Lasers, Hypersonics, & AI: Mike Griffin’s Killer Combo

Lasers, Hypersonics, & AI: Mike Griffin’s Killer Combo
Lasers, Hypersonics, & AI: Mike Griffin’s Killer Combo

How will the US kill enemy hypersonic weapons in future war? The Pentagon’s research chief has some high-tech ideas.

CNO Wants More Cyber, IW in Navy’s Wargames

CNO Wants More Cyber, IW in Navy’s Wargames
CNO Wants More Cyber, IW in Navy’s Wargames

WASHINGTON: The Navy needs to increase both the number and complexity of its wargames, the service’s top admiral said Wednesday, citing rapid advances being made by competitors in cyber and information warfare tactics that will muddy and confuse future battlefields. While Adm. John Richardson didn’t provide any details to flesh out his thinking during an…

White House Missile Defense Review: Space Lasers, Weapons On Table

White House Missile Defense Review: Space Lasers, Weapons On Table
White House Missile Defense Review: Space Lasers, Weapons On Table

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon is studying options for putting lasers, directed energy weapons, and missile defense systems into space to protect against an array of increasingly advanced ballistic and cruise missiles being developed by China, Russia, and North Korea, a senior Trump administration official said Wednesday. President Trump is set to announce the results of a…

Beyond 386 Squadrons: AFWIC’s Four Futures For The Air Force

Beyond 386 Squadrons: AFWIC’s Four Futures For The Air Force
Beyond 386 Squadrons: AFWIC’s Four Futures For The Air Force

“AFWIC was told to inform and try to shape the ’20 POM,” Fantini told reporters, but that 2020-2024 budget plan is due out in February and was already largely locked down. “But the ’21 POM,” he said, it’s “game on.”

Israelis Seek Lasers Vs. Hamas, Hezbollah Rocket Barrages

Israelis Seek Lasers Vs. Hamas, Hezbollah Rocket Barrages
Israelis Seek Lasers Vs. Hamas, Hezbollah Rocket Barrages

Israel largely abandoned lasers 12 years ago, but “there is a growing number of experts that understand the mistake that was made,” a senior Israeli source told Breaking Defense. “(We’re) ready to restart development with the more advanced building blocks available today.”

Army Boosts Investment In Lasers

Army Boosts Investment In Lasers
Army Boosts Investment In Lasers

AUSA: The Army is investing more and more money in lasers to defeat incoming rockets and enemy drones. Across the Air & Missile Defense (AMD) portfolio, “we put over 50 percent of our S&T (Science and Technology) money going towards directed energy projects,” up from about a third previously, said the AMD modernization director, Brig. Gen.…

Army Rejects Iron Curtain APS For Stryker, Launches New Programs

Army Rejects Iron Curtain APS For Stryker, Launches New Programs
Army Rejects Iron Curtain APS For Stryker, Launches New Programs

By 2022, the service plans to field new advanced reactive armor tiles to neutralize incoming warheads, a laser early warning system to warn crews they’re being targeted, and a signature management effort to avoid detection in the first place.

Space Mystery: Are Russian Doll Sats a Threat?

Space Mystery: Are Russian Doll Sats a Threat?
Space Mystery: Are Russian Doll Sats a Threat?

The State Department and Pentagon are expressing concern over new Russian and Chinese activities in space, while the White House is pushing for the creation of a Space Force.

It’s Raytheon Vs. Dynetics/Lockheed For Army’s 100 kW Laser

It’s Raytheon Vs. Dynetics/Lockheed For Army’s 100 kW Laser
It’s Raytheon Vs. Dynetics/Lockheed For Army’s 100 kW Laser

Lockheed is as close to an incumbent as you get in the rapidly evolving world of high-energy fiber lasers. Raytheon, by contrast, only recently made a big play for laser weapons, but they can draw on their experience with lower-powered but exquisitely tuned laser sensors.

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Army, NASA Want Laser Micro-Satellites For 50 Times The Bandwidth

Army, NASA Want Laser Micro-Satellites For 50 Times The Bandwidth
Army, NASA Want Laser Micro-Satellites For 50 Times The Bandwidth

It was hard enough keeping the data flowing to the far mountains of Afghanistan, but at least the Taliban didn’t have the technology to attack the network. Russia and China, however, are investing heavily in capabilities to eavesdrop on or jam the radio transmissions and to blind or outright shoot down the satellites.

Evolutionary Revolution: Esper’s Army Modernization Philosophy

Evolutionary Revolution: Esper’s Army Modernization Philosophy
Evolutionary Revolution: Esper’s Army Modernization Philosophy

The Army Chief of Staff wants revolutionary new weapons. The Army Secretary wants affordable technology fast. How can they reconcile these opposites?

Chinese Lasers Injure U.S. C-130 Pilots, Washington Responds Through Diplomatic Channels

Chinese Lasers Injure U.S. C-130 Pilots, Washington Responds Through Diplomatic Channels
Chinese Lasers Injure U.S. C-130 Pilots, Washington Responds Through Diplomatic Channels

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.

Trump Loosens Rules on Drone Sales, Pledges More Arms Sales

Trump Loosens Rules on Drone Sales, Pledges More Arms Sales
Trump Loosens Rules on Drone Sales, Pledges More Arms Sales

The new rules, which are still a work in progress, will allow for easier export of laser-designating drones, while shipping more and more weapons overseas to cut into Chinese and Russian sales.

Whack 7 DoD Agencies, HASC Chair’s Bill Proposes

Whack 7 DoD Agencies, HASC Chair’s Bill Proposes
Whack 7 DoD Agencies, HASC Chair’s Bill Proposes

Pentagon brass are taking a look at what chaff can be cut in order to push along weapons systems like lasers and hypersonics. And they have some powerful Capitol Hill allies.