New Technologies, Avionics & Software

Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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04 Feb 25. ‘Tornado 2 Tempest’: Fighter jet component recycling project off to flying start. Individual parts from retired Tornado aircraft have been ground down and 3D printed into new components suitable for next generation Tempest fighter jets.

First-of-its-kind initiative shows how defence is an engine for growth and supports the government’s Plan for Change.

Development could save money, support the UK defence industry and producer higher quality components.

Individual parts from retired fighter jets have been ground down and 3D printed into new components suitable for the UK’s next generation of military aircraft – a first of its kind initiative for the Royal Air Force.

The innovative recycling project has seen parts from old Tornado aircraft turned into powered metal and used to 3D print new components suitable for Tempest jets. This is a great example of UK-developed technology of the future, and demonstrates UK defence industry as an engine for growth and a key part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

The development could save taxpayer money, reduce the UK’s reliance on global supply chains of critical and high value metals and produce components that are lighter, stronger, and longer lasting than those made through traditional forging techniques.

Many of the Ministry of Defence’s surplus assets contain strategic metals, including high quality steel, aluminum, and titanium, and the Tornado 2 Tempest project team have been identifying whether some of these components could be atomised into powders – known as “feedstock” – for additive manufacturing to make new parts.

Tornado parts containing titanium, including jet engine compressor blades from a low-pressure air compressor, were selected. They were cleaned, successfully atomised and recycled into a 3D printed nose cone and compressor blades by Additive Manufacturing Solutions Limited (AMS) for Orpheus – Rolls-Royce’s small engine concept that is part of the MOD’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme delivering Tempest.

The nose cone was fitted onto an Orpheus test engine and passed suitability and safety checks – demonstrating the technique has potential use in the sixth-generation jet.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle said: “The Tornado 2 Tempest project highlights the creativity, ingenuity and innovation defence employs in our approach to national security. By working with key industry partners, we can deliver savings, reduce reliance on global supply chains and ensure our Armed Forces have the very best kit to keep our country safe. Not only does this initiative have a positive impact on the environment and national security, it supports the domestic defence industry acting as an engine for growth, which is at the heart of Plan for Change.”

The project was led by Defence Equipment and Support’s (DE&S) Defence Recycling & Disposals Team (DRDT) in partnership with the MOD FCAS team, Rolls-Royce and AMS based in Burscough, Lancashire.

The initiative also led to the creation of three jobs and sustained two at Small Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME), AMS. The business now expects to create 25 new jobs by offering the innovation to other suppliers.

A team of more than 80 people participated in the project, including DRDT’s commercial graduates and Rolls-Royce graduate apprentices, combining current skills and innovative technologies to deliver and maintain future capabilities.

Funded by UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support Organisation in relation to its Circular Economics for Defence Concept Note, the feat shows that turning old parts into new is viable and could bring huge benefits to the MOD and wider Defence, especially through increasing the accessibility of strategic metals to the UK Defence industry and suppliers.

The MOD’s Chief of Defence Logistics and Support (CDLS) recently awarded the Tornado 2 Tempest Rolls-Royce Team a CDLS Commendation in recognition of their commitment and dedication to the delivery and improvement of support to the front line.

The team also demonstrated a Digital Product Passport (DPP) by capturing and recording material provenance and lifecycle data. This can potentially enable more informed decisions around material allocation and protect against the use of counterfeit materials.

Andrew Eady, Rolls-Royce VP FCAS Sustainability, said: “The Tornado 2 Tempest project exemplifies the forward-thinking sustainability principles embedded in the FCAS Sustainability Strategy and MoD Defence Support Strategy. This project is bold, exciting and innovative, and a demonstration of exemplary collaboration between the MoD, industry and SME, furthering the drive for circular economy practices and innovative digital enablers in Defence.”

Robert Higham, AMS Director, said: “At AMS our tagline is ‘Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future’ and we were confident our innovations and ideas would have a great bearing on the future of a resilient supply.

This project turned our proposed solutions into a reality, and we have been very humbled and grateful to the MOD and Rolls Royce, for allowing us to showcase our capability to deliver game-changing circular economy processes and parts in Defence.” (Source: airforce-technology.com)

 

04 Feb 25. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is advancing the U.S. Navy’s airborne navigation capabilities with implementation of the LN-251M, the next-generation upgrade of the LN-251 Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System (INS/GPS). The LN-251M features M-code – an encrypted, military-specific signal with stronger jam resistance to shield against adversarial threats.

• This is the first M-code navigation system for naval aircraft.
• M-code technology provides enhanced robustness to counter GPS signal degradation, enabling pilots greater ability to effectively operate in air spaces where GPS has been shut down or spoofed.
• LN-251s equipped with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules GPS may easily upgrade to M-code configuration.

Expert:

Ryan Arrington, vice president, navigation and cockpit systems, Northrop Grumman: “The LN-251M is Northrop Grumman’s newest innovation in elevating airborne navigation to the next level. This important enhancement is a critical milestone for delivering advanced positioning, navigation and timing capabilities because it enables pilots to safely operate with a jam-resilient navigation system for naval aircraft.”

Program Details:

LN-251s are designed to seamlessly integrate with current aircraft navigation systems and perform cohesively with future software and GPS modernization upgrades. Northrop Grumman began producing the LN-251 INS/GPS in 2003.To date, the company has delivered nearly 5,000 LN-251s and similar LN-270 INS/GPS units.

 

04 Feb 25. The Open Group, the vendor-neutral technology standards organization, has today announced that the SOSA® Consortium has voted to commence with its Conformance Certification Program, with The Open Group as the Certification Authority.  The SOSA Conformance Certification Program is based on Conformance Sets that define various segments of the architecture. For each Conformance Set, the Supplier must attain independent verification of its claims of conformance.  SOSA certified elements, including Modules, Software Environments, and Plug-In Cards (PICs), allow end users to build open, interoperable, and secure systems with products from multiple suppliers, offering greater flexibility in obsolescence management, system upgrades, and technology infusion.

Patrick Collier, SOSA Conformance Standing Committee Chair, commented: “A fundamental tenet of SOSA conformance and certification is independent verification of products developed with the SOSA Technical Standard. This pillar is foundational and ensures strict adherence to the standard based on the number of Conformance Sets used by the developer.”

Sharon Langbehn, SOSA Consortium Director added: “The vote to start a Conformance Certification Program is an important milestone on our journey towards developing business acquisition practices and a technical environment for sensors and C5ISR payloads. SOSA Conformance Certification is essential to ensure interoperability, ease of integration, and trust in the marketplace.”

The Open Group is currently looking for Verification Authorities to provide independent verification for the program.

 

03 Feb 25. Nimy Resources, M2i Global partner to secure gallium supply for US Government. The partnership aims to bolster US and allies’ security by securing gallium for semiconductors, radar and aerospace.

Nimy Resources, a nickel exploration and mining company, has entered into a non-binding collaboration agreement with engineering and services company M2i Global to secure a steady supply of gallium for the US Department of Defense’s technological needs.

This strategic move aims to bolster the defence and economic security of the US and its free trade partners by ensuring the availability of gallium, a critical mineral, for various applications including semiconductor production, radar and aerospace technologies.

Nimy Resources chairperson Neil Warburton said: “Nimy’s strategy of developing a diversified integrated gallium supply chain continues to gain momentum and the agreement with M2i Global is a continuation of this progress.”

The US Department of Defense, through its Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization Office, has expressed a keen interest in establishing a reliable and sustainable gallium supply.

M2i executive chairperson Doug Cole said: “Our core mission is fortifying our nation’s critical material supply by providing secure and reliable access to key resources for the US.

“We are excited to work closely with Nimy to advance their vision of setting the benchmark for the integrated supply of superior quality, natural gallium material to the growing technology industry.”

M2i Global creates comprehensive global supply chains for critical minerals, enhancing US national defence, economic growth and security.

The company’s subsidiaries, US Minerals and Metals Corp., are at the forefront of engineering, research and services, integrating resources from government, business, academia and non-profits to facilitate access to essential minerals and metals.

M2i president and CEO Major General (Ret) Al Rosendo said: “This agreement with Nimy will assist the work we are doing in support of US National Defense and Economic Security.

“M2i will continue its efforts to meet the needs identified by the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization office, which works to assure a reliable, sustainable supply of gallium and other critical materials within the US to be used in the production of semi-conductors in the advanced technology sector.

“DOD wants to build a resilient industrial base to meet current and future national defence requirements.” (Source: naval-technology.com)

04 Feb 25. UK government seeks out quantum industry experts for advisory board to accelerate deployment of game-changing technology.

Key specialists are being called upon to join a board advising the UK government in seizing the transformative potential of quantum technologies today.

• UK’s leadership on breakthrough quantum tech celebrated as the International Year of Quantum begins today
• DSIT is looking for experts from industry and academia to advise on how to further accelerate the benefits of quantum for the UK
• UK delegation, led by National Technology Advisor Dave Smith, will visit the UNESCO HQ in Paris to celebrate 100 years of quantum breakthroughs and the subsequent benefits, from drug discoveries to boosts in cybersecurity

Key specialists are being called upon to join a board advising the UK government in seizing the transformative potential of quantum technologies today (Tuesday 4 February).

An Expression of Interest (EOI) has now launched for new members to join DSIT’s Quantum Strategic Advisory Board (SAB).

The recruitment push comes as a UK delegation is set to fly the flag for British quantum at a global event in Paris celebrating quantum’s remarkable impact on the world in the past century.

With at least 160 companies active up and down the country, the UK is home to the second largest quantum sector globally, strongly supported by investment from the public and private sectors.

To raise awareness of how quantum innovations are improving our lives by driving growth, creating jobs and delivering breakthroughs in fields like healthcare, UK officials, led by the National Technology Advisor, will mark the start of the International Year of Quantum in Paris today.

The event, convened by UNESCO, marks 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics, and brings together the leading lights in the field from across the entire world to exchange ideas and showcase best practices in quantum science education, research and industry applications.

Quantum technologies harness the unique properties of subatomic particles to process information and solve pressing problems in a new way. New innovations in quantum, such as improved health diagnostics and future proofing cyber security to make our streets safe, will help drive the government’s Plan for Change.

To seize the potential of this technology and support the UK’s vision to be a leading quantum-enabled economy, DSIT is expanding and bolstering its Quantum Strategic Advisory Board.

UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

Joining the Quantum Advisory Board is a great opportunity for those who understand the potential of quantum best to help harness the benefits of quantum for the economy and society.

This government restates its commitment to quantum science and technology and the advice of the Board will be invaluable as we continue to play a key role in ensuring the UK maintains its leadership in this area.

UK National Technology Advisor, Dave Smith said:

It’s only right that in 2025 we are celebrating quantum’s transformative potential. From telecommunications to improved medical imaging, quantum science and technology has been central to the groundbreaking innovations of this century.

The future innovations that could emerge from this technology will help us to benefit from the enlightened combination of long-term partnership from academia, government and the private sector. They will benefit all of us in our daily lives and grow brilliant UK companies and create jobs.

Leading experts from academic and industry can apply to join the Board, chaired by Sir Peter Knight, and advise the UK government on quantum technologies, contributing to the implementation of the National Quantum Strategy.

As a critical technology that offers solutions in almost every sector, from healthcare to energy, quantum will form an important part of the government’s forthcoming industrial strategy.  (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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30 Jan 25. China’s robot dog is a master of the ice – and could end up being a master of war. A six-legged robot dog developed by China has successfully completed a series of tests in Antarctica and while this breakthrough makes it ideal for polar research, it could have military applications too.

Originally designed for scientific research, the robot has demonstrated its ability to move on ice, transport heavy loads and operate autonomously in environments where GPS is restricted.

The robot’s attributes make it a potential asset for military logistics, reconnaissance and operations in hazardous terrain.

The robot dog is equipped with cold-resistant boots which act as mini ski shoes to help spread its weight over the ice and give it more stability.

The shoes can withstand temperatures as low as -40°C while preventing slippage and minimising damage to the surface of the ice.

This capability suggests that the robot dog could be used for military operations in Arctic, mountainous or icy terrains, where traditional vehicles struggle.

It could also support troops in extreme weather warfare, providing reconnaissance and logistical support in contested environments.

Plans have been made for the robot to operate as a network drone, working with underwater drones, which further suggests that military applications might not be far behind.

The robot dog is equipped with a battery system that allows it to operate for two hours in temperatures as low as -40°C.

The robot has also been developed to have an extended power solution, which adds two additional batteries to enable up to six hours of continuous operation.

This extended endurance could be tactically valuable in long-range patrols, border surveillance and remote reconnaissance missions, where sustained operations are critical.

By integrating alternative power sources, such as solar panels or modular battery swaps, military forces could potentially deploy these robots for even longer missions.   (Source: forces.net)

 

28 Jan 25. Crystal Group Unveiling New Rugged Embedded Computers at AFCEA WEST. Crystal Group is presenting its RE1600M embedded computer and RE4000 data storage solution at AFCEA WEST, built to support naval unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and other defense applications. Crystal Group is presenting two new rugged computing systems at AFCEA WEST – the RE1600M, a small form factor embedded computer, and the RE4000, a hyper-converged data storage solution.

Built for amphibious operations, the RE600M is IP68 rated, allowing for AI inferencing for applications such as unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and vehicles. The rugged solution is additionally integrated with NVIDIA Ampere architecture with 2048 NVIDIA CUDA® cores and 64 tensor cores for fast and reliable data transmission.

Crystal Group is also releasing the RE4000, an Air Transport Association carry-on compliant, overhead bin packable system designed to meet any cybersecurity need for enabling data acquisition and storage in severe environments.

The unit includes flexible CPU architecture, including Intel® Xeon® 5/6 scalable processors, which strive to meet the evolving demands of Crystal Group users’ varying compute needs.

Jennifer Groschen-Draves, Principal Program Manager at Crystal Group, commented, “Our team at Crystal Group is excited and so proud to introduce the RE1600M into our portfolio. It was designed specifically for the U.S. Navy’s unmanned surface vessel initiatives.

“These USVs, paired with the rugged technology provided by Crystal Group, represent a major leap forward in modern naval operations, offering improved operational capabilities, real-time data analysis, and greater mission flexibility in the most challenging maritime conditions. This new solution reinforces our commitment to delivering reliable, mission-critical technology to the U.S. Navy, while meeting the needs of today’s dynamic defense environment.”

Kate Schlotterbeck, VP, Sales and Marketing at Crystal Group, stated, “At Crystal Group, our focus is always on empowering our customers to achieve their mission objectives. The RE1600M and RE4000 were designed with direct input from our customers, ensuring these solutions meet the real-world challenges they face every day.

“Whether it’s enabling seamless operations in harsh maritime environments or providing secure, portable data storage, these systems are built to help our customers succeed, no matter the mission.” (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)

 

29 Jan 25. Lockheed Martin F-35 Controls AI-Enabled Drone in Flight. Lockheed Martin says the stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter now has a firmly demonstrated ability to act as an in-flight ‘quarterback’ for advanced drones like the U.S. Air Force’s future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) with the help of artificial intelligence-enabled systems.

The company states that its testing has also shown a touchscreen tablet-like device is a workable interface for controlling multiple uncrewed aircraft simultaneously from the cockpit of the F-35, as well as the F-22 Raptor. For the U.S. Air Force, how pilots in crewed aircraft will actually manage CCAs during operations has emerged as an increasingly important question.

Details about F-35 and F-22 related crewed-uncrewed teaming developments were included in a press release wrapping up various achievements for the company in 2024:

Lockheed Martin uses AI to augment human skill with machine intelligence – illustrating how systems can connect across the battlespace for faster decision-making and greater adaptability.

“We’re continuing to make significant investments focused on next level air dominance, where fighters and drones operate securely together to strengthen the Joint Forces,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “We are already flying AI autonomy agents to support our staunch commitment to developing and delivering asymmetric advantages to the warfighter ahead of need.”

Throughout 2024, we showcased digitally-enabled teaming by flying AI agents ready for joint forces today. Recent demos include:

F-35 CCA Connectivity Demo – The world’s most advanced stealth fighter jet has the capability to control drones, including the U.S. Air Force’s future fleet of Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Recently, Lockheed Martin and industry partners demonstrated end-to-end connectivity including the seamless integration of AI technologies to control a drone in flight utilizing the same hardware and software architectures built for future F-35 flight testing. These AI-enabled architectures allow Lockheed Martin to not only prove out piloted-drone teaming capabilities, but also incrementally improve them, bringing the U.S. Air Force’s family of systems vision to life.

PROJECT DEIMOS: Live Fly Demonstration with an F-35 and the United Kingdom Royal Air Force – In this real-time live fly demonstration, an F-35 flying from Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, shared classified data via Skunk Works’ Open Systems Gateway (OSG) through commercial satellite communications to a Royal Air Force Rapid Capability Office lab in Farnborough, UK, where it was ingested into the Nexus Command and Control (C2) system. This achievement marks a significant step forward in multi-domain integration, enabling F-35 interoperability in real-time with a non-U.S. C2 system.

MDCX Demonstrates First Live Control of UAS – In a recent demonstration, the MDCX, a C2 system, successfully controlled a General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger uncrewed air vehicle, showcasing its capabilities as a force multiplier for all-domain system control. The MDCX proved its potential to revolutionize the future of autonomous systems and its importance in advancing Lockheed Martin’s drone capabilities.

Skunk Works Demonstrates Piloted-Drone Teaming in Live Flight Tests – Skunk Works conducted several live flights with the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Laboratory demonstrating how existing aircraft and autonomous technology can work together in air-to-air missions. In this exercise, a pilot in one aircraft issued real-time commands to AI-controlled aircraft through a touchscreen interface. These flight tests built on previous AI experiments that showcased air-to-air tactical intercepts as well as AI-controlled air-to-ground jamming and geolocation. The technology and capabilities showcased in these demonstrations will optimize operational flexibility and shorten data-to-decision time.

CCA Demo: Operating Multiple CCAs from a Single Seat 5th Gen Cockpit – Lockheed Martin has demonstrated its piloted-drone teaming interface, which can control multiple drones from the cockpit of an F-35 or F-22. This technology allows a pilot to direct multiple drones to engage enemies using a touchscreen tablet in the cockpit of their 5th Gen aircraft.

Istari Flyer Øne: Delivering the World’s First Digitally Certified Aircraft – In a groundbreaking leap for the aviation industry and in partnership with Istari Digital, the Flyer Øne project is poised to become the world’s first digitally certified aircraft. This work sets the stage for a new era in aircraft development and certification, where we create and flight-certify a digital twin of the aircraft before building any physical prototype.

X-62A VISTA: Open Architectures Enable AI-Piloted Flight Testing – Throughout 2024, Lockheed Martin provided the open systems architecture needed to execute rapid AI flight testing on the X-62A Variable In-flight Stimulation Test Aircraft (VISTA). This critical work supported the DARPA Air Combat Evolution flight test program, driving transformational progress in human-machine teaming and trusted autonomy through the first-ever in-air tests of AI algorithms, which involved flying an F-16 against a human-piloted F-16 in dogfighting scenarios.

Eyes on the Future

Work continues with urgency in 2025, with a particular focus on further integrating drones with the F-22 and F-35 in real-world flight tests to enable rapid testing and learning that can be put into action in the near term. (Source: ASD Network)

 

28 Jan 25. Teledyne FLIR Launches Prism Supervisor Software, Enhances UAS Autonomous Capabilities.

AI-Based Automated Response at the Edge Improves Drone Mission Safety and Performance.

Teledyne FLIR OEM, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, today announced the release of Prism™ Supervisor, the latest addition to its Prism embedded software ecosystem. Prism Supervisor integrates drone autopilot flight control systems with real-time, AI-based observations at the edge to improve mission safety, efficiency, and performance, enhancing the capabilities of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Prism Supervisor software empowers mission planners with a flexible programming framework and software development kit (SDK) to facilitate custom, intricate mission scenarios. During flight, Prism Supervisor adapts its autopilot functionality in real-time, dynamically generating mission segments and flight plans on the fly, minimizing operator impact while improving mission success. For example, a Prism Supervisor-controlled UAV flying a search mission pattern can autonomously circle and alert the operator upon the detection of a human or threat.

“From behavior and mission planning to dynamically adjusting in-flight operations, Prism Supervisor represents a significant advancement for drone autonomy through AI,” said Dan Walker, Vice President of Product Management, Teledyne FLIR. “It improves operational performance via single-click missions, opening up new possibilities for UAS operation from commercial to military use cases.”

Prism Supervisor simplifies the operator experience with a user-friendly graphic user interface (GUI) for mission planning, real-time mission visualization, and execution. Available for desktop or mobile deployment supporting Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android, the supervised mission management application streams and records detailed, full-frame-rate video, path visualization, and metadata. It can facilitate collaborative behaviors and synchronized mission execution among multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Prism Supervisor expands Teledyne FLIR’s Prism digital ecosystem of advanced AI and image processing. It provides a platform for deploying object detection, tracking, and computational imaging on low-power processors, enhancing UAS mission performance and reducing development costs. (Source: ASD Network)

 

29 Jan 25. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), started its first-ever ground runs on a UH-60M Black Hawk® helicopter equipped with two GE Aerospace T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE). During this test, the T901 engine demonstrated its capabilities through a series of rigorous procedures. The initial light off and ground runs were executed by a combined U.S. Army and industry test team and operated by Army and Sikorsky pilots.

“Soldiers will rely on Black Hawk helicopters well into the future, and upgrades to the aircraft today will pay dividends for decades, enabling new missions such as deploying and managing launched effects,” said Hamid Salim, vice president of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky. “A modernized Black Hawk fleet will create new operational opportunities for the Army by extending the capabilities of a proven, fielded fleet to travel farther on less fuel and with more troops and cargo.”

First flight of the ITE-equipped Black Hawk is anticipated this year.

The ground runs on the T901 ITE engines verified system functionality, engine health and test setup for an efficient testing process.

The test demonstrated the T901’s start-to-fly progression, including idle and fly modes, with the rotor brake disengaged, marking a significant step toward the program’s goal of delivering a more powerful and efficient engine for the next-generation Black Hawk.

The start-to-fly progression tests the functionality of the entire system, from the engine start sequence to the engagement of the main rotor to enable lift-off. The test team verifies that all critical systems, including fuel, electrical, hydraulic, and flight control systems, are functioning as expected.

The successful ground test set the stage for more advanced testing, such as hover and forward flight tests.

A Modernized Black Hawk

The T901 engine will increase the Black Hawk’s power by 50%, while also improving fuel efficiency and is a critical component of the roadmap to a modernized Black Hawk – a key part of Lockheed Martin’s 21st Century Security® vision.

Sikorsky H-60M modernization efforts continue to be primarily focused on ITE, as well as Modular Open Systems Approach/digital backbone and Launched Effects. Digital innovations, such as a new sustainment digital twin, improve safety and mission readiness while reducing costly downtime and unscheduled maintenance. Since 2022, Sikorsky has demonstrated the ability to reduce pilot workload and increase safety by incorporating proven autonomy capability into Black Hawk.

 

29 Jan 25. Boom Supersonic XB-1 breaks sound barrier over Mojave Desert.

Boom! US jet breaks sound barrier in bid to revive supersonic travel

• Summary
• Companies
• Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 breaks sound barrier in test flight
• XB-1 test flight marks milestone for Boom’s commercial airliner plans
• Boom Supersonic has 130 orders from major airlines for Overture

About 35,000 feet (10,670 meters) over the Mojave Desert, northwest of Los Angeles, Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 became the first privately funded airplane to break the sound barrier during a test flight on Tuesday.

“She was real happy supersonic,” Boom Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg said after landing, in a video posted by Boom Supersonic. “That’s the best she’s ever flown, was supersonic.”

After getting to altitude, Brandenburg opened up the test plane’s throttles, accelerating to Mach 1.1, or about 845 mph (1,360 kph) — faster than the speed at which sound travels.

(Source: glstrade.com/Reuters)

 

29 Jan 25. TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectivity and sensors, today revealed its MULTIGIG HD connector was selected by the VITA Standards Organization (VSO) as the Next-Generation VPX plug-in module connector and will become a defense industry standard. The redesigned MULTIGIG HD connector builds on the previous variants of TE’s MULTIGIG HD product family, while bringing significant technical advances including doubled pin count, 112 Gb/s data rates, increased current capacity and support for rugged environments. The release date is planned for mid-2025.

“Selection as the VITA Standard for our next generation MULTIGIG HD connector is the culmination of two years of dedicated research and development by our innovative cross-functional team,” said Michael Walmsley, senior project manager at TE Connectivity. “This connector brings with it a foundation for future expansion and will uphold TE’s leadership position in VPX for decades as we extend the MULTIGIG HD product line into higher-speed embedded systems.”

The MULTIGIG HD connector’s integrated wafer technology builds on the success of VITA 46.x connectors but with double the pin count, enabling it to support higher data rates with speeds up to 112 Gb/s. TE developed it to meet the requirements for Next-Generation VPX and support the rugged environmental requirements of VITA 47.3, and VITA 72 standards for extreme vibration levels. The redesigned MULTIGIG HD connector is segmented to fit with existing RF and optical connector modules while optimizing pin density. It is compatible with 3U, 4U (latest) and 6U OpenVPX form factors. The advanced wafer technology will support direct termination of AC coupling capacitors and eventually optical transceivers, packaged within the connectors.

The VSO selection means the new MULTIGIG HD connector design will be incorporated into the VITA 100 Next-Generation VPX system architecture used widely across rugged embedded computing systems in the defense industry.

For decades, TE has served defense customers in a wide range of applications including ground vehicles, military aircraft, naval vessels and space technology. TE’s MULTIGIG HD 2 connectors were adopted as the VPX backplane connector interface almost 20 years ago. Since then, MULTIGIG HD connector variants have evolved in ruggedness and speed to support a broad VPX ecosystem.

The latest MULTIGIG HD connector successfully addressed the needs and feedback of VITA members and won the VSO connector selection vote in July 2024.

 

30 Jan 25. IoT Tribe and Siemens launch the Flywheel Programme for startups to unlock AI-driven opportunities in aerospace and defence. IoT Tribe is excited to announce the launch of the Flywheel Programme, a cutting-edge initiative designed to empower early-stage startups developing agentic AI and advanced technologies for the Aerospace and Defence sectors – developed in collaboration with Siemens Digital Industries Software. This ambitious programme offers access to Siemens’ world-class engineering expertise, global networks, and state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, enabling startups to address some of the industry’s most critical challenges while capitalising on a multi-bn-pound market opportunity.

A £400+bn market ripe for transformation

The Aerospace and Defence industry is projected to grow to over £400 bn by 2030, driven by escalating global demand for AI-driven capabilities, autonomous systems, and advanced analytics. From enhancing operational efficiency and safety to delivering predictive intelligence and autonomous decision-making, the opportunity for disruptive innovation in this sector is immense.

However, capitalising on this market requires technologies that are not only innovative but also scalable, reliable, and aligned with stringent industry standards. Siemens’ Flywheel Programme aims to bridge this gap by equipping startups with the tools, expertise, and networks to fast-track commercial adoption and seize their share of this growing market.

Tanya Suárez, Founder & CEO of IoT Tribe, underscored the market opportunity and transformative nature of the programme:

“5% of the S&P 500 gains in 2023 were driven by the Magnificent Seven either as key drivers or beneficiaries of AI acceleration. This programme is not just about scaling innovation but also about equipping startups to compete in a high-growth market where the stakes—and the rewards—are higher than ever. Our collaboration with Siemens offers startups a unique launchpad to redefine the Aerospace and Defence industry.”

“As the Aerospace and Defence sector continues to mature its digital transformation, the role of AI in solving high-stakes challenges is expanding rapidly. If the impact AI will have on the A&D industry could be measured by a 12 hour clock, right now we are at 5 seconds.” said Todd Tuthill, Vice President of Aerospace & Defense Industry at Siemens Digital Industries Software. “The Flywheel Programme is designed to help startups break through barriers to market entry and deliver scalable solutions that address these urgent needs and move the industry well beyond the first 5 seconds.”

Cultivating AI and agentic AI to reshape the industry

The programme focuses on startups developing agentic AI solutions—systems that go beyond automation by thinking, learning, and acting autonomously in complex, real-time environments. These technologies are poised to revolutionise operations across the Aerospace and Defense supply-chain.

These innovations, Siemens aims to position its partners at the forefront of a rapidly evolving market.

Unrivalled resources for scaling innovation

The Flywheel Programme offers startups an accelerated pathway to success, with access to:

Expert Guidance & Support: Leveraging of Siemens’ industry expertise to reduce operational and technical risks, increasing the confidence of customers in your solution.

Cutting Edge Tools & Infrastructure: Use of software from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software, enabling streamlined product development and validation.

Exclusive Collaboration Networks: Exposure to Siemens’ extensive ecosystem of partners, enabling fast-tracked market engagement and fostering strategic collaborations with other forward-thinking ventures.

These resources enable startups to rapidly prototype, validate, and deploy technologies that align with industry needs, providing a competitive edge in capturing market share.

Applications Are Now Open!

The Flywheel Programme welcomes applications from startups developing AI-powered solutions that address critical industry challenges.

Applications for Siemens’ Flywheel programme are now open. For more information, visit www.iottribe.org/siemens-flywheel-programme/  and join us in shaping the future of Aerospace and Defence.

 

28 Jan 25. NGAD engine prototypes take shape in two $3.5bn contracts. The Pentagon has raised the ceiling for the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion effort to $3.5bn for each of its two vendors.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) awarded two distinct contracts modifications, now worth up to $3.5bn each, on 27 January 2025 for the development of two competing jet engine prototypes.

General Electric (GE) and RTX’s Pratt and Whitney (P&W) are in the running to supply an advanced engine to power the sixth generation crewed fighter at the centre of the US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme.

Both engines are scheduled to be completed two days apart in July 2032. They are currently in development under a portion of NGAD known as the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) effort.

In August 2024, the Senate Appropriations Committee stated it supports the competitive acquisition strategy for NGAP and “notes the importance of maintaining no fewer than two viable competitors to ensure innovation and cost realism.”

At the time, the Committee recommended an additional $280m – on top of the $562.3m allocated to NGAP in the President’s 2025 Budget Request – only to maintain competition for the engine development and to reduce programme risk.

Competing prototypes

At present, GE is developing a variable-cycle XA102 engine prototype while P&W is designing an XA103 engine prototype.

The DoD stated that it had raised the ceiling for these prototypes to ensure the two vendors deliver a propulsion system with a flexible architecture that can be tailored for future combat aircraft operating across various mission threads; and digitally transforming the propulsion industrial base.

Notably, P&W’s XA103 prototype will benefit from a digital design, which the company suggests will “cut lead times and improve efficiency and effectiveness.”

P&W is already providing its F135 engine to power the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. However, F135 is currently undergoing an upgrade under the Block 4 modernisation effort to improve the overworked unit’s power and cooling to meet new and emerging aerial threats. A digital design will help to pre-empt future engine concerns such as the F135 capacity issue.

Meanwhile, in May 2024, GE announced that it had completed the next series of testing for its XA100 engine, and that the data from this test will inform engineers in developing its XA102 prototype for NGAP. (Source: airforce-technology.com)

 

27 Jan 25. Pentagon prepares to expand in-theater data processing pilot. The U.S. Defense Department is laying the groundwork to expand a pilot program started in 2023 to provide more data processing capabilities to military units operating outside of the U.S., according to a senior official in the Pentagon’s Chief Information Office.

As combatant commands around the globe integrate more sensors and uncrewed systems, there’s a growing need for computing and storage capabilities. The Joint Operational Edge, or JOE, cloud initiative aims to provide commanders with the computing capabilities they need to crunch the swaths of data those sensors are gathering and identify key intelligence insights.

In just over a year, the department has established JOE nodes in Japan, Hawaii and Guam, as well as several sites in Europe and Africa. Rob Vietmeyer, chief software officer for the DOD CIO, said the program is still in its infancy, but the Pentagon hopes to quickly expand the most needed capabilities in the coming years.

“We’re working with the intelligence community, Joint Staff and combatant commands to build out these capabilities with our commercial partners,” he said during a panel at the Potomac Officers Club’s annual Research and Development Summit in McLean, Virginia.

Vietmeyer told Defense News on the sidelines of the conference the department’s current focus is on ensuring the capabilities it delivers through JOE are what combatant commands need and can use today. The vision is for JOE to be flexible and grow as needed based on demand. Over the next few years, the department plans to expand the number of nodes from the handful it operates today to around 20.

“We don’t want to build out more infrastructure than what we can take advantage of,” he said. “We’re trying to keep this as an agile program and continue to build out based on where we’re adding real value.”

Part of JOE’s initial work has been to get these capabilities into the hands of users in the field — often referenced as “the edge” in military parlance — so they can get a feel for how it works and could potentially benefit operations, Vietmeyer said.

Two areas where the program is seeing particular demand from users in the field are AI and graphics processing unit, or GPU, tools. A GPU is a circuit that processes images and other graphics.

Along with building out the necessary infrastructure, the JOE team — which includes partners in the Defense Information Systems Agency and U.S. Special Operations Command — is developing policies and working with vendors to craft procurement strategies for the effort. While the project is currently funded as an enterprise effort, Vietmeyer said it will eventually transition, at least in part, to a fee-for-service approach.

Managing supply chain risk

Supply chain security and risk management are key issues for the Defense Department as it builds out its edge computing architecture.

Leigh Method, currently performing the duties of deputy assistant secretary of defense for sustainment, said DOD has several initiatives to mitigate risk to its supply chain. Speaking alongside Vietmeyer at the R&D Summit, she highlighted the creation of a Supply Chain Risk Mitigation Integration Center.

Currently, the organization has just one employee, but the department intends for the center to grow over the next few years and look across the department to better understand and prioritize risk and develop strategies for reducing it.

Method also pointed to an initiative called Vendor Threat Mitigation, which aims to give combatant commanders visibility and market analysis into the companies they work with to access data processing tools.

She said the goal is to ensure DOD isn’t inadvertently “contracting with the enemy” and to give commanders the authorities they need to protect logistics capabilities.

 

28 Jan 25. Registration is open for Embraer Social Tech Careers, a free career acceleration program in technology offered by Embraer (NYSE: ERJ / B3: EMBR3). The initiative aims to encourage more women and people with disabilities to enter this market, which is why it is exclusive to these groups. With 70 available spots, the course focuses on data analysis and the simplified development of applications and other computer systems using programming techniques that are accessible for beginners.

“The market is increasingly seeking more skilled individuals in the technology field, and more professionals are interested in working with data science. With Social Tech, we hope to contribute to increasing the pool of these professionals and meet the growing demand from companies,” says Embraer’s Vice President of People, ESG, and Corporate Communications, Andreza Alberto. “At the same time, the course encourages diversity in the technology field, so that people from different backgrounds and life experiences can expand their skills in this highly relevant area today.”

Organized in partnership with the edtech SoulCode, Social Tech Careers aligns with the public’s desire for quick courses that cater to those with limited time or a sense of urgency to enter the tech market. Throughout the program, students learn to work with low-code platforms, covering programming languages like Python and creating dashboards in Power BI, for example.

The classes will take place between March and June 2025, in an online format. They will be broadcast live from Monday to Thursday, from 7 PM to 10 PM. Of the total number of scholarships offered, 60 will be available to the general public, and the remaining 10 will be for Embraer employees. Registration to apply for one of these scholarships must be done by March 9 through the link https://soulcode.com/embraer-social-tech-careers. The selection process includes logic and basic computer tests, a short personal introduction video, and a group dynamic.

Created in 2021, Social Tech Careers has already selected over 1,600 professionals in four editions dedicated to underrepresented groups – women, people with disabilities, and Black/Brown individuals. Upon completing the training, students become part of Embraer Group’s talent pool, shortening the distance to new job opportunities.

 

28 Jan 25. Security thanks to biometrics: Hartmann Tresore and Rheinmetall Dermalog SensorTec are presenting a new facial recognition technology for gun safes at the Jagd&Hund 2025 trade fair

Security and convenience for hunters and sport shooters thanks to biometrics: Hartmann Tresore, a leading manufacturer of safes, and Rheinmetall Dermalog SensorTec, a joint venture specialising in biometric technologies, are exclusively presenting the first gun safe with facial recognition technology. A demonstrator of this type of biometric gun safe will be presented at the Jagd&Hund trade fair in Dortmund from 28 January to 2 February 2025 at the Hartmann Tresore stand (Hall 6, Stand A26).

Hartmann Tresore’s safes, which feature Safe Solutions technology from Rheinmetall Dermalog SensorTec GmbH, are characterised by a high level of security and easy operation. Thanks to facial recognition, they can be opened quickly, securely and conveniently – similar to a smartphone. Since biometric data is difficult to forge, the technology ensures that only authorised persons have quick and reliable access. Lost keys or forgotten codes are a thing of the past.

A high-tech camera system and AI-supported software enable the gun safe to reliably identify authorised persons based on their face. The Safe Solutions technology includes a reliable liveness detection feature that ensures the highest level of security. It recognises whether the authorised person is standing in front of the camera and excludes attempts at deception using ID cards, photos, videos or even masks. Counterfeits are detected either by deviations in the 3D facial structure or by inconsistent RGB/infrared images. Two cameras are used for stereo depth estimation. The evaluation of the facial profile and the analysis of RGB and infrared images are based on machine learning. The user’s face thus becomes a unique key that reliably opens the safe. Face recognition can be set up with just a few clicks directly on the display of the gun safe lock.

