The clamor for more bandwidth for military use grows louder all the time, especially as 5G [fifth-generation wireless] networks promise to boost access to mission-critical communications, improve virtual reality/augmented reality tools for troops, and better support autonomous vehicles. In fact, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), in its May 2020 report outlining the government’s 5G strategy, called 5G broadband a “critical strategic technology” that the U.S. telecommunications industry must master so as to gain “long-term economic and military advantage.”

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. Collins Aerospace and project teammate Leonardo DRS announce the successful initial flight of the TCTS Inc. II Air Combat Training program on an operational F/A-18E/F Hornet by pilots in the U.S. Navy. The initial flight took place out of Naval Air Station Patunxet River (Maryland).

FALLS CHURCH, Va. Northrop Grumman has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to complete the final project efforts to provide the electronic warfare (EW) suite for its F-16 V (Viper) fighter aircraft fleet; the suite of tools, say Northrop Grumman officials, will protect pilots from the growing danger of radio frequency-guided weapons by detecting, identifying, and defeating advanced threat systems. 

CARLSBAD, Calif. Metawave Corporation has won a prime, Phase One contract by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to provide a high-precision, all-weather sensing solution for electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

WASHINGTON. The U.S. Air Force announced that it has conducted test flight with artificial intelligence (AI) as a working aircrew member onboard a military aircraft for the first time. The AI algorithm, known as ARTUµ, flew with the pilot on a U-2 Dragon Lady assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base.

WASHINGTON. The joint force announced it has taken another step toward achieving a military Internet of Things (IoT) after fifth-generation aircraft overcame long standing connectivity limitations to share actionable operational data in their native secure digital “languages” with and through multiple sources for the first time.

COLUMBUS, Ohio. Real-time location system (RTLS) provider Ubihere reports that it won a $150,000 contract from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-powered autonomous navigation for unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) and electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVTOL) vehicles.