po Suschestvu, during a discussion about potential targets for spies.

“Where do you think there were the most Pokémon at that time?” he asked before stating that the bulk of virtual Pokémon were present at the “territory of the 50th air base, where the runway is, where there is a lot of military aviation equipment.”

Pokémon GO relies on GPS tracking as it invites users to turn on location and use their phone camera to search their physical surroundings and collect virtual pocket monsters.

The mobile game was developed as a collaboration among Niantic Inc., Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company.

Privacy Concerns

Since the game’s release in 2016, several governments and individuals have been wary of the game’s data-gathering capabilities.

It requires uninterrupted use of user location and camera and “full access” to Google accounts on Apple devices, which garnered multiple data privacy concerns.

At the height of the game’s popularity, Indonesian State Intelligence Agency director Sutiyoso commented that the location-based mobile game poses national security risks, although security experts and analysts did not share this view.

Egypt, Kuwait, and other Middle Eastern governments echoed similar concerns and warned players to avoid sensitive sites.

The US also established procedures preventing civilians from trespassing onto military bases and preventing service members from entering restricted areas to catch Pokémons as these might expose confidential information.

In the year of its release, Russia asserted that the mobile game was a security risk, claiming that it was part of a CIA plot.

Niantic, the game’s software developer company, is headed by former Google Geo division executive John Hanke. 

Hanke was tangled up in conspiracy theories because his former company Keyhole (later acquired by Google) received funding from various sources, including the CIA’s venture capital arm, In-Q-Tel.

However, Niantic denied the allegations and informed The Register that the game “only accesses basic Google profile information (specifically, your User ID and email address) and no other Google account information is or has been accessed or collected.”

In 2022, the year Russia invaded Ukraine, Niantic shut down game operations in the Russian and Belarus markets.

“We stand with the global community in hoping for peace and a rapid resolution to the violence and suffering in Ukraine. Niantic’s games are no longer available for download in Russia and Belarus, and gameplay will also be suspended there shortly,” the company tweeted on March 11 of that year. 

The post Belarus Claims AR Game ‘Pokémon GO’ Spied on its Military Assets appeared first on The Defense Post.

The award will help further Reliable Robotics’ work on military cargo missions using autonomous flight systems, while also advancing the commercial development of these systems to meet airworthiness standards set by both the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The funding comes from AFWERX’s Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) program, which supports small businesses in developing technologies for military use.

AFWERX official Lt. Col. Josh Fehd emphasized the air force’s need for highly reliable autonomous aircraft systems to support critical air logistics, operational readiness, and tactical air dominance.

Reliable’s Automation System

Reliable Robotics is the only company with an FAA-approved certification plan for full aircraft automation, including all necessary navigation and autopilot systems. 

The company’s autonomous flight technology is built to meet strict FAA standards and integrate smoothly into the National Airspace System.

The aircraft-agnostic system incorporates redundancy, high-integrity navigation, and an “always on” autopilot that is engaged through all phases of operation for enhanced safety and reliability. 

“These contracts have given us access to exercises that have allowed us to demonstrate our technology,” Reliable Robotics CEO Robert Rose shared with The Air Current.

Once the company gains full military approval, “the Department of Defense can just call on us whenever they want, and we can support them with autonomous flights anywhere,” Rose explained.

Matched Funding

Venture capital firm Eclipse Ventures provided matching funds to complement the TACFI award to Reliable Robotics.

“Eclipse believes in the dual-market application of aircraft autonomy and we are excited to provide the commercial matching funds to support this TACFI award for Reliable Robotics to further demonstrate autonomous capabilities for the Department of Defense,” said Eclipse Partner Greg Reichow.

“Reliable is leading the industry with the maturity of its autonomous flight technology, and has made unparalleled progress on certification with the Federal Aviation Administration.”

The post Reliable Robotics Secures USAF Funding to Advance Autonomous Flight Tech appeared first on The Defense Post.

Called the Barracuda-M, the low-cost munition is designed to provide warfighters with an adaptable and upgradable capability to address both current and emerging threats.

It is equipped with a guidance system to accurately neutralize static or moving targets through body-to-body contact, supporting direct, stand-in, or stand-off strike missions.

It can be launched from a variety of ground, air, and land platforms, including the latest fighter jets, helicopters, surface vessels, and drones.

The weapon also features a range of common subsystems to ensure it can be rapidly optimized to meet evolving needs.

Variants

The Barracuda-M comes in three variants: Barracuda-100, Barracuda-250, and Barracuda-500 — each offering unique capabilities.

The Barracuda-100 is the smallest and shortest-ranged version, with a maximum payload capacity of 35 pounds (15.8 kilograms) and an operational range of up to 85 nautical miles (157 kilometers) when launched from the air.

The Barracuda-250 offers the same payload capacity, but has a greater strike range of 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers).

Anduril said this version is well-suited for combat jets and bomber aircraft, as well as for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers.

The Barracuda-500, meanwhile, boasts a superior payload capacity of 100 pounds (45 kilograms) and a range not exceeding 500 miles (800 kilometers).

Supports Hyper-Scale Production

According to the manufacturer, the Barracuda-M is the “most producible cruise missile” on the market, as a single munition takes 50 percent less time to produce.

It also requires 50 percent fewer parts, enabling affordable, large-scale production.

“Barracuda is purpose-built to bring mass to the fight,” Anduril stated. “Barracuda production rates are designed to keep pace with the threat and can be doubled on-call to meet short-term surges in demand.”

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