 

24 Jan 25. JMSDF inspired by the motor industry’s software-first approach. Japan looks to emulate ‘software-defined vehicles’ within the motor industry, as the naval force builds its ships to last. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) plan to shake up their approach to ship design with a newfound focus on software. Traditional surface ships tend to decline after they reach their full potential upon commissioning, one observer noted during the Surface Warships conference in London, hosted by Defence IQ.   Navies need to keep their vessels relevant as the operational and technological environment changes. It is not enough to renovate ships on a large scale, the speaker suggested, as this will only temporarily enhance a ship’s capabilities. Therefore, forces must be able to pre-empt capability degradation at the very start of the shipbuilding process. Japan’s solution is to take a ‘Software-first’ approach. This is a concept that maximises user experience value by separating hardware and software, which enables capability improvements through software updates.

“Just like our personal technology, the performance of radars, sensors, signals, and combat systems are defined by the version of software that runs on them,” explains the Hudson Institute, a think tank promoting American leadership. “The capability of the force is now as much about software as it is about weapons, platforms, systems, professional military education, and training.”

It is already a proven solution used within the Japanese automotive industry, the speaker stated, citing the rise of ‘software-defined vehicles’ (SDVs) under Toyota and Honda.

The former motor company suggests the approach is “the core DNA” of its mobility products, with the design of software architecture coming before hardware development. SDVs integrate intelligent and IT technologies and continue to advance in functions and performance even after the customer purchases the vehicle.

Naval logistics

To this end, the JMSDF have approached the German software supplier SAP to overhaul its traditional logistics processes with a new database. Japan’s new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project will go live in May 2026.

This platform is known as S/4HANA; the software will link equipment and items with related information and track them on the system.

In a world where defence companies must deliver actionable insights from a rapidly growing volume of data, ready access to information has become a competitive advantage. Simply maintaining old IT architectures risks companies and militaries being outmanoeuvred by their opposition due to slow response times.

“Software is becoming one of the most important weapons in the US Navy’s arsenal, and data its most lethal ammunition,” said the Washington-based Hudson Institute.

However, the defence industry should be careful not to overreact to such innovation. This will not, as some believe, throw the whole concept of a surface combatant into question. (Source: naval-technology.com)

 

28 Jan 25. Solus Power, a pioneer of innovative battery solutions, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with global defence and security company, QinetiQ, to revolutionise and support the evolving electrified military landscape.

The strategic partnership aims to research and develop advanced EV charging solutions, appropriate to fleet charging and infrastructure, as well as to the specific needs of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), by leveraging the respective expertise of the two organisations.

Solus Power has developed a cutting-edge mobile charging solution centred around its ‘Kratos’ technology – modular, stackable and easily transported power units, each of which is the size of an attaché case and which can be both easily deployed and shared between users.

The ruggedized Lithium-ion power units, described as ‘Jerry Cans of electricity’, can deliver ultrafast charging to the likes of electric vehicles, drones, or equipment. Through its innovative and simple modular design, users can scale the number of packs to increase capacity depending on their energy needs.

The collaboration between the two companies sees QinetiQ supporting Solus Power to understand the needs of defence and security customers globally, in addition to providing their expertise in power sources and electrification.

QinetiQ has been working with customers in the defence and security industry to understand the challenges, threats and opportunities posed. One such challenge is how to flexibly charge EVs across diverse locations and infrastructural settings, in some aspects mirroring challenges experienced in high demand civilian applications such as airport parking, car hire management and the general operation of car parks.

The focus on mobile EV charging highlights the evolving landscape of defence and security infrastructure, recognising the importance of sustainable and adaptable energy solutions.

Stas Leonidou, CEO, Solus Power, said: “Solus Power welcomes the opportunity recognised in this MOU to collaborate with an organisation of QinetiQ’s standing and experience in the defence sector, and with its exceptional record of innovation and solutions development,”

Victoria Doherty, Head of Electrification, QinetiQ, said: “Enabling the flexibility to provide electric power wherever and whenever it is needed underpins future operational advantage. By working across sectors to transfer existing solutions, we will accelerate success in this area.”

This collaboration underscores QinetiQ’s ongoing efforts to partner with SMEs and academic institutions to tackle pressing customer challenges, including those related to climate change and energy transformation.

Solus Power showcased its technology at QinetiQ’s ‘Understanding Tomorrow’s Sustainability Technology Today’ event, highlighting its potential to contribute to a more sustainable, efficient and flexible energy future for defence operations.

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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16 Jan 25. Norway first to fly F-35 jets with SAF. The Norwegian Air Force has taken a pioneering step by integrating sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into the operation of its F-35 fighter jets.

The jets were powered with a blend consisting of 40% biofuel. Although the scheduled flight at Ørland was halted on 15 January 2025 due to unfavourable weather conditions, a successful test flight using this fuel mixture was conducted the previous day.

SAF includes biofuels and synthetic aviation fuels, and other recycled carbon fuels. Currently, biofuel derived from waste, residues, and by-products is being used.

This initiative with the F-35 jets lays the groundwork for future advancements in sustainable practices within the defence sector.

Despite the F-35’s compatibility with SAF, Norway faces obstacles related to the fuel’s accessibility and the nation’s production capabilities.

Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram views sustainable aviation fuel as a climate-friendly option for the Air Force, given the challenges of electrifying F-35 jets.

He stressed the importance of additional efforts to reduce emissions.

Bjørn Arild Gram said: “Our fighter jets currently account for about one-third of direct CO₂ emissions within the defence sector. Using sustainable fuel can reduce emissions and strengthen supply security. The aim is to contribute to achieving climate targets while enhancing preparedness.”

Ørland is exploring a variety of eco-friendly measures, with SAF being a key component. This initiative is complemented by trials involving portable hybrid units that integrate wind and solar energy technologies.

These units have the capability to accumulate power and can be utilised in different locations, thereby improving the autonomy and adaptability of military operations.

Bjørn Arild Gram added: “We have presented an ambitious long-term defence plan, significantly increasing the activity level of the Armed Forces. This requires us to take responsibility for reducing our climate and environmental impact, while maintaining preparedness and operational capability. This is not just about climate; it is also about technological development and preparedness. Local production of sustainable aviation fuel could decrease our dependence on lengthy supply chains.”

Norway has reportedly received approximately 40 of the 52 conventional take-off and landing F-35As that it plans to acquire.

As per GlobalData’s report titled ‘Norway Defense Market Size, Trends, Budget Allocation, Regulations, Acquisitions, Competitive Landscape and Forecast to 2028’, the country’s defence budget is expected to increase steadily with annual growth rates surpassing 4% CAGR during 2024-2028. (Source: airforce-technology.com)

 

15 Jan 25. Polar Semiconductor (“Polar”), the only U.S.-owned merchant foundry specializing in sensor, power and high-voltage semiconductors, announced that it has signed a technology licensing agreement with Tower Semiconductor (“Tower”) to enable domestic production of Tower’s robust TS18 Power Management (“TS18PM”) process. Under the terms of the agreement, Polar will license Tower’s broad 180nm technology to become the only U.S.-based foundry capable of high-voltage power BCD semiconductor wafer production for Aerospace & Defense and commercial end markets.

This collaboration advances Polar’s aim to onshore qualified defense technologies to bolster U.S. national security. Through this technology license, Polar gains a versatile process design kit (PDK) to engage with its customers in design enablement and technology transfer. The license agreement between Tower and Polar will enable a U.S.-based fabrication site for this critical technology, while concurrently enabling ITAR fabrication and eventually, Trusted fabrication.

“Tower is very pleased to expand onshore access of its technologies in support of the U.S. Aerospace and Defense community through this license arrangement with Polar,” said Tower Semiconductor’s General Manager for Aerospace & Defense, Mike Scott. “This mature technology is in high-volume production in Japan and Israel serving automotive, industrial, and consumer applications and Polar will provide access for customers that have requirements to manufacture in the U.S. such as USG Primes serving the Aerospace and Defense market.”

Surya Iyer, President and COO of Polar, said, “One of the key tenets of Polar’s transformation roadmap is our commitment to support U.S. National Security interests as we work to expand our facility and broaden our technology base. All of us at Polar are very excited to offer our customers a versatile process technology manufactured in an automotive quality fab, and a robust PDK to enable design of their innovative products. Building on the announcement of a direct funding award as part of the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and investment through the Minnesota Forward Fund, our strong and growing partnership with Tower is a major step forward in becoming an independent, U.S.-owned foundry and supporting technologies that are critical to DoD customers.”

About Polar Semiconductor

Headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, Polar Semiconductor is the only U.S.-based manufacturer that specializes in sensor, power, and high-voltage semiconductors. Polar brings more than 60 years of experience in the automotive, consumer and industrial markets, and is investing approximately $525m to expand its foundry and branch into innovative technologies to serve new customers and markets. Polar’s semiconductor manufacturing facilities operate with state-of-the-art automation systems to manufacture Integrated Circuit (BCD, BiCMOS) and Discrete (MOSFET, IGBT) 8-inch silicon wafers for the power and sensor markets. As an automotive qualified fab, Polar is committed to the highest levels of manufacturing and product quality. For more information, visit: polarsemi.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

 

14 Jan 25. RGB Spectrum, a pioneer in  mission-critical, real-time video solutions, and Dejero, a leader in resilient connectivity solutions are set to announce their new partnership at AFCEA West 2025. The companies will unveil their latest innovation, the IPX Flyaway Kit, a command center’s display and connectivity infrastructure in a box, at booth #753 from January 28-30 at the San Diego Convention Center.

This partnership combines Dejero’s cutting-edge connectivity technology—aggregating the bandwidth of multiple network providers, including 4G, LTE-A, 5G, fiber, IP connections, and LEO, MEO, and GEO satellites—to deliver enhanced reliability, expanded coverage, and greater bandwidth for connecting mobile workforces and remote locations to command centers.

Paired with RGB Spectrum’s advanced visualization solutions, this collaboration empowers government, civilian, and military agencies with a mobile solution for unparalleled situational awareness and operational control.

At the forefront of this partnership is the IPX Flyaway Kit, a deployable, miniaturized command-and-control solution designed for real-time video distribution, visualization, and decision-making in the most demanding environments.

A Game-Changing Collaboration

“This collaboration represents the best of both worlds—real-time mission-critical connectivity and state-of-the-art visualization,” said Rory McCabe, Channel Sales Manager, Dejero. “The IPX Flyaway Kit enables agencies to achieve real-time awareness by seamlessly transmitting video and data from remote locations to command centers, mobile devices, or displays across facilities.”

“When we set out to design a tactical visualization system, we sought the most reliable connectivity solution for mission-critical video distribution,” said Dan Marcus, Vice President of New Business Development, RGB Spectrum. “Dejero’s technology emerged as the clear choice among our customers.”

Introducing the IPX Flyaway Kit

The IPX Flyaway Kit offers a portable solution that integrates:

• Dejero’s Smart Blending Technology™, which aggregates multiple network connections (4G, 5G, satellite, fiber, etc.) for ultra-reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity.
• RGB Spectrum’s Zio® Video-over-IP platform, providing real-time, low-latency video processing, encoding, decoding, and seamless distribution to remote displays, video walls, and mobile devices.

The result is a powerful, compact control room solution that enhances situational awareness and streamlines decision-making for defense, public safety, and emergency response agencies.

Proven Expertise Serving Critical Missions

Dejero’s connectivity solutions are trusted by organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Toronto Police Service. RGB Spectrum’s advanced video solutions are utilized by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Missile Defense Agency, NASA, as well as fire, police, and 911 centers.

Visit Us at Booth #753 at AFCEA West 2025

Experience the IPX Flyaway Kit firsthand and meet the teams from Dejero and RGB Spectrum at AFCEA West, January 28-30, at the San Diego Convention Center. Learn how this innovative solution is transforming the landscape of mission-critical communications and visualization.

 

14 Jan 25. Getac’s Next Generation ZX10 is the Lightest 10-Inch Fully Rugged Tablet Currently Available on The Market.

New ZX10 boasts powerful AI-ready performance, intuitive Android functionality, and fully rugged reliability, making it ideally suited to challenging field-based tasks

• Getac’s next generation ZX10 10-inch fully rugged Android tablet builds on the popularity of its predecessor, combining AI-ready performance and fully rugged reliability in a sleek and compact design.
• Weighing just 906 grams, the new ZX10 is the lightest 10-inch fully rugged tablet currently available on the market1
• The new ZX10 is fully compatible with Getac’s Essentials Suite of powerful software solutions, designed to help organisations maximise productivity across their entire operation.

Getac Technology Corporation (Getac), a leading provider of rugged computing and mobile video solutions, today announced the launch of its next generation ZX10 10-inch fully rugged Android tablet, which combines lightweight design with powerful AI-ready performance and intuitive Android functionality for exceptional performance in the field. The next generation ZX10 is aimed at professionals working in industries such as public safety, utilities, and transportation and logistics, who need devices they can trust in the challenging environments and scenarios they encounter daily.

Powerful AI-ready performance

At the heart of the next generation ZX10 are Qualcomm’s QCS6490 processor and Neural Processor Unit (NPU), which are purpose-built to support advanced AI capabilities and deliver astonishing performance even at lower power levels. Additional key features include advanced memory (8GB LPDDR5) for lightning-fast data transfer, and up to 256GB Universal Flash Storage (UFS) for a smooth and seamless user experience when running multiple applications simultaneously. Elsewhere, the device boasts an upgraded 1,000 nits LumiBond screen with sunlight readable technology and capacitive multi-touch display, for effective operation in the rain and while wearing gloves. An optional active digitizer with stylus is also available for fast, accurate note taking and data entry in heavy rain and/or extremely low temperatures.

Highly configurable connectivity and battery options

The next generation ZX10 includes dual SIM technology (Nano SIM + eSIM) for optimal mobile network coverage, while Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 and optional dedicated dual-band GPS offer rapid data transfer and location positioning capabilities. For those with more extensive data collection and communication needs, the device can be configured with 4G LTE and 5G Sub-6, Near Field Communication (NFC) (non-payment) and a barcode reader.

The ZX10 features a hot-swappable dual-battery design that supports full-shift operation without downtime or delays. It can also be configured with a single battery for customers who wish to mount the device on forklifts or other vehicles. Optional high-capacity Li-ion battery pack are available for those who require longer battery life.

The lightest 10-inch fully rugged Android tablet on the market

Like all Getac devices, the ZX10 is built rugged from the ground up to thrive in challenging environments. MIL-STD-810H certification, IP66 certification and 6ft drop resistance ensures it can stand up to the rigours of intensive field work, while an operating temperature range of -29°C to 63°C / -20°F to 145°F provides further peace of mind in adverse weather conditions and extreme operational scenarios. Despite these comprehensive fully rugged credentials, the ZX10 weighs just starting from 906 grams, making it the lightest 10-inch fully rugged tablet currently available on the market1.

Intuitive Android operating system

The next generation ZX10 is powered by the intuitive Android operating system (Android 13 is installed as standard), for incredible versatility and ease of use. It is also verified as an Android Enterprise Recommended rugged device, meeting all the specifications and requirements of Google’s rigorous testing process. This means it will receive full security updates every 90 days for five years after the launch date, along with regular patches and feature enhancements over this period. Getac is also committed to supporting a minimum of three Android OS versions for each product generation, futureproofing the ZX10 and ensuring an exceptional Android experience at all times.

Compatible with Getac’s Essentials Suite software solutions

The next generation ZX10 is fully compatible with Getac’s Essentials Suite – a comprehensive collection of powerful software solutions designed to help organisations overcome operational challenges and enhance field worker efficiency. This includes innovative new apps such as Getac Management, Getac Monitoring, OEMConfig and Driving Safety2.

“For field-based professionals, device weight can have a significant impact on productivity, particularly when carrying and/or operating it for extended periods of time,” says James Hwang, President of Getac Technology Corporation. “Not only is the next generation ZX10 the lightest 10-inch fully rugged tablet currently available on the market, but its powerful

combination of AI-ready performance, extensive configurability, fully rugged reliability, and intuitive Android OS makes it one of the most versatile as well.”

The next generation ZX10 is available now. For more information, please visit www.getac.com

To learn more about Getac’s Essential Suite, please visit http://www.getac.com/en/products/software

1. Based on its weight when configured with one standard capacity battery. Status updated as of January 14, 2025; to the best of our knowledge, this product is the lightest 10-inch fully rugged tablet.
2. Getac Management, Getac Monitoring, OEMConfig and Driving Safety for ZX10 will be released in April 2025

 

13 Jan 25. TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectivity and sensors, today revealed its MULTIGIG HD connector was selected by the VITA Standards Organization (VSO) as the Next-Generation VPX plug-in module connector and will become a defense industry standard. The redesigned MULTIGIG HD connector builds on the previous variants of TE’s MULTIGIG HD product family, while bringing significant technical advances including doubled pin count, 112 Gb/s data rates, increased current capacity and support for rugged environments. The release date is planned for mid-2025.

“Selection as the VITA Standard for our next generation MULTIGIG HD connector is the culmination of two years of dedicated research and development by our innovative cross-functional team,” said Michael Walmsley, senior project manager at TE Connectivity. “This connector brings with it a foundation for future expansion and will uphold TE’s leadership position in VPX for decades as we extend the MULTIGIG HD product line into higher-speed embedded systems.”

The MULTIGIG HD connector’s integrated wafer technology builds on the success of VITA 46.x connectors but with double the pin count, enabling it to support higher data rates with speeds up to 112 Gb/s. TE developed it to meet the requirements for Next-Generation VPX and support the rugged environmental requirements of VITA 47.3, and VITA 72 standards for extreme vibration levels. The redesigned MULTIGIG HD connector is segmented to fit with existing RF and optical connector modules while optimizing pin density. It is compatible with 3U, 4U (latest) and 6U OpenVPX form factors. The advanced wafer technology will support direct termination of AC coupling capacitors and eventually optical transceivers, packaged within the connectors.

The VSO selection means the new MULTIGIG HD connector design will be incorporated into the VITA 100 Next-Generation VPX system architecture used widely across rugged embedded computing systems in the defense industry.

For decades, TE has served defense customers in a wide range of applications including ground vehicles, military aircraft, naval vessels and space technology. TE’s MULTIGIG HD 2 connectors were adopted as the VPX backplane connector interface almost 20 years ago. Since then, MULTIGIG HD connector variants have evolved in ruggedness and speed to support a broad VPX ecosystem. The latest MULTIGIG HD connector successfully addressed the needs and feedback of VITA members and won the VSO connector selection vote in July 2024.

For more information on TE’s MULTIGIG HD connector product line and VPX interconnects, visit te.com/embeddedcomputing.

 

13 Jan 25. New ODU Expanded Beam Performance portfolio. The limitations of current fiber connectivity solutions in the world of rugged embedded systems continue to be an issue for end users in defence and aerospace applications. These limitations include low mating cycles and the need for excessive cleaning in the field. The new Expanded Beam Performance products are the answer to these limitations. Very high mating cycles, low susceptibility to dust and excellent transmission values are a game changer for the end user. The Expanded Beam Performance solutions are available as singlemode and multimode version. Due to its small size, the ferrule can be integrated in both circular and backplane connectors.

At the heart of the new portfolio is a cassette system that allows multiple ferrules to be arranged side by side in a space-saving manner. With 12 connected fibers per ferrule, up to 96 optical fibers can be connected to one connector. The technology is available both in classic I/O circular connectors, and in backplane connection systems in accordance with the VITA standard. In addition to its outstanding transmission values, it exceeds available ferrules on the market with its extreme durability. The scattering of the light by using expanded beam technology eliminates the high maintenance costs typical for physical contact solutions.

The circular connector enables the compact combination of multiple ferrules and is based on the upcoming VITA 95 standard. ODU TACTICS offers four different sizes of connectors within MIL-DTL-38999, Series lll housings, and enables the connection of up to 96 optical fibers depending on the configuration. The design is characterized by its robustness and has been the market standard in the military environment for some time. This solution is the low maintenance alternative to products

ODU AMC® Series T

AMC Series T

Shell Size* 9

Shell Size* 12

Shell Size* 14

Shell Size* 16

Up to 24 fibers

Up to 48 fibers

Up to 72 fibers

Up to 96 fibers

This alternative to the standardized MIL-DTL-38999, Series lll connector excels with its innovative locking principle and even smaller footprint. Qualified on the basis of the 38999 test standards, ODU AMC Series T meets all requirements for use in extreme environments and scores points with its lower weight and smaller form factor. Couplings are available in the familiar square flange design, but also as a jam nut version. The system enables a secure connection for at least 5,000 mating cycles without the need for cleaning.

ODU BACKPLANE // VITA 96

Based on the upcoming VITA 96 standard, the BACKPLANE line enables the direct connection from module to backplane. The versions of VITA 96.1, VITA 96.4, and VITA 96.5 fit into the same apertures as commonly known VITA 66.1, VITA 66.4, VITA 66.5 solutions, thus enabling easy integration of the innovative Expanded Beam Performance technology. With a service life of at least 10,000 mating cycles, this connection solution is ideal for applications that have to be regularly fitted with different modules over a long period of use.

 

13 Jan 25. Britten-Norman Islanders to be adapted to hydrogen electric propulsion by German company. Britten-Norman Islanders to be converted to zero-emissions hydrogen electric propulsion systems by a German company that is focused on carbon neutral regional aviation. According to AOL air industry reports, Evia Aero, has signed a letter of intent with the UK-based aircraft manufacturer, for the purchase of 15 Islander aircraft.

Under the project the planes will be delivered from 2027 and later converted to hydrogen-electric propulsion systems.

The Britten-Norman Islander, a short-haul, twin-engine aircraft developed in the Isle of White has been in service globally for more than 60 years. It has been particularly successful in the Falkland Islands with the local airline FIGAS and as fisheries marine patrol.

Evia Aero plans to redesign the aircraft interiors to improve passenger comfort and integrate sustainable aviation technologies.

Florian Kruse, CEO of Evia Aero, highlighted the practical benefits of the deal. “It is crucial that we get aircraft delivered as early as possible. The BN Islander has proven itself worldwide, and a conversion kit to a sustainable hydrogen-electric aircraft is possible.”

Kruse also pointed to the efficiency of using an established aircraft model for sustainable conversion. “An existing, proven aircraft type such as the BN Islander will significantly shorten the certification process of a conversion kit for sustainable propulsion compared to a complete new aircraft design,” he said.

The partnership supports Evia Aero’s strategy to implement regional point-to-point routes powered by green energy generated at local airports.

Britten-Norman, which recently returned its production operations to the Isle of Wight, expects the deal to contribute to job growth at its Bembridge facility.

This latest agreement for Britten-Norman follows a deal worth £7.9m in November with the Falkland Islands Government Aviation Service (FIGAS) to supply four new light aircraft. (Source: News Now/https://en.mercopress.com/)

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

www.oxleygroup.com
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10 Jan 25. Hadean and Faculty AI Team for AI Defence Integrations. Spatial computing company, Hadean, and AI solutions provider, Faculty AI, have agreed to team up and accelerate the advancement of AI integrations for defence, security, and national or international governance.
The collaboration marks a significant milestone in harnessing the power of live and synthetic data to propel innovation and support the global customer base with new offerings.
The agreement aims to leverage world-leading expertise in developing AI-driven solutions, and AI-powered spatial computing technology to exploit synergies and develop tailored capabilities. As Open AI’s first implementation partner, Faculty AI will bring experience in helping organisations across industries deliver AI solutions, while Hadean will contribute a track record in enabling defence organisations, including the UK Ministry of Defence and the British Army, to orchestrate systems and technologies at scale.
The partnership will combine Faculty’s experience of developing and deploying AI models onto UAVs and other edge devices with the Hadean Platform to leverage on a large-scale synthetic environment that can simulate immersive and complex scenarios and aid the development of novel AI models, capitalising on synthetic data generated across different sources, and addressing challenges associated with limited real-world data for training, and test and evaluation of systems and technologies.
It will enable the rapid validation of algorithms and allow the delivery of fit-for-purpose prototype technologies, at the speed of relevance, for addressing critical challenges including subject identification, tracking object movement, and exploring autonomous swarming development, deployment and operations.
Hadean Chief Executive Officer, Craig Beddis, said: “The fusion of Hadean’s proven spatial computing platform with Faculty AI’s expertise and AI capabilities represents our joint commitment as technologists to bring the best and brightest minds together and consistently deliver value to our customers. As our business continues to scale internationally, our work with Faculty AI will further elevate the development of purpose-driven solutions and keep Hadean at the edge of the AI development lifecycle.”
Head of Defence at Faculty, Andrew Van Der Lem, said: “AI is an epoch-defining technology – and it is now set to revolutionise productivity and decision making in National Security and Defence. From autonomous systems to processing electronic signals, AI will help the UK operate quicker and more intelligently than our adversaries. This partnership between two industry leaders will offer new services to public and private sector clients, whilst fundamentally rethinking how AI can impact operations.”
Reflecting a wider movement of collaboration between disruptive SMEs with trusted domain-specific knowledge, the team-up will aim to influence the future landscape of AI-driven technology and foster innovation that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of defence and national security. (Source: UAS VISION)

 

09 Jan 25. Teledyne HiRel Semiconductors announces the availability of its Gallium Nitride (GaN) high-power RF switch, model TDSW84230EP. This switch offers high peak power and is designed to replace Positive-Intrinsic-Negative (PIN) diode-based RF Switches commonly used in RF front ends of many of today’s tactical and military communication radio systems. Developed using a wide-bandgap GaN High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) process, this switch offers a very high breakdown voltage and high saturation current capabilities and is available in a 16-pin quad-flat no-lead (QFN) 3 mm x 3 mm x 0.8 mm plastic surface mount package and qualified to a military temperature range of –55?C to 125?C.
“Today, we’re releasing our latest RF GaN Switch, optimized for Aerospace and Defense applications”
Post this
The TDSW84230EP SPDT GaN reflective switch leverages monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) design techniques and supports a high 20 watts CW power handling, operating from 30 MHz to 5 GHz. It has a low 0.2 dB insertion loss and a high 45 dB port isolation offering significant efficiency and board area savings compared to PIN diode architectures.
“Today, we’re releasing our latest RF GaN Switch, optimized for Aerospace and Defense applications,” said Mont Taylor, Vice President, and Business Development Manager at Teledyne HiRel. “To meet the multiple wideband continuous operation demand in today’s military and defense software defined radio architectures, this high-power GaN switch delivers an ideal solution for replacing traditional PIN diode switches, tolerating up to 900mA/mm saturation currents and high voltage RF-power handling capabilities. The inherent high breakdown voltage and carrier density of GaN technology enable higher operating power capabilities while delivering high linearity to better support harmonic and spurious signal requirements associated with traditional PIN diode switches.”
The TDSW84230EP devices are available for order and shipment today, from Teledyne HiRel Semiconductors or an authorized distributor, in commercial versions. They are shipped from our DoD Trusted Facility in Milpitas, California. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

 

09 Jan 25. Microvast Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVST) (“Microvast” or the “Company”), a global leader in advanced battery technologies, today announced a significant milestone in the development of its True All-Solid-State Battery (ASSB) technology. This advancement represents a key step forward in improving safety, energy density, and efficiency for critical applications such as data center backup power systems and electric school buses, while also paving the way for future innovations in robotics and other high-demand sectors such as electric vehicles.
“By developing a technology that eliminates liquid electrolytes and prioritizes scalability, we are well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of industries requiring reliable and safe energy storage solutions.”
Post this
Unlike conventional lithium-ion or semi solid-state batteries, Microvast’s ASSB utilizes a bipolar stacking architecture that enables internal series connections within a single battery cell. Traditional lithium-ion and semi solid-state batteries, constrained by the limitations of liquid electrolytes, typically operate at nominal voltages of 3.2V to 3.7V per cell. In contrast, Microvast’s technology completely eliminates liquid electrolytes. This breakthrough allows a single cell to achieve dozens of volts or higher based on specific application needs. A voltage unattainable by any battery containing liquid electrolytes, which would otherwise decompose under such high voltages.
This bipolar design significantly reduces the number of interconnections between cells, modules, and packs. This simplifies the overall system architecture and enhances both energy efficiency and operational safety. Furthermore, Microvast has developed its proprietary all-solid electrolyte separator membrane based on an advanced polyaramid separator, which is non-porous and tailored specifically for solid-state applications. This separator ensures excellent ionic conductivity, structural stability, and long-term durability, addressing one of the most critical technical challenges in solid-state battery technology. Moreover, the ability to maintain stable high-voltage operation without compromising safety or long-term reliability underscores a key technical advantage of Microvast’s ASSB technology, positioning it as a transformative innovation in the battery industry.
“Our solid-state battery innovation represents a significant leap forward in addressing real-world safety and efficiency challenges,” said Yang Wu, CEO of Microvast. “By developing a technology that eliminates liquid electrolytes and prioritizes scalability, we are well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of industries requiring reliable and safe energy storage solutions.”
Microvast’s ASSB technology introduces a new frontier in customized cell design. With its flexible form factor and voltage configuration, Microvast’s solid-state batteries can be custom made to meet the specific energy and spatial requirements of advanced robotic systems. This makes the ASSB a key enabler for upcoming AI-driven systems and applications.
“Our bipolar architecture, combined with our proprietary all-solid separator, not only simplifies battery design, but also enhances energy density and operational safety,” said Dr. Wenjuan Mattis, CTO of Microvast. “Further, the absence of liquid electrolytes ensures our batteries can operate at voltages unattainable by conventional designs, underscoring the transformative potential of our technology. This flexibility in cell design empowers us to address emerging applications in fields such as advanced robotics and compact energy systems.”
Looking ahead, Microvast is advancing to the next phase: the pilot production study. This phase represents a bold step into a new technological frontier, where our engineering team will apply innovative approaches to overcome unique manufacturing challenges. With a commitment to advancing battery technology, Microvast aims to deliver dependable, safe, and high-performance solutions that set new industry standards.
About Microvast
Microvast is a global leader in providing battery technologies for electric vehicles and energy storage solutions. With a legacy of over 17 years, Microvast has consistently delivered cutting-edge battery systems that empower a cleaner and more sustainable future. The company’s innovative approach and dedication to excellence have positioned it as a trusted partner for customers around the world. Microvast was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Stafford, Texas.
For more information, please visit www.microvast.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@microvast). (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

 

09 Jan 25. Fusion-grade steel produced at scale in UK-first. Researchers achieve 10x production cost savings for reduced activation steel.
A United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) working group has successfully demonstrated the industrial scale production of fusion-grade steel.
This achievement has the potential to reduce production costs by an order of magnitude and improve the efficiency of future fusion powerplants.
In just its first year, the NEURONE (Neutron Irradiation of Advanced Steels) consortium has achieved a UK-first breakthrough. The group successfully produced fusion-grade reduced-activation ferritic-martensitic (RAFM) steel on an industrial scale, using a seven-tonne Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) at the Materials Processing Institute (MPI) in Middlesborough.
David Bowden, Group Team Leader for Materials Science and Engineering at UKAEA and NEURONE programme lead, said: “One of the major challenges for delivering fusion energy is developing structural materials able to withstand the extreme temperatures (at least up to 650 degrees Celsius (°C)) and high neutron loads required by future fusion powerplants.”
The high temperatures and radiation levels caused by the high neutron loads arise as a result of the fusion reaction. The structural materials therefore serve an important role maintaining the integrity of the fusion powerplant under these conditions.
Based on EAF technology, with enhanced purification and thermomechanical protocols, this approach has the potential to dramatically decrease production costs by up to 10 times compared to conventional RAFM counterparts, utilising existing and readily scalable infrastructure within the supply chain.
MPI led the trials which enabled the manufacture, testing and analysis of specialist high temperature steels initially at laboratory scale leading to industrial scale trials in their EAF.
Richard Birley, NEURONE project lead at MPI said: “As the only sovereign UK steel research facility able to produce RAFM steel at this scale this is a groundbreaking moment for nuclear fusion R&D.”
“The production of 5.5 tonnes of fusion-grade RAFM steel lays the foundation for cost-effective manufacturing of these types of fusion steel for future commercial fusion programmes,” Dr Bowden explains.
“NEURONE plans to produce advanced variants of RAFM steel, capable of operating up to 650°C – a stretch target, given the solid-state physics of irradiated materials behaviour. Developing these types of steel could also benefit adjacent industries that require high-strength, high-temperature structural steels, such as nuclear fission or petrochemicals. The programme also intends to produce an optimised advanced RAFM alloy using the electric arc furnace at a similar multi-tonne scale to the best EU developmental fusion (RAFM) steel (EUROFER 97),” he concludes.
The NEURONE Consortium is a ~£12m collaboration between UKAEA’s Materials Division and academic and industry partners across the UK, as well as international partners, which provide access to neutron irradiation facilities.
NEURONE was established to research, test and develop steels to operate at higher temperatures compared to conventional counterparts. This will maximise the capacity of fusion machines to extract heat, which is used to power turbines and create electricity, improving the overall efficiency of fusion powerplants.
More information about NEURONE Consortium
The NEURONE Consortium consists of representatives from universities and organisations around the UK. Universities include the University of Swansea, University of Sheffield, University of Birmingham, Imperial College London, University of Manchester, University of Bristol, University of Strathclyde Glasgow and University of Oxford. Two industry partner organisations – the Materials Processing Institute and Sheffield Forgemasters – are involved as well as The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). NEURONE is also supporting a range of PhD students and summer student placements to upskill the next generation of researchers.
NEURONE has also produced more than 50 different variants of advanced reduced-activation ferritic-martensitic (ARAFM) steel alloy for analysis. New approaches have been established for analysing damage to materials, and data has been compiled on the performance of small initial lab-scale melts of material which range between 100 to 400 grams in mass.
There is potential opportunity for specialist UK steel manufacturers to be involved with the NEURONE Consortium’s activity in future, considering different aspects of ARAFM steel manufacture such as forging, rolling, and developing optimised process parameters.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

09 Jan 25. Honeywell and NXP Expand Partnership to Accelerate Next-generation Aviation Technology.
* Groundbreaking aviation collaboration designed to expedite development and adoption of enhanced software, large area cockpit displays and autonomy platform
* Honeywell Anthem cockpit powered by NXP’s i.MX 8 applications processors will help improve operational efficiency, safety and unlock value for pilots and operators
* Vertical Aerospace to leverage latest technology in eVTOL aircraft
* Aviation expansion builds on companies’ progress in building automation
Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) and NXP ® Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) announced at CES 2025 an expanded partnership that will accelerate aviation product development and chart the path for autonomous flight. This builds on the companies’ existing relationship, which is focused on helping optimize how building management systems sense and securely control energy consumption, announced at CES 2024.
The groundbreaking aviation collaboration will combine Honeywell’s deep aerospace expertise, the proven capabilities of Honeywell Anthem avionics and NXP’s high-performance computing architecture, enabling AI-driven aerospace technology that helps improve operational efficiency for planning and managing flights. The work will also support faster transitions to new chipsets and technologies.
The companies will team to advance large-area displays for next-generation cockpits with thinner, high-resolution screens designed to improve visual clarity and system efficiency. Additionally, they will explore how to simplify and streamline migrations to newer avionic technologies, as well as extend critical aviation technologies’ lifecycles, helping to deliver long-term value for aircraft manufacturers and operators.
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“Our industrial domain expertise combined with NXP’s best-in-class technology is a powerful accelerator for industrial leaders on the path to autonomy,” said Vimal Kapur, chairman and CEO of Honeywell. “Working together, we are developing differentiated solutions and services that shape the future of automation, driving significant customer outcomes and fueling Honeywell’s growth.”
NXP’s domain-based architecture paves the path to autonomy, featuring high-compute capabilities, integrated cybersecurity and functional safety, including technology developed for the automotive industry. It will now be adapted for aviation applications on Honeywell Anthem, the industry’s first cloud-connected cockpit system. This is a continuation of co-creation between the two companies, which includes NXP applications processers embedded in Honeywell’s Building Management, Fire Safety and Security products. Looking ahead, the companies are expanding this work to include AI and machine learning in building controllers.
For the aerospace industry, Honeywell will leverage a variety of NXP processors, including the i.MX 8 applications processors currently leveraged in Honeywell’s Advanced Control for Buildings platform and S32N super-integration processors, providing a range of high-performance, intelligent solutions that can be adapted for the needs of various aircraft. With NXP’s processors, Honeywell Anthem will deliver faster data processing for real-time AI-driven insights, enhancing safety and optimizing performance both in the air and on the ground.
“Bringing avionics closer to autonomous flight requires a unique combination of high-performance processing and AI, advanced connectivity and security, and functional safety,” said Kurt Sievers, President and CEO, NXP Semiconductors. “NXP’s broad portfolio and systems solutions approach makes us a natural partner for Honeywell on the journey towards creating innovative, intelligent and autonomous avionics that can sense, think and act.”
One of the early adopters that will benefit from this collaboration is Vertical Aerospace, a leader in eVTOL aircraft that is currently testing its piloted VX4 prototype aircraft featuring Honeywell Anthem.
“By fulfilling the promise of advanced air mobility, electric aircraft like the VX4 represent a bold vision for the future,” said Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace. “Honeywell Anthem has already proven to be a highly capable platform, and we’re excited to explore how its capabilities can be further enhanced by NXP’s advanced computing to lessen pilot workloads while increasing situational awareness. Together, we see opportunities to make travel quicker, cleaner and safer, supporting our shared vision to transform how the world moves.”
(Source: ASD Network)

 

