Global Information Grid

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's incredible array of futuristic research projects - everything from advanced network and communications implementations to powerful laser and unmanned aircraft development as well as developing techniques to help military personnel survive myriad dangerous situations - was on display in a report delivered to the House Armed Services Committee today by the agency's director, Tony Tether.

DARPA is not afraid to drop huge amounts of money on projects that sound pretty far out at times. DARPA’s most recent project has it spending $32M dollars to develop technology to allow for a virtual satellite network.

As part of the Army's $160 billion Future Combat Systems, to be deployed within the next decade, robot soldiers will be programmed to invade hostile terrain and shoot to kill. If all goes according to plan, there could be virtually no humans on the battlefield -- at least on our side

As video communications is integrated into robots, soldiers, and UAVs, and network-centric warfare becomes the organizing principle of American warfighting, front-line demands for bandwidth are rising sharply. The Transformation Communications Satellite (TSAT) System is part of a larger effort by the US military to address this need.

Army information technology managers need to develop the service’s LandWarNet to deliver key information to soldiers without overwhelming them, Army Secretary Peter Geren said recently, adding that “we cannot afford a modernization holiday.” Speaking last week at the LandWarNet conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Geren stressed the importance of equipping soldiers with information about their situation without overwhelming them.