Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic tested a radio frequency detection tool to hide warfighters’ positions through electronic emissions, National Defense reported Tuesday. Representatives from the service branch and various government agencies used the Spectrum Hunter tool during the Advanced Naval Technology Exercise East event in July.

Spectrum Hunter is an augmented reality-based hands-free device that will help users view RF waves via heavy sunglasses attached to a headset. NIWC is developing design updates in line with the results of the demonstration.

“While they were impressed with the software capabilities such as the augmented user interface, adaptability and potential for interoperability with other systems, they also pointed out the desire for increased durability and agility of the prototype,” said Jason Bartlett, a scientist at NIWC Atlantic.

Larry Grossman, acting chief information security officer of the Federal Aviation Administration, has said that the agency intends to reduce the amount of security tools present in their networks, Fifth Domain reported Tuesday. During a recent Northern Virginia Technology Council event, Grossman told attendees that his team intends to remove two products for every network security tool the FAA acquires.

Paul Beckman, the Department of Homeland Security’s CISO, said the agency also has “too many” cybersecurity tools and will use products like Lockheed Martin’s Kill Chain to assess their efficiency. The Lockheed-built simulation platform will mimic a cyberattack throughout a network to evaluate security tools’ capacity for identifying vulnerabilities.

He noted that efforts to identify underperforming technologies will help the department identify items it’s “certain not to be reinvesting in next budget cycle.”

The Food and Drug Administration has released additional information on certain cybersecurity vulnerabilities that threaten hospital network systems and medical devices. Cyber actors may remotely take advantage of URGENT/11 vulnerabilities to disrupt services, leak information and alter devices, FDA said Tuesday.

Department of Homeland Security originally announced these vulnerabilities in July 2019, and has since not received reports on associated cases. FDA’s new information includes input on the vulnerabilities’ sources and recommendations for risk reduction.

IPnet, a third-party communications software, contains URGENT/11 vulnerabilities. Some medical devices may still contain the IPnet due to some manufacturers that still hold license for the software. FDA is also aware of the vulnerabilities’ presence in VxWorks, Operating System Embedded, INTEGRITY, ThreadX, ITRON and ZebOS operating systems.

The agency recommends manufacturers to coordinate with medical care providers to form mitigation plans against URGENT/11 vulnerabilities.

Advanced Technology Academic Research Center, an innovation-focused nonprofit, has opened a new laboratory to help federal agencies study emerging technology markets, the Fedscoop reported Tuesday.

ATARC stood up the Trusted Internet Connections 3.0 Test Lab at a collocation facility owned by Equinix, a California-based real estate firm. The nonprofit will allow agencies to evaluate technologies at the laboratory over a two-week free period. Agencies may continue work at government facilities after testing.

The laboratory is designed to facilitate tests for software, pilot infrastructure, email service systems, government-furnished technologies and network designs. ATARC’s effort also coincides with the Office of Management and Budget’s release of new TIC guidelines.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is investing $73 million in 35 research and development projects on bioenergy. The selected projects aim to reduce the cost of biofuels and produce valuable output from waste resources, DOE said Tuesday.

“The main goal of DOE’s bioenergy R&D is to produce affordable biofuels that are compatible with existing fueling infrastructure and vehicles across a range of transportation modes, including renewable-gasoline, -diesel and -jet fuels,” said Rick Perry, secretary of energy.

The country’s potential to produce 1 billion tons of biomass without agricultural market disruption may allow for the production of 50B gallons of biofuel and other energy-related output, according to DOE.

The National Security Agency has established a cybersecurity directorate to consolidate the agency’s cyber defense and foreign intelligence operations. NSA said Monday that the new directorate will handle information sharing and other collaborative efforts between the agency and its partner entities in an effort to streamline activities such as risk assessments and threat intelligence.

According to NSA, the directorate will initially work on strengthening the security posture of critical infrastructure and other national security assets. As part of its first activities, the directorate will  focus specifically on protecting the nation’s weaponry and defense industrial base. NSA also intends to pursue workforce-related efforts to support the directorate.