08 Jan 25. South 8 Technologies (South 8), the developer of LiGas®, a liquefied gas electrolyte for advanced lithium-ion batteries, announced today that the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center has awarded a $1.6m contract to a team of companies led by South 8 to demonstrate standardized lithium-ion battery packs for defense applications. South 8 is partnering with a battery cell manufacturer and a leading vendor of battery packs to deliver prototypes that will offer a broad operating temperature range and high performance in extreme cold environments to the U.S. Army. The standardized battery pack will contain 24 of South 8’s Arctic™ LiGas 18650 cells. South 8’s LiGas is a liquefied gas electrolyte that dramatically improves the energy performance, safety, charging speed, and cost of Li-ion batteries, providing high performance in extreme cold weather. Since LiGas alleviates many common concerns associated with Li-ion batteries, the prototype battery packs will be more capable than traditional packs and ideal for various military applications including radios, communication systems, and night vision goggles in any extreme climate.
“We are grateful to have continued support from the U.S. Army DEVCOM C5ISR Center to develop improved Li-ion battery systems that can power military devices during critical missions in cold climates,” said Rusty Heffner, Vice President of Strategy at South 8. “This prototyping effort brings us one step closer to qualifying LiGas battery cells in a standardized battery pack that will provide a unique capability to the U.S. military, especially units that are deployed in the Arctic.”
This new effort follows two other projects for South 8 this year with the U.S. Army’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as part of its Family of Advanced Standard Batteries (FAStBat) program. Under the first $6.4 m contract, South 8 is collaborating with NanoGraf to deliver higher energy, safer, and higher-performing batteries for soldiers by developing a high-rate injection system for its LiGas electrolyte that will bolster domestic production of Li-ion batteries. South 8 and NanoGraf are also working alongside Pale Blue Earth as part of another contract to prototype the first Operational Single Cell for Accessory Readiness (OSCAR) batteries that to provide sustainable, rechargeable energy storage that is domestically-produced and that reduces the battery burden on soldiers in the field. To learn more about South 8 and its LiGas liquefied gas electrolyte, please visit www.south8.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

 

07 Jan 25. Aurora and SkyGrid: Advancing Future Air Mobility. Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, is teaming up with SkyGrid to pave the way for the future of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) by developing cutting-edge solutions for the integration and management of uncrewed aerial vehicles into the national airspace. Both companies bring complementary expertise to the table, with Aurora providing technical expertise in autonomous aircraft operations and SkyGrid offering its solutions for AAM operators flying both crewed and uncrewed missions.
AAM is poised to make air travel and transportation more affordable, accessible, and environmentally friendly, with autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles at the heart of it all. Widespread adoption depends on establishing an infrastructure that can safely and efficiently integrate these aircraft into everyday airspace operations.
“As we progress with advanced air mobility, we’re actively reshaping transportation logistics of people and cargo,” said Larry Wirsing, vice president of aircraft and product development at Aurora. “At Aurora, we are proud to be working with SkyGrid to bring the highest quality and reliability to every stage of this journey, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to ensure sustainable and accessible solutions for urban flight.”
SkyGrid, a Boeing joint venture based in Austin, Texas, specializes in providing a ground-based system to meet the emerging needs of AAM. As an aviation Third-Party Service Provider (TSP), SkyGrid is developing a platform that provides AAM operators—flying both crewed and uncrewed missions—with a detailed digital representation of their operating environment. This system delivers pre-flight and in-flight situational awareness, as well as decision support services, to help operators safely and efficiently navigate today’s airspace.
“Aurora and SkyGrid share a vision for a future where autonomous air mobility is seamlessly integrated into everyday life,” said Jia Xu, CEO of SkyGrid. “By combining Aurora’s deep expertise in autonomous aircraft development with SkyGrid’s advanced digital platform for situational awareness and decision support for aviation autonomy, we are creating the foundation for a safe, efficient, and scalable airspace system that empowers operators to realize the full potential of advanced air mobility.”
Aurora engineers, working across sites in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Switzerland, are leading the technical development of the high assurance system that will ensure seamless integration of autonomous vehicles into the airspace. This system will support autonomous eVTOLs in maintaining situational awareness, detecting and avoiding potential obstacles, and providing critical information related to weather, air traffic, and other challenging contingencies. Aurora is providing leadership and subject matter expertise in the most critical disciplines, such as system engineering, architecture, software development, and certification.
“A successful future for Advanced Air Mobility depends on building a robust, standardized framework for autonomous vehicle operations,” said Wirsing. “Aurora’s work with SkyGrid isn’t only about developing innovative technologies. It’s also about creating regulatory and operational foundations that will allow autonomous aerial vehicles to become a natural extension of air travel and transportation.”
Through this collaboration, Aurora and SkyGrid are laying the groundwork for the next generation of flight – one that will redefine the possibilities of mobility. (Source: ASD Network)

 

07 Jan 25. US Army turns to microreactors to enhance base readiness, resilience. The US Army is collaborating with the advanced nuclear energy sector to assess the potential for deploying microreactors on one or more Army installations by 2030.
This initiative underscores the Army’s commitment to enhancing installation resilience and ensuring mission readiness through innovative energy solutions. Microreactors, which are compact and transportable nuclear power systems, are emerging as a promising option to provide reliable, resilient and clean energy for critical military missions.
Their ability to operate independently of traditional energy grids makes them particularly well-suited for remote installations and contingency operations, where energy security is paramount.
Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, explained the importance of this development, saying, “When it comes to installation energy resilience and reliable power to support operational and strategic readiness on installations, we can’t leave anything off the table.”
The Army is pursuing this initiative as part of a deliberate and comprehensive planning process aimed at integrating advanced energy technologies to meet future operational demands. Advanced nuclear power, alongside other energy solutions, is being carefully evaluated to ensure it meets environmental, economic and safety requirements while supporting national security objectives.
In addition to enhancing energy resilience, microreactors could significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels, decrease logistical vulnerabilities, and support carbon reduction goals. Their scalability and adaptability make them a versatile tool for modernising military infrastructure and maintaining mission assurance in an increasingly complex global environment.
“We are actively developing a solution set that includes all types of power that will meet those needs; nuclear is one that we are looking at as part of our deliberate and thoughtful planning,” Jacobson said.
The Army has partnered with the Defense Innovation Unit, interagency stakeholders, and utility providers to conduct rigorous assessments of siting options, reactor designs and operational feasibility. These collaborations are critical to ensure the successful integration of microreactors into the Army’s forward-leaning energy enterprise.
(Source: Defence Connect)

 

02 Jan 25. Israel creates hub to hasten military AI, autonomy research. The Israeli government has established a new office at the Ministry of Defense tasked with overseeing technology development in the fields of artificial intelligence and autonomy, according to a government announcement. Named the AI and Autonomy Administration, the outfit will operate under the auspices of the Directorate of Defense Research & Development, a key player in the country’s military-technology ecosystem.
Officials said the goal is to transform the combat capabilities of all the military branches in order to maintain the Israel Defense Forces’ operational edge in the Middle East.
The office is expected to “bring together experts from IDF technological units, academia, defense industries, and startups to achieve unprecedented operational and technological breakthroughs,” the statement reads.
The organizational focus on AI and autonomy comes amid the ongoing “Iron Swords” war against Hamas and Hezbollah that Israel has been waging for over a year on several fronts in parallel, and which continues to claim the lives of soldiers.
According to the IDF, 891 soldiers have died in the war as of Jan. 2, 2025. About 5,570 soldiers have been injured.
Part of the Israeli campaign is based on roughly 360,000 reserve soldiers who have been drafted since Hamas fighters attacked on Oct. 7, 2023, making it the largest reserve mobilization in the history of the IDF. A third of them has served or is still serving more than 150 days.
That is also one of the reasons Israel is establishing the new office, as officials hope to reduce manpower and budget needed to prosecute the wars.
“The capabilities we develop will enhance our operational superiority while reducing casualties, increasing operational tempo, and optimizing resource utilization,” said the ministry’s director general, Eyal Zamir.
“Our future battlefield will see integrated teams of soldiers and autonomous systems working in concert,” he said. “We remain committed to investing in ground, air, naval, intelligence, and space capabilities, providing our forces with cutting-edge technologies that amplify their effectiveness.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)

 

05 Jan 25. Aspilsan powers Türkiye’s defense projects with advanced battery systems. Aspilsan Energy, a key Turkish battery and energy storage company, provided advanced battery systems throughout 2024 for several prominent defense projects, including the Kaan, Hurjet, Hurkus, Gokbey, and Atak-2 aircraft and helicopters.
These locally designed battery solutions have met critical needs for the Turkish Armed Forces, underscoring Türkiye’s pursuit of self-sufficiency in defense and aviation.
Founded in 1981 in Kayseri with donations from residents, Aspilsan Energy initially produced rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries.
Over the decades, the company expanded its product range to supply batteries and power systems for both military and civilian applications, including portable radios, ground combat equipment, and various aircraft platforms.
Achievements in 2024
• Defense collaborations: Aspilsan’s battery systems powered cutting-edge Turkish defense and aerospace programs, such as Kaan, Hurjet, Hurkus, Gokbey, Atak-2 and Tusas drone projects like Anka and Aksungur.
• Certification and innovation: By securing necessary international certifications, Aspilsan contributed locally produced battery solutions to major aviation platforms, further boosting Türkiye’s domestic production capabilities.
Expanding product portfolio
Aspilsan Energy general manager Prof. Dr. Ahmet Turan Ozdemir noted that the company increased its revenue and introduced new product lines despite global market pressures.
Beyond its core defense work, Aspilsan aims to reduce Türkiye’s reliance on foreign energy sources by developing energy storage systems for broader commercial and strategic use.
Driving domestic self-sufficiency
By delivering reliable battery solutions for advanced aerial platforms, Aspilsan plays a vital role in achieving energy and defense independence. This commitment to innovation and local production helps position Türkiye as a rising player in the global defense and aviation sectors.
(Source: Google/https://www.turkiyetoday.com/)
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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/
The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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02 Jan 25. Top secret lab develops atomic clock using quantum technology.

A revolutionary UK-built atomic clock will make military operations more secure through experimental quantum technology.

Military personnel will use groundbreaking quantum technology to conduct more secure and precise operations, thanks to a new high-tech atomic clock.

Developed at the top-secret Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, (Dstl) the quantum clock will be a leap forward in improving intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance by decreasing the reliance on GPS technology, which can be disrupted and blocked by adversaries.

The clock’s precision is so refined that it will lose less than one second over bns of years, allowing scientists to measure time at an unprecedented scale. It is the first device of its kind to be built in the UK and will be deployable on military operations in the next five years.

The applications of quantum clocks extend beyond precision timekeeping. Further improvement to GPS accuracy could transform global navigation systems, aiding in everything from satellite communication to aircraft navigation.

The development of this cutting-edge technology supports key components of the UK Government’s Plan for Change, safeguarding national security while supporting skilled, productive jobs which foster economic growth.

In addition, further research will see the technology decrease in size to allow mass manufacturing and miniaturisation, unlocking a wide range of applications, such as use by military vehicles and aircraft.

Improved clocks, such as this atomic device, will allow the Ministry of Defence to further support current and future capabilities. For example, quantum clocks can:

• Enable more precise and independent navigation systems, reducing reliance on GPS satellites, which are vulnerable to jamming or destruction in conflict scenarios.
• Secure communications systems, such as encrypted military networks, which depend on highly synchronised timekeeping.
• Enhance the accuracy of advanced weapon systems, like guided missiles, which rely on accurate timing to calculate trajectories and coordinate attacks.
• Allow our Armed Forces to gain an edge over adversaries in timing-critical operations, especially in areas like cyber warfare, where milliseconds can make a difference.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP, said:

“Integrating cutting edge technology into existing capabilities exemplifies the Government’s commitment to innovation in the defence sector, and to ensuring our Armed Forces have the best kit possible to keep us secure at home and strong abroad.

“The trialling of this emerging, groundbreaking technology could not only strengthen our operational capability, but also drive progress in industry, bolster our science sector and support high-skilled jobs.”

The trial is the first time that Dstl has tested a UK-built optical atomic clock outside of a laboratory, offering a new capability beyond the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) that currently exist. GNSS vulnerabilities are a known national security risk, with atomic clock technology having the potential to provide a stable sovereign-controlled capability for maintenance of precise time for critical operations.

Dstl’s Chief Executive, Paul Hollinshead, said:   “This first trial of advanced atomic clock represents a significant achievement in the UK’s quantum technology capabilities.   The data gathered will not only shape future Defence effort but is also a signal to industry and academia that we are serious about exploring quantum technologies for secure and resilient operational advantage.”

The trial involved key partners including Infleqtion (UK), Aquark Technologies, HCD Research and Imperial College London, as well as in-house technology developed at Dstl’s quantum laboratory. These prototype frequency standards were tested in collaboration with the Royal Navy’s Office of the Chief Technical Officer and the Army Futures team at the BattleLab.

Commander Matt Steele, the Future Technology Officer for the Royal Navy’s Office of the Chief Technical Officer, said:

“The Navy has been looking at quantum technologies for a number of years and it is exciting to see that the challenges of physics and engineering in this area are now no longer a scientific concept, but is now reaching the cusp of reality.”

“In the next few years, the ability to operate effectively, to survive, and to navigate and also to remain lethal with the use of Quantum alongside GPS will secure operational advantage.”

The ‘Demonstration of Advanced Timing Apparatus’ (DATA) is part of a planned series of experiments designed to understand the performance and limitations of quantum clocks, with potential benefits for military and national infrastructure resilience.

The MOD, via Dstl, has invested more than £28 m to shape the UK’s research and development to achieve early adopter advantage of these ground-breaking technologies and put defence and security needs at the forefront of the UK efforts.

Jonathan, a technical leader for industry partner Infleqtion, said:

“Quantum is really important to the UK especially from a defence perspective. If you look at what’s happening in the world at the moment, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that we need better and more robust position navigation and timing services, and that’s something that quantum is uniquely placed to be able to provide.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

30 Dec 24. DARPA eyeing new quantum sensing program. Defense officials see quantum sensors as promising capabilities for alternative positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). A quantum sensor-based magnetic anomaly navigation system gathers data on a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft during a flight over Charleston, South Carolina, Feb. 22, 2024.

The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency may soon launch a new program to develop more robust quantum sensors that can be integrated onto U.S. military platforms, according to a special notice.

Pentagon officials see quantum sensors as promising capabilities for alternative positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).

However, there are challenges involved in deploying the technology that DARPA aims to tackle with a new program that it’s looking to kick off, dubbed Robust Quantum Sensors (RoQS).

The initiative “seeks to bring quantum sensors to DoD platforms. While quantum sensors have demonstrated exceptional laboratory performance in a number of modalities (magnetic and electrical field, acceleration, rotation, and gravity, etc.), their performance degrades once the sensor is placed on moving platforms due to electrical and magnetic fields, field gradients, and system vibrations. RoQS seeks to overcome these challenges through innovative physics approaches to quantum sensing. The forthcoming RoQS program aims to develop and demonstrate quantum sensors that inherently resist performance degradation from platform interferers and demonstrate them on a government-provided platform,” officials wrote in a special notice and future program announcement recently posted on Sam.gov.

DARPA, which reports to the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, hopes to transition RoQS-developed sensors onto U.S. military platforms with associated programs of record to help fulfill requirements. To that end, the agency intends to work with contractors and platform builders to identify systems for quantum sensor integration and also government platform owners to facilitate integration and testing at the end of the program, per the notice.

Pentagon officials and others have been working to mature quantum technology for real-world applications.

Quantum tech “translates the principles of quantum physics into technological applications,” a recently updated Congressional Research Service report explained, including concepts like superposition — or the ability of quantum systems to exist in two or more states simultaneously — and entanglement where “two or more quantum objects in a system can be intrinsically linked such that measurement of one dictates the possible measurement outcomes for another, regardless of how far apart the two objects are.”

Although DOD officials see potential uses for quantum-enabled capabilities in other areas like computing, encryption and communications, sensing is considered by many observers to be the most mature application for near-term use by the Pentagon.

That’s the one “that we know by far the most about,” John Burke, principal director for quantum science in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, said in June at a tech summit hosted by Defense One.

Such capabilities could provide an alternative to the Global Positioning System in case GPS is denied or degraded in future operating environments.

“You’ve probably heard about jamming and spoofing concerns, for example. So we’re busily working on other quantum technologies to input positioning and timing at the edge of the warfighter so that they don’t rely on GPS all the time,” Burke said. “So that’s sort of the earliest thing we’re working on. There’s a whole slew of technologies under that umbrella. We’re really pushing out on that. So even this year [in] 2024, we’ve got about $100 m coming out to work just on that area. So we’re really pushing hard on that.”

The Pentagon has been using its Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program to buy a new generation of atomic clocks that could be put into some “strategic assets,” he said, adding that “the first new wave of quantum technologies is really going out today.”

The CRS report noted that successful development and deployment of quantum sensors could boost detection of things like adversary submarines, underground structures, nuclear materials and electromagnetic emissions — and thereby help the U.S. military find concealed objects of interest and enemy forces.

For ISR there’s “an umbrella of remote sensing capabilities and a lot of different kinds of technologies in there. Things like magnetometers to find magnetic objects. You can imagine a lot of things that the military might care about … may have iron in them or steel, things that are magnetic. So we’re tracking trying to figure how to use those in all kinds of different ways,” Burke said.

Currently, quantum technologies are “a little bit expensive,” he noted.

“But that’s okay for certain strategic missions in the military. So we’re starting from those kinds of missions that go with anything — submarines, strategic bombers, long-range sort of missiles … these kinds of assets, to start inserting new technologies,” he said. “We have these things called magnetometers you can put in systems for like this thing called magnetic navigation. It’s extremely robust. We’re really excited about that. There’s navigation technologies. Once we get those established, we can start building up the manufacturing base, first in the Defense Department. That’s the path that we’ve taken. But I think in the long run, you’re gonna see these kinds of technologies proliferate into civilian” sectors. (Source: Google/https://defensescoop.com/)

 

31 Dec 24. KULR Technology partners with US Army for helicopters vibration reduction study. The 12-month study will be undertaken in conjunction with the South Carolina National Guard at McEntire Joint National Guard Base.

KULR Technology Group has a collaboration with the US Army to conduct an evaluation of its KULR VIBE system, which is designed to reduce vibrations and achieve optimal balance on AH-64E Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

The AH-64E serves in Attack/Reconnaissance Battalions, while and UH-60M serves in various capacities, including troop and cargo transport under diverse flight conditions.

Scheduled to start in 2025, the latest 12-month study will be undertaken in conjunction with the South Carolina National Guard at McEntire Joint National Guard Base.

The study’s objective is to determine the efficacy of KULR VIBE in meeting strict vibration standards, simplifying track and balance operations, and diminishing long-term maintenance costs.

This is expected to enhance the longevity and dependability of the aircraft.

This initiative is expected to improve the operational availability of Army Aviation while curbing overall costs.

Post-study, the results will be disseminated for consideration, which may lead to the broad implementation of the KULR VIBE system within Army Aviation, the company noted.

KULR Technology Sales and Marketing vice president Ted Krupp said: “KULR is proud to collaborate with the US Army on this forward-thinking initiative.

“It is an honour to be entrusted to explore innovative ways to improve operational availability and cost-efficiency. We are excited by the potential of KULR VIBE to be a force multiplier for military aviation, enhancing both reliability and safety while reducing maintenance overhead.”

KULR has previously engaged with the US Marine Corps on the AH-1Z Viper that resulted in cost savings and operational efficiencies.

(Source: army-technology.com)

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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19 Dec 24. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division announced a new high-speed, high-capacity Ethernet data recorder designed for use in demanding flight test programs. The HSDR-2512  captures up to 180 TB of flight test data for a 3-hour total recording time. Today’s flight test engineers must handle vast amounts of critical data from increasingly high-speed data acquisition units (DAU) and avionics buses. The HSDR-2512 recorder, Curtiss-Wright’s fastest airborne flight test recorder to date, supports full line-rate data capture on its twelve (12) 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) inputs to deliver 16.5 Gigabytes per second (GBps) write speed. To ensure optimal performance in the harsh conditions typical of airborne flight tests, the unit uses PAO (liquid) cooling. This cost-effective intelligent, network-based IP packet recorder is designed for use with aerospace flight test data. It can be used standalone or as part of a complete Curtiss-Wright flight test instrumentation (FTI) system solution.

“The ability to record data at extremely high speeds is emerging as a critical requirement for flight test and monitoring programs,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “To meet this growing need, Curtiss-Wright developed our fastest and highest capacity airborne flight recorder yet, the HSDR-2512, which combines a data interface unit and storage unit in a single low-size, weight and power, rugged solution. This extremely fast recorder, our first flight test recorder to break the 100 Gbps data barrier, is the industry’s only solution for capturing 180 TB of data at 10 GbE speeds.”

The HSDR-2512-1 is comprised of an hREC-1000-2 recorder unit and an hREM-1000-2 memory storage unit. The hREM-1000-2 houses two hRMM-1090-X removable media modules, which together provide 180 TB of storage.

Flight test input data is received over the hREC-1000-2 optical input ports via a Curtiss-Wright Fiber Optic Switch (FOSW-2560-1), which provides 24 fiber optic inputs and allows the selection of up to 15 fiber optic outputs to route to the hREM media unit. The hREC-1000-2 is installed on the test platform in a location closest to the FOSW-2560-1 fiber optic data source to minimize cable data loss, while the hREM-1000-2 memory storage unit can be installed in an easily accessible location to ease removal of the hRMM modules post-mission.

With a flexible recorder architecture configurable for a wide range of application requirements, the HSDR-2512’s front-end interfaces can be modified to meet unique requirements. For example, the unit’s twelve 10 GbE interfaces could be replaced with three (3) 40 GbE inputs.

 

19 Dec 24. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today introduced a new airborne L-Band multi-mode 5/10/20 W transmitter designed to provide state-of-the-art IRIG-106-23 modulation for use in demanding flight test programs. The flexible TTS-9610 transmitter can be easily customized to meet the unique specifications of each program. It supports user programmability for center frequency, low-density parity-check (LDPC) encoding, and a high-efficiency power amplifier chain that delivers the industry’s highest power efficiency.

“Aerospace test flights, which are both costly and time critical, demand reliable, accurate transmission of data to the ground from the airborne test platform,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “Our new TTS-9610 multi-mode transmitter line delivers the highest reliability and power efficiency available today. Even better, it features programmable power and LDPC encoding for optimal flexibility and enhanced range.”

The TTS-9610 combines programmable power and a highly reliable design to provide a flexible and dependable solution for ensuring critical data is successfully transmitted from air to ground on every test flight. It supports IRIG-106 LDPC linear error correction, with fast encoding and decoding algorithms, to optimize the accuracy of data transmitted and received over noisy channels.

The use of LDPC encoding, coupled with programmable power, enables the transmitter to support extended flight range operation without requiring increased wattage. The TTS-9610’s low-power mode is ideal for use during pre-flight checkout to minimize self-heating, minimize RF radiation, and extend the transmitter’s lifespan. The unit features optimized thermal management to efficiently remove heat. A RS-232 interface eases reconfiguration of the transmitter using standard IRIG-106 commands. The TTS-9610 is ideal for use in extended range flight testing applications for launch vehicles, and missile test flights.

The TTS-9610, the latest addition to Curtiss-Wright’s total flight test instrumentation (FTI) system approach, is easily integrated into data acquisition systems to support the transmission of data from MnACQ, MCDAU-2000, MDW-2020, and other data acquisition stacks.

For additional information about Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions products, please visit www.curtisswrightds.com and LinkedInDecember 19, 2024 – Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today introduced a new airborne L-Band multi-mode 5/10/20 W transmitter designed to provide state-of-the-art IRIG-106-23 modulation for use in demanding flight test programs. The flexible TTS-9610 transmitter can be easily customized to meet the unique specifications of each program. It supports user programmability for center frequency, low-density parity-check (LDPC) encoding, and a high-efficiency power amplifier chain that delivers the industry’s highest power efficiency.

“Aerospace test flights, which are both costly and time critical, demand reliable, accurate transmission of data to the ground from the airborne test platform,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “Our new TTS-9610 multi-mode transmitter line delivers the highest reliability and power efficiency available today. Even better, it features programmable power and LDPC encoding for optimal flexibility and enhanced range.”

The TTS-9610 combines programmable power and a highly reliable design to provide a flexible and dependable solution for ensuring critical data is successfully transmitted from air to ground on every test flight. It supports IRIG-106 LDPC linear error correction, with fast encoding and decoding algorithms, to optimize the accuracy of data transmitted and received over noisy channels.

The use of LDPC encoding, coupled with programmable power, enables the transmitter to support extended flight range operation without requiring increased wattage. The TTS-9610’s low-power mode is ideal for use during pre-flight checkout to minimize self-heating, minimize RF radiation, and extend the transmitter’s lifespan. The unit features optimized thermal management to efficiently remove heat. A RS-232 interface eases reconfiguration of the transmitter using standard IRIG-106 commands. The TTS-9610 is ideal for use in extended range flight testing applications for launch vehicles, and missile test flights.

The TTS-9610, the latest addition to Curtiss-Wright’s total flight test instrumentation (FTI) system approach, is easily integrated into data acquisition systems to support the transmission of data from MnACQ, MCDAU-2000, MDW-2020, and other data acquisition stacks.

For additional information about Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions products, please visit www.curtisswrightds.com and LinkedIn

 

19 Dec 24. Richard Noble OBE opens GTR’s new £1m Training and Development Centre. Global Technologies Racing Ltd has announced the establishment of a brand new, state-of-the-art Training and Development Centre. Bespoke designed and built at a cost of over £1 M, the new facility fully meets the exacting needs of the GTR group of companies and their global customers. The site is located in Littlehampton, UK, a few miles away from the group’s Fontwell head offices. Formally opened by Richard Noble OBE on Tuesday 10 December 2024, the new facility will be used as a base for GTR’s acclaimed apprentice training scheme as well as providing surge capacity to meet the growing demands of GTR’s expanding operations.

Richard Noble OBE is a ‘friend of the business’ having first worked with GTR when they built his Thrust SSC land speed record car in the mid-90’s. Richard has since become an ambassador for engineering apprentice training with a clear focus on building and encouraging STEM activity in the younger generations – thereby being a natural choice to open GTR’s new training and development facility.

The new Training and Development Centre has a floor space of 450 square meters and is staffed by a permanent team of 8 with the capacity to house over 20 apprentices for centralised training. Installed machinery includes: fully programmable autoclave; a large 1500×1200 composite press; a high tension filament winder; a fully equipped clean room and laminating shop; mill; air benches; and various equipment to support the manufacturing development of resin infusion and LRTM manufacture. The facility is primarily focused on training apprentices and upskilling staff, from Level 1 Apprentice to Degree Level HND. The new equipment installed, as well as being used for training, will add to GTR’s overall production capabilities and capacity. In addition, the facility will be used to prototype and validate improvements to existing production practices, develop future processes, and provide essential overflow capacity to meet surge demands when the main production sites are working at full capacity and customer demand exceeds expectations.

Sitting alongside this new facility, GTR’s established high-precision composite manufacturing capability is second to none. Selected to manufacture critical components by companies ranging from the world’s most high technology race car teams to critical medical equipment manufacturers, the skills, quality and attention to detail embedded into GTR’s processes are more than a match for precision sectors such as aerospace and defence. With over 300 highly skilled staff on-site, GTR’s production facilities include ten in-house autoclaves ranging in sizes up to 3m in diameter and 5.5m in length. This allows GTR to handle both micro components and larger vehicle sized assemblies alike.

Simon Kingdon-Butcher, Co-founder, Owner and Director at GTR said: “the establishment of our new Training and Development Centre has been another significant investment for GTR and we’re delighted that our friend Richard Noble OBE was able to open it for us today. Training the next generation of technical experts is a fundamental part of our strategy and our new facility provides our programme and our apprentices with everything needed to deliver the very best training and development. At the same time, we have invested in several new machines that will allow us to deliver yet more to our customers and the facility gives us a ‘clean space’ to develop and validate new processes and procedures to keep GTR at the very forefront of innovation. Today is a proud day for the entire team”.

Richard Noble OBE said: “I’ve known GTR for many years, the team having built my Thrust SSC land speed record car in 1995/6. I’m delighted to have been invited to open their new facility today and to see, first hand, the commitment GTR has to training apprentices and to developing news ways to deliver the most exquisite composite components. For someone like myself who is closely aligned with apprentice and STEM activity, it’s a pleasure to see a company invest so much in the people and the skills of tomorrow”.

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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18 Dec 24. Two major breakthroughs for AMD in the final quarter of 2024.

Advanced Material Development (AMD) has achieved significant milestones in defence technology with two groundbreaking developments:

1. A revolutionary printable sensor technology developed in collaboration with BAE Systems, designed for structural health monitoring in safety-critical applications. The low-cost, printable gauge technology can be deployed with minimal structural invasion and is currently being evaluated at BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems facility in Rochester.

A major advancement in electromagnetic shielding technology, delivering a six-fold increase in conductivity over previous standards. This breakthrough enables superior protection for military electronics and communications security, with applications ranging from radar absorption to EMP protection systems.

17 Dec 24. Embedded science and technology experts shape future air systems. Dstl scientists work in partnership with the UK armed forces and industry to ensure that future warfighters have the best air combat capability.

The new air defence laser system developed by Team Pellonia

Scientists and experts from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) are embedded with the Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm and Army aviation, working alongside their military colleagues and industry to shape the future of air systems across the 3 services.

Dstl plays a core part across many projects, dealing with everything from engine technologies, weapons programmes and AI, to carrying out operational analysis and supporting industry.

Working with MOD Headquarters, Air Command and UK industry, Dstl is playing a pivotal role in shaping the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme – looking at successors to the F35 and Typhoon – and collaborating with international partners as part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

Dstl is also part of Team Pellonia which has has designed and developed a new air defence laser that can engage multiple missiles at once. It will be installed on RAF aircraft to protect them into the future.

Dstl experts bring the benefit of many years of specialist research and experience, and as well as their deep knowledge of the science and technology, they understand the military problems. Being embedded within the Commands means they can give high impact, evidence-based and impartial advice on a daily basis, including being involved in trials and experimentation. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

16 Dec 24. UK Science and Innovation Network in Japan: support for semiconductors. A UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) impact story covering support for semiconductors in Japan.

UK-Japan semiconductors partnership

Following on from the establishment of the UK-Japan Digital Partnership in December 2022 and making the most of the opportunity and focus on Japan offered by Japan’s G7 presidency, SIN Japan played a key supporting role in establishing the UK-Japan Semiconductors Partnership.

This partnership was announced alongside the then Prime Minister’s announcement of the UK’s National Semiconductor Strategy, and included commitments to joint research and development (R&D), industry dialogues and expert missions, as well as setting the tone for future joint calls between the UK and Japan’s respective research funding agencies.

Background

In December 2022, the UK and Japan established the UK-Japan Digital Partnership, with support from SIN Japan, which outlined several areas in digital technologies where the UK and Japan plan to cooperate, including artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and future telecoms.

2023 happened to be the year of Japan’s G7 presidency, and Japan’s administration was placing a focus on their semiconductor strategy, including bns of pounds in investment to incentivise foreign semiconductor manufacturers and bns of pounds in funding for domestic R&D aimed at establishing a domestic supply of cutting-edge semiconductor chips.

At the same time, the Science & Technology Framework (PDF, 998 KB) had been published in the UK, domestic policy focus within the UK had been continually working to develop closer person-to-person relationships between key research and industry figures and enhance science and technology cooperation between the UK and Japan in line with the international strand of that framework.

Japan’s G7 presidency, and the extensive senior ministerial engagement associated with it, provided unique opportunities, including in semiconductors, to help researchers in both countries accelerate their research through international collaboration.

Impact

Following policy developments closely, SIN Japan identified an opportunity to support UK-Japan collaboration on semiconductors. As part of our ongoing work and regular communication with DSIT policy teams, we advised on the value-add of launching a specific, semiconductor policy partnership with Japan at the same time as HM Government’s National Semiconductor Strategy.

Key to unlocking this opportunity had been the strong relationships nurtured by both the ambassador and embassy SIN team with key stakeholders in Japan, so that the right connections could be made between the relevant parties in the UK and Japan and discussions could begin from a position of long-standing trust (an often-essential components for successful bilateral engagement in Japan).

SIN Japan had already made sustained efforts to promote and expand the bilateral relationship between the UK and Japan’s respective funding agencies, as well as between HM Government and the Japanese Government’s relevant ministries.

The Semiconductors Partnership was announced by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (alongside the release of the UK’s National Semiconductor Strategy) during his visit to Japan for the G7 in May 2023 and included a commitment to ambitious joint research, exploration of how to cooperatively harness ministerial R&D budgets, expertise and skills sharing, industry dialogues and expert missions.

The UK’s National Semiconductor Strategy released at the same time also set out a major UK government investment (£1 bn over 5 years) into semiconductors. UK Government’s media engagement pitched the UK-Japan Semiconductors Partnership as part of a wider upgrading of the UK-Japan relationship through the historic Hiroshima Accord, which set out a great number of other new areas for enhanced UK-Japan cooperation, including across defence, security, and our extensive bilateral economic relationship.

Following the announcement, Japanese media picked up the announcement and drew strong connections between the UK’s semiconductor announcements and the wider Hiroshima Accord. This drew significant media attention and led to dozens of press reports across UK and Japanese media highlighting the UK-Japan Semiconductor Partnership.

As part of the bilateral engagement driven by SIN Japan, there was a strong focus on making joint funding available for researchers to work together. When the UK-Japan Semiconductor Partnership was launched, the UK and Japan agreed in principle to joint funding calls between their respective funding agencies, and the EPSRC and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) later announced a-m-pound contribution each towards a funding call for research into semiconductors. This was later revised upwards to £3,990,000 of UKRI funding plus a match amount from JST. A call for bids was launched on 24 May 2024.

SIN Japan continues to work with UKRI EPSRC, JST and other key departments, agencies and research institutes in Japan to enable further opportunities for researchers and continue our cooperation to help secure semiconductors support global technology need. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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12 Dec 24. DOD’s Chief AI Officer Launches Rapid Capability Cell, Frontier AI Pilots to Accelerate Adoption of Cutting Edge Tech. The Pentagon’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office today launched a new rapid fielding effort to spearhead a series of new initiatives aimed at accelerating the adoption of advanced artificial intelligence capabilities across the Defense Department. The CDAO’s Artificial Intelligence Rapid Capabilities Cell, or AI RCC, will partner with the Defense Innovation Unit to execute four initial Frontier AI pilots that will apply generative AI models to both warfighting and enterprise management use cases.   The pilot initiatives are part of the AI RCC’s broader efforts to capitalize on emerging technologies and put advanced AI capabilities in the hands of warfighters and key DOD enablers.  The department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Dr. Radha Plumb, who also holds a doctorate. in economics, underscored the imperative for the DOD to seize AI as she announced the launch of the new initiatives today.

“The U.S. and the U.S. private sector, in particular, is at the cutting edge when it comes to artificial intelligence,” Plumb said. “At the same time, it’s important to recognize that AI adoption by adversaries like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea is accelerating and poses a significant national security risk.”

In response, she said DOD is taking “an all-hands-on-deck approach” to ensure the U.S. continues to lead in the adoption of AI.

“The United States’ decisive and enduring advantage lies in the innovation that’s inherent in the commercial sector and the department’s ability to incorporate that into our critical missions,” Plumb said.

Defense Innovation Unit Director Doug Beck said in a statement that the CDAO-DIU partnership on AI RCC “will allow us to shape critical AI initiatives in a way that incorporates the standards, policy and requirements from the beginning.”

“The result will help us scale the tech faster and more reliably and will also help change the way the department thinks about software development and delivery tempo for the future,” he said.

The AI RCC will accelerate and scale generative AI tools across 15 warfighting and enterprise management use cases ranging from command and control and decision support to software development and cyber security.

Those areas of focus are based on findings from Task Force Lima, which Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks established in August 2023 to develop, evaluate, recommend and monitor generative AI capabilities across the department. The task force will officially be sunset with the establishment of the AI RCC.

The Frontier AI pilots will tackle four of those use cases — two focused on warfighting and two focused on enterprise management — to demonstrate the impact of generative AI in defense applications.

As part of the pilots, CDAO will partner with combatant commands and DOD stakeholders to conduct incremental experiments utilizing the capabilities in development.

It marks the first major effort to deploy leading edge AI to support warfighter needs in real time.

In addition to the Frontier AI pilots, AI RCC will oversee key investments in underlying infrastructure needed to accelerate AI adoption across the department, including the establishment of digital “sandboxes” to enable AI testing and experimentation on government networks.

AI RCC will also invest in rapid, user-centric experimentation using CDAO’s Global Information Dominance Experiment series to allow warfighters across combatant commands to test frontier AI models and provide real time feedback to developers.

Additionally, Plumb announced today that CDAO will award $40 m in Small Business Innovation Research funding to non-traditional and small businesses for innovative generative AI solutions. (Source: U.S. DoD)

 

12 Dec 24. DOD Innovation Official Discusses Progress on Replicator. The Defense Department is integrating lessons learned from executing the first iteration of its Replicator initiative as it tackles the next phase of the effort to put cutting-edge capabilities in the hands of warfighters, said a senior Defense Innovation Unit official today.

Aditi Kumar, DIU’s deputy director, said the department is on track to meet its goal of fielding thousands of autonomous systems across multiple warfighting domains under Replicator 1 and has begun executing the second phase of the initiative focused on counter drone capabilities.   Looking back when was first launched and thinking through the timelines of how we are going to do this in 24 months it was very daunting,” Kumar said during a discussion hosted by the Hudson Institute, a policy think tank, in Washington. “Sixteen months in, though, we’re in good shape.”

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks unveiled the Replicator initiative in August 2023 as one approach DOD is taking to meet the challenges laid out in the National Defense Strategy, which identifies China as the United States’ pacing challenge.

The first iteration of the initiative is focused on fielding thousands of autonomous systems across multiple domains within the next 18 to 24 months, as part of the Pentagon’s strategy to counter China’s rapid armed forces buildup.

It focuses on fielding “attritable” capabilities — platforms that are unmanned and built affordably — allowing commanders to tolerate a higher degree of risk in employing them.

“Our acquisition enterprise is sprinting, and our commercial vendors are sprinting to pull these off the production lines and get them into the hands of the warfighter,” Kumar said today.

