cyber
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GAO: DoD has a pervasive weapon systems cybersecurity problem
Weapon systems operated by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) are more software-dependent and networked than ever before, which a new General Accounting Office (GAO) report says opens the door to mission-critical cyber vulnerabilities. The DoD intends to spend $1.66 trillion to develop its current portfolio of major weapons systems, so Congress asked the GAO to assess DoD weapon systems security in terms of its current state, vulnerabilities, and steps being taken to develop more cyberresilient weapon systems. To do this evaluation, GAO analyzed weapons systems cybersecurity test reports, policies, and guidance; what they found is disturbing: In recent cybersecurity tests of major weapons systems the DoD is developing, testers playing the role of the adversary were able to take control of systems relatively easily, cause damage quickly, and operate largely undetected.
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Milestone in abstracting the hardware: Realizing the promise of FACE
The Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) Consortium, part of The Open Group, was formed to establish a standard common operating environment to support portable capability-based applications across Department of Defense (DoD) avionics systems. Key to the common operating environment envisioned by FACE is the definition of an interface for operating systems and board support packages (BSP) that enables the hardware portion of a system to be abstracted, greatly increasing the portability and reusability of software applications. With the wide adoption of FACE, system integrators can reap tremendous benefits in interoperability and cost.
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FMC enhancements for growing high-speed data needs
Field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology has proven to be invaluable to embedded designers for many years. Often acting as an all-in-one solution, FPGAs negate the need for ASIC [application-specific integrated circuit] technology and reduce the cost of custom IP algorithms in silicon. FPGAs have even aided in derisking designs by allowing engineers to modify their logic after silicon is on the board. This approach allows for more efficient prototyping and a faster time to market.
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New rotorcraft designs, silent operations are key goals in Army, Uber partnership
Warfighters on missions and Uber passengers hitching rides will soon have something in common - both getting done thanks to what are essentially unmanned, flying cars. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and transportation company Uber are partnering to advance future vertical lift technologies to push forward the U.S. Army's modernization efforts.
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The future of military systems is software-defined and virtualized
Software-defined open virtualization solutions are a smart way to implement next-gen military systems: They're easier to maintain and enable future software and hardware upgrades with minimal risks, costs, and downtime.
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Foreshadow: Researchers discover another Intel processor vulnerability
Two international teams of security researchers have independently and concurrently discovered "Foreshadow," a new variant of the hardware vulnerability known as "Meltdown" that was announced earlier this year. Meltdown can be exploited to bypass Intel...
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No room for compromise in supply chain security: New DoD initiative establishes benchmark for strategic ICT sourcing
In response to the growing nexus between physical risk (counterfeits) and cyber risk (infiltration of systems and exfiltration of data) the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has introduced a new policy adding security as a fundamental pillar of federal acquisition and supply chain risk management. Component manufacturers in the military and aerospace arenas - as well as those in all high-tech verticals - can adopt current and emerging best-practice approaches to mitigate both cybersecurity threats and counterfeit component exposures.
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Experiencing a healthy defense electronics market
Welcome to our September Resource Guide, which for the sixth straight year is at least 100 pages - a rare feat in print publishing today. So thank you, loyal readers and advertisers for all your loyalty and support. Not only for your support of our publications in print and online, but also for your support of the warfighters and the sacrifices they make.
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Cooling the beast: Heat-dissipation techniques for next-gen processors
The good news: Newer-generation processing devices offer hugely boosted capability for military applications such as airborne data processing, shipboard electronics, or ground vehicle systems. The bad news: Newer-generation processing devices offer much more capability. Is this really both good news and bad news? In a word, yes.
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Drone-swarm tactics program leverages game-based technologies
Raytheon BBN Technologies has teamed up with Smart Information Flow Technologies and Oregon State University to tackle a challenge from Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that aims to design, develop, and demonstrate a swarm of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) or unmanned ground systems (UGSs) that can maneuver and accomplish missions within a complex urban environment.
Dylan Lang, Samtec
Mariana Iriarte, Technology Editor
John McHale, Editorial Director
Mariana Iriarte, Technology Editor