Focus: U.S. Navy Technologies
No military service may be more empowered-and more limited-by information technology than the U.S. Navy. The sea service relies on long-range communications and information systems for command and control of its projected power around the world. Enhancing the warfighting capabilities of this network-centric force depends on advances in communications and electronics technologies, and the Navy is pushing to implement them concurrent with new missions. SIGNAL Magazine's December issue looks at how the Navy is solving many of its challenges today and where it may be headed in the future.

• The Chief of Naval Operations leads a changing Navy into unknown waters.
• Tracking missiles and aircraft in high-clutter environments is the target of a next-generation Navy shipboard radar system.
• The U.S. Navy is implementing its version of the Distributed Common Ground System to change the way it disseminates intelligence.
• The Naval Expeditionary Overwatch system is an over-the-horizon threat detection capability unlike any currently available.
• The U.S. Navy hopes one size fits many as it upgrades its submarine tactical control systems

Focus: Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Virtually any national security operation, from warfighting to peacekeeping, depends on good intelligence. And, good intelligence starts on the technical side with surveillance and reconnaissance. SIGNAL's other December focus is on new surveillance and reconnaissance technologies that promise vastly improved support to the warfighter.

• U.S. Army researchers are striving to break down longtime barriers in ISR applications.
• The U.S. Navy’s first new patrol and reconnaissance aircraft in 40 years will replace the venerable P-3C Orion with enhanced capabilities.
• The Army is looking at and through next-generation night vision goggles.

Special Interviewee: Gen. James E. Cartwright, USMC

• The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff discusses the importance of information technology in the tactical environment.

• DISA looks at how a social networking solution could help Defense Department staff share information among the right organizations and individuals.
• A new generation of unmanned aerial vehicles may be powered by fuel cells.