She added that a key, overarching goal of replicator is improving the defense acquisition process more broadly and accelerating the development and fielding of critical defense technologies.

To that end, DIU remains focused on taking lessons learned from each iteration of Replicator and applying them to the next.

In September, Hicks set the direction for Replicator 2 which will focus on countering the threat posed by small, uncrewed arial systems to warfighters and defense installations.

Countering unmanned systems has emerged as a focus area for the Pentagon, which has identified unmanned aerial systems as a significant threat to U.S. personnel and facilities abroad and, increasingly, in the U.S. homeland.

Last week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III signed a classified strategy for countering the threat posed by unmanned systems aimed at unifying DOD’s approach across domains.

In outlining the focus for Replicator 2, Hicks also set an 18-to-24-month timeline to put capabilities in the hands of warfighters.

Kumar said DIU is on track to meet these timelines as it executes both phases of the initiative in parallel.

She highlighted key lessons from the first phase that DIU is applying as it moves forward.

First, she said, DIU has worked to further increasing communication between DOD and the private sector.

As an example, she said DIU hosted a round table with commercial stakeholders and investors last week following the release of the counter unmanned aerial systems strategy “to really clarify our demand signal and the types of systems and capabilities that we will be pursuing as part of Replicator 2.”

Secondly, Kumar emphasized the importance of tackling the toughest challenges early on in the development process.

Kumar also emphasized the importance of early and frequent communication with Congress. Doing so, she said, helps garner support from lawmakers as the department begins to address funding for what amounts to an “enormous challenge.”

“We have already been on the Hill talking to them about what Replicator 2 looks , what types of capabilities we’re looking to field and in what locations,” she said. (Source: U.S. DoD)

 

12 Dec 24. DOD Launches SciTechCONNECT to Revolutionize Defense Innovation Collaboration. The Department of Defense announced today the launch of DoD SciTechConnect, a new platform designed to enhance collaboration with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology. The initiative, which was unveiled on December 3, aims to empower innovators to turn bold ideas into solutions that strengthen national security.

“DoD SciTechCONNECT broadens access to our innovation ecosystem, fostering collaboration with a diverse array of contributors,” said Dr. Aprille J. Ericsson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology. “Through tailored resources and curated events, this initiative ensures that ASD S&T remains at the forefront of technological advancement for the defense of our nation.” The platform provides a centralized hub for innovators and organizations to access resources, tools, and opportunities that drive research and technology development. By reducing barriers and streamlining processes, DoD SciTechConnect hopes to accelerate collaboration with the department and position new contributors for success in addressing national security challenges.

The platform offers a range of features, including tailored tools and educational resources designed to help innovators navigate the defense technology landscape effectively. It also provides opportunities to build meaningful and inclusive networks for STEM students and foster collaboration across the innovation ecosystem through curated events. DoD SciTechConnect is designed for rapid scaling, with plans to introduce enhanced tools, interactive collaboration spaces, and an expanded calendar of events over the next year. Those who register for the platform will be kept informed of these developments, ensuring they remain at the forefront of defense technology innovation. By joining DoD SciTechConnect, innovators can gain access to critical updates, resources, and event invitations, position themselves or their organization for collaboration opportunities with the department, and contribute to a growing community that is shaping the future of defense technology. Individuals and organizations interested in learning more about DoD SciTechConnect can visit the platform’s website at www.DoDSciTechConnect.us to create an account and stay up-to-date on the latest developments. (Source: U.S. DoD)

 

12 Dec 24. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today announced that it is collaborating with DDC-I to deliver industry-leading Future Airborne Capability Environment®, FACE® conformant DO-178C/ED-12C Design Assurance Level A (DAL A) processing for use in safety-certifiable multi-core computing avionics applications. Curtiss-Wright’s rugged V3-1708 single board computer (SBC) with off-the-shelf AC 20-152A DAL A certification packages, combined with DDC-I’s Deos™ configurable multi-core real time operating system (RTOS), enables system designers building avionics systems for aerospace, military, and other high-reliability markets to rapidly deploy rugged safety-certifiable solutions. Deos uniquely enables the L2 and L3 cache memory on the V3-1708’s NXP LX2160A Arm Cortex A72 system on chip (SoC) processor to be partitioned on both a core and application basis. This provides avionics applications with a dedicated isolated region of L2 and L3 cache and greatly speeds RTOS performance by eliminating the need for cache flushing or for processor cores to access the main memory, memory bus, or memory controller.

“We are excited to collaborate with DDC-I to bring industry-leading AC 20-152A DAL A safety-certifiable multi-core processing to the avionics market,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. “Combined with DDC-I’s Deos multi-core RTOS, our SWaP-optimized 16-Core V3-1708 single board computer provides system designers with the proven and reliable building blocks they need to quickly and cost-effectively develop DO-254 DAL A safety-certifiable systems. Because it frees customers from having to develop data artifact packages, the V3-1708 significantly reduces schedule risk and costs, which are frequently the cause of delays to safety-certifiable programs. The VPX-1708, together with our DAL-A, FACE conformant DO-178C Deos RTOS, provides an ideal MOSA-aligned, safety-critical platform for developing, certifying, and deploying a broad range of high-performance, multimedia-intensive avionics applications,” said Gary Gilliland, Vice President of Marketing at DDC-I. “The VPX-1708 utilizes the powerful A72 cores. Deos, with its patented cache partitioning, takes full advantage of the A72’s multi-core capabilities, enabling multiple Arm 72 cores to operate concurrently, delivering blazing performance in a DAL-A certifiable context.”

The V3-1708 3U VPX processor module is the embedded industry’s first SBC to bring the high core count advantages of the NXP LX2160A Arm Cortex A72 system on chip (SoC) processor to rugged deployed DO-254 DAL A safety-certifiable applications. The NXP LX2160A features 16 A72 cores and delivers more than 15% higher performance compared to Intel Tiger Lake.

Designed for use in compute-intensive applications such as flight control computers, mission control, and primary flight displays, the V3-1708 is ideal for bringing the benefits of COTS-based safety certifiable processing to airborne military platforms such as the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program.

As a result of NXP’s close collaboration with the Multi-Core for Avionics (MCFA) industry group, the V3-1708 provides system integrators with the device data needed to support a DO-254 certification process, at little or no cost, such as related AC/AMC 20-193 multi-core and AC/AMC 20-152A COTS device objectives. For avionics system designers, a rugged COTS SBC developed using AC/AMC 20-152A as a means of compliance, and provides off-the-shelf data kits for DO-254 and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to support system architecture, Functional Failure Path (FFP) analysis and certification, delivers a proven and cost-effective foundation for safety-critical applications.

About the Deos RTOS

DDC-I’s safety-critical time and space-partitioned RTOS has been verified to the guidance of DO-178C/ED-12C DAL A for use in systems with avionics applications, supports ARINC-653 APEX, Rate Monotonic Scheduling (RMS), and POSIX per the FACE Safety Extended and Safety Base Profiles. Deos is the first RTOS to receive operating system services (OSS) Conformance Certification for the FACE Technical Standard, Edition 3.1. The Safety Extended Profile, which adds support for TCP/IP communications, multi-process support, and expanded POSIX capability (80 extra functions), is a superset of the functionality required by the Safety Base and Security Profiles.

Deos has been field proven as a safety-critical RTOS since its first verification and audit to DAL A by Transport Canada in 1998, and it has been certified and is flying in 10’s of thousands of aircraft.  Since the initial verification, it has continually evolved throughout the last two decades with new processors and features in subsequent baselines, and it has been successfully audited by the world’s various governmental certification authorities (FAA, ENAC, JAA, EASA, CAAC, and others) and Airframe and Avionics Supplier Designated Engineering Representatives (DER).

About DDC-I, Inc.

DDC-I, Inc. is a global supplier of real-time operating systems, software development tools, custom software development services, and legacy software system modernization solutions, with a primary focus on mission- and safety-critical applications.  For more information regarding DDC-I products, contact  or visit  http://www.ddci.com/pr2413.

 

10 Dec 24. WEROCK Technologies has introduced the Rocktab U210 G2, a rugged Windows tablet designed to meet the demanding needs of public services, police, and defense sectors. WEROCK Technologies GmbH has unveiled the Rocktab U210 G2, the new generation of the ultra-robust Rocktab U210 tablet.

The Rocktab U210 G2 is a ruggedized tablet featuring a compact design and a new, powerful processor, making the Windows tablet ideal for demanding applications in public services, police, and defense.

Whether for deployment planning and coordination, preservation of evidence or navigation, and geopositioning in rough terrain, the new Rocktab U210 G2 from WEROCK is tailored to the requirements of modern security authorities. It combines a robust design with the user-friendly handling of modern consumer tablets.

The robust Rocktab U210 G2 tablet reportedly exceeds the military standard MIL STD-810G. Instead of the usual 1.2 m drop height, it can withstand a drop height of 1.5 m under more difficult conditions.

In addition, the tablet was subjected to a tumble test to test its impact and drop resistance in everyday situations. It had to survive 40 consecutive drops from a height of one meter.

With an IP65 rating, the tablet is completely waterproof and dustproof, making it suitable for use in a wide range of environments, from dusty desert landscapes to humid jungle areas.

The temperature range of -20° to +60° Celsius promises reliable operation even under extreme climatic conditions. Despite its robust features, the device remains particularly compact, with a depth of just 15 mm and a weight of only 996 g, making it ideal for mobile applications for emergency services and armed forces.

The 10.1-inch outdoor display with a brightness of up to 800 cd/m² offers good readability even in direct sunlight – a decisive advantage for field operations where visibility under extreme conditions is essential. It has a robust capacitive touchscreen with a pre-assembled armored glass film and exceeds the IK06 impact resistance rating to withstand the harshest operating conditions.

It is stent- compatible, highly accurate and, with the optional digitizer stylus, also enables highly accurate input, for example during mapping work. With a battery capacity of 33 W, the tablet can be used for up to 7 hours. The hot-swap functionality enables the device to work without interruption, as the battery can be changed during operation – an essential feature for all-day use without access to a charging option.

Thanks to the Intel N100 quad-core processor, the Rocktab U210 G2 not only delivers outstanding performance, but also excellent energy efficiency. In addition, the 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM enables smooth operation, even with complex processes. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise, Windows 11 Pro and Ubuntu Linux-based systems are supported.

An NVMe SSD available with up to 2 TB offers sufficient storage space for apps, images and documentation. WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are available for wireless connections. The optional 4G LTE high-speed internet connection enables fast WWAN data connections.

For more powerful requirements, WEROCK also offers a more powerful model: the Rocktab U210 Pro with an Intel® Core i5-1335U 10-core processor. For safe integration into emergency vehicles, a fully functional vehicle docking station and various charging options are available for integration into the vehicle electrical system.

Thanks to flexible mounting element options, integration is possible in practically any vehicle. Long term availability is planned for the new Rocktab U210 G2, which is expected to make it available until 2030.

Other features of the Rocktab U210 G2:

• 1 GBit RJ45 network connection, full size USB 3.1 type A and USB C connection
• Seamless roaming of different radio cells thanks to 802.11r
• Micro SD card slot for cards up to 1 TB
• Dedicated high-end module from uBlox for positioning
• High-end 1D/2D barcode scanner with laser aiming device (optional)
• Fully functional docking station with monitor outputs, USB 3, Ethernet, 2 x RS232
• Climate-neutralized product: all greenhouse gas emissions from production and transport offset

Markus Nicoleit, CEO of WEROCK, commented, “The Rocktab U210 G2 combines extreme robustness, outstanding mobility and impressive performance in a single device. As the most compact model in our Rocktab Ultra series to date, it not only offers the latest technology, but is also specifically designed to meet the demanding requirements of military and security critical applications. With its exceptional durability and versatile deployment options, it is the perfect companion for the defence sector.”

(Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)

 

11 Dec 24. Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a technology company that delivers mission-critical processing power to the edge, today introduced a system-on-module (SOM) and 3U SOSA-aligned OpenVPX board powered by Altera’s™ most advanced Agilex 9 Direct RF FPGA chips.

The DRF2270 SOM and DRF5270 3U board are the latest additions to Mercury’s portfolio of Direct RF digital signal processing products that use Altera FPGAs to detect and process information from a wide portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. These commercially available products directly digitize radio frequency signals at the antenna, eliminating the analog signal down conversion stages required by legacy hardware. This approach requires extremely fast converters, high-bandwidth digital data links, and powerful real-time digital signal processing. The results are reductions in size, weight, power, cost, and latency that can benefit a variety of radar, communications, electronic warfare, SIGINT, and industrial applications.

Mercury’s DRF2270 is an 8-channel SOM that converts between analog and digital signals at 64 gigasamples per second. It features Altera’s latest-generation Agilex 9 AGRW027 FPGA, which delivers enhanced performance with double the number of channel converters, 47% more logic elements, and 34% more memory than the previous generation chip. The DRF5270 board incorporates the DRF2270 SOM into a defense-ready 3U form factor with 10, 40, and 100 GigE optical interfaces. The flexible SOM design allows the DRF5270 to be easily customized to specific applications without requiring the board to be redesigned from scratch. The DRF2270 SOM can also be packaged into other small form factor and customized designs.

Mercury continues to offer the DRF2580 SOM based on the earlier Agilex 9 AGRW014 FPGA, and the DRF4580L, a small-form-factor module that incorporates the DRF2580 within a ruggedized, conduction-cooled enclosure that is ready for defense applications. All of Mercury’s Direct RF products come with the Navigator® Board Support Package and FPGA Design Kit that allow customers to develop custom IP for the module that can be installed within hours.

“The Mercury Processing Platform brings advanced commercial technologies to defense missions, allowing customers to save time and cost by deploying easily customized hardware that leverages the same core technology and IP across different programs,” said Ken Hermanny, Mercury’s Vice President of Signal Technologies. “With a growing portfolio of products that make Direct RF spectrum digitization possible, our customers now have more options to deploy this technology to capture, process, and exploit signals at the edge.”

“Altera’s Agilex™ 9 Wideband Direct RF FPGAs integrate either four or eight 64 Gsps ADC/DAC data converter pairs in the package with FPGA resources that provide real-time processing of up to an unprecedented 32 GHz of instantaneous bandwidth,” said Ben Esposito, Senior Principal Engineer, Military, Aerospace, and Government Business Unit at Altera. “By integrating circuitry that used to be done in the analog domain, these devices address size, weight, and power challenges of next-generation aerospace and defense missions. Our partnership with Mercury brings this cutting-edge RF technology to military customers, enabling rapid deployment via the different wideband platforms Mercury has developed.”

The DRF2270 and DRF5270 feature:

• 2.6″ x 4.75″ system on module architecture
• Altera Agilex 9 SoC FPGA AGRW027
• Eight 64 GSPS A/D and D/A converters
• 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Built-in multichip and multi-board synchronization circuitry for high channel, phased array antenna systems
• GT connections for gigabit serial communication
• Ruggedized and conduction-cooled options for DRF5270
• FPGA design kit for custom IP development
• Board Support Package (BSP) for software development
• IP functions suite and example applications
• Carrier Design Kit

 

11 Dec 24. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE:LMT) has been selected by the U.S. Marine Corps to demonstrate the maturity and capability of the MATRIX™ flight autonomy system.

Operationally relevant demonstration flights during 2025 using Sikorsky’s Optionally Piloted UH-60 Black Hawk® helicopter will inform the service’s Aerial Logistics Connector program how autonomous aircraft can resupply and sustain Marines in contested battlespace.

“Aircraft with MATRIX autonomy can safely and reliably perform a variety of complex missions, including internal and external cargo transport with no one on board,” said Rich Benton, vice president and general manager of Sikorsky. “With the Marine Corps, we will explore how an autonomy-based fleet of uncrewed aerial systems, rotary and fixed wing aircraft can sustain the expeditionary force with precision resupply during distributed, high-tempo operations.”

The Marine Corps demonstrations will show how autonomous aircraft can keep future Marine forces supplied, whether operating from Navy ships or expeditionary bases ashore. Marines also will interface with Sikorsky’s autonomous aircraft via a tablet to make mission changes before or after take-off.

Demonstrations of the MATRIX flight system are funded under a recent Phase 1 Aerial Logistics Connector agreement through an Other Transaction Agreement under the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium to Sikorsky by the Naval Air Systems Command.

Platform agnostic autonomy system

Sikorsky Innovations, the rapid development and prototyping group, has demonstrated mission relevant capabilities of the MATRIX system in both military and commercial operational environments aboard multiple rotary and fixed wing aircraft.

Initially intended to improve safety of flight for crewed helicopters, the system matured with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) ALIAS program. Advanced features include assisted flight handling for two pilot operations, virtual co-pilot for a single pilot, or fully autonomous flight with no pilots.

Recent MATRIX autonomy demonstrations

In July at Stafford Airport, Virginia, and again in October 2024 at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) exposition in Washington D.C., Sikorsky and DARPA demonstrated autonomous flights of the Optionally Piloted Black Hawk helicopter to Department of Defense (DoD) officials.

At the October demonstration, DoD leaders on the AUSA tradeshow floor learned to send high level mission goals to the helicopter. Three hundred miles away at Sikorsky headquarters in Connecticut, the aircraft autonomously took off, hovered, flew a short circuit of the flight field, and landed successfully.

These recent demonstrations build on autonomous logistics flights at Project Convergence 2022, when Sikorsky and DARPA successfully demonstrated to the U.S. Army how the Optionally Piloted Black Hawk helicopter, operating without humans on board, can safely and reliably perform internal and external cargo resupply missions.

For more information including details on other recent advancements, visit: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/matrix.

 

10 Dec 24. SandboxAQ advances battery life prediction for US Army. The latest dataset will evaluate the status of lithium-ion batteries used across various Army applications. SandboxAQ has developed a dataset of battery performance and predictive AI processes in collaboration with the US Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center.  It has achieved progress in predicting battery shelf-life and maintenance for the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM).   Supporting the Army’s Power and Energy Modernisation initiatives, the dataset includes more than two m hours of lab and simulated testing of 18,650 cylinder cells.   AI simulations replicate real-world conditions such as battery ageing, temperature variations, and discharge rates.   This data, along with proprietary tools, will train SandboxAQ’s Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) to ensure lithium-ion batteries meet Army shelf-life standards, ranging from two to 20 years.  Traditional battery shelf-life estimation relies on proxy tests and extrapolation, which may not accurately predict performance after long storage periods.  SandboxAQ’s LQMs aim to reduce shelf-life testing time and enhance prediction accuracy.   In storage, these models can verify new batteries’ quality and shelf-life.   In the field, the company claims that future battery chargers could transmit performance data to the AI model, informing soldiers about battery lifespan and maintenance needs.

SandboxAQ AI & Quantum Application Technical lead Ang Xiao said: “Most commercial battery applications do not have the same rigorous performance or shelf-life requirements as those intended for military use, so most cell manufacturers do not take shelf-life into consideration when designing advanced battery chemistries or sourcing materials.  The comprehensive battery dataset we’ve compiled with C5ISR Center will add this new predictive capability to our Large Quantitative Models, enabling all of our customers and partners to benefit from these previously unavailable insights.”

In October 2024, SandboxAQ reported that its LQMs cut the time to predict lithium-ion battery end-of-life by 95%, with 35 times greater accuracy and using 50 times less data than traditional methods.  This advancement reduces cell lifetime testing from months or years to days.  The results suggest that LQM-informed models could shorten new cell development timelines, saving manufacturers ms of dollars in research and development costs and accelerating innovation cycles in battery technology. (Source: army-technology.com)

 

11 Dec 24. WAVENET RF Engineering and UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía Successfully Perform the First Flights of a UAV Using Radio Positioning Algorithms in GNSS-Denied Environments. WAVENET RF Engineering, a renowned Spanish company dedicated to the design and development of radio frequency systems and specializing in unmanned vehicle systems, with the collaboration of UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía, a leading Spanish company in advanced guidance, navigation and control systems for unmanned aerial systems, are developing, under the COINCIDENTE 2022 program financed by the Ministry of Defence, an innovative positioning and navigation system, called KEPLER ADVANCE.

It is totally autonomous and independent from those currently known. Increasingly, today’s unmanned aircraft face challenging scenarios that threaten the robustness and accuracy of their navigation systems. The importance of developing alternative systems to those based on GNSS signals lies in the vulnerability of these systems to jamming and spoofing attacks, which can disable or interfere with satellite signals. Therefore, it is crucial to look for robust and accurate alternatives that do not rely exclusively on GNSS. The COINCIDENTE KEPLER ADVANCE project was born out of this need to develop an alternative positioning system, which is essential for a professional UAS system.

WAVENET RF Engineering has led the development of the KEPLER ADVANCE system. UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía has provided its wide experience in the UAS sector to carry out the integration and fusion of the information in its estimator, as well as the evaluation of the KEPLER ADVANCE system in real operations in different types of UAVs.

As part of the final phases of this program, both collaborating companies have carried out system validation flights in recent weeks with a UAV using the developed KEPLER ADVANCE system as the only positioning and navigation system. The results were completely successful. In the flights, the UAV used were a CLASS I, equipped with the VECTOR-600 flight control system together with its ground control station control software, Visionair from UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía, and integrating the KEPLER ADVANCE system from WAVENET RF Engineering for positioning and navigation. On the test day, different missions were carried out, including comparative flights in parallel of GPS with KEPLER ADVANCE, as well as flights with GPS denied using only KEPLER ADVANCE as the PNT system for approximately three hours. All of them were successful.

KEPLER ADVANCE is a system that enables precise navigation of an unmanned aircraft in the absence of GNSS with a focus on defense applications. It is a radio frequency system capable of converting incoming RPAS signals (interrogations) from the GCS to outgoing signals (responses) to the GCS.

These responses are processed at the ground station of the KEPLER ADVANCE system and determined with an accuracy similar to the accuracy provided by satellite systems:

1. The distance of the RPAS from the ground station.
2. The angle of the RPAS relative to the ground station and to North.
3. The height above ground of the RPAS.

With these three data, the spatial position is determined in a data format similar to that provided by GNSS systems and delivered to the ground station.

Through the data received by the system, the position provided by KEPLER ADVANCE can be used as a true reference for navigation, mission execution, representation on an interactive map, etc. and as a reliable and robust substitute for GNSS systems.

The KEPLER ADVANCE system offers a number of advantages that make it suitable for any situation:

1. High accuracy in positioning with a resolution that even improves the usual GNSS by 40%.
2. It is difficult to inhibit, as it uses LPI (Low Probability of Interception) technology, and the working frequency is not known (a priori).
3. It is highly unlikely to be subject to spoofing since it is neither public nor widely known hardware or software.
4. It works in any terrain (water, desert, etc.) and regardless of weather conditions.
5. It does not accumulate errors, so its accuracy is constant.

The KEPLER ADVANCE project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2025, although given the good progress of the work, it may be operational earlier. (Source: UAS VISION/UAV Navigation – Grupo Oesía)

 

10 Dec 24. Terma announced the launch of its cutting-edge Battery Cell Tester, leveraging space heritage technology to deliver unparalleled precision and efficiency in battery cell testing for the maritime industry.   The Terma Battery Cell Tester is designed to streamline and optimize battery testing processes, offering comprehensive solutions for various applications. Its innovative features include a built-in snapshot function, 95% regenerative efficiency, and the ability to accommodate 2-3 times more channels than traditional cycler cabinets. These features enable users to maximize their lab’s testing capabilities while reducing costs, saving space, and simplifying operations.

Key Features of the Terma Battery Cell Tester:

• Modular design easily adapts to changing testing needs with scalable configurations.
• 95% regenerative efficiency, which recirculates energy during discharge, reducing operational costs and minimizing air conditioning requirements.
• Increasing switching speeds reduces the size of components and minimize the overall footprint.

The tester’s graphical user interface enhances accessibility by offering intuitive data visualization and control, which is suitable for both technical experts and newcomers. The Terma Battery Cell Tester is designed for seamless integration with existing systems in laboratory environments. Users can customize and extend the tester’s capabilities to fit unique operational workflows and data management needs.

“Our new Battery Cell Tester represents a significant advancement in battery testing technology,” said Günther F. Lackner, Senior Vice President at Terma. “It empowers engineers with reproducible tests and comparable results, ensuring superior battery performance and reliability across multiple applications.”

Innovative technologies like the Terma Battery Cell Tester are essential tools in this environment, allowing companies to reduce time-to-market while also addressing sustainability goals.

 

10 Dec 24. 3E EOS, a leader in electro-optic systems, has expanded its additive manufacturing capabilities with a significant investment in Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS) technology, the company announced today. This expansion includes the addition of multiple Stratasys FDM 3D printers, bringing their total fleet to ten large-scale systems, including the F3300, Neo800, F900, F770, Origin One models and SAF technologies.

Building on its existing success with Stratasys solutions, 3E EOS is establishing a dedicated additive manufacturing center to support prototyping, tooling and production. The expanded fleet enables the company to produce critical components such as air ducts and fuel adapters for aircraft, reducing lead times by 30-45 days compared to traditional manufacturing methods, and cutting production costs by 40 percent.

The Stratasys F3300 flagship printer continues to deliver tangible value for customers, driving its increased adoption in support of critical applications across the aerospace, defense, and automotive sectors. For example, with this solution, 3E EOS anticipates lowering costs for high-volume projects by 20 percent.

“In a world where trends evolve rapidly, staying ahead of the market is not just an advantage—it’s a necessity,” said Emir Ozdemir, Head of Market Development at 3E EOS. “Our continued partnership with Stratasys ensures we remain at the forefront of innovation, delivering cutting-edge solutions that exceed market demands. By equipping our team with the industry’s best additive manufacturing technology, we empower innovation and drive excellence.”

This investment underscores 3E EOS’s commitment to adopting advanced technologies that deliver exceptional value. Stratasys’ extensive material range and advanced 3D printing systems have allowed 3E EOS to streamline production workflows and meet customer needs with precision and efficiency.

Andreas Langfeld, President of EMEA and APAC at Stratasys, remarked, “3E EOS is demonstrating a forward-thinking approach by strategically adopting additive manufacturing for applications where it offers clear advantages over traditional methods. By developing impactful use cases and integrating AM into their operations, they’ve recognized its potential to drive efficiency and innovation. Their decision to establish a large AM center further elevates the value of additive manufacturing, enabling them to maximize its impact across the manufacturing lifecycle.”

CoreLayer, alongside 3E EOS, is also concentrating on the evolving needs of the automotive industry, bringing its expertise in designing and manufacturing assembly line jigs and fixtures to this dynamic sector. By applying its proven capabilities, CoreLayer aims to support clients in adapting to increasingly complex designs and improving production efficiency. This strategic focus reinforces their role as a trusted partner for advanced manufacturing capabilities.

In addition, 3E EOS is advancing the adoption of additive manufacturing while promoting sustainability by minimizing material waste and energy consumption. This aligns with global environmental standards and supports their goal of fostering a more resource-efficient manufacturing process.

About Stratasys

Stratasys is leading the global shift to additive manufacturing with innovative 3D printing solutions for industries such as aerospace, automotive, consumer products, and healthcare. Through smart and connected 3D printers, polymer materials, a software ecosystem, and parts on demand, Stratasys solutions deliver competitive advantages at every stage in the product value chain. The world’s leading organizations turn to Stratasys to transform product design, bring agility to manufacturing and supply chains, and improve patient care.

To learn more about Stratasys, visit www.stratasys.com, the Stratasys blog, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Stratasys reserves the right to utilize any of the foregoing social media platforms, including Stratasys’ websites, to share material, non-public information pursuant to the SEC’s Regulation FD. To the extent necessary and mandated by applicable law, Stratasys will also include such information in its public disclosure filings.

 

09 Dec 24. Parry Labs, a leader in Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and digital system integration, and Concurrent, a designer and manufacturer of leading-edge computer products, systems, and mission-critical solutions, have announced a non-exclusive partnership. This collaboration aims to rapidly deliver scalable, SOSA-aligned technologies that address the evolving demands of the modern battlespace.

As military threats grow more dynamic, the ability to quickly integrate and deploy advanced technologies becomes mission-critical. By uniting Parry Labs’ expertise in software and VPX technology integration with Concurrent’s VPX cards and ruggedized chassis, this partnership enables the rapid fielding of fully integrated, modular systems. These systems are aligned with key standards, including the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) for the Air Force, the C4ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) for the Army, and the Hardware Open Systems Technologies (HOST) standard for the Navy. This multifaceted compliance ensures interoperability across services while accelerating the deployment of mission-critical capabilities to meet evolving operational demands.

“Our collaboration exemplifies how a Modular Open Systems Approach enables rapid innovation,” said John Parkes, CEO of Parry Labs. “By pairing our software and VPX computing technology with Concurrent’s VPX board & systems, both compliant with SOSA and CMOSS standards, we are redefining how quickly and efficiently defense systems can be delivered and deployed to meet the unique needs of the Air Force, Navy, and Army.”

Parry Labs and Concurrent will provide customers with highly customizable, interoperable systems designed for operational resilience and adaptability. Together, they deliver on the promise of MOSA—deploying new technologies in significantly shorter timeframes, ensuring forces are always equipped to counter evolving challenges.

About Parry Labs, LLC

Parry Labs redefines the edge for the modern battlespace by rapidly delivering digital systems infrastructure to ensure operational superiority. Through seamless integration of open software architecture and cutting-edge hardware, we provide scalable solutions that empower organizations to deploy mission-critical capabilities in real-time. At Parry Labs, we are committed to delivering future-proof, agile technologies that meet the evolving demands of modern operations. For more information, visit Parry Labs and follow us on LinkedIn.

About Concurrent

Concurrent develops and manufactures high-end embedded plug-in cards and systems for use in a wide range of high-performance, long-life cycle applications within the telecommunications, defence, security, telemetry, scientific and aerospace markets, including applications within extremely harsh environments. The processor products feature Intel® processors, including the latest generation embedded Intel® Core™ processors, Intel® Xeon® and Intel Atom™ processors. The products are designed to be compliant with industry specifications and support many of today’s leading embedded operating systems. Their products are sold world-wide. (Source: PR Newswire)

 

10 Dec 24. Nokia today announced it is enhancing its next-generation data center fabric solution with support for Community Software for Open Networking in the Cloud (SONiC). By bringing together open-source software with advanced hardware and leading-edge automation, Nokia is creating a new alternative for modern, efficient, and highly reliable data center networks.

Nokia, a strong proponent of open-source solutions, is a long-time contributor to the SONiC community, which was originally established by Microsoft and the Open Compute Project and is now governed by the Linux Foundation. According to research by the 650 Group, the market for SONiC-enabled data center switching is projected to surpass $9 bn by 2028, driven by the increase in data center investment to meet the exploding demand for traditional IT and emerging AI workloads.

Until now, the choice to move forward with SONiC would typically mean selecting open-source hardware with limited fabric management and automation options. Nokia’s expanded portfolio brings Community SONiC to its data center switching platforms with access to Nokia’s expert SONiC development and support organization. In addition, enterprises and cloud providers benefit from access to a broader range of advanced data center hardware platforms engineered for reliability, power efficiency and longevity.

Customers will also benefit from Nokia’s recently introduced Event Driven Automation (EDA) platform. EDA helps manage and automate SONiC environments, bringing users access to a modern operations toolset that reduces operational costs, while driving human error and network downtime to zero.

For customers preferring fully integrated solutions with access to advanced features and a dedicated engineering team, Nokia continues to offer its SR Linux network operating system as part of its data center fabric solution offer. With support for both software approaches, Nokia is offering unmatched flexibility into the data center switching market.

Alan Weckel, Co-founder and Technology Analyst, 650 Group, said: “Nokia has long been a supporter of the open-source community, and its announcement of SONiC in support of its data center switching portfolio is a natural next step. This announcement reinforces Nokia’s commitment to providing its customers with innovative and adaptable solutions for the fast-evolving demands of data centers, from traditional IT workloads to cutting-edge AI applications.”

Josh Helm, Vice President of Global Network and Edge Offering Enablement at Kyndryl, said: “The seamless integration of open-source software with Nokia SR Linux, supported by a unified fabric management platform, gives Kyndryl the flexibility to drive IT modernization for our customers. By embracing open-source innovations, Kyndryl is strengthening our partnership with Nokia and our hyperscaler partners to deliver scalable and cost-efficient solutions.

Scott Seger, Senior Vice President Infrastructure and Alliances from CBTS, said: “Nokia’s announcement of SONiC support in its data center switching portfolio introduces a powerful alternative for enterprises building modern, efficient data center fabrics to support the growth of IT and AI workloads. We are seeing strong interest and traction for this approach, especially within our financial services client base.”

Vach Kompella, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Nokia’s IP Networks Business Division, said: “We fundamentally believe in giving customers the choice to run their networks how they need to. It’s why we have always advocated open standards, and why we have built our solutions to support the option to run either a world-class vendor NOS like SR Linux or an open networking NOS like Community SONiC. This kind of flexibility gives customers permission to pursue one path while preserving their right to go another route should conditions change.”

 

09 Dec 24. BIS Formally Publishes in the Federal Register Additional Steps to Restrict China’s Capability to Produce Advanced Semiconductors for Military Applications. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has formally published in the Federal Register the following additional steps it first announced on December 2, 2024, to restrict China’s capability to produce advanced semiconductors for military applications: – (89 Fed. Reg. 96790) – In this interim final rule (IFR), BIS has made to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) controls for certain advanced computing items, supercomputers, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, which includes adding new controls for certain semiconductor manufacturing equipment and related items, creating new Foreign Direct Product (FDP) rules for certain commodities to impair the capability to produce “advanced-node integrated circuits” (“advanced-node ICs”) by certain destinations or entities of concern, adding new controls for certain high bandwidth memory important for advanced computing, and clarifying controls on certain software keys that allow for the use of items such as software tools. This IFR publishes concurrently with another BIS final rule entitled, “Additions and Modifications to the Entity List; and Removals from the Validated End-User (VEU) Program” (Entity List rule) that adds to and modifies the Entity List to ensure appropriate EAR controls are in place for certain critical technologies and to minimize the risk of diversion to entities of concern. This rule became effective on December 2, 2024. Although this rule is effective December 2, 2024, exporters, reexporters, and transferors are not required to comply with the changes made in the following amendatory instructions until the compliance dates specified below for the respective amendatory instructions. If no compliance date is provided, the parties must comply with those requirements as of the effective date of this IFR.

• The changes made in this IFR in amendatory instructions 2 (Red Flags) and 6 (§ 734.19) have a compliance date of December 2, 2024.
• The changes made in this IFR in amendatory instructions 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 29, and 31 (ECCNs 3B001, 3B002, 3B991, 3B992, 3B993, 3B994, 3A090, 3D001 (related to 3A090.c and 3B commodities), 3D002, 3D992, 3D993, 3D994, 3E001 (related to 3A090.c and 3B commodities) (HBM controls and related changes), 3E992, 3E993, and 3E994) FN5, and FDP rules, and related changes, and DRAM definition changes) have a compliance date of December 31, 2024.

Interested persons have until January 31, 2025, to submit comments on this IFR. (Source: glstrade.com)

 

09 Dec 24. Rheinmetall and Auterion are working together on drone technology and developing standard operating system for military industries. Rheinmetall, a leading system supplier for defence technology and Auterion, the leading supplier of drone operating systems, will be working closely together to develop standardised software-based components for unmanned drone systems. The two companies signed an agreement, thereby establishing a long-term co-operation.

The two partners are combining their expertise in order to create a military industry standard for controlling and operating unmanned aerial, land and naval drone systems. The co-operation includes joint product development and sales activities for unmanned platforms. The resulting homogeneous operating system is expected to provide military users with a significant advantage.

As a drone manufacturer, Rheinmetall is drawing on the operational experience gained from the Luna NG and Aladin systems and incorporating it into its work with the customer. Various drone systems from the Düsseldorf-based technology group have already been in service for many years with the German Armed Forces / Bundeswehr and have been deployed in Ukraine for several months.

Dr Timo Haas, Chief Digital Officer at Rheinmetall AG, explains: “We see over two hundred different aerial unmanned systems in Ukraine. This makes military training very costly and time-consuming, and system interoperability is not guaranteed. Co-operation with Auterion and the development of a homogeneous operating system will enable the efficient and scalable deployment of unmanned systems. With our approach, there will be no need for system-dependent user training or system-specific integration into an overall system network in the future”.

Lorenz Meier, CEO of Auterion: “In the future, drones will be used in large quantities and, like computers and smartphones, they need a common operating system to make this happen. AuterionOS allows the customer to combine all drones on a common basis and to integrate different manufacturers into a common architecture. Our software stack has already been tried and tested in operation and thus enables software-defined defence”.

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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05 Dec 24. Shield AI, the defense technology company building autonomy for the world, has announced it is expanding its work with Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR), a leading provider of AI systems, to develop and deliver large-scale command and control of autonomous uncrewed systems, including operations in GPS- and communications-denied environments. With Warp Speed, Palantir’s manufacturing OS for American re-industrialization, Shield AI is doubling down on its commitment to delivering scalable, AI-powered solutions to protect service members and civilians.

By leveraging Shield AI’s advanced Hivemind software development kit, along with Palantir’s suite of powerful software solutions—including enterprise resource planning, geospatial intelligence, and operational decision-making tools—the partnership combines the strengths of both companies to address the most critical defense challenges.

“Shield AI and Palantir have both built technology products proven in the most demanding environments,” said Brandon Tseng, Shield AI’s President, Co-founder, and former Navy SEAL. “Our partnership is about bringing together Palantir’s software dominance and Shield AI’s expertise in autonomy to deliver the best possible outcomes for customers. It’s exciting to scale up what we’ve been working on together in this next chapter of our partnership.”

