Defense Tech

Counter-drone systems have a reaction-time problem. If a hostile UAV is only detected or disrupted once it enters the range of a handheld jammer,...

Counter-drone weapons face a growing range problem. As unmanned aircraft become faster, more maneuverable and capable of operating farther from their targets, air-defense systems...

Detecting radio signals across a wide range of frequencies normally creates a hardware problem. Conventional antennas are closely tied to the wavelength they need...

Battery weight remains one of the biggest constraints on electric drones and autonomous systems. Adding more cells can extend range or endurance, but the...

Precision weapons face a growing navigation problem. GPS can be jammed or unavailable, while weapons that depend on continuous external targeting may lose their...

Small and medium-sized drones are forcing ground forces to rethink air defense. Fixed systems can protect bases and other permanent sites, but troops on...

Robot swarms could eventually search disaster zones, monitor hazardous areas or coordinate autonomous missions without requiring a human operator to control every machine. But...

Moving people and cargo quickly across coastal waters usually means choosing between two very different options. Boats can travel directly between ports but are...

Fixed-wing drones can travel farther and faster than many multirotor aircraft, but operating them can require more space, specialized launch and recovery procedures and...

Electronic warfare creates a tactical dilemma. Jamming hostile communications can protect troops and disrupt enemy operations, but transmitting interference can also reveal the location...

Cheap drones have created an expensive problem for air defense. Small UAVs can be deployed in large numbers, while shooting them down with conventional...

Electric boats face a problem familiar from the early days of electric cars: propulsion technology can advance faster than the infrastructure needed to recharge...

Modern combat aircraft can share crowded airspace with friendly fighters, allied forces and potential threats, sometimes while traveling at high speed and making decisions...

Light military vehicles face an uncomfortable tradeoff. They need to remain mobile enough to move personnel and equipment across difficult terrain, but crews may...

Drones are useful for surveillance and reconnaissance because they can remain overhead without putting a crew at risk. But they also create signatures that...

Satellites face a fundamental limitation in orbit: nearly everything they do depends on the electricity they can generate and store onboard. As spacecraft take...

Autonomous vehicles, drones and military platforms increasingly depend on accurate positioning to understand where they are and navigate safely. But positioning becomes more difficult...

Light armored vehicles need to balance two requirements that often work against each other: mobility and protection. Troops operating in areas threatened by mines...

Drones have already removed soldiers from some of the most exposed battlefield tasks, but many dangerous jobs still require people on the ground. Moving...

Drone defense is relatively straightforward when protecting a permanent airbase or critical facility: sensors, command systems and other equipment can be installed around a...

Smart devices are becoming increasingly capable, but their growing computing power also creates new cybersecurity risks. Televisions, cameras, household appliances and other internet-connected products...

Military drones are evolving quickly, but the factories building them do not always move at the same speed. Traditional aircraft manufacturing can depend on...