Auburn University, one of Alabama’s two flagship universities, is well-known for sports – but its engineering departments are notching their own wins in the military-technology arena as they help to bolster the country’s national security while giving students a view into the defense industry.

WASHINGTON. The Space Development Agency (an agency within the U.S. Space Force) announced plans to acquire 20 satellites carrying a new type of payload to outfit a military communications network. 

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Engineering research laboratory Draper won a $26 million (with all options) contract from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to expand the capabilities of its uncrewed autonomous systems (UAS) software to perform chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) reconnaissance missions in collaborative teams and in unfavorable operating environments. 

WASHINGTON. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) published the anticipated updated rules for for the DoD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program on December 26, 2023, after announcing nearly two years ago that CMMC 2.0 was on its way. 

ARLINGTON, Va. The Space Systems Command (SSC) of the U.S. Space Force (USSF) announced the fourth Phase 2 engineering change award for a satellite communications (SATCOM) enterprise management and control (EM&C) contract (fifth engineering change award overall) to a team led by RKF Engineering Solutions (RKF). 

TUCSON, Ariz. Raytheon will design, build, and test two high-power microwave antenna systems for the U.S. military that will use directed energy to defeat airborne threats; the systems are intended to be rugged and transportable for use on the front lines where needed. 

WICHITA, Kan. Wichita State University (WSU) announced that its FirePoint Innovations Center has been selected to deliver Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub programming for the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) through the newly established Great Plains Mission Acceleration Center (MAC), part of a national network of resources designed to connect small businesses, academia, and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to support defense-focused technology development.