This announcement builds on work Shield AI and Palantir showcased at the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Expo in October, where the companies demonstrated the integration of Shield AI’s Hivemind with Palantir’s Gaia. This integration created a unified command-and-control system for autonomous systems. Hivemind’s proven autonomy capabilities—demonstrated on platforms like the V-BAT, F-16, MQM-178 Firejet, and Nova quadcopter—now seamlessly integrate with Gaia’s geospatial intelligence tools, enabling real-time mission execution and precision targeting.

“The American Industrial Base needs Warp Speed,” said Shyam Sankar, Palantir’s Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President. “Shield AI stands out in their field, having achieved mission impact and product results where others have struggled. This partnership, and Shield AI’s deploying of our newly announced manufacturing OS will enable faster and better delivery to customers, and ultimately aid in the defense of the West.” (Source: PR Newswire)

 

05 Dec 24. IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in the quantum computing and networking industry, today announced the delivery of IonQ Forte Enterprise to its first European Innovation Center at the uptownBasel campus in Arlesheim, Switzerland. Achieved in partnership with QuantumBasel, this major milestone marks the first datacenter-ready quantum computer IonQ has delivered that will operate outside the United States and the first quantum system for commercial use in Switzerland.

“We aligned our system build with on-site datacenter construction and IonQ’s manufacturing and production teams leveraged their decades of expertise to bring this groundbreaking system online faster than anticipated.”

Post this

Forte Enterprise is now online servicing compute jobs while performing at a record algorithmic qubit count of #AQ36, which is significantly more powerful than the promised #AQ35. With each additional #AQ, the useful computational space for running quantum algorithms doubles. A system with #AQ36 is capable of considering more than 68 billion different possibilities simultaneously. With this milestone, IonQ once again leads the industry in delivering production-ready systems to customers.

“The successful commissioning of Forte Enterprise in Europe – on schedule and at an even higher performance level than announced previously – demonstrates IonQ’s commitment to driving global quantum adoption through technological leadership and operational excellence,” said Peter Chapman, CEO and President of IonQ. “Achieving #AQ36 is a significant leap forward, opening new possibilities for applications including logistics, finance, pharmaceuticals, chemistry and artificial intelligence.”

“Offering the state-of-the-art Forte Enterprise quantum computing platform to our ecosystem will accelerate the development of quantum applications across a range of fields,” said Damir Bogdan, CEO of QuantumBasel. “By collaborating with IonQ, we’re positioning the uptownBasel campus as a leader in quantum innovation, fostering breakthroughs that address real-world challenges.”

IonQ’s next generation commercial quantum systems such as Forte Enterprise are optimized for data center environments, sporting a rack-mounted form factor, low energy profile, and minimal environmental isolation requirements.

Building on a History of Excellence

Today’s IonQ Forte Enterprise system commissioning represents the culmination of IonQ’s engineering innovation, operational excellence, and enterprise-grade production capabilities.

“This milestone reflects the hard work and ingenuity of teams across IonQ and QuantumBasel,” said Dr. Dave Mehuys, VP of Production Engineering. “We aligned our system build with on-site datacenter construction and IonQ’s manufacturing and production teams leveraged their decades of expertise to bring this groundbreaking system online faster than anticipated.”

Pioneering a New Era of Computing

IonQ’s record-breaking achievement of #AQ36 signals the company’s dedication and success in advancing quantum performance. Forte Enterprise expands the potential for driving groundbreaking research in areas such as quantum chemistry and machine learning.

“IonQ’s ability to deliver Forte Enterprise with #AQ36 reflects our growing capabilities to execute on our mission to drive significant quantum advancements globally,” said Dr. Dean Kassmann, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technology at IonQ. “Each step we take demonstrates our commitment to bringing quantum computing from the lab to practical, impactful, and commercial uses.”

A Quantum Leap for Europe and Beyond

IonQ’s first European Innovation Center will allow the company to service its European customers out of its QuantumBasel location and to drive research and development of next generation quantum applications in Europe.

As part of its partnership with IonQ, QuantumBasel will offer its ecosystem– including enterprises, research institutes, startups, and universities – direct access to the #AQ36 Forte Enterprise system.

With datacenters now in the Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Basel, Switzerland areas, IonQ has firmly established a global data center footprint, reinforcing its position as a leader in quantum technology.

To learn more about IonQ’s latest innovations, visit www.ionq.com.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. is a leader in quantum computing that delivers high-performance systems capable of solving the world’s largest and most complex commercial and research use cases. IonQ’s current generation quantum computer, IonQ Forte, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems, boasting 36 algorithmic qubits. The company’s innovative technology and rapid growth were recognized in Fast Company’s 2023 Next Big Things in Tech List and Deloitte’s 2023 Technology Fast 500™ List, respectively. Available through all major cloud providers, IonQ is making quantum computing more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com.

About QuantumBasel

QuantumBasel is a competence center for quantum computing and AI and drives access to commercial quantum computing to foster innovation. QuantumBasel places particular emphasis on technological neutrality and is Switzerland’s first commercial quantum computing hub, providing access to hardware from IBM, D-Wave and IonQ. QuantumBasel’s team of quantum and data scientists trains and supports companies, conducts projects in quantum computing and AI, and collaborates closely with universities and academic institutions. Through an internationally connected ecosystem, QuantumBasel provides access to advanced know-how and technologies, enabling companies in industrial production, logistics, finance, energy, life sciences, and start-ups to achieve innovations they cannot develop independently. www.quantumbasel.com (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

 

04 Dec 24. Swedish Defence Material Administration Awards OSI contract for ECPINS Submarine.

• Expanding the use of ECPINS Fleetwide
• ECPINS will be deployed across all RSwN submarines and the SM Rescue ship BELOS
• The agreement includes current ECPINS versions through to ECPINS 7 and In-Service Support
• ECPINS is the only WECDIS independently type approved against NATO WECDIS STANAG 4564
• ECPINS is deployed on submarines operated by eight Nations

OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) is pleased to announce it has secured an agreement with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk, FMV) for a flotilla license of its advanced ECPINS (Electronic Chart Precise Integrated Navigation System). The system will be deployed across all Royal Swedish Navy (RSN) submarines, including the A17 and A19 classes, with integration planned for the upcoming A26 class once it becomes operational.

The agreement includes the current edition of ECPINS through to ECPINS 7 — which will be fully compliant with NATO WECDIS STANAG 4564’s latest Edition 3. In addition, OSI will deliver multi-year In-Service Support as part of the agreement.

The Royal Swedish Navy, headquartered in Karlskrona, operates a fleet of five diesel-electric submarines: three Gotland-class (A19) vessels and two Södermanland-class (A17, formerly Västergötland-class) submarines.

OSI’s ECPINS forms the cornerstone of the submarines’ navigation system. Embedded in ECPINS are capabilities designed for navigating in harsh subsurface environments. In high-tempo tactical situations, submarines need to minimize their above-water signature, restricting the use of sensors such as GPS. Through advanced algorithmic calculations, ECPINS’ advanced Dived Navigation methodology and techniques minimize reliance on sensors, allowing the submarine to remain undetectable for longer, thereby retaining its full tactical advantage.

Globally recognized as a leader in subsurface navigation, ECPINS is deployed on submarines operated by Sweden, the UK, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa, and Brazil.

“We’re proud of this new contract award. To have ECPINS deployed fleetwide on the Royal Swedish Navy’s submarines strongly endorse OSI’s cutting-edge navigation technology.  Further the waters in which Swedish submarines operate are geographically some of the harshest, that in turn requires the best in navigation.” Ken Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of OSI Maritime Systems

“Dived navigation is a demanding task. OSI has been the global leader of WECDIS dived navigation solutions since 2005. ECPINS has digitised all of the traditional dived navigation methodologies and created the most trusted suite of dived functionality available in a WECDIS application. Recognized by eight NATO and Allied navies, ECPINS has set the gold standard in overcoming these challenges.” Jim Davison, Vice President of Business Development, OSI Maritime Systems. (Source: ASD Network)

 

04 Dec 24. Curtiss-Wright and Sintavia Deliver First Submarine Component Utilizing an Additively Manufactured Impeller to Be Installed in a U.S. Navy Vessel. Curtiss-Wright’s EMS Division today announced that it has delivered the first submarine component with an additively manufactured (AM) impeller that will be installed in a U.S. Navy vessel.

Curtiss-Wright’s Engineered Pump Division (EPD) in Bethlehem, PA, Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. (BPMI) in Monroeville, PA, and Sintavia, LLC in Fort Lauderdale, FL, collaborated to develop, manufacture, test, and supply the first submarine component utilizing a qualified, metal additively manufactured part. Sintavia, a leader in designing and manufacturing critical additively manufactured defense components, provided the AM impeller after a thorough qualification process. This impeller was assembled into the pump and tested at Curtiss-Wright’s facility in Bethlehem, PA.

Additive manufacturing technology offers a solution to the development of a product or component that historically has been difficult or costly to manufacture, often resulting in delays. The use of this technology is expected to provide a reliable and high-quality domestic source while also leading to shorter manufacturing lead times, increased quality, lower risk in performance, and improved delivery to further meet the needs of the U.S. Navy.

“Sintavia has proven to be an invaluable industry partner, and we are excited about the opportunity to further solidify our partnership by increasing the number of additively manufactured parts for this application and other critical naval defense components,” said David Micha, Sr. Vice President and General Manager of the EMS Division. “In addition, we are proud to be providing the first critical service equipment utilizing an additively manufactured component to the U.S. Navy’s submarine program and look forward to expanding these capabilities in the future to more efficiently serve our customer.”

“We would like to thank both Curtiss-Wright and BPMI for the opportunity to leverage Sintavia’s additive technology in the production of this critical component,” said Lindsay Lewis, Sintavia’s Corporate Vice President. “Leading-edge manufacturing processes such as AM will continue to be key differentiators in developing superior defense components in the years to come.”

Curtiss-Wright’s EPD business unit, part of Curtiss-Wright’s EMS division, and its predecessor companies have provided naval and maritime technological expertise and products since 1847. Today, EPD is a leading supplier of pumps and components that meet demanding and mission critical requirements for the world’s surface and submerged naval fleets. EPD also provides a wide range of spare and replacement parts, composite pump components, and support services for complete overhaul, upgrade, and in-field expertise. For more information, please visit www.cw-ems.com/epd. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

 

04 Dec 24. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Skunk Works and the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) completed the first-ever live fly F-35 classified data-share with a non-U.S. Command and Control (C2) system.  In this real-time demonstration, an F-35 flying from Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, shared classified data via a Skunk Works’ Open Systems Gateway (OSG) through commercial satellite communications and into an RAF RCO lab in Farnborough, U.K., where it was ingested into the NEXUS C2 system. This achievement marks a significant step forward in multi-domain integration, enabling F-35 interoperability in real-time with a non-U.S. C2 system.

“Project DEIMOS was a hugely successful UK/US trial which clearly demonstrated the ability to take data from a live F-35 and pass this to the RAF’s NEXUS platform for exploitation. This represents a key step forward towards both a future integrated battlespace and Air Command and Control environment,” said Air Commodore Chris Melville, head of rapid capabilities office, Royal Air Force. “The RAF Rapid Capabilities Office working in partnership with both Lockheed Martin and SiXWorks, has proven how collaborative working with key industry partners can quickly and efficiently drive both innovation and future capability. We are all delighted with the results.”

“This exercise marks a breakthrough in multi-domain operations, demonstrating the F-35’s ability to share classified data via an open systems gateway with our international partners. We collaborated closely with the U.K. Ministry of Defence and industry to achieve this feat, highlighting the power of partnership in driving innovation,” said John Clark, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “Collaborations like this allow us to deliver advanced capabilities quickly to meet urgent needs in an increasingly complicated global threat environment.”

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is committed to delivering open architecture solutions that enhance multi-domain integration capabilities across allied forces.

 

04 Dec 24. Diamonds are forever? World-first carbon-14 diamond battery made. The world’s first carbon-14 diamond has been produced with the potential to provide power for thousands of years. Weak radio luminescence captured by a low light intensity camera from a synthetic diamond carbon film made from beta-emitting carbon-14 atoms – Image Credit: University of Bristol

Scientists and engineers from the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the University of Bristol have successfully created the world’s first carbon-14 diamond battery.

This new type of battery has the potential to power devices for thousands of years, making it an incredibly long-lasting energy source.

The battery leverages the radioactive isotope, carbon-14, known for its use in radiocarbon dating, to produce a diamond battery.

Several game-changing applications are possible. Bio-compatible diamond batteries can be used in medical devices like ocular implants, hearing aids, and pacemakers, minimising the need for replacements and distress to patients.

Diamond batteries could also be used in extreme environments – both in space and on earth – where it is not practical to replace conventional batteries. The batteries could power active radio frequency (RF) tags where there is a need to identify and track devices either on earth or in space, such as spacecraft or payloads, for decades at a time, thus reducing costs and extending operational lifespan.

“Diamond batteries offer a safe, sustainable way to provide continuous microwatt levels of power. They are an emerging technology that use a manufactured diamond to safely encase small amounts of carbon-14,” said Sarah Clark, Director of Tritium Fuel Cycle at UKAEA.

The carbon-14 diamond battery works by using the radioactive decay of carbon-14, which has a half-life of 5,700 years, to generate low levels of power. It functions similarly to solar panels, which convert light into electricity, but instead of using light particles (photons), they capture fast-moving electrons from within the diamond structure.

Professor Tom Scott, Professor in Materials at the University of Bristol, said: “Our micropower technology can support a whole range of important applications from space technologies and security devices through to medical implants. We’re excited to be able to explore all of these possibilities, working with partners in industry and research, over the next few years.”

A team of scientists and engineers from both organisations worked together to build a plasma deposition rig, a specialised apparatus used for growing the diamond at UKAEA’s Culham Campus.

This development is the result, in part, of UKAEA’s work on fusion energy.

The expertise gained in fusion research is helping to accelerate innovation in related technologies. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

03 Dec 24. Babcock launches new International Engineering and Technology Hub in Melbourne. We have officially launched a new International Engineering and Technology Hub in Melbourne, Australia as part of our increased research and development efforts across global defence markets. The $3.5m state-of-the-art Abbotsford facility will serve as a collaborative environment for engineers and technologists working in areas such as systems engineering, secure communications, autonomy, artificial intelligence and digitally-enabled asset management. It includes provision for specialist laboratories and other security-accredited testing facilities to simulate, model and validate new technologies so they can be brought into service quickly. The hub has been designed with future defence needs in mind and is strategically located in Victoria to leverage the state’s extensive supply chain network, well-credentialled academic institutions and rich engineering talent pool.  Part-funded by the Victorian Government, the facility is expected to create as many as 100 new highly skilled jobs over the next three years and will play a crucial role in our workforce development initiatives, contributing to the growth of a robust and resilient industrial base. The move to the new facility follows a period of sustained growth for our Australian business, particularly in Melbourne, where our defence workforce has grown seven-fold since 2019.

 

03 Dec 24. Concurrent Launches Hermod II Ethernet Switch. 

Enabling real-time data traffic management in extreme environments.

Concurrent, a leader in embedded computing solutions, has unveiled Hermod II, a rugged 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch designed to meet the demands of ground vehicles in the defence and heavy industrial markets.

Engineered to withstand extreme temperatures, dirt, and wet conditions, Hermod II introduces Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) capabilities to prioritise and schedule real-time data traffic for continuity in critical operations.

Driving Innovation in Ethernet Communication

Hermod II represents a pivotal shift in Ethernet technology by addressing the industry’s transition from legacy low-bandwidth, deterministic interfaces to high-bandwidth Ethernet backbones. TSN enables Hermod II to offer the deterministic performance required for modern platforms, bridging the gap between legacy and TSN-enabled traffic for seamless integration.

“Deterministic Ethernet communications is no longer optional – it’s mission-critical. As platforms adopt Ethernet as their main communication conduit, TSN has become essential to achieve the reliability and performance required in mission-critical environments,” said Michael Harden, Vice President of Systems at Concurrent.

“Hermod II positions us at the forefront of this evolution, ensuring our customers are prepared for the future of Ethernet-enabled operations.”

Key Features of Hermod II

• Ruggedised Design – Operates reliably in extreme environmental conditions.
• TSN Support – Enables real-time traffic management through Concurrent’s TSN configurator package.
• Versatile Integration – Serves as a gateway to support legacy systems during modernisation.

A Broader Portfolio of Solutions

In addition to Hermod II, Concurrent is pleased to announce the expansion of its Plug-In-Card (PIC) portfolio, which includes the new storage PIC with secure, removable storage cannisters, and Fulla, a cost-effective 10 Gigabit Ethernet Switch PIC. These offerings enhance Concurrent’s ability to deliver modular and scalable systems tailored to customer needs.

Transitioning to a TSN Future

As TSN adoption becomes mandatory for new platforms in the coming years, Hermod II provides a critical solution for organisations navigating this transition. It enables a phased modernisation approach while ensuring compliance with future requirements.

At Concurrent we are redefining embedded computing solutions. We focus on innovation, reliability, and exceptional service and we will continue to expand our reach and offerings to ensure our clients can operate in challenging times and environments.

For more information about Hermod II and Concurrent’s other solutions, visit – https://concurrent.tech/.

 

02 Dec 24. IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in the quantum computing and networking industry, today announced the launch of its quantum operating system, now called IonQ Quantum OS, and a collection of new capabilities named IonQ Hybrid Services suite. These technologies will greatly advance performance and utility of quantum computing for enterprise customers.

“Our goal is to empower enterprise customers to unlock new possibilities and drive innovation with quantum computing.”

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IonQ Quantum OS is a nearly ground-up rewrite of IonQ’s original quantum operating system. Designed and built with a flexible and modular architecture, it is designed to scale and adapt with IonQ’s hybrid quantum computing ecosystem and power IonQ’s current and future flagship quantum computers, including IonQ Forte and IonQ Forte Enterprise.

Designed for improved performance, IonQ Quantum OS dramatically improves time-to-solution, including:

• An average reduction of over 50 percent in on-system classical overhead (compared to identical workloads run on IonQ Forte before the improvements were deployed).
• An 85 percent reduction in cloud and network overhead of workloads submitted through the IonQ Cloud.
• Up to 100x improved accuracy in an expanded error mitigation and compilation suite.
• Enhanced calibration, automation, and control software and firmware to optimize qubit and gate performance and adjust for systemic drifts, resulting in better algorithmic performance.

IonQ Quantum OS also offers enterprise-grade security through improved observability and enhanced interoperability across on-premise hardware and software solutions. These improvements provide customers with new options for securely integrating quantum computing into their stack. IonQ Quantum OS has been running commercial workloads on IonQ Forte since summer 2024 and will soon be operational in controlling IonQ Forte Enterprise as it comes online in IonQ’s Basel, Switzerland data center.

“We designed our Quantum OS not only to address the complex demands of today’s enterprises but to scale seamlessly as their needs evolve,” said Peter Chapman, President and CEO of IonQ. “Our goal is to empower enterprise customers to unlock new possibilities and drive innovation with quantum computing.”

Showcased as an early preview with NVIDIA at SuperCompute 2024, IonQ’s new Hybrid Services suite is designed to enable seamless development and deployment of hybrid workloads that integrate IonQ quantum computers with high-performance classical resources over the cloud. This suite introduces significant advancements to enhance the speed, performance, and usability of quantum workloads, including:

• The Workload Management & Solver Service, a quantum developer toolkit that offers capabilities to efficiently move hybrid workloads to the cloud. This service features a quantum function and hybrid solver designed to help developers simplify the process of manually building circuits and iterative algorithms by packaging them into portable workloads to be executed and enhanced based on their needs.
• A new scheduling feature, Sessions, built on top of IonQ’s Fair Share scheduling engine, is designed to streamline provisioning of QPU time so that iterative and resource-intensive workflows run with minimal wait and interruption. Sessions also provides expanded support for offerings from IonQ’s cloud partners, including Amazon Braket Hybrid Jobs and Azure Quantum Sessions.
• The all-new IonQ SDK allows for seamless, simple, and reliable integration with IonQ Quantum Cloud API and IonQ Hybrid Services.

IonQ Hybrid Services suite is already accelerating the development of real-world, commercial quantum hybrid applications with customers. IonQ recently worked with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to implement a beta version of Hybrid Services to support the development of a NISQ-friendly quantum algorithm, which accelerates time-to-solution for hard optimization problems.

To learn more about IonQ and its latest system news and business developments, visit https://ionq.com.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. is a leader in quantum computing that delivers high-performance systems capable of solving the world’s largest and most complex commercial and research use cases. IonQ’s current generation quantum computer, IonQ Forte, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems, boasting 36 algorithmic qubits. The company’s innovative technology and rapid growth were recognized in Fast Company’s 2023 Next Big Things in Tech List and Deloitte’s 2023 Technology Fast 500™ List, respectively. Available through all major cloud providers, IonQ is making quantum computing more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

 

02 Dec 24. India, UK to develop electric propulsion systems for naval ships.  The electric propulsion capability is expected to be designed, developed and produced for the Indian Navy. The agreement is part of the third Joint Working Group Meeting of the Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership. Credit: Ministry of Defence/Government of India/PIB Delhi. India and the UK have signed a statement of intent (SoI) on the cooperation for the design and development of electric propulsion systems for the Indian Navy.   The agreement, signed in Portsmouth, aims to foster indigenous development of advanced naval technologies.  The SoI was signed by Naval Systems joint secretary Rajeev Prakash, and UK Ministry of Defence Ships Operations and Capability Integration director Steve McCarthy.   This agreement is part of the third joint working group meeting of the Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership.  The SoI will act as a framework to co-design, co-create, and co-produce electric propulsion capabilities for future naval ships.   According to the Indian Ministry of Defence, the Landing Platform Docks are planned to feature a full electric propulsion system. They are set to be constructed at an Indian shipyard.  In November 2023, the second meeting of the India-UK Electric Propulsion Capability Partnership Joint Working Group was held in New Delhi. The session was co-chaired by Department of Defence Production joint secretary (Naval Systems) Rajeev Prakash and Defence Equipment and Support Ships Operations and Capability Integration director rear admiral Steve McCarthy.  The discussions focused on key aspects of the electric propulsion partnership, including the finalization of the statement of technical requirements, factory acceptance test procedures, maintenance protocols, manning philosophy, and system integration requirements.  (Source: naval-technology.com)

 

02 Dec 24. Aiding capability decision making for the Royal Navy.

Dstl helps capability decision-making for the Royal Navy, saves money and creates wealth for the UK.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has helped the Royal Navy improve global presence with fewer warships and sailors, drive up frigate availability, slash procurement costs and generate exports for UK industry.

Dstl scientists have:

• developed new assessment tools
• developed ways of working with industry
• provided technical support to Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)
• provided a framework for exportability that allowed rapid decisions for procurement

Saving money and boosting industry

Dstl analysts developed the forward presence concept, basing ships overseas to increase availability and global reach, and proving that 5 ships could do the work of 11. This could save the taxpayer £10 bn compared to conventional requirement setting.

The production cost of the Type 31 frigate – approximately £250 m per ship – will generate significant taxpayer savings when compared to the cost of recent ships such as Type 45 and Type 26, which cost in the region of £1 bn per ship.

The Type 31 has already been successful on export markets, with orders for UK industry partners from Indonesia and Poland.

Swift delivery and efficiency

Dstl helped rewrite the rulebook for how to bring a warship from concept to service in drastically reduced time. This means the Type 31 could be delivered in as little as 7 years, compared to 20 or more years for previous frigates.

We have also optimised the crewing for the Type 31, reducing the numbers by nearly 40%, from 170 crew members to 105.

Expert advice for operational advantage

Dstl has advised on areas such as:

• armour
• radar
• force design
• weapon systems

Dstl’s operational research and technical expertise has ensured the Type 31 will give the UK operational advantage by being the best counter-Fast Inshore Attack Craft the Royal Navy has ever had. It is designed to deliver a global forward presence and configured to counter pervasive threats, allowing it to adapt from peacetime engagements to counter-fight operations.

Dstl is taking the same approach for the Type 32 frigate and the Multi-Role Support Ship. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

02 Dec 24. INVISIO and the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit develop wireless tactical communications through close collaboration with users. First test order of USD 3.5m has been received.

The collaboration between INVISIO and the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) demonstrates the benefits of co-engineering in the rapid development of tactical communications solutions for military use. The project has resulted in the INVISIO Link™ solution.

In the project, INVISIO worked closely with DIU, which in turn collaborated with a customer within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The aim was to develop and enable integrated wireless communication using INVISIO’s market-leading technology.

The combination of DIU’s involvement of the end users and INVISIO’s focus on innovation and customer focus, enabled both an agile goal formulation process and an efficient, iterative prototype development.

The project resulted in a wireless communication solution that allows crew members on different types of platforms (marine, land-based and airborne), to use different types of mounted radio devices, without traditional cable connections and the limitations that these are often associated with.

The initial requirements not only covered the specific project, but also described the requirements for an entire system solution. Based on this, INVISIO developed a wireless intercom solution, INVISIO Link™, which in combination with the existing body-worn communication system delivers a wireless solution. The project included ongoing feedback from different types of users and challenges over two years.

“The project is groundbreaking for many reasons. The close and smooth collaboration allowed us to accelerate the development process and go from concept phase to product launch in less than 24 months,” says Jacob Tranegaard, Director Intercom Product Management at INVISIO.

“The collaboration with the end customer, facilitated by DIU, meant that we could work through the design and goal formulation phase in an environment characterized by openness and transparency. For INVISIO, it was the first project ever where an authority had already participated in the development phase,” continues Jacob Tranegaard.

Working with DIU enabled INVISIO to conduct evaluations and develop prototypes, speeding up the testing and contracting process. DIU’s input also helped INVISIO understand and expand the product’s market potential beyond the initial request from the U.S. government.

DIU also assisted INVISIO in developing its first-ever project with encryption levels in accordance with the requirements of the US authorities.

The result is a modular wireless intercom solution adapted for users in the U.S. DoD, law enforcement and other NATO forces.

“With the help of DIU, we have been able to launch and market the product faster than usual. We have also been able to broaden the target market for the product,” says Jacob Tranegaard.

“The project not only demonstrates the benefits of collaboration and our relationship with DIU, but also the strength of INVISIO’s R&D department and our focus on innovation, teamwork and capacity to solve specific customer needs,” says Jacob Tranegaard.

INVISIO Link™, which was presented to the market in the first half of 2024, is currently pre-sold globally to many different user groups, such as small boat crews, firefighting units, helicopter-based surface salvage crews, airport maintenance and service personnel, and security forces.

Following the success of the collaboration with DIU, INVISIO is looking forward to future innovation partnerships with end-users and authorities for additional INVISIO Link™ solutions, as well as future research and development of the next generation of tactical communication solutions

 

29 Nov 24. Paramount launches Fusion Cell to enhance African border security. Paramount has officially unveiled its Fusion Cell integrated intelligence solution, able to rapidly gather, analyse, and disseminate actionable intelligence across national, regional and local stakeholders in order to secure Africa’s borders.

Fusion Cell integrates military, intelligence, law enforcement and other agencies’ resources into a unified, agile network, facilitating real-time intelligence sharing, enhancing decision-making processes, and boosting operational efficiency, Paramount said.

“By bringing together diverse capabilities, Fusion Cells enable African governments to counter sophisticated adversaries endangering not only national security but also peace and development across the continent,” the company said, with challenges including transnational terrorism, cross-border conflicts, and illicit trafficking.

Eric Ichikowitz, Senior Vice President of Paramount stated: “We are deeply committed to supporting Africa’s journey towards enhanced border security. With decades of on-the-ground experience, we offer operationally relevant and cost-effective turnkey solutions supported by finance packages for governments tailored to African threats.

“Our advanced surveillance systems, military vehicles, and specialised training programmes optimise performance in challenging environments. Through strategic partnerships, we are building a future of stronger, more secure African borders and foster long-term stability.”

Ichikowitz added: “Serving as central hubs for leaders across national, regional, and local levels, Fusion Cells facilitate the exchange of best practices and innovative ideas. Fusion Cells support current missions, such as counter-insurgency operations whilst also driving long-term stability by fostering multi-agency cooperation.

“Fusion Cells are designed to be adaptable and mission-focused, with clear objectives and a collaborative mentality. As the threats evolve, so too must the Fusion Cells. These units integrate representatives from diverse departments, forming elastic teams that innovate and share insights quickly. Whether co-located or virtually connected, Fusion Cells bring key stakeholders together to fuse data into actionable intelligence, empowering frontline units with the information they need to act swiftly and effectively.”

Paramount exhibited its Fusion Cell at the recent Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition where Danny Moffatt, Training & Capability Development Lead at Paramount, explained that Fusion Cell gives total control of information for efficient use of intelligence and surveillance resources for responsible and unified command and control.

He said multiple information sources can be integrated depending on customer requirements, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), camera feeds, airborne surveillance imagery etc. Fusion Cell sensors can include radar, electro-optical systems, cellular interceptors, electronic intelligence/communications intelligence (ELINT/COMINT) systems, ground sensors, sonar, acoustics and drones.

Communications networks can include satellite, HF, VHF, UHF, microwave, and GSM systems. These can be integrated with man-portable, vehicle, container, vessel, UAV, aircraft and satellite platforms that feed into mobile, deployable or fixed command centres. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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28 Nov 24. iSQUARED, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS), announced today an expansion of its portfolio of materials validated for use in Stratasys 3D printers, alongside the launch of a marketplace for pre-owned Stratasys machines.

As part of the Stratasys OpenAM™ approach, iSQUARED and Stratasys are collaborating to offer “iSQUARED Validated Materials,” which accelerates access to a wider range of application-specific materials. These materials support needs such as limited editions, customization, unique colors, and specialized properties.

The new offering focuses on differentiated, low-quantity materials designed for niche use cases, rather than large-scale industrial applications. These materials ensure optimal performance and reliability across Stratasys’ diverse range of 3D printers, serving industries including aerospace, automotive, and healthcare.

Stratasys’ OpenAM approach grants power users and material developers granular control of the printing process to print with any compatible resin to optimize prints and unlock new applications.​ For example, they can fine-tune print parameters such as temperature, movement, scaling, and more for ultimate print control.​

Additionally, iSQUARED is extending its material innovation to support a variety of additive platforms, broadening its impact across the industry.

“We are excited about this initiative and look forward to leveraging our years of expertise in 3D printing materials,” said Jan Michael Stepper, iSQUARED General Manager. “Our goal is to deliver materials specifically tailored to customers’ unique requirements, driving innovation and supporting their success in additive manufacturing. We are flexible, fast and can adapt very well to customer needs.”

In a complementary effort to promote sustainability and resource efficiency, iSQUARED is also establishing a dedicated marketplace for pre-owned Stratasys 3D printing systems. This initiative aligns with the Stratasys Mindful Manufacturing® approach and both companies’ commitment to reducing environmental impact by giving used machines a second life and fostering a circular economy within additive manufacturing. The marketplace provides businesses with an affordable entry point into high-quality 3D printing solutions.

“These efforts mark a significant advancement in 3D printing for manufacturing,” said Rich Garrity, Chief Business Unit Officer, Stratasys. “By expanding material options, Stratasys and iSQUARED are delivering customer-specific, tailored solutions, enabling customized production processes, addressing key commercial and technical needs, to streamline requirements and add significant value to our customers.”

About Stratasys

Stratasys is leading the global shift to additive manufacturing with innovative 3D printing solutions for industries such as aerospace, automotive, consumer products, and healthcare. Through smart and connected 3D printers, polymer materials, a software ecosystem, and parts on demand, Stratasys solutions deliver competitive advantages at every stage in the product value chain. The world’s leading organizations turn to Stratasys to transform product design, bring agility to manufacturing and supply chains, and improve patient care.

To learn more about Stratasys, visit www.stratasys.com, the Stratasys blog, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Stratasys reserves the right to utilize any of the foregoing social media platforms, including Stratasys’ websites, to share material, non-public information pursuant to the SEC’s Regulation FD. To the extent necessary and mandated by applicable law, Stratasys will also include such information in its public disclosure filings.

Stratasys, Open AM and Mindful Manufacturing are trademarks or registered trademarks of Stratasys Ltd. and/or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

27 Nov 24. UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía Opens Centre of Excellence in Madrid. UAV Navigation, Grupo Oesía’s highly specialized company in guidance, navigation, and control systems for UAS, has inaugurated a new high-tech centre in San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid. This strategic investment strengthens its position as a leader in the global market for autonomous and intelligent systems, facilitating further expansion and technological development.

The new centre of excellence expands UAV Navigation’s operational capabilities with state-of-the-art facilities, including an advanced design and electronics lab and a flight-testing lab. This step highlights the company’s commitment to maintaining leadership in innovation and technological development of control systems for UAS platforms.

These new facilities further consolidate UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía’s technological leadership in the UAS industry in key international markets, positioning the company to better innovate in artificial intelligence solutions and autonomy for unmanned aerial systems.

The Secretary of State for Defence, María Amparo Valcarce, officially inaugurated the facilities, remarking:

“UAV Navigation has proven to be a significant international player, actively participating in major Ministry of Defense programs such as FCAS, which sets the course for the future of European defence.”

Nuria Castro, Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Innovation and Employment of San Sebastián de los Reyes, also participated in the event, stating:

“Our municipality is firmly committed to supporting initiatives like UAV Navigation’s. We aim to make San Sebastián de los Reyes a fertile ground for ideas to flourish, where businesses can thrive, and where innovation is not just an aspiration but a reality.”

Grupo Oesía’s Executive Chairman, Luis Furnells, welcomed attendees with the words:

“This new centre of excellence reaffirms Grupo Oesía’s commitment to hyper-specialization in disruptive dual-use technologies, enhancing our role in the industry at both European and global levels. UAV Navigation is a clear technological leader, and we are committed to continuing to deliver cutting-edge solutions that improve safety and efficiency in critical environments.”

Event Attendees

In the words of Miguel Ángel de Frutos: “This centre reflects our strong commitment to excellence in developing cutting-edge technologies, enabling us to provide better service to our strategic partners.”

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía: A Growing Company

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía has seen exceptional growth over the last three years, with projected revenue of €20 m for 2024. Particularly notable is its increased involvement in the defense sector, participating in some of the industry’s most significant projects, such as the FCAS (Future Combat Air Systems) program. The company is supplying SATNUS with its autopilot technology for the Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUT) demonstrator during Phase 1B of the program’s technological demonstration.

With over 20 years of experience, UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía’s technology is globally recognized for its robust and innovative navigation and control solutions for unmanned aircraft. These disruptive systems enable autonomous and precise operation in complex environments and under adverse conditions, such as GNSS or communication signal loss. Its extensive portfolio of partners and clients includes leading unmanned platform manufacturers and key defense organizations, affirming its strong reputation in the industry.

About UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía

Since 2004, UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía has been designing cutting-edge guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) solutions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

UAV Navigation’s flight solutions are used by top-tier aerospace manufacturers for a wide range of UAVs, also known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) or drones.

As a 100% Spanish-owned and independent company, UAV Navigation is part of Grupo Oesía, a private entity specializing in technological and digital engineering. With nearly 3,400 professionals in 19 corporate offices, Grupo Oesía has been innovating for 46 years, benefiting over 2 bn people worldwide and striving for a more efficient, secure, and sustainable world.

Grupo Oesía’s industrial ecosystem designs, develops, and maintains cutting-edge technology for the Security, Defense, and Aerospace sectors, with a strong track record in avionics for major projects such as the Eurofighter EF-2000, A-400M, F-18, C-295, P3-B Orion, and MH-60R. The group is also actively involved in leading UAV projects like FCAS/NGWS, Eurodrone, and SIRTAP. (Source: UAS VISION/UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía)

 

26 Nov 24. Shaping the future of defence procurement. Babcock International Group (Babcock), the defence company, has successfully delivered the first package of work within Project TAMPA for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). Project TAMPA is the MOD’s accelerator programme focused on the use of additive manufacturing to increase material availability across defence assets, to overcome obsolescence of parts, reducing cost and improving performance and availability to enhance defence capabilities. The MOD awarded the Project TAMPA contract in April 2023 to Babcock, along with NP Aerospace, RBSL, Thales and AMFG and the focus has been exploring how additive manufacturing can help transform material availability across defence operations. A team from Babcock has been working across multiple domains to deliver solutions for complex parts across a variety of platforms. The project included complex components for the L118 Light Gun, 4.5 inch gun on the Type 23 frigate, and the torpedo launch system for both the Astute and Dreadnought class submarines. The Light Gun eye shaft has been recommended for adoption into the defence inventory by MODs Defence Equipment & Support team and is ready to be ordered through Babcock’s Material Availability Service.

Kate Robinson, Managing Director, Babcock’s Land Sector, said: “Delivering the first package of work for Project Tampa is a significant milestone for our customer, as we continue to move forward to increase material availability across the sector.

“Working collaboratively with industry partners and our customer has enabled us to explore the challenges and opportunities together to deliver the right solutions. We are now engaged in delivering the next work package in this programme”.

Charlotte Robinson, UK Strategic Command Defence Support Innovation Team Leader said: “It’s been great to see the progress made by the Babcock team on Project TAMPA’s first spiral of work. Through collaboration with the other Project TAMPA suppliers and DE&S Delivery teams, Babcock has demonstrated that Additive Manufacturing can play a key role in improving Defence part availability.”

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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21 Nov 24. Curtiss-Wright Successfully Shows Full Operational Capability of TCG LinkPRO & TCG HUNTR Tactical Data Link Software at Timber Express 2024 Exercise.

