MIT News October 8, 2019 According to the book, “Special Duty: A History of the Japanese Intelligence Community” Japan didn’t have a comprehensive intelligence capability, but they’re heading in that direction. Over the last 75 years as international spying and espionage has proliferated, Japan has mostly been on the sidelines of this global game. Defeat in World War II, and demilitarization afterward, meant that Japanese intelligence services were virtually nonexistent for decades. Japan’s interest in spycraft has returned. In addition to a notable military expansion Japan is also ramping up its formal intelligence apparatus. Examining the status of Japan’s intelligence […]
Category Archives: Military technology
Researchers join forces; experiment with latest technologies to support future military operations
EurekAlert September 19, 2019 The United States hosted multiple teams of scientists and engineers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom for the Technical Cooperation Program Contested Urban Environment, or TTCP CUE 2019, strategic challenge last month. Remote Autonomous Systems of the future will need to protect the Soldier and enable them to fight with a technological overmatch. These systems allow the Soldier to have a virtual presence removing them from the harm of an initial contact. Gesture and other modalities of control such as speech and haptics allow these autonomous systems to be controlled in a more […]
Checking in with Army Futures Command
Defense Systems July 29, 2019 A year after its launch, the Army Futures Command has hit full operating capability. The article provides a quick look at three projects: All-in-one heads-up display for the tactical environment, Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT)…read more.
Russia and China Deploy Hypersonic Weapons and the US Spends Billions to Catch Up
The Next Big Future July 29, 2019 Russia has the Avangard and the 3M22 Tsirkon (aka Zircon)—and has reportedly fielded the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal (“Dagger”), a maneuvering air-launched ballistic missile. The US believes the Avangard will not be operational until 2020. China has tested the DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile, which could be modified to carry a conventional or nuclear HGV (Hypersonic Glide Vehicle). China has tested the DF-ZF HGV (aka WU-14) at least nine times since 2014. It has a range of about 1,200 miles and should be very maneuverable. It could be operational as early as 2020. The United States, […]
With Squad X, Dismounted Units Partner with AI to Dominate Battlespace
DARPA News July 7, 2019 DARPA’s Squad X Experimentation program aims to demonstrate a warfighting force with artificial intelligence as a true partner. In a recent field test, the program worked with U.S. Marines at the Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California, to track progress on two complementary systems that allow infantry squads to collaborate with AI and autonomous systems to make better decisions in complex, time-critical combat situations. With the conclusion of third experiment, the CACI system is moving into Phase 2, which includes an updated system that can remain continuously operational for five or more hours. […]
UK budgets £130M for laser and RF weapons development
Optics.org July 10, 2019 The UK’s Ministry of Defence plans to spend up to £130 million developing three new directed-energy weapons – including both laser and radio-frequency systems. The plan is to trial the technologies at sea and on-board army vehicles in 2023. Similar programs to the UK’s are already under way elsewhere and appear to be at a significantly more advanced stage in the US. Following earlier tests of a 30-kilowatt system on the USS Ponce, the USS Preble is now set to become the first US Navy destroyer to be equipped with a high-energy laser, with installation expected […]
All Militaries Are Developing Combat Lasers So They Will Give Short Military Advantages
Next Big Future June 3, 2019 Fourth generation fighters (F-16, F-18) and fifth-generation fighters (F-35, F-22) can be seen by shorter range radar. They only have a 20-30 percent chance of evading new short-range missiles. New 50 kilowatt and 150-kilowatt combat lasers that will be added to fighters in the next few years will provide extra defenses to hinder missiles. Combat Lasers could increase the survivability of both stealth and non-stealth fighters and force more missiles to be used to overcome defenses. The US Air Force LANCE laser program will use fiber-optic cables to merge beams to reach tens of […]
US Army Approves Plans for Microwave, Laser and Hypersonic Weapons
Next Big Future May 26, 2019 Starting in 2021, the Army will test-fire hypersonic weapons twice a year. A fully assembled canister for launching the glide vehicle will be delivered to the first rocket artillery unit so they can train to load and reload the 400-inch long canister on the Transporter Erector Launcher. The Army’s main modernization priority is an array of Long-Range Precision Firepower weapons, from rocket-propelled, precision-guided howitzer shells to hypersonics firing over 1,000 miles…read more.
Dynetics Will Build and Test a US Army 100 Kilowatt Combat Laser
Next Big Future May 16,2019 The US Army wants 100-kilowatt laser on larger armored trucks. The Army wants tests in 2022 of integrated lasers on High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator. The design integrated power and thermal management system to successfully meet or exceed the requirements of the HEL TVD program. The system will provide the high level of electrical power and thermal management required in a compact, power dense package with the responsiveness required for directed energy applications. There are also plans for smaller Stryker armored vehicles with 50-kilowatt lasers that could see deployment starting as early as 2024…read […]
Air Force Research Laboratory completes successful shoot down of air-launched missiles
Robins Air Force Base May 3, 2019 During a series of tests at the High Energy Laser System Test Facility at White Sands Missile Range, the Demonstrator Laser Weapon System (DLWS), acting as a ground-based test surrogate for the SHiELD system, was able to engage and shoot down several air launched missiles in flight validating laser effectiveness against the target missiles. The final SHiELD system, however, will be much smaller and lighter, as well as ruggedized for an airborne environment. The SHiELD program is developing a directed energy laser system on an aircraft pod that will serve to demonstrate self-defense […]