From the simple radiotelegraphy experiments of Guglielmo Marconi to the sophisticated wireless systems of today, scientists have learned to harness the communications capacity of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum in phenomenal ways. As wireless communications evolve, one of the most promising advances is in transmit beamforming – when a wireless transmitter targets a specific receiving device rather than sending its signal like a broadcast antenna for any receiver to pick up.

The drive for increased capacity means the military can adopt commercially developed waveforms but adapt them for tighter security.

UAV Factory has launched an upgraded version of its Penguin C small tactical UAS (unmanned aerial system). The Mk 2 model has successfully completed its validation flight program and deliveries to customers are currently underway.

The U.S. Army’s tactical network science and technology arm made major breakthroughs at a recent experiment on several pieces of advanced technologies that will likely be part of the service’s next set of new network tools.

The U.S. Army is seeing improvements in anti-jam capabilities in new radios crucial to securing manned-unmanned communications at its annual Network Modernization Experiment.

The Air National Guard’s MQ-9 enterprise has been quietly fighting under the radar to show the remotely piloted aircraft has utility in future operations by transforming its hunter-killer counterinsurgency capabilities to better enable joint all-domain command and control under a little-known initiative called the “Ghost Reaper,” multiple sources tell Inside Defense.

Silvus Technologies developed a new radio waveform that will make it more difficult for adversaries to intercept and detect communications signals of the U.S. Army, the company announced Aug. 13.

Traditional land forces tactical communications can be limited in urban areas and in the amount of data they can carry. MIMO technology could be the answer to addressing those shortcomings.

The Air Force has issued contracts worth up to $26.6 billion total over the next five years to develop and enable its Joint All Domain Command and Control concept, according to the first round of contracts awarded May 29.

The U.S. Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System, or IVAS, is an augmented reality device giving the foot soldier next-generation night vision, navigation, targeting and a whole lot more. It’s an ambitious, billion-dollar program, but a new contract will deliver communications technology ensuring the ‘whole lot more’ really happens.