TCG LinkPRO TDL processor provided simultaneous CESMO and VMF DACAS over tactical radios on fixed & rotary wing aircraft at German Air Force’s eighth annual expansive, multi-domain, multi-TDL live exercise

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today announced that it successfully demonstrated its TCG LinkPRO® tactical data link (TDL) processor, which provided simultaneous Cooperative Electronic Support Measure (CESMO) operations and Variable Message Format (VMF) Digitally Aided Close Air Support (DACAS) over tactical radios on both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, during the German Air Force’s eighth annual Timber Express TDL exercise (October 17-28, 2024). What’s more, during the exercise, Curtiss-Wright’s unique TCG HUNTR™ (TDL Hub and Network Translator) was once again successfully demonstrated and served as the intelligent tactical data link gateway for Link 16, Joint Range Extension Applications Protocol (JREAP)-C, VMF, and CESMO communications, both in the air and in command centers.

Notably, during the exercise, the presence of HUNTR enabled platforms and entities without Link 16 or Link 22 to share, using VMF or CESMO, the same situational awareness picture that was delivered to Link 16 and Link 22 supported platforms. That means that Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) and helicopters, such as the AH Combat Helicopter Tiger and H145M Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Special Operations Forces (SOF), which normally do not see the full Common Operational Picture (COP) for Link 16, Link 22, VMF and CESMO were now able to view all of the exercise’s assets and participants. In addition, multiple DACAS missions were successfully executed using LinkPRO and HUNTR.  Curtiss-Wright is proud to have successfully participated in every Timber Express exercise since the important event’s inception.

“HUNTR with LinkPRO is a breakthrough software application that improves and simplifies the task of moving data between Link 16, VMF, and CESMO,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. “We are very pleased with the success of our participation in this year’s Timber Express exercise, and we thank the German Air Force for the opportunity to demonstrate the ability of LinkPRO and HUNTR to provide warfighters and command and control centers with real-time access to accurate operational data in the field.”

During the exercise, LinkPRO and HUNTR solutions were successfully deployed and used on multiple fully integrated and federated fixed and rotary wing air platforms, while they were also simultaneously operated in multiple ground stations. All of the deployed LinkPRO and HUNTR systems successfully completed multiple missions, supporting over a dozen flights, during which they connected to, provided message translation for, and routed information between Link 16, JREAP-C, CESMO, and VMF TDLs in a realistic tactical environment.

Curtiss-Wright has supplied integrated CESMO operational software to Germany’s Bundeswehr since 2017, for multiple air, land, and sea operational deployments and exercises. LinkPRO is currently deployed in multiple German Navy helicopters. The recent Timber Express 2024 exercise built on previous successful LinkPRO and HUNTR deployments by demonstrating new capabilities for mobile air gateways and command center routing, as well as translation for multiple TDLs.

Curtiss-Wright’s contributions to Timber Express 2024 follow its equally successful participation at the recent RIMPAC 2024 exercise held in Hawaii, during June/July 2024, at which HUNTR was instrumental in linking CESMO and Link 16 tactical communications.

About Timber Express

Timber Express is a German Air Force exercise focusing on the exchange of real-time situation information (e.g., air situation pictures) between all participating units and weapon systems. The participants include the German Army, Navy, Cyber and Information Domain Service and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support, as well as NATO and partner nations.

To learn more about Curtiss-Wright’s tactical data link solutions, please click here.

For additional information about Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions products, please visit www.curtisswrightds.com and LinkedIn.

About Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a global integrated business that provides highly engineered products, solutions and services mainly to Aerospace & Defense markets, as well as critical technologies in demanding Commercial Power, Process and Industrial markets. We leverage a workforce of approximately 8,600 highly skilled employees who develop, design and build what we believe are the best engineered solutions to the markets we serve. Building on the heritage of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright, headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina, has a long tradition of providing innovative solutions through trusted customer relationships. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.

 

21 Nov 24. MBDA and Matra Electronique create a centre of excellence for defence electronics in Europe.

• MBDA and its subsidiary Matra Electronique (MEL) set up a brand new 4.0 factory in the heart of the Hauts-de-France industrial region, serving both the ‘war economy’ and the local economy.
• With its new facility in Venette, MEL has increased its weekly electronic component transfer capacity by 2.5 times, from 200,000 to 500,000 transferred components.

MBDA, the European leader in complex weapon systems, and its subsidiary Matra Electronique (MEL), which specialises in the manufacture of high-precision electronic equipment, have jointly inaugurated the new site in Venette on 18 November.

The set-up of this new site, the new workplace for MEL’s 440 employees, marks a milestone in the company’s growth strategy; ever since its creation, MEL has been based in the heart of the Hauts-de-France industrial region. For MBDA, this investment contributes to the rapid ramp-up of defence capabilities both in France and across Europe, while meeting the needs of the group’s future programmes.

MBDA CEO Eric Béranger said at the inauguration ceremony: “The women and men of Matra Electronique have an essential role in the MBDA Group’s mission. Together, we are creating a sustainable, innovative, high value-added industrial model to meet the challenges of sovereignty in France, in Europe and among our allies. With this new production facility, we are pursuing our commitment to the ‘war economy’: immediate acceleration of production capacity, development and aggregation of industrial skills in France, and the ability to accelerate even further in the months and years to come.”

Frédéric Wilmot, Chairman of Matra Electronique and Industrial Director of MBDA France, added: “Combining the skills and technologies we depend on to guarantee our sovereignty in electronics, our new site sits at the heart of a dynamic, forward-looking local ecosystem that contributes to the resilience of our supply chain and developing our activities. It also enables us to maintain cutting-edge expertise and essential jobs in our local areas.”

This new connected and modular 4.0 factory boosts flexibility and strengthens MEL’s competitiveness. It represents a one-third increase in site area and provides the capacity for future extensions, enabling MEL to adapt rapidly to changing customers’ needs and will provide a growth lever for the years to come. Employees will benefit from modern workspaces, making the company a more attractive place to work, with the site also designed to minimise its impact on the environment. Finally, it is part of a dynamic ecosystem of industrial and local players, who will help to strengthen the entire industrial value chain.

Set up in 2016 with the support of the ‘France Relance’ programme, this project testifies to MBDA’s and MEL’s shared ambition to contribute to the development of sovereign solutions for their customers, at the highest technological level and anticipating tomorrow’s challenges.

 

21 Nov 24. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT), in partnership with Lockheed Martin’s Demonstrations and Prototypes organization and the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL), showcased a crewed-uncrewed teaming mission where an airborne battle manager issued real-time commands to AI-controlled aircraft through a touchscreen pilot vehicle interface (PVI).

In a series of flight tests, the Skunk Works and OPL teams simulated an offensive counter air mission where an airborne, human “battle manager” aboard an L-39 Albatros assigned targets to two AI-controlled L-29 Delfin jets, which then worked together to defeat two mock enemy jets using simulated mission systems and weapons.

“The work we’re doing with the University of Iowa’s OPL is foundational for the future of air combat, where a family of crewed and uncrewed systems will work together to execute complex missions,” said John Clark, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “We’re excited to leverage our diverse skillsets to advance all elements of this new way of operating.”

These flight tests build on previous experiments that demonstrated AI-controlled air-to-ground jamming and geolocation. This year, the tests shifted to AI in air-to-air combat, where AI sends commands directly to the planes’ autopilots. This is the third test of this type and the first to include a real-time human battle manager overseeing the AI’s actions.

Skunk Works is dedicated to enabling crewed-uncrewed teaming to optimize operational flexibility, abbreviate data-to-decision timelines and improve pilot safety. We continue to invest in collaborative enablers to keep our customers ahead of emerging threats.

 

21 Nov 24. DIU Selects Anduril to Enable Collaborative Autonomy for Replicator Systems. Today, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) announced that Anduril has been selected to deliver collaborative mission autonomy software that will coordinate thousands of uncrewed and autonomous assets across the Joint Force in communications and GNSS denied environments. Under DIU’s Autonomous Collaborative Teaming (ACT) contract, Anduril’s Lattice for Mission Autonomy™ software platform will enable multi-domain autonomous assets acquired through the Department’s Replicator initiative to execute collaborative autonomous tasks, unlocking new concepts of employment that enable the Joint Force to regain affordable mass with teams of low-cost autonomous systems.

The Department of Defense’s Replicator initiative has dramatically accelerated the development, production, acquisition, and fielding of affordable, attritable autonomous systems, including loitering munitions, autonomous air and surface vehicles, counter-UAS systems, and more. To employ those systems effectively, however, the Department needs a mission autonomy solution that can effectively coordinate thousands of uncrewed assets in a shared environment, including environments where navigation and communications are disrupted or denied.

Working in partnership with a variety of mission partners from both government and industry, Lattice for Mission Autonomy will support Replicator systems across domains, enabling warfighters to operate intelligent, collaborative teams of autonomous systems. Anduril will deploy Lattice for Mission Autonomy’s open architecture to enable the rapid integration of large numbers of disparate autonomous systems – including both Anduril and third-party platforms – into a common mission autonomy software baseline. Once integrated into Lattice™, an operator will be able to unify a group of systems’ sensors, control systems, payloads, and weapons, enabling the operator to then task that team to conduct a variety of collaborative missions such as area search, target tracking and interception, signal relay, simultaneous arrival, strike, and more.

Mission autonomy represents a major shift in defense capability from a manpower-intensive, hardware-defined military, to one that is software-centric and defined by affordable mass. By composing systems from across the Services into collaborative teams, Lattice will help establish the mission autonomy baseline for the entire Joint Force, dramatically extending reach, capabilities, and situational awareness. And, by providing warfighters with a mission engine that automates critical command and control functions, Lattice will provide distributed operators with a scalable battle network in line with modern Joint warfighting concepts.

From counter-UAS to air combat, Anduril has been continuously refining and scaling Lattice across real-world deployments, exercises, and test events since the company’s founding in 2017. At the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Integrated Battle Problem 24.1 exercise, for example, Lattice’s open APIs and software development kit was used for rapid integration of more than a dozen different uncrewed systems and data feeds, enabling distributed operators to seamlessly command and control teams of heterogeneous systems across domains. At Desert Guardian 1.0, Anduril rapidly integrated more than ten different sensor teams into Lattice, merging real-time data sharing across diverse sensor systems to provide warfighters with comprehensive situational awareness of airborne threats. And at EDGE23, Lattice for Mission Autonomy enabled a single soldier to manage an integrated team of multiple uncrewed aircraft to locate, identify, and destroy a surface-to-air missile site.

Deploying Lattice for Mission Autonomy in support of DIU ACT is the latest example of how Anduril is accelerating the employment of software-defined, hardware-enabled capabilities across U.S. and allied forces. To date, Anduril has integrated Lattice with hundreds of assets across hundreds of geographically distributed locations. By fusing modern software practices with deep expertise in autonomous systems development and deployment, Anduril has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to deliver intelligent, autonomous, and software-defined capabilities on a timeline and scale that matters. (Source: ASD Network)

 

21 Nov 24. Embraer strengthens industrial and research cooperation in the Netherlands.

• Following the acquisition of the C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft, Embraer enhances its presence in the Netherlands through industrial and research participation by selecting Fokker Services Group, NLR and Multisim.

Embraer (NYSE: ERJ/B3: EMBR3) has taken a significant step in advancing its industrial and research cooperation with the Netherlands, fully aligned with Dutch policies aimed at developing the NLDTIB (Netherlands Defense Technology and Industrial Base). This effort builds on and expands the country’s acquisition of the C-390 Millennium Military Transport Aircraft.

Embraer has selected Fokker Services Group to deliver an extended modification package, including turnkey engineering, certification and modification services for the C-390 military aircraft. These modifications will prepare the aircraft for use as a tactical transport for Special Operations of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), enabling a wide range of military and humanitarian missions.

Additionally, Embraer has signed an agreement with the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (Royal NLR), to develop innovative technologies for aircraft maintenance. Multisim will also contribute by developing cutting edge technologies for virtual training, in collaboration with Rheinmetall, Dutch suppliers have been chosen to provide components for the C-390 Millennium full-flight mission simulator for the Netherlands.

“Our collaboration with the Dutch Armed Forces, defense industry, and research organizations is an integral part of Embraer’s vision which aims to build fruitful relationships with quality partners. Our commitment for a strong momentum in such collaboration here in the Netherlands supports our strategy of continuously investing in the most modern technologies, allowing us to deliver our customers the most efficient aircraft on the market,” said Bosco Da Costa Junior, President & CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.

“The Dutch Industrial Participation Policy supports and strengthens the Netherlands’ Defense Technology Industrial Base by fostering knowledge, technology and industrial capacity. The collaboration between the Dutch industry and Embraer under the acquisition of the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft is fundamental for both the Dutch companies as the Brazilian OEM. I look forward to seeing further developments and projects in the coming years”, said Jan Christiaan Dicke, Commissioner Military Production at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

 

21 Nov 24. L3Harris Selected to Develop Autonomous Swarms Prototype. L3Harris is engineering an open architecture system to advance the U.S. Department of Defense’s autonomy vision.

L3Harris was selected by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to prototype a command-and-control system that can simultaneously operate hundreds – or even thousands – of autonomous assets.

Advancing the U.S. Department of Defense’s Replicator initiative, the prototype integrates commercial technologies to deliver collaborative autonomy for the U.S. military to operate swarms of uncrewed aircraft, ground vehicles and seacraft.

“We are delivering a multi-domain and multi-mission autonomous ecosystem that can be trusted to operate in contested environments,” said Toby Magsig, vice president and general manager of Enterprise Autonomous Solutions for L3Harris. “We are focused on the scalability the U.S. military and allied nations need in a mission space that will shape the future of warfighting.”

L3Harris was selected to provide a user interface, develop a collaborative autonomy capability and serve as a systems integrator for the autonomy architecture.

The collaborative autonomy project highlights the L3Harris approach to partner with venture capital-backed startups and non-traditional technology firms to foster emerging defense and commercial technologies.

The DIU is the latest Department of Defense organization to select L3Harris’ enterprise autonomy architecture to prototype new mission scenarios. The open architecture system is currently in use for experimentation to create collaborative autonomy at scale. Because it supports rapid integration of algorithms and models from third-party systems, it can evolve quickly depending on the needs of each mission.

“We share a sense of urgency with the Defense Innovation Unit to advance autonomy as a force multiplier,” said Magsig. “As the Trusted Disruptor, L3Harris will leverage our investments and experience to deliver this open, scalable capability to our warfighters.” (Source: ASD Network)

 

20 Nov 24. Pentagon picks programmers to connect its Replicator drone swarms. The Pentagon has chosen seven companies to build software to connect the swarms of small, low-cost drones it’s buying through the Replicator program.

The Defense Innovation Unit on Wednesday announced awards for two key Replicator software efforts: Opportunistic, Resilient and Innovative Expeditionary Network Topology, or ORIENT, and Autonomous Collaborative Teaming, known as ACT. DIU issued solicitations in July and received proposals from 251 companies.

The organization is partnered with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the military services and the Pentagon’s Chief Digital and AI Officer on both projects.

“DIU is working actively with partners across the Department to bring the very best capabilities from the U.S. tech sector to bear in support of our most critical warfighter needs,” the organization’s director Doug Beck said in a statement. “This latest step in the Replicator initiative is a critical example of that teamwork in action.”

ACT software will help coordinate the thousands of uncrewed systems the Defense Department is buying through Replicator, which will include aircraft, boats and ground vehicles. Anduril Industries, Swarm Aero and L3Harris received prototype contracts.

ORIENT is focused on building a more robust command-and-control backbone for Replicator systems. DIU chose Aalyria, Viasat, Higher Ground and IOT/AI to develop prototypes for the effort.

The announcement comes a week after the Pentagon revealed several Replicator equipment awards, including one-way attack drones and systems it will purchase through the Army’s company-level uncrewed aerial system program and the Air Force’s Enterprise Test Vehicle effort.

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks unveiled Replicator more than a year ago as a means to create a process for quickly fielding and scaling in-demand technology throughout the department. Led by DIU, the first phase of the program promises to field thousands of low-cost, expendable drones by August 2025 in a push to deter China. Before last week, DOD had confirmed just one system’s inclusion in the program —AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600.

While some Replicator systems may operate individually or within swarms of similar systems, the Pentagon wants them to be able to connect and collaborate across domains. According to DIU, the software it’s buying through ORIENT and ACT is what will enable that level of teaming.

“Together, these critical software enablers will enable so-called ‘heterogeneous collaboration’ between different Replicator systems fielded in the next year and lay the foundation for the Department’s broader push towards collaborative autonomy,” DIU said.

Replicator 2, the program’s second phase, is focused on technology to counter the types of drones the Pentagon is buying through Replicator’s first increment. Once again, the department aims to field “meaningfully improved” counter-UAS capabilities within two years of receiving funding from Congress.

Lawmakers have approved $500m for the first round of Replicator systems in fiscal 2024 and DOD requested another $500m in its FY25 budget. The department plans to include a funding proposal for Replicator 2 in its FY26 budget proposal. (Source: Defense News)

 

20 Nov 24. Advanced Navigation, a world leader in APNT technologies, along with global defence leader MBDA, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop a resilient navigation system integrating MBDA’s NILEQ absolute positioning technology.

Suitable for the modern era, the co-developed solution will provide resilient absolute positioning for a multitude of airborne platforms. The agreement will see the companies foster joint research and technology development between the United Kingdom and Australia.

Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw said, “In an increasingly uncertain world where interference is becoming ubiquitous, commercial and military sectors can no longer rely purely on GNSS for flight operations. There is an urgent need for additional navigation aiding to supplement platform inertial navigation and GNSS receiver systems.”

Tom Tizard, MBDA Australia General Manager, said, “We look forward to seeing MBDA’s innovation-driven solutions form the cornerstone of future airborne navigation systems. NILEQ seeks to address the enormous demand for resilient absolute positioning information that will complement the existing navigation systems of airborne platforms. Advanced Navigation are an ideal Australian partner to help accelerate the technology towards market entry. Navigation technologies that are not simply accurate and precise, but also provide the ‘resilience’ against interference, is what propels this partnership.”

Absolute positioning using NILEQ-derived terrain fingerprints

NILEQ’s patent-pending technology is underpinned by the use of novel neuromorphic sensors to derive and match terrain fingerprints. Initially inspired by biological change detection processes, the sensing technology captures data of the changing terrain as an airborne system flies across it, and matches it to an existing database of the Earth’s surface.

The final solution is set to enable systems, such as Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS), to secure an absolute position fix over land with a solution that is passive and resistant to interference. The technology will enhance the safety of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, as the solution overcomes many of the conventional limitations of airborne image-based navigation technologies.

Strengthening bilateral relations between the UK and Australia

Highlighting the importance of increasing bilateral opportunities, September marked the three-year anniversary for AUKUS, which was formed on 15th September 2021. The potential applications of the co-developed solution are wide-ranging and span both the civilian and military domains. The solution also further supports growing legal requirements for GPS alternatives. This is of heightened importance at a time when geopolitical conflicts and electronic warfare – the jamming and spoofing of GPS signals – are simultaneously on the rise.

Regarding the strategic context of AUKUS Pillar 2, the companies are working on capabilities to translate novel, complex research and technology into meaningful practical applications that are of mutual benefit to the United Kingdom and Australia. This means informed decision-making, strategic autonomy, and heightened combat efficiency in the face of emerging threats. More than a strategic advantage, it is the key to bolstering national security.

Real World Demonstration

Advanced Navigation and MBDA will validate NILEQ in an airborne demonstration planned in Australia.

 

20 Nov 24. Frontgrade Gaisler has launched its latest radiation-hardened microcontroller, the GR716B. Building on the success of the GR716A, this latest innovation is a step forward in the development of energy-efficient and adaptable microcontrollers for space applications. As missions grow in complexity and ambition, the industry sees a growing need for technologies that not only deliver dependable performance over long durations, but also have the capabilities to manage a multitude of tasks.

“We are glad to support Frontgrade Gaisler through our Core Competitiveness programme. By supporting the development of versatile space-grade microcontrollers, ESA aims to bring innovation in satellite communications in order to strengthen industrial competitiveness.”

Post this

The GR716B is an all-in-one solution for supervision, monitoring, and control in satellite applications. Designed with versatility in mind, the new microcontroller adapts effortlessly to a wide range of space systems due to its comprehensive set of standard interfaces, architectural features, and integrated analogue functions.

Sandi Habinc, General Manager at Frontgrade Gaisler, remarked, “With the GR716B, we are excited to offer a solution that reflects the growing ambitions of the space industry. The GR716B engineering models are now being made available to alpha customers for integration into new missions.”

The GR716B combines proven technology with innovations that address the space industry’s most pressing challenges such as the need for low power consumption and efficient use of onboard resources. Frontgrade Gaisler also plans to bring the GR716B System-in-Package (SiP) solution to market, which combines the new microcontroller with non-volatile memory, thereby simplifying system design.

The development of the GR716B was made possible through support from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Core Competitiveness programme, part of the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems programme and within ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications directorate, and Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA), representing a continued commitment to advancing space-grade technologies.

Domenico Mignolo, ESA Acting Head of Technology and Products Division, said, “We are glad to support Frontgrade Gaisler through our Core Competitiveness programme. By supporting the development of versatile space-grade microcontrollers, ESA aims to bring innovation in satellite communications in order to strengthen industrial competitiveness.”

For more information, visit www.gaisler.com/gr716b.

About Frontgrade Gaisler

Frontgrade Gaisler is a leading provider of radiation-hardened microprocessors and IP cores for critical applications, particularly in the space industry. The company’s processors are known for their reliability, fault tolerance, and radiation tolerance, making them ideal for any space mission or other high-reliability application.

About ESA’s ARTES Core Competitiveness programme

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space, coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its Member States to conduct space programmes and activities. The Core Competitiveness programme line of ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) provides funding and multi-disciplinary expertise to enhance competitiveness in satellite communications. It supports specific activities carried out by SMEs, large industrial consortia and research organisations aimed at developing innovative products and services that strengthen Europe and Canada’s position as global leaders in the satcom market. Through its two components, ARTES Advanced Technology and ARTES Competitiveness and Growth, this programme enables organisations to transform promising concepts into market-ready solutions, covering the entire development cycle. Learn more at https://connectivity.esa.int/core-competitiveness.

(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

 

20 Nov 24. Introducing the Industry 1st 8 &4 Port Dedicated 20Gb/s USB 3.2 HBA Family: HighPoint’s RocketU 1488C and RocketU 1444C.

HighPoint 20G USB HBA solutions represent a breakthrough for data storage and connectivity. Powered by HighPoint’s Advanced PCIe Gen3 Switch Architecture, and capable of hosting up to 8 USB devices at speeds up to 20Gb/s, RocketU 1400 series USB 3.2 HBAs are designed for industrial workflows that require a robust USB-based connectivity solution capable of accommodating a wide range of high-speed data acquisition applications, such as a 3D Imaging or motion capture platform, HD security systems, ADAS sensor suites, high-resolution VR systems, IOT devices and spectrum analyzers.

High-Performance PCIe Switching Architecture

RocketU 1400 series HBAs leverage Broadcom’s x48-Lane PLX8700 PCIe Gen3 IC and dedicated ASmedia USB controllers to ensure each USB 3.2 port provides uncompromised 20Gb/s connectivity. x4 Lanes of Gen3 bandwidth is allocated to each downstream port’s ASM3242 USB controller, while full x16 lanes are dedicated to the upstream port to the host CPU.

This innovative hardware architecture delivers guaranteed 20Gb/s host-to-device connectivity for industry standard USB 3.2 compliant drives and peripherals, and ensures these devices can continuously operate at maximum throughput without taxing system resources or interfering with neighboring USB connections. In addition, the dedicated ASmedia USB 3.2 controllers enable each port to deliver up to 7.5W of power for device operation or charging purposes.

RocketU 1488C: Eight-Port Powerhouse

The RocketU 1488C is the industry’s fastest USB PCIe add-in-card. Armed with eight independent USB 3.2 Type-C ports and proven PCIe Switching Architecture, the compact half-length PCIe HBA is capable of saturating x16 lanes of PCIe 3.0 host bandwidth, and can be installed into nearly any industry-standard workstation or server with PCIe 3.0/4.0/5.0 connectivity. Each USB port delivers a dedicated 20Gb/s of transfer bandwidth and can operate either independently or concurrently.

RocketU 1444C: Compact, Four-Port High-Performance USB Solution

For applications that require fewer device ports or a more compact form factor, without sacrificing 20G transfer capability, HighPoint’s RocketU 1144C is the ideal solution. Equipped with four USB 3.2 20G Type-C ports, RocketU 1444C shares the RocketU 1488C’s game changing PCIe Switching and dedicated per-port USB controller architecture. The HBA allocates x4 lane of PCIe Gen3 bandwidth to each connection to ensure hosted devices perform optimally with minimal latency for mission-critical applications

HighPoint 20Gb/s USB 3.2 Product Line

HighPoint’s RocketU 1488C and 1444C deliver class-leading performance and connectivity, enabling the seamless transition of data across multiple device to enhance productivity and efficiency in demanding workflows and computing environments. Armed with industry proven PCIe Switching technology and dedicated per-port USB 3.2 controllers, RocketU 1400 series HBAs provide up to eight independent USB Type-C device ports with a guaranteed 20Gb/s of bandwidth on tap.

The RocketU 1400 Series HBAs are now available worldwide direct from our E-Store and our approved Global Resale and Distribution partners.

RocketU 1444C (RU1444C) – 4x USB 20G Type-C Ports: MSRP $199.00 USD

RocketU 1488C (RU1488C) – 8x USB 20G Type-C Ports: MSRP USD $299.00

About HighPoint Technologies, Inc.

HighPoint Technologies stands at the forefront of storage innovation as the industry’s -premier manufacturer of high-performance, high-density NVMe Switch and RAID AIC & Adapter solutions for off-the-shelf x86 AMD and Intel platforms. With a rich history spanning nearly three decades, our dedication to delivering innovative, reliable, and high-performance storage solutions has consistently set us ahead in the marketplace. HighPoint’s NVMe storage solutions are powered by industry-proven PCIe Switching technology, and are designed to address the dynamic requirements of AI/ML/LLM applications, Data Centers, Edge Servers, and high-performance workstations, enabling customers to keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape.

 

19 Nov 24. Thales empowering British Army with integrated technologies at Army Warfighting Experiment. Building on last year’s success, Thales demonstrated a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to provide soldiers with enhanced situational awareness, communication, and electronic warfare capabilities, optimised for operations in the urban environment.

Demonstrated Capabilities

Thales’ demonstration at AWE was centred around the integration of ground-based systems with airborne intelligence platforms.  These included a Thales ISTAR Node, SquadNet compact soldier radios, an HFXL radio and Storm 2 – Thales’ ultra-compact, lightweight personal CEMA system.

AWE saw Storm 2 in the hands of soldiers for the first time, utilising the system to identify data signals as they moved through the urban environment.  Networked via Thales’ SquadNet radios, upon identifying a potentially hostile network, Storm 2 targeted the ISTAR sensor onto the relevant location.  The resulting intelligence was then rapidly sent back to the soldier, with imagery and wider data on the potential threat.  All these processes, from initial detection to the intelligence delivery, utilised Thales’ advanced algorithms to dramatically simplify the process – removing cognitive burdens from the end-user.

Thales also demonstrated its newly released data-first HFXL radio with Allied forces.  This technologically advanced wideband HF radio integrates with SquadNet radios to produce a comprehensive communication network that links frontline soldiers, commanders, and intelligence platforms, in real time, without the need for any communications infrastructure.

The prototype ISTAR Node is at the heart of this dynamic architecture. Ensuring that the electro-optical camera data from an Uncrewed Air System (UAS) overhead is available to soldiers via their SquadNet radios, and that electronic intelligence is available to the UAS crew from Storm 2 as well as relayed back to the headquarters.

The ISTAR Node also connected Allied forces, with targets acquired by a French sighting system and Storm 2 CEMA contacts used to cross-cue the UAS and resulting imagery delivered to soldiers on the ground. A subsequent attack by ground forces was monitored by the UAS, with the ISTAR Node using Thales’ HFXL radio bearer to relay the full tactical situational awareness picture (imagery and CEMA) back to the headquarters.

Thales Technologies at AWE

• Storm 2: Lightweight sensing and electronic warfare systems carried by soldiers that can detect hostile networks, protect users against RCIEDs and deploy CEMA offensively to achieve operational advantage through electronic influence.
• SquadNet: A compact, yet highly capable soldier radio, enhancing decision-making on the battlefield, and enabling the networking of disparate sensors to provide a comprehensive tactical picture.
• HFXL Radio: Thales’ revolutionary data-first radio, enabling long-range, infrastructure-free communication, allowing commanders to maintain operational control at distance.
• ISTAR Node: Thales’ prototype Digital Architecture for UAS enables processing, exploitation and dissemination of tactical data between aerial and ground-based units to accelerate the sense-decide-effect chain. It will also facilitate rapid capability insertion to get the most out of innovative technologies such as AI in the tactical battle.

John Dix, UK Sales Manager for Land Communications, explained the importance of these technologies: “The integration of these systems is a game-changer for the modern battlefield. For the first time, soldiers can get immediate, accurate intelligence from UAVs while out on operations. At the same time, commanders can make informed decisions based on real-time data, transmitted securely over HFXL radios, which is critical for operations in denied environments.  Taken together, this ensures our troops will have a tactical advantage in any urban operation.”

Delivering Modernisation and Protection

By integrating tactical UAS through Thales’ ISTAR Node with ground-based systems like Storm 2, the British Army can act more decisively, leveraging real-time intelligence to blunt and dislocate enemy operations. These advancements not only bolster protection but also enable offensive actions, creating a more agile and flexible force.

The newly released HFXL radio also plays a key role in these developments.  Offering secure, infrastructure-free communication over long distances, this data-first radio allows commanders to maintain operational control even in denied environments. Compared to other wideband radios on the market, Thales’ HFXL system is unique to using multiple non-contiguous channels and a cognitive engine that continually scans the HF spectrum and selects the optimum frequencies.  This makes HFXL inherently more secure, more efficient, harder to jam and capable of transmitting large data packages without exposing soldiers’ positions.

Why It Matters

Thales’ integrated solutions demonstrated at AWE reflect the future of combat, where advanced algorithms, sensors, uncrewed systems, and communication technologies come together to ensure that British soldiers remain better informed, better protected, and more lethal. By providing seamless data communication and tactical intelligence from the frontline to command, Thales empowers soldiers to respond quickly and effectively to threats, ensuring the British Army maintains its operational advantage.

John Dix added, “AWE is critical for accelerating the modernisation of the British Army.  By getting these technologies into the hands of soldiers early in the product-development cycle, we can harness this feedback to fine-tune our systems, and fast-track their deployment, to ensure British and allied forces stay ahead in a world of rapidly evolving threats.”

 

19 Nov 24. Dawn Aerospace rocket-powered aircraft successfully completes supersonic flight. Dawn Aerospace’s rocket-powered aircraft successfully completed its first supersonic flight, the company said in a statement on Tuesday, as it moves forward with developing aircraft able to launch satellites.

It said the Mk-11 Aurora craft surpassed the speed of sound for the first time on Nov. 12, reaching Mach 1.1 and climbing to an altitude of 82,500 feet (25.14 kilometres)

“This is over twice as high as commercial aircraft and marks the first time a civil aircraft has flown supersonic since Concorde,” the company said in the statement. The test flight occurred near Mt Cook in New Zealand’s South Island.

Dawn Aerospace, which is jointly headquartered in the Netherlands and New Zealand, is developing rocket-powered aircraft, which could be used to launch satellites. It has been testing its latest model over the past few months.

“This achievement highlights the immense potential of rocket-powered aircraft to achieve performance never seen before,” said Stefan Powell, chief executive of Dawn Aerospace.

The company said the MK-11 Aurora was also the fastest aircraft ever to climb from ground level to 20 km.

Aurora is designed to fly to the edge of space twice in a single day, will reach speeds of Mach 3.5 during ascent and re-entry, and is powered by pure rocket propulsion, the company said. (Source: Reuters)

 

19 Nov 24. Austria begins modernisation of its C2 capability with Systematic Defence. Systematic Defence is proud to announce the signing of a significant contract with the Austrian Armed Forces for the delivery of its world-leading command and control software, SitaWare Headquarters and SitaWare Frontline. This contract marks an important expansion of the SitaWare user community, with Austria becoming the latest nation to adopt the proven C4ISR solution to enhance its operational command and tactical capabilities.

Following a public tender process, the Austrian Federal Army selected SitaWare Headquarters for its advanced command-and-control (C2) capabilities, including its ability to deliver seamless interoperability and information sharing across military units and coalition partners.

In tandem, SitaWare Frontline will provide Austrian forces with a robust mounted solution, enhancing communication and situational awareness at the tactical edge.

Supporting Modernisation and Operational Efficiency

This marks a key component in the Austrian Armed Forces efforts to modernise its C2 infrastructure and ensure efficient communication from headquarters to the frontline. SitaWare Headquarters, already used by over 50 countries worldwide, is renowned for its ability to enhance collaborative planning, provide comprehensive situational awareness, and improve decision-making processes at all levels of command.

The addition of Austria to the SitaWare user family also strengthens the international network of militaries benefiting from its force-multiplying capabilities. Earlier this year NATO also procured SitaWare for its land forces, with SitaWare Headquarters becoming the Future Land C2 capability under the project DEMETER. The interoperability with NATO, especially the compliance with NATO’s Future Mission Networking (FMN) concept, was key criteria for the selection of SitaWare. In line with this growing partnership, Systematic Defence is also opening a new office in Vienna, Austria, further strengthening the company’s commitment to customers within the DACH region.

Global reach

Mr Sven Trusch, Managing Director of Systematic’s German subsidiary, emphasised the importance of this contract in expanding the reach of SitaWare across Europe:

“We are delighted to welcome the Austrian Armed Forces to the SitaWare user community. This contract demonstrates Austria’s commitment to enhancing its operational efficiency and interoperability. With Austria, all countries in the DACH region are now finally using SitaWare for command-and-control,” he said.

“We look forward to extend our cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces in implementing SitaWare Headquarters and SitaWare Frontline, providing them with state-of-the-art C2 capabilities that will support their mission success.”

The signing of this contract reinforces Systematic’s position as a leader in defence software solutions, while underscoring the company’s dedication to supporting modernisation efforts across global military forces.

The Austrian Armed Forces adoption of SitaWare will further enable its participation in operations with NATO and other western partners, ensuring effective collaboration and secure communication across all levels of military operations.

Major General Harald Vodosek, National Armaments Director, said: “Battle Management Systems and Management Information Systems serve to improve leadership and capability, enhance leadership performance at all levels, support the command and planning process of commanders and staffs and are an important milestone in the digitalisation of the Austrian Armed Forces.”

SitaWare Headquarters and SitaWare Frontline

SitaWare Headquarters is a globally trusted C4ISR solution that delivers superior tactical communication, unparalleled interoperability, collaborative planning, and comprehensive situational awareness at fixed and joint headquarters.

SitaWare Frontline extends these capabilities to the tactical level, providing soldiers on the ground with reliable information sharing and enhanced situational awareness, even in the most challenging environments.

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Oxley Group Ltd

 

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

 

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

 

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

 

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

 

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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14 Nov 24. AeroVironment (AV) announces a powerful suite of software updates, called Project GOLD, that elevate the battlefield effectiveness of its Puma™ 3 AE and Puma™ LE, in contested environments. The new updates bolster the Puma uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) to maintain reliable navigation and mission performance even when GNSS and communications signals are unreliable, unavailable or deliberately jammed. The software-only upgrades ensure Puma UAS can continue mission-critical tasks autonomously and securely, reducing reliance on GPS and enhancing survivability in hostile areas.

“These capabilities allow warfighters to maintain operational superiority, even when adversaries attempt to disrupt critical systems, ensuring greater mission success and survivability.”

Featured Updates:

• GPS-Denied Capabilities: Puma 3 AE and Puma LE now support additional advanced Assured Position Navigation and Timing (APNT) capabilities in GNSS denied environments.
• Visual Navigation (VNS): Providing greater capability utilizing Puma’s VNS system with end-to-end GNSS-denied operation and an additional layer of GNSS spoofing detection and rejection.
• Enhanced Radio Security: Enhanced security features with the latest software and UI/UX ensuring robust communications in contested environments.
• Increased Payload: Software update allows for 60% increase in Puma 3 payload capacity, up to 6.5lbs of total payload for advanced multi-mission support.

“With these software enhancements, we’re reinforcing the adaptability and resilience of our Puma Systems for the most demanding battlefield conditions,” said Trace Stevenson, AV’s senior vice president and general manager of Uncrewed Systems. “These capabilities allow warfighters to maintain operational superiority, even when adversaries attempt to disrupt critical systems, ensuring greater mission success and survivability.”

These new capabilities are delivered through software updates, requiring no hardware modifications to existing systems, thus offering a cost-effective and rapid upgrade path for deployed fleets. All new Puma systems will include these features, and currently fielded units can be easily upgraded using the Puma Software Update Kit. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

 

14 Nov 24. KAL and Curtiss-Wright Sign MOU to Develop Next-Generation SOSA Aligned Solutions for UAV Platforms.

Korean Air Research & Development Group and Curtiss-Wright to collaborate on development of flight avionics systems based on Curtiss-Wright’s industry-leading Fabric100™ Suite of SOSA aligned modules.

Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division and Korean Airlines Ltd, Co.’s (KAL) Research & Development Group today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate in the development of Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA™) aligned flight avionics systems for next-generation medium and large unmanned aircraft. Under the agreement, Korean Air R&D Group will use Curtiss-Wright’s industry-leading Fabric100™ 3U and 6U VPX modules to prototype and develop a demonstrator system to showcase the advanced C5ISR capabilities the SOSA Technical Standard brings to advanced platforms such as unmanned aircraft.

“We are excited to collaborate with Korean Air R&D Group to explore the development of next generation SOSA aligned solutions for UAV flight avionics based on our Fabric100 Suite of products,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “This MOU reflects KAL’s trust in Curtiss-Wright as a strong leader in defense technology and their recognition that SOSA will be the next mandatory requirement for many C5ISR platforms.”

