Overcoming System Challenges to Achieve Greater Capabilities and Efficiencies In today’s austere fiscal climate, unmanned air systems are assuming greater roles and continue to increase in importance for the US military. The DoD FY 2012 budget includes $4.8 billion for UAVs. While they are relied upon more and more heavily for a variety of missions, UAVs still face key challenges in regards to communications infrastructure, data manageme...

Performance based Lifecycle Product Support In a Time of Limited Resources Performance Based Logistics has become one of the Defense Industry's key strategies to extend the lifespan and improve the reliability of today's defense systems. Increased deployments and shifting acquisition budgets are driving logisticians to minimize system downtimes and improve warfighter support using innovative PBL approaches. The evolution of PBL is happening no...

The recently released Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) document has expectedly reemphasized the Department of Defense's (DoD) call for increased Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) platform, payload and supporting technology development and procurement, paving the way for a multitude of opportunities and growth potential. The QDR also reinforced Congress? December 2009 approval for full funding on the DoD’s 2010 UAS budget request, totalling...

Technological Solutions in a Fluid Environment As the continually aging aircraft fleet is tasked at the highest levels in history, the DoD has outlined road-maps to extend their service life and utility with technological avionics improvements across the board. At the same time, the growing needs of a constantly changing war environment must be addressed while increased congestion and safety concerns require attention as well. The need for new...