Research
The AFWERX arm of the Air Force Research Laboratory recently awarded a $1.25 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract to Othram for advancements to forensic DNA sequencing technology.
Othram is a forensic sequencing lab for law enforcement. As of this May, it began... Read More »
More than 1,000 law enforcement officers from local, state, federal and international organizations attended the National Cyber Crime Conference this April, making use of the opportunity to expand their knowledge and tools for dealing with cyber incidents.
While the event has been ongoing since... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently sought to articulate its critical investment plans to help it meet technological needs and maximize strategic impact by publishing a department-wide Innovation, Research and Development (IRD) Strategic Plan.
It was the result of two years... Read More »
In preparation for the 2024 hurricane season’s kickoff next month, FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks joined National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad, and National Weather Service (NWS) Director Ken Graham issued the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season... Read More »
In order to properly prepare working canines for explosives detection, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released a new report to help emergency responders find non-detonable training aids.
“The Detection Canine Program at S&T plays a critical... Read More »
Fearing the potential behind a recent outbreak of avian flu (H5N1), 17 U.S. senators wrote to Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack this week urging a more coordinated approach between federal, public and state agencies.
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... Read More »
Thanks to work by Raytheon, an advanced new ground system for space-based missile warning recently deployed at the U.S. Space Force's Overhead Persistent Infrared Battlespace Awareness Center (OBAC).
Raytheon – an RTX business – got the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution Mission... Read More »
According to the latest Elder Fraud Report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 2023 brought losses of more than $3.4 billion to those over 60 years old in the United States, thanks to an increasing variety of targeted scams.
“This report underscores the fact that seniors are a... Read More »
A Department of Defense (DoD) 2040 Task Force (D2T) challenge on talent management innovation drew in more than 200 proposals from across the Armed Services over the last year.
Launched in August 2023, the challenge sought ideas from Service members and affected civilians on how to improve... Read More »
The 2024 Hurricane Season Campaign began for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this week, and this year, the agency’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) intends to expand its community outreach by communicating risks through six languages.
Targeting those in the most... Read More »
For the next round of participants in a pilot program to Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced 13 projects will receive funding.
Helmed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and... Read More »
A new bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) proposed protections for servicemembers by requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to pursue better blast overpressure screening, tracking, prevention and treatment measures.
Blast overpressure is the pressure... Read More »
According to new findings from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Coast Guard’s ongoing efforts to modernize its fleet of about 200 aircraft suffer from a major flaw in its lack of analytical data.
The Coast Guard relies on its aircraft to protect the U.S. coastline and... Read More »
Following an independent review of the Microsoft Exchange Online intrusion in summer 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) announced that the attack had been preventable, and steps should be taken to do so in the future.
Last summer, Microsoft... Read More »
Looking to build on current RNA-based COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) recently announced the Patch Forward Prize, pledging $50 million for those who can advance patch-based vaccines.
While administering vaccines is most often... Read More »
Germany seeks to augment its existing air defenses with a new round of Patriot air and missile defense systems, thanks to a $1.2 billion contract provided to RTX’s Raytheon last week.
This contract calls for the most recent Patriot Configuration 3+ radars, launchers, command and control... Read More »
In order to support medical countermeasure priorities for the U.S. government, a new report from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) projected needs of up to $79.5 billion between fiscal years 2023 and 2027.
The Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasure... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security laid out its 2024 plans for technology this week, unveiling the launch of three pilot projects to test artificial intelligence for immigration officer training, making it easier to apply for disaster relief grants and improving investigatory efficiency.... Read More »
Last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly expanded training and education efforts about human trafficking, successfully training more than 275,000 people to recognize the signs and take action.
These findings were documents in the recently released Center for... Read More »
A new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-U is scheduled to launch this spring, marking the last of four planned National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather satellites.
The satellite arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week, following its... Read More »
As part of its ongoing Remote Identity Validation Technology Demonstration (RIVTD), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently began a third track of challenges for identity verification technologies.
Those challenges will help S&T and its... Read More »
In a new report, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said its 2023 was a significant year for improved transportation security.
On Friday, the TSA said the agency had made strides in its effectiveness, efficiency and enhanced passenger experience. Over 2023, TSA screened more than... Read More »
Cyber insecurity remains among the top 10 risks globally, according to the latest report from the World Economic Forum, amid growing inequity and increasing worries over cybercrime.
Released ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 in Switzerland, the Global Risks Report was... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) this week solicited the public for ideas on synthetic data generation.
This data would model and replicate the shape and patterns of real data, but in a more secure fashion the department could use to... Read More »
Under a $400 million contract awarded this week, the defense contractor Raytheon will build and supply more than 1,500 StormBreaker air-to-surface, network enabled smart weapons for the United States Air Force.
Launched by air, the StormBreaker weapons can be mounted on the F-15E Strike Eagle... Read More »
Under a three year, $31.3 million contract with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, RTX company Raytheon has been tasked with rolling out two high-power microwave antenna systems that will aid air defense by firing off directed energy.
All work on them will take place in Arizona,... Read More »
A $117 million contract for the simultaneous evaluation of three novel therapeutics to treat hospitalized adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) went to PPD Development, LP, care of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) last week.
BARDA, as... Read More »
Following acceptance testing earlier this month, Boeing delivered the first of its new autonomous Orcas – extra large unscrewed undersea vehicles (XLUUV) – to the United States Navy this week, potentially pushing the boundaries of long duration missions.
The vehicles are capable of... Read More »
It has been a busy year for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which announced this week its 85th Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory approval for supported products – and brought its total approvals and clearances for the year to 20.
“BARDA has... Read More »
A report on the 2022 United States midterm election was declassified and released jointly by the U.S. Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) this week, prominently stating that no foreign government-affiliated actor was found to have compromised the integrity of that... Read More »
Through the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced awards of $161 million will support 281 university researchers from 39 states next year, to help purchase major equipment for defense-relevant research.
"DURIP awards build... Read More »
An early concept release intercept test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system brought success this week, as members of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and a Boeing-led industry team intercepted an intermediate-range ballistic missile in space.
For the test, a GMD interceptor... Read More »
Climate change is causing increased frequency and severity of disasters across the country, leading to rising costs that represent a collective challenge for all levels of government, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) latest National Preparedness Report.
“As the... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded $3.15 million to the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute at the University of Illinois to develop Next Generation 911 interoperability testing.
NG911 systems allow for interconnection among... Read More »
On a project for the United States Army, Raytheon completed a live-fire engagement with its 360-degree Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) this week, proving the radar’s developmental progress.
With its operational capability up for assessment by year’s end, the system is in... Read More »