SOSA Technical Standard Aligned Solutions

Curtiss-Wright offers a broad range of Fabric100 products aligned with SOSA Technical Standard that enable system designers to rapidly start their system development programs. Based on modular design and widely supported, consensus-based, nonproprietary standards, the SOSA Technical Standard defines key interfaces to meet the following goals:

• Reduce development cycle time and cost
• Reduce systems integration cost and risk
• Increase commonality and reuse
• Reduce sustainment and modernization cost
• Support capability evolution and mitigate obsolescence
• Enable technology transition
• Facilitate interoperability
• Isolate the effects of change

Curtiss-Wright’s Fabric100 Suite of 3U and 6U OpenVPX Modules and Systems

Fabric100 brings 100Gbit Ethernet and high-performance PCIe Gen4 interconnect speeds to tomorrow’s new generation of rugged deployable computing architectures. Today, system integrators struggle to satisfy their C5ISR applications’ insatiable appetite for sharing ever-increasing volumes of information. The higher-speed interconnects required to support these performance demands introduce significant integration challenges for systems integrators. What’s more, the ability to meet the industry’s goal of simplified interoperability, in other words, to quickly and effectively build systems using open standards-based building blocks and make them work well together, becomes increasingly risky as system designers migrate to faster 16Gbaud and 25Gbaud signaling technology and faster data throughput architectures. To address this daunting problem and reduce the system design risks associated with higher-speed interconnects, Curtiss-Wright has developed Fabric100, a complete end-to-end ecosystem of high-speed rugged OpenVPX modules and system components. It is not enough to simply provide 100Gbps connections between a system’s modules yet fail to support the ability to process all this data within the modules themselves. Recognizing that, Curtiss-Wright’s Fabric100 board architectures are designed to deliver full 100Gbps performance through the entire processing chain, eliminating data bottlenecks that might otherwise compromise system performance.

 

13 Nov 24. Türkiye’s Hürjet prototype of light attack jet completes first flight with key design modifications. On November 12, 2024, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) announced the successful maiden flight of the second prototype of its Hürjet jet trainer/light combat aircraft. This second prototype of the Hürjet introduces several modifications, including an enlarged radome, wingtip hardpoints for air-to-air missiles, and splitter plates on the air intakes. The larger radome may accommodate the MURAD AESA radar system, enhancing radar capacity. The aircraft, which flew for 26 minutes, reached an altitude of 10,000 feet and a speed of 200 knots while conducting maneuver tests.

Intended to function both as an advanced trainer and light combat aircraft, the Hürjet will perform close air support and limited combat missions in its light combat configuration, offering a cost-effective option compared to full-size fighter jets. (Picture source: TAI)

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) plans to begin deliveries of the Hürjet in 2026. The wingtip hardpoints indicate that the Hürjet is entering a weapons testing phase, with the capability to carry Bozdoğan within-visual-range air-to-air missiles. Adjustments to the frontal section align with these functional upgrades as the prototype advances through its testing stages. Notably, the prototype took off with the names of TAI employees and a taxi driver who lost their lives in a recent terrorist attack at TAI’s Kahramankazan facility.

The Hürjet, a single-engine, supersonic aircraft, is designed to replace the Turkish Air Force’s T-38 trainer and NF-5 jets used by the Turkish Stars aerobatic team. Intended to function both as an advanced trainer and light combat aircraft, the Hürjet will perform close air support and limited combat missions in its light combat configuration, offering a cost-effective option compared to full-size fighter jets. This flexibility enhances its potential for export, especially among countries requiring affordable, versatile air capabilities. Development of a naval version is under consideration.

Since the project’s initiation by TAI in August 2017, the Hürjet program has seen ongoing advancements, with the first prototype completing its maiden flight in April 2023. This second prototype’s flight follows other milestones, including a formation flight with the ANKA-3 UCAV in early 2024 and a transonic flight in July, achieving Mach 0.9 at 30,000 feet. International interest has been shown in the Hürjet, which is currently under consideration for Spain’s tender to replace its F-5 fleet and for the United States Navy’s T-45 Goshawk replacement. Competing with other jet trainers such as the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk and KAI T-50, TAI is working with Sierra Nevada Corporation on configurations to meet U.S. Navy specifications.

TAI has pursued partnerships to support Hürjet’s development and export potential. In July 2024, TAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GE Aerospace and TEI to enable local assembly and testing of F404 engines in Turkey, as well as to support maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. This collaboration is intended to strengthen the operational and export readiness of Hürjet, as Turkey will gain capabilities to support the engine domestically.

The Hürjet is expected to appeal to various international markets, with demonstrations planned for events such as the Egypt International Airshow 2024, where it may attract interest from countries in Africa and the Middle East. Although TAI’s bid to supply the Hürjet to the Royal Malaysian Air Force was not successful, with Malaysia selecting the KAI T-50, TAI continues to target additional export opportunities.

The Hürjet is set to be available in multiple configurations, including Block 0 and Block 1 trainer models and a Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) variant. The LCA version will support domestically developed air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, with a payload capacity of 2,721 kilograms. Performance specifications indicate a maximum speed of Mach 1.4, a range of 2,222 kilometers, and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. These specifications position the Hürjet as a suitable choice for both training and operational missions, meeting the requirements of air forces for a flexible, modern aircraft.

Turkish military aviation development in recent years has focused on advancing indigenous aircraft across various platforms. The TAI Hürjet, a domestically produced light attack and training jet, completed its maiden flight on April 25, 2023. Additionally, Turkey’s first jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), the Bayraktar Kızılelma, conducted its first flight on December 14, 2022. The TAI Anka-3, another UCAV, made its maiden flight on December 28, 2023. Furthermore, the TAI TF Kaan, a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, completed its first flight on February 21, 2024. These aircraft developments illustrate Turkey’s expanding capabilities in both manned and unmanned aviation technology. (Source: Google/https://armyrecognition.com/)

 

13 Nov 24. Cubic DTECH Fusion eHPC receives VMware vSphere 8.0 Update 3 Certified Compatibility. Cubic Defense, a recognized industry leader in providing trusted, scalable and intuitive edge compute and networking platforms, announces DTECH Fusion TM Edge High-Performance Compute (eHPC) has received VMware vSphere 8 Update 3Certified Compatibility. The certification validates the interoperability of Fusion eHPC with vSphere 8 Update 3. Fusion eHPC offers the capability to deliver advanced technology to the tactical edge, expanding the reach in denied, disrupted, intermittent and limited (DDIL) environments.

“The certification demonstrates our commitment to provide high performance modules within our family of systems to enable the next-generation tactical edge,” said Anthony Verna, Senior Vice President and General Manager of DTECH Mission Solutions. “During a mission, seconds count, eHCP ensures no matter the geographically contested area, timely and accurate data is delivered at the speed of conflict.”

DTECH Fusion eHPC helps transform data into decisions by securely distributing AI and ML applications across an unprecedented number of virtual machines using a powerful 64-core CPU, Nvidia GPU and huge user-accessible storage. The new certification provides users with unwavering confidence that the Fusion eHPC is fully compatible with VMware vSphere 8.0 for advanced resource optimization, load balancing and robust failover capabilities in hybrid cloud environments.

Deployed by U.S. and Allied Forces, DTECH server modules have been certified for use with VMware vSphere for several years. The addition of the DTECH Fusion eHPC with market-leading features means users can now benefit from enhanced performance, increased operational workloads and greater security for data-rich applications, such as AI and ML through-out the mission chain.

 

13 Nov 24. HighPoint’s RocketAIC 6542AWW has established a new milestone for turnkey NVMe Storage. Despite the external RAID solution’s tidy dimensions (it stands only 4.84 inches tall, 8.27 inches deep, and 9.25 inches in length), it is equipped with eight of Solidigm’s D5-P5336 NVMe SSDs, and provides an astonishing 491.52TB of enterprise storage capable of delivering 28GBs of real-world transfer speed; ideal for Edge Applications that demand fast, high-density storage solutions with small hardware footprint.

The compact external storage chassis’ integrated power supply and powerful cooling system enable the NVMe media to be completely isolated from the host hardware platform. Not only does this free up interior space for the host server or workstation, it can significantly improve reliability and efficiency by offsetting power consumption and ensuring that waste heat generated by the SSDs never enters the computing environment.

RocketAIC 6542AWW drives are ideal for tackling data-intensive applications and workflows that require a portable, scalable storage solution, such as such as high-speed data acquisition, M&E post production, and rapid backup and recovery workflows.

Maximum Performance – Guaranteed!

Industry leading PCIe switching technology and 400Gbps CDFP connectivity enable the RocketAIC 6542AAW to maximize data transfer throughput by fully utilizing all x16 lanes of PCIe bandwidth provided by the host platform. Both the enclosure chassis (device-side) and included PCIe adapter (host-side) integrate Broadcom’s proven PEX 88048 PCIe switch ICs to deliver a guaranteed x16 lanes of dedicated PCIe Gen4 upstream bandwidth and x32 lanes of dedicated downstream bandwidth to the eight Solidigm D5 series U.2 SSDs.

Effortless, real-time NVMe Storage Management Solution!

The RocketAIC 6542AAW’s advanced suite of sensors, LED indicators and alarms were engineered to simplify the administration of NVMe storage. These integrated, self-diagnostic and monitoring services proactively monitor and report the status of the host to device connection, enclosure /storage temperature, and the condition and status of the Solidigm D5 SSDs. Simple color-coding is used convey status information at a glance; Blue for optimal, Yellow for warning, and Red for trouble.

The robust enclosure features true NVMe Hot-Swap capability to streamline service and upgrade workflows. Administrators can safely eject the entire RAID array while the host system remains operational. The RocketAIC 6542AW will automatically notify the operating system of any changes, in real time – no reboot required!

HighPoint’s SafeStorage Solution Secures Data from Unauthorized Access

SafeStorage was developed to work in conjunction with SED capable Datacenter and Enterprise class NVMe media, such as Solidigm class-leading D5 U.2 SSDs. The solution enables the RocketAIC 6542AAW to protect data assets should the physical U.2 drives be misplaced or stolen by preventing unauthorized access to stored data.

SafeStorage can be enabled for any storage configuration; whether using the default RAID 0 array, individual U.2 SSDs or a new volume customized for a particular application and workflow.

RocketStor 654x Series NVMe RAID Enclosures

HighPoint’s RocketStor 654x series PCIe Gen4 x16 external NVMe enclosures are ideal storage platforms for System Integrators or Value-Added-Resellers seeking to offer external NVMe RAID solutions for specific use cases, applications or customer projects. Available with 4 or 8 hot-swappable drive bays, and capable of supporting any industry standard 2.5” U.2 or U.3 drive, the robust, ultra-compact external storage chassis can be easily integrated into any x86 server or workstation with an available PCIe Gen4 or Gen5 x16 slot.

Shipping & Availability

The RocketAIC 6542AAW is now available worldwide direct from our E-Store and our approved Global Resale and Distribution partners.

Where to Buy

RocketAIC 6542AWW 491.52TB External PCIe Gen4 x16 NVMe RAID Drive – MSRP: USD $78,999.00

RocketStor 6542AW 8-Bay PCIe 4.0 x16 External NVMe Storage Enclosure MSRP USD$: $1,799.00

RocketStor 6541AW 4-Bay PCIe 4.0 External NVMe Storage Enclosure MSRP USD $1,299.00

 

12 Nov 24. Altair (Nasdaq: ALTR), a global leader in computational intelligence, has entered into collaboration agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) through the ESA Partnership Initiative for Commercialisation (EPIC). Through a letter of intent, Altair’s aerospace technology within the Altair® HyperWorks® and Altair® RapidMiner® platforms will be made available to all startups, companies, research centers, and universities throughout Europe who are collaborating with ESA or developing technologies with ESA support.

Altair has entered into collaboration agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA), making Altair’s aerospace technology within the Altair® HyperWorks® and Altair® RapidMiner® platforms available to all startups, companies, research centers, and universities collaborating with ESA or developing technologies with ESA support.

“ESA is a reference point for anyone working in the space sector in Europe and across the world, constantly working with its local agencies to foster innovation throughout its programs. For Altair, partnering with ESA represents the coming together of two pioneers in the aerospace industry,” said Pietro Cervellera, senior vice president of aerospace and defense, Altair. “We are delighted to work together with the ESA to offer access to our simulation, AI, and data analytics solutions. Our tools help accelerate and de-risk the exploration of disruptive ideas and further our mission of creating a safer, more connected, and more sustainable aerospace industry.”

Within EPIC, Altair’s AI-powered engineering technology will enable ESA-supported startups to develop and test their products faster, giving them an opportunity to more quickly create minimum viable products (MVP) – a key step in obtaining funding and reaching commercialization. Crucially, the initiative gives aerospace startups access to the same Altair simulation, data analytics, and AI technology used by the world’s leading aerospace organizations – along with Altair’s best-in-class consulting and technical mentorship.

“With nearly 40 years of domain expertise in the industry, Altair’s broad technology portfolio plays a leading role in countless aerospace organizations worldwide,” said Joana Kamenova, EPIC lead, ESA. “We look forward to helping expand the reach of Altair’s technology so organizations throughout Europe can leverage the best-in-class tools necessary to usher in the next generation of space innovation.”

Joining the EPIC initiative further solidifies Altair’s status as a leader in the aerospace industry and reinforces its commitment to industry-wide innovation. With its diverse, scalable, and unified technology portfolio and consulting expertise, Altair helps aerospace organizations of all kinds navigate the evolving digital landscape, build solutions at speed, and scale them across the organization.

Established in 2022, EPIC connects corporate, academic, and institutional partners with ESA-supported startups. It aims to foster entrepreneurship and enhance the commercialization pathway of European startups by streamlining access to leading technology. EPIC reaches into the world’s largest space innovation network, including ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs), ESA Technology Brokers, ESA Φ-labNET, ESA Φ-lab (ESRIN), and the InCubed Earth Observation commercialization program, along with the hundreds of startups these programs support. Overall, EPIC connects EPIC partners and ESA startups to broaden the reach of the innovation ecosystem and further diversify the aerospace industry. (Source: PR Newswire)

 

12 Nov 24. China declassifies world-first fifth-generation stealth fighter variant. No other country in the world has a twin-seat fifth-generation fighter, which offers distinct advantages over single-seat combat aircraft. China pulled back the veil on the development of the twin-seat variant of its J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter at the ongoing China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, offering a glimpse into the rapid development of Beijing’s defence aerospace capabilities.

In an announcement on 11 November, China’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) revealed state-owned conglomerate Aviation Industry Corp of China had “declassified” the twin-seat J-20 variant, dubbed the J-20S, the only two-seat fifth-generation fighter in the world.

The US operates the single seat F-35 and F-22 fifth generation stealth fighters, with a number of Western allies also operating the F-35 across the conventional take-off and landing A model, as well as the short-take-off, vertical landing B variant.

Aviation Industry Corp of China stated that the J-20S is “a heavy-duty radar-evading fighter jet with long-range operation and multifunction capabilities”, according to the MND, citing a report by the state-owned China Daily news outlet.

The addition of a second seat offers a range of options for China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which currently operate the single seat J-20, to include providing an ability to control uncrewed ‘Loyal Wingman’ drones.

So far, the teaming of crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft is only at its early stages, with no Western fifth generation fighter able in the medium term to operate such a concept through a two-person crew.

It is thought that the US is debating the future of the sixth generation NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) programme due to high costs, with one of its flagship features intended to be the ability to control and operate drone wingmen.

The J-20S appears to be an attempt to integrate such a capability into a fifth-generation design, adding a second crewmember to manage assets such as drones, sensors, and weapons, leaving the lead pilot to manoeuvre the aircraft.

J-20S: an evolution of China’s first stealth fighter

According to the MND the J-20S was designed by the AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute in Sichuan province based on its J-20 baseline, single-seat model, which is China’s first stealth combat aircraft.

The J-20 conducted its debut flight in January 2011 and was officially declassified in November 2016, when it staged a brief flight performance at the 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition.

It was commissioned to the PLAAF later that year, becoming the third stealth fighter jet in the world to enter service following the US’ F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.

The MND report cited Song Zhongping, a military affairs commentator and retired PLA officer, who said a twin-seat fighter jet is normally operated by a pilot in the front seat and a weapons operator in the rear seat, which means each of them can better focus on their specific tasks.

“According to an introduction from the AVIC, the J-20S has good situational awareness capability, and that means it can act as a small-sized early-warning platform. The new model can also guide drones to carry out strikes against targets. All these new functions promise longer detection and fighting range,” Zhongping said.

Fu Qianshao, an aircraft expert who served with the PLA Air Force for decades, said an extra seat in a stealth fighter has more benefits.

Another expert cited by the MND stated that having a separate weapons operator could enable the J-20S to better operate precision-guided munitions and connect with airborne early warning and control systems.

Stealth fighters central to China modernisation

China is embarking on a wide-ranging military modernisation effort to bring its forces up to parity with, and in some cases surpass, those of its main rival, the United States.

GlobalData’s latest report, “China Defense Market Size and Trends, Budget Allocation, Regulations, Key Acquisitions, Competitive Landscape and Forecast, 2022-27,” reveals that China’s defence expenditure for 2022 would amount to $225.6bn, a 7.3% increase on 2021, and reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8% during 2018-2022. (Source: airforce-technology.com)

 

11 Nov 24. ADSB Joins Forces with OSI Maritime Systems to Equip RABDAN FA-400 with Navigational Systems. The partnership represents a major step forward in ADSB’s dedication to incorporating state-of the-art tactical navigation system technologies into their newly launched vessel. EDGE Group entity Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) a regional leader in the design, construction, repair, maintenance, refit, and conversion of naval and commercial vessels, signed a strategic partnership with OSI Maritime Systems (OSI), a leading provider of integrated navigation and tactical solutions. The strategic agreement was signed by David Massey, CEO of ADSB, and Jim Hawkins, Director of Business Development at OSI, at the EURONAVAL 2024 Exhibition, being held in Paris until 8 November.

David Massey, CEO of ADSB said: “ADSB’s agreement with OSI equips the RABDAN FA-400 with cutting-edge navigational systems, reinforcing our drive to build highly competitive vessels and equip our fleet for the demands of today’s maritime landscape. Partnerships like these advance ADSB’s objective of establishing UAE-made vessels that integrate world-class systems, showcasing our commitment to excellence on a global scale.”

Ken Kirkpatrick, President and CEO of OSI Maritime said: “Integrating OSI’s advanced navigation technology into ADSB’s RABDAN FA-400 will significantly elevate its operational capabilities across diverse warfare domains. We look forward to positioning this vessel at the cutting edge of modern maritime defence solutions.”

The RABDAN FA-400 is ADSB’s newest fast attack vessel, boasting 45-metres in length and designed to perform a range of territorial and coastal duties. The collaboration aims to integrate OSI Maritime’s Integrated Navigation Bridge System into the existing warship systems and enhance naval operations across multiple warfare domains.

The RABDAN FA-400, newly equipped with OSI’s navigational systems is set for presentation at the Naval Defence Exhibition & Conference (NAVDEX), which will be held in Abu Dhabi from 17-21 February 2025. (Source: ASD Network)

 

12 Nov 24. Cuashub.com said today that High Lander subsidiary BIRDS joins Brazil’s national UTM project. High Lander announced on November 7 that BIRDS, their Sao Paulo based subsidiary, will provide the VEGA UTM solution as part of Brazil’s national unmanned air traffic management (UTM) project. Led by the Brazilian Department of Airspace Control (DCEA) and Institute of Airspace Control, the UTM aims to leverage public-private partnerships develop the infrastructure required to safely integrate UAS & eVTOLs into Brazilian Airspace.

The project recognizes the rapid growth of the drone ecosystem in Brazil since 2020, with widespread adoption across industries including agriculture, deliveries and security occurring alongside innovation within the advanced air mobility market.

DCEA are hoping that the UTM project will enable zone creation and restriction sharing, integration of air traffic management and UTM systems, real-time airspace monitoring and the development of a broader regulatory infrastructure.

The VEGA UTM solution has been selected to participate within one of the various implementation tests designed to find the required solutions and adjudicate how best to integrate them into Brazilian airspace.

Commenting on the authorization, BIRDS CEO Léo Szterenzys stated that:

“BIRDS is proud to receive authorization from DECEA to participate in this groundbreaking project, and to demonstrate the power of Vega UTM in enabling entire UAS ecosystems to flourish safely”.

The emphasis on safety reflects the desire of both the Brazilian government to manage the potential risks of drone proliferation while enabling the significant benefits. Analysis from Brazil’s National Civilian Aviation Agency (ANAC) in 2020 noted that overly burdensome regulation primarily punishes safe drone operators and the focus on public-private partnerships demonstrates this balanced approach.

BIRDS already provides UAS technology solutions to clients across Brazil who use the packages to ensure their drone operations are in compliance with existing ANAC regulations. It will be hoped that the potential wider integration of the Vega UTM solution will enable further drone innovation and integration within Brazil.

https://cuashub.com/en/content/high-lander-subsidiary-birds-joins-brazils-national-utm-project/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/)

 

12 Nov 24. X-59 Engine Roars, Lockheed Martin Starts Last Major Ground Test. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works® (NYSE: LMT), in partnership with NASA Aeronautics, started X-59 engine run testing, marking the aircraft’s final major system check-out before taxi tests and first flight. The tests also mark the first time the X-59 was powered fully internally.   During the tests, Lockheed Martin is verifying inlet and nozzle performance, aircraft and engine structural and system interfaces, and engine control algorithms. Previously, the X-59 had been powered externally – electrically, hydraulically and pneumatically.

“It was an emotional high to see and hear another innovative, boundary-pushing Skunk Works X-plane come to life,” said Pat LeBeau, X-59 program manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. “The team has done an incredible job, and we remain focused on the path forward to a safe and successful first flight.”

Engine runs are the last, critical system check-out prior to first flight that verifies proper functionality of the X-59 as an integrated system operating on its own power. The tests ensure the engine can be controlled through the vehicle management system and engine computer. They also verify management of the fuel system, vibration and temperature interactions and more.

Following these successful engine runs, the X-59 will be evaluated for electromagnetic interference effects, simulated in-flight failure modes and validation of the emergency power system. Once those are complete, the aircraft will undergo low-speed and high-speed taxi tests in preparation for first flight.

The X-59 is a one-of-a-kind test aircraft designed to achieve quiet supersonic flight and transform future commercial air travel. It is a singularly unique, national asset. Lockheed Martin and NASA are taking every precaution in a paced, systematic and disciplined approach to ensure safety and success of the mission.

 

12 Nov 24. China Unveils Unmanned Warship ‘Killer Whale’ and Jet Drone ‘Jiu Tian’ at Zhuhai Airshow. China recently showcased its advancements in drone technology, unveiling a new trimaran drone ship known as the “Killer Whale” and a large jet-powered drone called “Jiu Tian” at the Zhuhai Airshow. The “Killer Whale,” a new drone ship built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation, debuted at the Zhuhai Airshow last week following sightings at a shipyard in Guangzhou earlier this year. The unmanned surface vessel resembles the U.S. Navy’s Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships in concept but is smaller, with a length of approximately 190 feet and a displacement between 300-500 tons. The vessel can reportedly reach speeds up to 40 knots and operate over 4,000 nautical miles.

Equipped with a range of weaponry, the Killer Whale can deploy anti-ship missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, torpedoes, and a helicopter drone from its rear deck. The ship’s design incorporates a “modular mission package” concept, allowing the vessel to adapt to multiple roles, including surface warfare, anti-submarine operations, and air defense.

Despite its unmanned designation, the Killer Whale has a wraparound bridge deck, possibly allowing for optional human control. Analysts have noted the vessel’s resemblance to Indonesia’s manned Klewang-class fast attack craft. The ship’s modular and adaptable capabilities enable it to perform a variety of missions, including battlefield surveillance, environmental monitoring, and potential rescue operations.

Meanwhile, the “Jiu Tian” drone, is a jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle, with an estimated maximum takeoff weight of around 10 tons. It has a modular central payload section referred to as the “Isomerism Hive Module.” The feature appears designed to launch swarms of smaller drones, an emerging tactic in modern warfare aimed at overwhelming defenses with multiple targets.

Jiu Tian’s design includes a high main wing with minimal sweep, small winglets, an H-shaped tail, and underwing pylons, which are visible but not yet equipped with weaponry in public images. A sensor turret mounted under its nose provides infrared and optical imaging capabilities, while a radome suggests onboard radar, enabling intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance as well as strike missions.

This large drone is among the heaviest uncrewed aircraft produced by China and appears to be designed for long-endurance operations over large distances, much like the United States’ MQ-9 Reaper. Its jet propulsion allows for rapid transit and extended station time, which could prove valuable in maintaining surveillance or engaging in military operations in contested areas. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)

 

11 Nov 24. China’s J-35A stealth fighter is ‘black box’ despite splashy debut.

• Summary
• Companies
• First public appearance on Tuesday will include flying display
• J-35A built to ‘seize and maintain air supremacy’
• Fighter could be fitted with China-designed WS-19 engine

China’s much-anticipated J-35A stealth aircraft, centrepiece of this week’s Zhuhai air show, has been more than a decade in the making, but experts say little is known about its capabilities.

The first public appearance of the land-based J-35A will take place on Tuesday, a day after the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), and will include a flying display. Another variant, the J-35, is designed for use with China’s aircraft carriers.

Even as it takes to the skies more than 10 years after its progenitor, the J-31, made its first flight, few details are public about the J-35’s performance or stealthiness, military analysts say.

“Because of the black box typically surrounding PLA miltech developments, we won’t be too certain of the J-35’s performance,” said Collin Koh of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. (Source: Reuters)

 

08 Nov 24. Department of Defense Invests Additional $160m in CHIPS Act Funds to Propel Microelectronics Leadership.

The U.S. Department of Defense has invested an additional $160m of funds from the Biden-Harris Administration’s bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to advance America’s microelectronics capabilities through the Microelectronics Commons, a collaborative national network of technology hubs. The October funding, following the award in September of $269m for 33 new technical projects and the award of just under $240m released a year prior to initially launch the eight hubs, marks a significant milestone for the CHIPS Act’s mission to strengthen the country’s global leadership in microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing.

The bulk of the funding in this latest tranche – $148m – will go directly to the Microelectronics Commons Hubs, focusing on building infrastructure, supporting operations, and accelerating workforce development across the eight established hubs:

• The Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC) Hub, led by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative in Massachusetts, has been awarded $18.7m.
• The Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons (SCMC) Hub, led by the Applied Research Institute in Indiana, has been awarded $16.6m.
• The California Defense Ready Electronics and Microdevices Superhub (CA DREAMS) Hub, led by the University of Southern California in California, has been awarded $27m.
• The Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors (CLAWS) Hub, led by the North Carolina State University in North Carolina, has been awarded $23.7m.
• The Southwest Advanced Prototyping (SWAP) Hub, led by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University in Arizona, has been awarded $18.7m.
• The Midwest Microelectronics Consortium (MEMC) Hub in Ohio, has been awarded $12.3m.
• The Northeast Regional Defense Technology (NORDTECH) Hub, led by the Research Foundation for the State University of New York in New York, has been awarded $10.6m.
• The California-Pacific-Northwest AI Hardware Hub (NWAI), led by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University in California, has been awarded $15.3m.

An additional $10m will support a Cross-Hub Enablement Solution (CHES), enhancing shared access to critical Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools and cloud computing resources. October’s funding also included the latest addition to the Commons prototype project list, a $2 m project aligned to the SCMC Hub that came through after final negotiations with project team members.

“America’s military systems are the most capable in the world, and that would not be possible without advanced semiconductor technology,” said Dr. Arati Prabhakar, assistant to the President for Science and Technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’ leadership, we’re making the semiconductor innovation investments today that will bolster global security tomorrow.”

“Semiconductors are key to the must-win technologies of the future for next generation weapons systems, including artificial intelligence and 5G,” said Dr. Dev Shenoy, principal director of microelectronics for the Department of Defense. “These technologies will be essential to achieving the goal of a dynamic, inclusive, and innovative national economy identified as a critical American advantage.”

The Microelectronics Commons network also convened its 2024 Annual Meeting and National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) Symposium from October 28-30 in Washington, D.C., gathering 1,000 in-person attendees and over 1,000 virtual participants. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks, who delivered the keynote address, praised the network’s collaborative approach, noting, “Chips bring America together.”

Throughout the event, leaders of the Microelectronics Commons provided updates on their Hubs’ progress, discussing first-year achievements, prototype projects, and workforce development initiatives. Discussions underscored the importance of ongoing investments in lab-to-fab pathways – initiatives that streamline the transition from research laboratories to semiconductor fabrication facilities.

“The Microelectronics Commons aims to enable lab-to-fab prototyping, evolving microelectronics laboratory prototyping to fabrication prototyping in domestic facilities,” said Shenoy. “More specifically, the goal is a national network of regional innovation hubs distributed across the U.S. that will foster a pipeline of domestic talent and innovative ideas, reduce barriers to innovation, and mature emerging microelectronics technologies.”

The CHIPS and Science Act and the Microelectronics Commons program represent a monumental investment in the U.S. semiconductor industry. As the Commons network gains momentum, stakeholders are optimistic about America’s potential to lead in an era where advanced microelectronics and resilient supply chains are critical to national security. (Source: U.S. DoD)

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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www.oxleygroup.com
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06 Nov 24. Safran Electronics & Defense has launched its latest innovation in the PNT segment: NAVPULSE, an advanced naval data distribution unit (DDU) designed to centralize navigation data from all shipboard sensors and optimize their distribution to generate the optimum navigation solution for users. It meets the rigorous demands of modern naval operations with an atomic clock and algorithms ensuring enhanced timing synchronization, anti-jamming and anti-spoofing detection to offer seamless and secure operations.
High-precision timing synchronization is essential for fleet-wide coordination in mission-critical operations such as communication, navigation, and self-defense. Robust anti-jamming and anti-spoofing protection also ensure the integrity and security of navigation and communication data and therefore protects naval assets from external threats. This is why NAVPULSE is designed to support comprehensive data distribution, delivering time, attitude, and precise navigation data across weapon systems, observation sights, and other shipboard systems, even in harsh or GNSS-denied environments.
“In today’s increasingly contested maritime domain, ensuring vessels can operate safely and with a high degree of precision is critical,” said Alexandre Ziegler, Executive VP, Defense GBU of Safran Electronics & Defense. “Our new NAVPULSE naval data distribution unit brings together the best in PNT technology to give naval forces the edge they need when operating in challenging environments and defending against electronic warfare threats.”
Safran is a global leader in advanced resilient PNT technologies. NAVPULSE is part of its ongoing commitment to provide advanced solutions for the maritime defense sector. It offers a modular and adaptive design, enabling easy integration within existing naval systems and future technologies for seamless upgrades. With its unparalleled combination of high precision, security and operational efficiency, NAVPULSE is set to become a vital enabler for naval fleets worldwide.
05 Nov 24. Fincantieri announced a significant new collaboration with EDGE Group to jointly develop advanced underwater solutions. This partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the prestigious EURONAVAL exhibition in Paris.
The newly established MAESTRAL joint venture will focus on the design, development, and construction of both manned and unmanned underwater systems, enhancing capabilities in the United Arab Emirates and addressing the unique underwater needs of navies worldwide.
This strategic collaboration represents EDGE Group’s first foray into the underwater domain, allowing both organisations to leverage their extensive technical expertise and resources. The MoU was signed by key leaders from both companies, including Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director & CEO of EDGE Group, and Mr. Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri Group.
Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri CEO and Managing Director, said: “This agreement between Fincantieri and EDGE underscores a commitment to pioneering advancements in underwater technologies, combining engineering excellence with a forward-thinking approach. The underwater domain presents unique challenges, from fluid dynamics to communication and autonomy, which demand innovative and resilient solutions. Together, we aim to develop systems that meet the highest standards of interoperability, addressing critical needs within both the defence and energy sectors.”

 

04 Nov 24. MACOM Selected to Lead Advanced GaN-on-SiC Semiconductor Technology Development Project. MACOM Technology Solutions Inc. (“MACOM”), a leading supplier of semiconductor products, today announced that it has been selected to lead a development project to establish advanced gallium nitride (“GaN”) on silicon carbide (SiC) process technologies for radio frequency (“RF”) and microwave applications. Funded by the CHIPS and Science Act (“CHIPS”) through the United States Department of Defense (DoD), the project will focus on developing semiconductor manufacturing processes for GaN-based materials and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (“MMICs”) operating efficiently at high voltage and at millimeter-wave (“mmW”) frequencies.
“We believe the technologies and products developed under these contracts will help keep the United States and MACOM on the leading edge.”
Post this
MACOM is a member of the Commercial Leap-Ahead for Wide Bandgap Semiconductors (CLAWS) Microelectronics Commons Hub and will work with North Carolina State University, Adroit Materials and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) on this project. The year 1 value of this award is $3.4m.
This award expands upon a series of GaN technology development activities with the DoD, including a 2021 Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United State Air Force Research Laboratory (“AFRL”) where MACOM successfully transferred AFRL’s 0.14 micron GaN-on-SiC MMIC process to its Massachusetts-based U.S. Trusted Foundry. This was followed in 2023 by a $4m AFRL contract to develop GaN technologies for mmW applications and a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) award valued at up to $10.1 m aimed at improved heat dissipation for high power applications. Earlier this year, MACOM was awarded a separate CHIPS-funded GaN technology development contract worth up to $11.4 m.
“Our strategy is to increase domestic production of state-of-the-art RF and microwave power technologies to support our military’s RADAR and sensing applications and to enable next generation telecommunications networks,” said Stephen G. Daly, MACOM President and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe the technologies and products developed under these contracts will help keep the United States and MACOM on the leading edge.” (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

 

04 Nov 24. Rackspace Technology® (NASDAQ: RXT), a leading hybrid, multicloud, and AI technology services company, today announced the expansion of Rackspace Spot with a new geographic location and an on-demand GPU-as-a-Service powered by NVIDIA accelerated computing. The expansion comes as the demand for compute power is expected to continue to grow at a rapid pace. According to IDC, AI datacenter capacity is “projected to have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.5% through 2027.”[1] Rackspace Spot addresses that demand as a premier platform for computation-intensive applications like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics by providing on-demand, fully managed Kubernetes clusters delivered through a unique open market auction.
“Rackspace’s GPUaaS will give customers on-demand access to powerful accelerated resources optimized for AI, machine learning, data analytics, and graphics rendering workloads,” said Brian Lillie, President of Private Cloud for Rackspace Technology. “With Spot GPUaaS, you can harness high-performance GPUs without substantial upfront investments in hardware, achieving both cost-efficiency and scalability.”
The Rackspace Spot GPU-enabled platform is hosted in our newest next-generation Rackspace SJC3 data center in Silicon Valley. The state-of-the-art facility offers enhanced performance and reliability, providing customers with advanced infrastructure from the ground up.
“Rackspace is excited to unveil significant Spot enhancements that deliver increased customer value and performance. Gen-2 provisioning is now available, significantly reducing deployment time and increasing reliability. In addition, Spot is now in seven global locations with the addition of our latest site in San Jose, CA (SJC3),” said Lance Weaver, Chief Product and Technology Officer of Rackspace Private Cloud. “The new data center, constructed from the ground up with the latest OpenStack technology, enhances performance and reliability. This strategic location in the US-West region reduces latency and provides faster access for our West Coast customers, improving their overall user experience. Moreover, this new data center caters to higher-density infrastructure demands, enabling our customers to scale resources seamlessly as their business needs evolve.”
Introducing a New Server Class
Rackspace Spot is introducing a new server class equipped with NVIDIA accelerated computing, specifically the NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPU.
• GPU H100 Virtual Server v2.Mega Extra-Large offers one NVIDIA H100 GPU, an accelerator-optimized Intel 8568Y CPU with 48 hyperthreaded cores, 128 GB of memory, and advanced storage and networking capabilities.
This advanced GPU offering allows customers to harness the power of NVIDIA accelerated computing to speed up complex workloads such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics. Customers can achieve faster processing times and improved operational efficiency with enhanced computational capabilities. Access to cutting-edge technology equips businesses to innovate rapidly and maintain a competitive advantage in their respective markets.
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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/
The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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30 Oct 24. ZeroAvia and PowerCell to Collaborate on Next Gen Fuel Cell Development. ZeroAvia today announced that it has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PowerCell Group to collaborate on next generation fuel cell technologies. Joint R&D will focus on intermediate and high temperature fuel cells which will open up more energy intensive applications such as large fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft.

The two companies have been working together for the last few years, with PowerCell fuel cell stacks forming part of the prototype ZeroAvia powertrains that have powered both of the breakthrough fuel cell flight demonstrators flown by ZeroAvia.

ZeroAvia is designing a bespoke multi-stack balance-of-plant architecture using PowerCell’s low temperature proton exchange membrane (LT-PEM) stacks applicable to aviation applications. As such, the Swedish fuel cell manufacturer is a key supplier for ZeroAvia’s first 600kW powertrain (ZA600) designed for up to 20 seat aircraft.

ZeroAvia’s high temperature PEM fuel cell (HT-PEM) stacks – part of the roadmap to delivery of ZA2000 powertrain for 40-80 seat aircraft and a key part of the company’s component offering to other clean flight innovators – are already demonstrating industry record power density in excess of 2.5 kW/kg at the cell level, with a clear pathway to reaching 3+ kW/kg at the system level in the coming months.

Increasing the operating temperature of fuel cell systems can allow for a reduction in cooling and humidification required, simplifying the architecture and improving the amount of power for a given unit of weight.

The collaboration will leverage PowerCell’s long experience industrializing hydrogen-electric technologies to push advanced fuel cells solutions to high TRL levels. For ZeroAvia, it will provide the opportunity to exploit its technology in different sectors, while retaining its core focus on aerospace. (Source: ASD Network)

 

30 Oct 24. ARuVR, a multi-award winning AI-powered Extended Reality (XR) and Spatial Computing learning omni-platform, is delighted to announce its strategic partnership with VR Expert, a leading provider of VR and AR hardware and services in Europe. This collaboration will bring enhanced XR (Extended Reality) tools and solutions to enterprises, enabling businesses to unlock the full potential of virtual reality (VR) in their training, education, and development programmes.

The partnership combines ARuVR’s cutting-edge immersive learning platform with VR Expert’s extensive portfolio of virtual and augmented reality hardware. Together, ARuVR and VR Expert will deliver seamless, end-to-end XR solutions to help organisations create immersive, scalable, and measurable learning experiences that drive both engagement and performance.

Niklas Kettner from VR Expert added, “We are excited to partner with ARuVR, whose innovative platform aligns perfectly with our mission of empowering businesses with immersive technology solutions. With our combined expertise, we look forward to helping organisations enhance their training programmes, streamline processes, and improve operational efficiency through VR.”Frank Furnari, CEO of ARuVR, commented, “Our partnership with VR Expert represents a significant step forward in democratising access to high-quality VR learning tools. By integrating VR Expert’s comprehensive hardware offerings with our leading XR software platform, we can deliver a more holistic and impactful learning experience for businesses across the globe.”

Through this collaboration, ARuVR’s clients will have access to the vast hardware selection from VR Expert, including industry-leading devices from brands such as Lenovo, Pico, HTC Vive, and Meta. Additionally, VR Expert’s renowned after-sales support, consultation, and service capabilities will ensure smooth deployments of XR solutions for ARuVR clients.VR Expert has established itself as a trusted partner in delivering and supporting immersive technology for professional and enterprise use, serving clients across diverse industries. Their consultative approach ensures businesses not only find the right hardware but also receive full support from initial consultation to ongoing technical assistance. This partnership marks a significant development for both companies as they continue to shape the future of XR-enabled learning and development. Organisations leveraging ARuVR’s platform, enhanced by VR Expert’s immersive technology solutions, will be equipped to deliver superior training outcomes, reduce training costs, and improve employee retention and skill acquisition.

 

29 Oct 24. With Industry Help, DOD Strives to be Leader in Microchip Research, Production. Microchips enable virtually every military system, from ships, planes, tanks, long-range munitions, radar and communication gear to night vision, satellites, sensors — making them vital to the Defense Department.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks spoke today to industrial, government and academic leaders at the 2024 Microelectronics Commons Annual Meeting in Washington.

“Every day, from the Indo-Pacific to the North Atlantic to the Middle East and beyond — from the ocean floor to outer space to cyberspace — as American warfighters stand the watch, they depend on chips to help them defend our country, our allies and partners, and our interests,” Hicks said.

“America’s vibrant innovation ecosystem made it all possible, through collaboration going back decades across government, academia and industry, encompassing businesses large and small,” she said, noting that microchips are also crucial to civilian applications, ranging from Wi-Fi and cell phones to refrigerators and motor vehicles.

The United States and DOD, with the help of its industry and academia partners, strives to remain the leader in chip research and design, prototyping, manufacturing and production at scale, Hicks said.

Leading this charge is the Microelectronics Commons, which has over 1,200 member organizations, having more than tripled in size, in just 12 months, she said.

“As of today, we’ve awarded nearly $700 m toward this endeavor’s goal of bridging the microelectronics gap from lab-to-fab — that infamous valley of death between research and development and production,” she said, noting that more investments will be coming soon in the pipeline.

The CHIPS and Science Act was a bipartisan victory for U.S. national security and economic security, the deputy defense secretary said.

“The CHIPS Act made clear to America — and the world — that the U.S. government is united in its commitment to ensuring that our industrial and scientific powerhouses can deliver what we need to secure the future,” she said.

A new generation of defense-technology startup companies are disrupting America’s defense industrial base, Hicks noted. “That’s welcomed, because competition is good for the taxpayer and good for the warfighter.”

Besides traditional primes, such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and RTX, newer venture-backed companies, like Anduril, Epirus and Tignis have skin in the game, Hicks said.

Academia is also conducting research at universities like Purdue, Notre Dame, Michigan and Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she said.

Also, historically black colleges and universities, like Morgan State University and North Carolina A&T, are advancing areas like electromagnetic warfare, 5G and 6G wireless and commercial leap-ahead technologies, Hicks said.

Hubs in Massachusetts and New York, are helping prepare military veterans for careers in microelectronics, she added.

The Midwest Microelectronics Consortium hub has over 360 members nationwide, and the Defense-Ready Electronics and Microdevices Superhub, which recently began processing its first outside customer orders, are examples of the growing national semiconductor ecosystems, building the workforce pools and talent pipelines that America needs to stay ahead, and bringing new hotbeds of local innovation into the fold, she said.

“Across the country, this network of hubs now represents a committed community — of innovators, transition owners, academic leaders, defense industry stakeholders, government program managers and prototyping and manufacturing facilities, that are together accelerating microelectronics development and production — all to meet DOD’s needs, and many with dual-use applications,” Hicks said. (Source: U.S. DoD)

 

29 Oct 24. New Turkish multi-purpose mini submarine takes shape. Datum Submarine Engineering, a subsidiary of Istanbul Technical University, and Sefine Shipyard showcased their new multi-purpose mini submarine (MPMS) under development during the Saha Expo 2024 defence and aerospace exhibition held in Istanbul from 22 to 26 October. The MPMS is being developed as a technology development project with three main objectives: to apply theoretical studies in commercial and military submarine design, verification, and improvement to a vehicle that can be manufactured and tested in a short period; to provide Türk Loydu with experience in submarine plan approval, material certification, and classification activities for national military submarine projects; and to create a platform for testing and integrating systems developed by the Turkish defence industry for submarines. When completed, the MPMS will be around 12 m long, 2.3 m wide, and 2.9 m high, with a displacement of around 36 tonnes. The calculated diving depth will be 280 m. It will carry a crew complement of four. Speaking to Janes at the Saha Expo, Datum chairman Münir Cansın Özden said the submarine’s configuration includes a seven-blade propeller and a hydraulically controlled steering gear arranged in a cross shape. Equipped with diving, trim, and tuning cistern systems, pumps, and compressed air circuits, the submarine also features a specially designed electrical interceptor, a sonar control system, type-approved control systems, and multiple sensor systems, including those for pressure, gas, levels, and fire detection. (Source: Janes)

 

30 Oct 24. Aitech Systems, a leading provider of rugged boards and system level solutions for military, aerospace and space applications, has expanded its space-rated unified system architectures to meet the growing demands for shorter development times and lower costs among satellite busses, subsystems, and payloads.

Using a Space Digital Backbone (DBB) approach, which provides a flexible, scalable communication pathway for the increasing number of IoT (Internet of Things) technologies being implemented into space missions, the company provides selection of space-rated subsystems for common space platforms:

• Earth Observation: Integrated and qualified hardware and software along with the engineering analysis of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) space-ready systems enable improved reliability, real-time data processing, high resolution imagery, and rapid situational awareness for space superiority.
• Communication: The space DBB enables seamless integration and high-speed reliable, secure connectivity between internal/external communications systems, cameras, local edge computing, and shared storage elements throughout all levels of orbit.
• Communications, Computation & Data Handling (CCD&H): To empower payload sharing and interface satellite buses, as well as satellite swarm, constellation positional, and mission management, I/O boards are used to dedicate multiple high-speed data streams and provide high-capacity memory to reduce latency.
• Power Control: In order to achieve the high reliability needed for mission critical systems, power control subsystems are added to subsystem controllers to limit the ultimate output power and the power on/off switching times to prevent transients from coupling to the system backplane.
• Robotics: Provides power and signal to control a motor or servo device to enable autonomy and improved decision-making across space applications for higher adaptability in rugged conditions.

Ralph Grundler, Director of Space Business Development and Space R&D, at Aitech, commented, “Accelerated timelines in space innovations have led to the transition from custom space-qualified systems that require extensive design, testing, and qualification processes to economical COTS technologies without sacrificing key performance indicators of radiation tolerance, reliability, spaceflight pedigree, and risk management.”

Commercial space companies are seeking space-ready orbital systems with computational, input/output, and communication functionality to control specific satellite functions such as image data processing, communications, and navigation.

Space-ready systems with high computing and connectivity performance are fueling the future of space exploration, at Aitech we harness the power of scalable, versatile interconnects and open standards-based computing using COTS to provide reliability within space electronic systems in critical areas including Earth observation, computation and data handling, and communication.

For over 30 years, Aitech has led the industry in providing space-ready orbital system applications across various programs and missions including the Multi-User System for Earth Sensing (MUSES), a commercial Earth observation platform on the ISS to more recently providing a complete system CC&DH flight computers and peripherals for successful orbit.

For more information, please call 888-Aitech-8 (888-248-3248), visit https://bit.ly/Space-Ind or e-mail .

Get our updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Aitech

About Aitech Systems:

In business for more than four decades, Aitech is one of the world’s first, independent, open systems architecture, COTS/MOTS innovators offering open standards-based boards and integrated computing subsystem products, with customization services for rugged and severe environment, military, aerospace and space applications…i.e. products for Air, Land, Sea, and Space. For more information, please visit www.aitechsystems.com.

 

31 Oct 24. Solus Power, a specialist battery innovation company, has revealed that its industry-first portable power technology has been officially approved by the UK Defence and Security Exports (UKDSE) to be supported and showcased alongside leading defence solutions at the Larkhill Exhibition Centre (LEC).

UK-based Solus Power is revolutionising the energy sector through the development of sustainable off-grid mobile DC-to-DC rapid charging and energy storage in the form of its ‘Kratos’ battery packs. The military-grade, ruggedised Lithium-ion units, referred to as ‘Jerry cans of electricity’, have been designed to provide mission critical portable energy support to the increasing number of power-hungry electrical equipment and systems such as drones and communications.

The cutting-edge mobile charging solution is modular, stackable and easily transported to solve the challenges of providing power and reducing dependency on fossil fuels across diverse locations and infrastructure availability.

Recognising the vital role Kratos can play within the modern defence and security landscape, the UKDSE, part of the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), has welcomed Solus Power’s innovation where it will be supported by a serving military team with extensive experience across various Army capabilities.

Working closely with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as well as other industry and government departments, the Export Support Team (EST) will provide specialist advice and resources to promote Kratos as a breakthrough global defence solution.

With the UKDSE’s approval, Solus Power will also be able to showcase its products, including Kratos, at the LEC, in Wiltshire, to international Government and military delegates arriving to procure defence and security solutions for their respective countries. Furthermore, its products will be featured under the Ministry of Defence’s banner at upcoming defence and security exhibitions, providing unparalleled visibility in the global market.

Stas Leonidou, Founder and CEO of Solus Power, said: “As we navigate an increasingly complex global security landscape, now more than ever, it is critical that we continue to develop and provide cutting-edge solutions that support defence and security operations. We are proud to be at the forefront of this mission with Kratos.

The demand for power as militaries move towards electrification has grown exponentially. Our ruggedised battery technology has been created to solve the challenges of supply, self-sufficiency and sustainability, while crucially maintaining operational advantage. This strategic support from UKDSE is a powerful validation of our product and strengthens our position in the future of defence.”

Michael Molloy, Construction, Logistics & Infrastructure Adviser at the UK Defence & Security Exports, added: “Our mission at the UKDSE is to identify, support and promote game-changing British innovation that will make a significant impact on the global defence and security landscape. Delegates from around the world come to the Larkhill Exhibition Centre seeking novel solutions to increase operational advantage; and with the clear aspiration to electrify the battlefield over the next decade, we are delighted to showcase Solus Power and its Kratos battery solution as part of our portfolio of products.”

Solus Power’s momentum continues following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with global defence and security company, QinetiQ, to explore how its technology can support the evolving electrified military landscape.

Across the British and US Army, their strategic goal is to modernise and to decarbonise through the adoption of electrification. Electrification is a win-win solution for the Army as it enables operational advantage, reduces logistic demand, and puts the Army on the path to meeting NetZero 2050 sustainability objectives.

With land capabilities requiring more power than ever with the introduction of new systems such as novel weapons, active protection, and the increase in computer processing, the performance and effectiveness of such equipment is dependent on the ability to power, charge and sustain them.

Kratos’ ability to provide flexible and scalable power whenever and wherever it is required will help militaries transform their operations, reduce the dependency on fossil fuels as well as the associated safety risks in resupply.

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Oxley Group Ltd

 

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

 

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

 

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

 

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

 

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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23 Oct 24. L3Harris and Palantir Announce Strategic Partnership. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR) today announced a strategic partnership to propel advanced technology development and accelerate L3Harris’ digital transformation.

The companies’ complementary capabilities – including L3Harris’ sensors and software-defined systems and Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) – will together enable new levels of capability and resilient connectivity across the joint-all-domain network, ensuring warfighters can make more informed decisions faster to protect our nation’s security and that of our allies.

“As the industry’s Trusted Disruptor, we are committed to collaborating with innovative partners to deliver unmatched value to our global customers,” said Christopher E. Kubasik, Chair and CEO, L3Harris. “Our work to date has demonstrated the meaningful impact of integrating our capabilities, and we will build upon these efforts to enhance performance across domains.”

“Palantir exists to support the West’s most important institutions,” said Alex Karp, co-founder and chief executive officer of Palantir. “We’re partnering with L3Harris to ensure that the U.S. and its allies combine the West’s two greatest assets — AI dominance and cutting-edge hardware — on the battlefield.”

L3Harris and Palantir’s strategic partnership encompasses a variety of ongoing initiatives, including collaboration on U.S. Army programs like TITAN and efforts aligned with the U.S. Army’s Unified Network Strategy; leveraging Palantir AIP internally at L3Harris for enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives; and development and demonstration efforts with sensors, radios and other advanced technologies. Together, Palantir and L3Harris are investing in novel solutions that will push computing to the far edge, from radios as sensors to orbital processing on satellites that will help lead the future of communication and tactical decision-making.

The companies most recently integrated L3Harris’ WESCAM MX-20 EO/IR system with Palantir’s Sensor Inference Platform (SIP), which provided edge AI for improved target detection and delineation during a live fly test. Having SIP integrated onto the MX-20 provided increased situational awareness, automatic target identification, and communication, resulting in reduced operator workload with increased effectiveness. (Source: ASD Network)

 

23 Oct 24. General Micro Systems’ X9 Spider modular, scalable and distributed architecture for aerospace and defense applications continues to collect accolades, this time with two 2024 Military + Aerospace Electronics (MAE) Innovators Awards. This week, MAE recognized the X9 Spider Server as a platinum honoree for “superb innovation, characterized by a groundbreaking approach to meeting a need, and/or a new level of performance, efficiency, ease-of-use or other beneficial quality.” As a gold honoree, the X9 Spider Workstation I/O was recognized as an “excellent innovation” that makes a substantial improvement over previous methods employed, approaches taken, or products/systems used.

The X9 Spider Server is part of GMS’ family of palm-sized X9 Spider modules that reduce barriers to developing applications that require rugged high-performance computing, high-definition video, sensor processing, AI, battlefield edge processing, storage, display and Workstation I/O.

The X9 Spider Server and the X9 Spider Workstation I/O are among the family of palm-sized X9 Spider modules (6” x 4.75” x2” and 2.1 pounds) that reduce barriers to developing applications that require rugged high-performance computing, high-definition video, sensor processing, artificial intelligence (AI), battlefield edge processing, storage, display and Workstation I/O in a rugged enclosure with unprecedented performance per dollar per watt. All X9 Spider products use the GMS Thunderbolt™ 4 technology and a patented LightBolt™ 40Gbps connection in copper or fiber, with optional 100W per port power for up-/down-stream sensors and system expansion.

“These two X9 Spider systems offer more capabilities in an ultra-small, lightweight yet extremely rugged package, meaning they can power and connect all sorts of systems to share data to and from the battlefield without taking up much space,” said Ben Sharfi, General Micro Systems’ CEO and chief architect. “Not only do these modules offer numerous industry firsts in terms of hardware, mechanical, interconnect and thermal innovations, but they are the smallest, most dense and most portable systems available for these applications. These awards for innovation and technology advancement are further validation that we’re providing what no one else can.”

X9 Spider Server: The world’s smallest, fully rugged server with vast I/O expansion

With over 26 patents pending, the X9 Spider Server’s ultra-small, high performance CPU board, I/O bandwidth (455Gbps) and unique stackable mechanical design enable the X9 modules to be configured into any system imaginable. The X9 Spider Server features include:

• An Intel® Xeon® D processor and an NVIDIA’s flagship GPU RTX-A4500 MXM module
• Dual 100GigE ports for RDMA data transfers from sensors or between X9 Servers
• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports, each providing 40 Gbps of I/O to displays, network and peripherals that can be daisy chained while providing 100W to power to peripherals such as displays, disc drives and I/O up to 50 meters away.
• Patented RuggedCool™ technology to provide four-sided cooling for balanced heat transfer and low thermal gradient for full operation at up to +85°C

X9 Workstation I/O: Ultra-compact, fully rugged workstation system with vast I/O and removable storage

The X9 Workstation I/O (WSIO) is an integral function of the X9 system architecture. Whether on battlefield, lab or command and control stations, a user interface with features such as displays, network, input devices, local dedicated secure storage and custom application specific I/O is needed. Further, those I/O ports must accommodate over industry standard connectors, yet be rugged, sealed, dust and waterproof, to withstand the rugged environment for years of reliable operation.

The X9 WSIO is connected to the X9 Spider Host computer via a Thunderbolt 4 interface and may be powered directly from the Host up to 50 meters away. Further, these WSIO workstations may be daisy chained to an unlimited number of stations. The WSIO features include:

• A vast array of expansion I/O that provide up to twelve expansion sites for additional I/O and sensors.
• A single removable U.2 storge device that may be a 2.5” NVMe™ drive, SATA, 2x M.2 or a secure NSA approved SSD. This drive may be encrypted and can be easily removed to archive the data.
• Two Thunderbolt 4 ports for daisy chain and for user I/O and system expansion. The user interfaces are one 10GBase-TX via a sealed RJ-45 connector, mini display port, five USB-C (3.2) ports each with 10Gbit/s data transfer, and up to 15W (5V @ 3A) of power delivery to the peripherals.

Datasheets with all features for the X9 Spider Server and X9 Workstation I/O can be found at the links here:

X9 Spider Server

X9 Workstation I/O

NOTE: 2024 MAE Innovators Award winners are chosen by the qualified judging panel chosen by the editorial staff at Military + Aerospace Electronics.

 

22 Oct 224. Universal Avionics ClearVision Solves New LED Approach Lighting Challenge. Universal Avionics (UA), the global leader in advanced avionics, today announces that its ClearVision™ Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) mitigates changes recently reflected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Approach Lighting Systems. The EVS-5000 multispectral camera seeks to ensure pilots can identify Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) to land safely in low-visibility conditions.

In March 2024, the FAA announced that due to a dwindling supply of the incandescent lamps used in approach light systems, airports would have to replace these lamps with energy-efficient LEDs, following a similar runway lighting transition. While this shift increases efficiency, it renders many current IR-based EVS sensors ineffective at identifying runways.

Dror Yahav, CEO of Universal Avionics, says: “Our EVS-5000 camera does not rely solely on thermal sensors to detect lighting on approach; it uses five sensors in addition to the thermal imager. This technology – which we started to develop 15 years ago – was designed to meet the most stringent requirements, including detecting LED lights and ensuring that our customers can continue to operate confidently without disruption. Our EVS-5000 is the only camera that received the maximum allowable credit of 50% visual advantage by the FAA on top of those unique LED support characteristics.”

“Our forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovation set us apart from other EVS manufacturers, many of whom have been slow to address the challenges posed by LED lights and are now feeling the heat from customers in North America who will likely soon run into issues when they land at an airport and are unable to see the required lightings.”

About ClearVision EFVS

• ClearVision significantly enhances situational awareness, displaying clear, high-definition imaging of the aircraft’s external environment in a wearable head-up display for pilots, even in challenging weather conditions. It enhances the pilot’s ability to see and interpret the surroundings accurately, allowing for better object recognition, and improving safety during takeoff, landing, and taxi operations.
• The EVS-5000 uses multispectral imaging with six sensors rather than a single heat-detecting sensor. Five sensors use a combination of millimeter wavelengths across the light spectrum to detect and display terrain features, runways, taxiways, and other obstacles that may not be visible to the naked eye. The sixth sensor is high-resolution infrared to capture thermal images of the environment.
• ClearVision offers a 50% visual advantage over the naked eye, compared to the traditional EFVS offering of 33%. The system’s FAA compliance enables operators to take advantage of operational credits when landing.
• Installed on the aircraft nose, the EVS-5000 is designed to seamlessly integrate with a wide range of aircraft types, from business jets and regional airliners to helicopters and light aircraft, where the smaller EVS-4000 version is suitable.  (Source: ASD Network)

 

21 Oct 24. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today introduced two miniature avionics bus data acquisition unit (DAU) modules that enable flight test engineers to capture 100% of a test program’s digital MIL-STD-1553 and IEEE-1394 data and support selected data capture for insertion into the PCM telemetry stream. The MDAU-1553 and MDAU-1394 modules are designed for use with Curtiss-Wright’s MnACQ-2700, its industry-leading miniature network data acquisition (MnACQ) encoding system. The high data rate (HDR) modules significantly reduce the complexity, module count and cost of simultaneously capturing bulk digital avionics bus data and telemetering select data during flight tests. For example, capturing eight (8) channels of MIL-STD-1553 bus data with our traditional solution would require nine (9) modules with a height of 3.6”.  The MDAU-1553 can perform the same operation with only three (3) modules and a height of 1.2”.  These new DAU modules expand the capabilities of the MnACQ-2700 product line, which retains 100% backward compatibility with the MnACQ-2600 and is supported by over 200 I/O modules.

“Our new high data rate MIL-STD-1553 and IEEE-1394 avionics bus data acquisition modules for the MnACQ-2700 system enable flight test engineers to process more data in the same amount of space, which can help reduce the number of costly test flights,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. “These miniature modules add next-generation capabilities to the MnACQ product line while retaining full backward compatibility with the industry’s largest catalog of data acquisition modules.”

The MDAU-1553 is an 8-channel MIL-STD-1553 miniature bus acquisition module and the MDAU-1394 is a 3-channel IEEE-1394b acquisition module. The modules enable selected data to be captured and inserted into a PCM format at rates up to 40 Mbps. This PCM format can be multicasted over Ethernet and transmitted as a traditional clock/data PCM. Simultaneously, 100% of the MIL-STD-1553 or 1394b data can be bulk captured and transmitted over dual Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) ports as multicast packets. Ethernet data can be encoded using IRIG-106 Chapter 10/11, IRIG-106 TmNS Chapters 21-26, or DARv3 encapsulation. Additional status and performance information is also available for insertion into the PCM format or transmission over Ethernet.

About the MnACQ-2700 Data Acquisition System

The MnACQ-2700 enables an Ethernet-based network data acquisition solution for analog and bus data capture and system safety monitoring applications. With dual GbE ports that support both 100Base-T and 1000Base-T, the MnACQ-2700 provides bulk data and selected data to an FTI network for demanding applications such as new aircraft development and technology refresh programs. The MnACQ-2700 also provides pulse-code modulation (PCM) outputs up to 40 Mbps for real-time telemetry of mission and safety-critical data. The MnACQ-2700 is configurable using IRIG-106 metadata description language (MDL) and by Curtiss-Wright’s TTCWare software utility.

 

18 Oct 24. Honeywell, Merlin partner to advance military aircraft autonomy. Initially, the partners aim to retrofit current fixed-wing military aircraft using Merlin’s advanced automation technology.

The partnership aims to retrofit existing fixed-wing military aircraft with Merlin’s automation system. Credit: © Honeywell International Inc.

US company Honeywell and Merlin, autonomous flight technology developer, have partnered to advance autonomy across a range of military and commercial aircraft platforms.

This partnership, marked by signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), will see the integration of Merlin Pilot, a non-human pilot system, with Honeywell Anthem’s avionics suite.

Initially, the partners aim to retrofit current fixed-wing military aircraft using Merlin’s advanced automation technology to support the warfighter.

This initiative is designed to reduce crew operations and pave the way for eventual uncrewed flight, without compromising on safety.

The collaboration follows after Merlin received a $105m production contract from the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in June 2024.

The company will work towards bringing its autonomy technology to production and onboard the Special Operations Forces’ C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft and other additional aircraft.

In February 2024, Merlin also established partnerships with the Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) to integrate the Merlin Pilot on the KC-135 aircraft.

The integration of Honeywell Anthem’s user-friendly interface and flight management with Merlin Pilot’s automation system will offer a suite of automated flight tasks, enhancing operational efficiency for special missions.

The MOU underlines Honeywell’s aim to align its portfolio with the megatrends of automation and the future of aviation.

It also empowers Merlin to further its mission of improving pilot efficiency and flight safety across both commercial and military sectors.

Honeywell Aerospace Technologies Electronic Solutions Bob Buddecke president said: “This collaboration will benefit the military significantly, as this autonomy solution helps alleviate the pilot shortage by reducing the number of pilots required for certain aircraft operations.

“By enabling single-pilot operations and automating key tasks, this partnership provides a scalable and safe solution to ease pilot workload and optimise fleet operations for both the military and commercial aviation industry.”

Honeywell disclosed in February2024 that it will supply 105 T55-GA-714A engines to support Germany’s acquisition of new CH-47F Chinook helicopters.  (Source: airforce-technology.com)

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Oxley Group Ltd

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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14 Oct 24. Quaze Launches Unique Tubular Wireless Charging Product at AUSA as part of L3Harris UAS Product.

Quaze Technologies, a Canada-based technology company and creator of wide-surface wireless power transfer (WPT), is set to launch a unique tubular wireless charging product with L3Harris Technologies Inc, a world leader in producing innovative solutions in advanced technologies. As L3Harris continues to forge new Unmanned Systems capabilities and standards, they have selected Quaze’s wide-surface WPT technology to power their drones remotely in all conditions and without human intervention for their multi-UAV drone launch, recovery and recharging system. L3Harris and Quaze will present the technology at the L3Harris Booth 6727 at AUSA in Washington, D.C. 14-16 October 2024.

Having already established strategic collaborations with Rheinmetall Canada and Galvion over the past 12-months, this contract will provide a solution to the unique technical challenge of recharging vertically aligned drones autonomously, within cylindrical housings. The outcome has extended Quaze’s charging product advantage to being capable of executing commercial grade power transfer over 360 degrees. This ensures uninterrupted access to power regardless of the drone’s alignment within a cylinder, providing full spatial freedom within the enclosure.  This represents a novel advancement and an important breakthrough in terms of wireless power transfer. The collaboration which provides the ability to charge multiple drones simultaneously and wirelessly, is set to mark a significant leap in L3Harris UAS operational efficiency and endurance.

Quaze’s unique products provide fully agnostic, pre-configured access to wireless power, making integration with any unmanned Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) system seamless and highly efficient. This has enabled L3Harris to shape solutions to emerging operational requirements, utilising Quaze to deliver a custom-made tubular WPT technology. Seamless integration of Quaze’s technology into robotic solutions is a central feature of the L3Harris/Quaze collaboration and both organisations are keen to explore wider opportunities to enhance robotic autonomy, beyond this initial project.

Quaze’s wide surface power technology, with its magnetic resonance capabilities, enables the L3Harris multi-UAV management system to continuously cycle air assets to achieve greater sustained autonomy and delivering unmanned persistent drone operations. This reduces operator/maintainer exposure to inherent operational risks. This wireless technology charges any robotic system in any environment and without the need for human intervention or precise alignment.

Xavier Bidaut, CEO of Quaze Technologies said, “We are excited to have the opportunity to further push the technical boundaries of wireless power technology with L3Harris, a global leader in innovative technologies. The contract enables us to demonstrate a fully functional 360-degree tubular wireless power transfer system. It not only establishes Quaze as a market leader but firmly positions us as the WPT of choice for forward-thinking OEMs seeking additional capability to enhance their offer in emerging technologies.”

 

11 Oct 24. Systel, an industry leader in rugged computing, introduced Gray Wolf 2, a high-density, high-performance rugged compute solution at the 2024 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Gray Wolf 2 provides immense data center 4U performance in a compact and rugged 2U chassis and is purpose-built for intensive mission-critical data processing and analytics applications.

The server is configured with dual latest generation Intel Scalable Xeon CPUs and dual NVIDIA data center GPUs with NVLink for maximum throughput with minimal latency. It features robust IO, expansion, and storage capabilities as well as 110VAC or 28VDC power options.

Gray Wolf 2 is MIL-SPEC rugged and offers superior performance for demanding workloads in artificial intelligence (AI), signals intelligence (SIGINT), electronic warfare (EW). and cyber warfare (CW) applications when high performance is required in austere environments.

It is engineered using a modular open systems approach (MOSA), utilizing open architectures and commercial-off-the-shelf technologies, and is the optimal choice for mission-critical defense and commercial applications where performance is essential and space is at a premium.

Brian Russell, vice-president of product at Systel, says: “The ability to deliver so much performance in a form factor that is typically only capable of delivering half the power is a testament to Systel’s engineering expertise and continual investment in R&D and innovation.

“We have listened to our customers and have worked hard to deliver this performance in a smaller form factor. We are excited about the journey our rackmount server product line is taking and look forward to bringing more disruptive capabilities to the market in due course.”

 

14 Oct 24. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today announced that its IQ-Core® Software (Rel. 5.x TN 2123101) unified network communications management software has been certified as an Element Management System (EMS) and has been added to the Department of Defense’s Information Network Approved Products List (DoDIN APL) maintained by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Placement on the DoDIN APL certifies that IQ-Core Software meets DISA’s highest standards for data security and interoperability excellence. The IQ-Core Software suite provides defense, intelligence, and federal law enforcement agencies with a comprehensive management software application designed for secure, tactical, and distributed network management. It is ideal for all DoD networks, including edge networks in disconnected, intermittent, and limited (DIL) environments.

“Many organizations are required to only use data security products from the DoD Information Network Approved Products List,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions. “Earning DoDIN APL certification ensures our customers that IQ-Core Software has been successfully tested for interoperability and has the information assurance needed to protect against threats to cybersecurity. What’s more, being listed on the DoDIN APL speeds and eases the procurement and speed to deployment of our industry-leading suite of trusted tactical network management tools.”

The listing of IQ-Core Software on the DoDIN APL follows a May 9, 2024, certification by the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC).

IQ-Core Software contributes to tactical mission success by reducing network configuration errors, improving uptime, simplifying troubleshooting, and providing cyber situational awareness to network operators. It provides an intuitive and integrated user interface that makes system setup and operation quick and easy to learn, thereby reducing training costs. IQ-Core Software helps advance the mission of Curtiss-Wright’s PacStar® product family to provide leading-edge communication solutions for tactical, expeditionary, and mobile organizations. The PacStar family of tactical communications products is ideally suited for wide deployment across DoD networks, as well as commercial/industrial organizations with mission-critical communications requirements.

 

14 Oct 24.  Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division has announced the latest addition to its industry-leading IQ-Core® family of software communications solutions with the introduction of the new IQ-Core Endpoint Configuration Assistant (ECA). IQ-Core ECA eliminates the time and complexity required to manually configure and onboard End User Devices (EUDs) for Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) enclaves. The National Security Agency (NSA) CSfC program defines the requirements for enabling EUDs to transmit and receive classified data over untrusted or vulnerable networks with the use of commercially available encryption technology. A demonstration of IQ-Core ECA will be presented in Curtiss-Wright’s booth (#2143) during the AUSA 2024 Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 14-16, 2024.

“Our range of software solutions is renowned for making otherwise complex and laborious IT processes, such as setting up and managing mobile networks at the tactical edge, fast, intuitive and error-free,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “Our new software utility, IQ-Core Endpoint Configuration Assistant, onboards EUDs and accurately configures each to meet NSA CSfC standards. IQ-Core ECA was developed in the USA by Curtiss-Wright’s industry-leading PacStar product line software development team.”

IQ-Core ECA helps maintain NSA CSfC compliance by generating keys and certificate signing requests directly on EUDs. Certificates can then be automatically issued and installed on the device using the existing IQ-Core Crypto Manager (CM), which supports all CSfC-certified Certificate Authorities. IQ-Core ECA also supports a manual workflow for environments that require a strict separation of roles.  After the EUD certificates are installed, the IQ-Core ECA helps the operator configure both inner and outer virtual private networks (VPN) to connect to the CSfC infrastructure. IQ-Core ECA ensures that the installation and configuration of VPN clients and EUD Wi-Fi adapters is performed in a secure, NSA-compliant manner. Once the EUD is configured, IQ-Core ECA monitors the VPN tunnels and alerts the operator to any connectivity issues in a simple graphical view.

Industry Leading Battlefield Solutions

IQ-Core ECA was developed by Curtiss-Wright’s industry-leading PacStar product team that drives advanced communications solutions which address a wide range of military, intelligence, and commercial applications. Curtiss-Wright creates and manufactures commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)-based rugged, small form factor expeditionary and mobile communications systems. Separately, it develops the integrated, network communications management software, IQ-Core Software, for the military, federal, state/local government, and emergency responder markets. The company’s patented IQ-Core Software, hardware technology, and integrated solutions provide secure, command, control, and communications systems, particularly in remote or infrastructure starved areas. In addition, the PacStar family of communications system products is ideally suited for commercial/industrial organizations with mission-critical field communications requirements.

Curtiss-Wright Showcases New Rugged MOSA-based Solutions for Tactical Networks & Ground Vehicles with Live System Solution Demos at AUSA 2024

 

14 Oct 24. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division showcased its latest rugged system solutions designed to equip warfighters with new and future technologies to adapt to an ever-changing and complex environment at the AUSA 2024 Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 14-16, 2024.

Curtiss-Wright AUSA Demonstration Highlights:

• A Deployable Network Backbone: The DuraNET® 3300 Ethernet Switch provides network connectivity to nodes in a small form factor (SFF).
• “Anything/Anywhere” Information Sharing: Virtualization software running on a VPX3-126x series single board computer (SBC), with preloaded applications stored in the DTS1 Network Attached Storage (NAS) encrypted storage unit, enables all applications to be distributed as thin clients across the network via the DuraNET 3300 switch.
• Ultra-Compact Tactical Communications and Processing Modules: SWaP-optimized PacStar 200-Series and 400-Series modules enable system designers to snap-together a wide range of configurations for an even broader range of tactical applications.
• Ruggedized Universal Software-Defined Radio: SOSA aligned VPX3-E320 USRP module runs 3dB Labs SCEPTRE software to present live RF spectrum and demodulation.
• Tactical Data Links for Battlefield Communications: TCG HUNTR™ TDL Hub message TDLs (VMF and Link 16) for vehicle situational awareness, with TCG BOSS in the background. The DuraCOR 8043 mission computer runs simulation software showing real-time air, sea, and ground links on a local map.
• Fanless SAVE System: 8-slot CMOSS/SOSA Enclosure meets the U.S. Army PEO Ground Combat Systems (GCS) Standardized A-Kit/Vehicle Envelope (SAVE) with internal mounting and physical interfaces for connecting CMOSS systems and radios to platforms.
• CMOSS/SOSA System: VPX3-126x series SBC, XMC-554C 1TB storage module, VPX3-687 VICTORY Network Ethernet switch, VPX3-E320 USRP module, and  VITA 62 power supply hosted in 8-slot CMOSS/SOSA enclosure.
• Secure But Unclassified Encrypted (SBU-E) Networks: PacStar 400-Series solutions run Cisco Virtual Routing and Virtual Route Forwarding technology to separate the transport architecture with the data enclave. Shows ability to increase subscriber support from 20+ wired to 200+. Remote Operations and Management (ROAM) manages network and appliances from multiple vendors, including Cisco, Riverbed, Microsoft, and REDCOM.
• IQ-Core® Software: IQ-Core Software provides network status and management for embedded systems. Its GUI displays a map of the networked hardware and networked demos in Curtiss-Wright’s booth and display the network status of all embedded systems.
• Fabric100™ OpenVPX Modules: Extremely high-performance SOSA aligned 3U and 6U modules, including the 6U CHAMP-FX7 FPGA engine, CHAMP-XD4 6U VPX Intel® Xeon® D-2700 HPEC/Cognitive DSP Processor, a 3U VPX3-126x series 14-core Intel Raptor Lake Hybrid Processor SBC, and VPX3-6816 Ethernet switch.
• Voice and Video Cross Domain Solution: Owl Cyber Defense Voice and Video Cross Domain Solution (V2CDS) runs on PacStar 400-Series servers. This powerful combination enables secure collaboration across security boundaries: Designed for use in small team, ground vehicle-based, and command-post applications.
• SOSA Aligned Cisco IOS XE based 10 GbE Embedded Switch Module: New 3U VPX3-623 Cisco Powered Switch is industry’s first to combine Cisco® Catalyst® ESS9300 Embedded Series Switch Technology with Curtiss-Wright’s industry-leading OpenVPX ruggedization.
• Generative AI/ML: VPX3-1711 AI/ML Processor Card, one of the most powerful SBCs for energy-efficient autonomous solutions, enables software-defined intelligent systems at the tactical edge.
• Crash Recorder with Health and Usage Monitoring: The Fortress HUMS lightweight crash recorder with integrated Health and Usage Monitoring (HUMS) uniquely combines cockpit voice recording, flight data recording and HUMS capabilities in an easy-to-install, lightweight, and affordable single-box solution.
• High-Speed/High-Precision Motion Control: Exceptionally compact (5.4 x 5.3 x 3.8 in), lightweight (<5 lbs) NC120A Nano Motion Controller, generates 120A of peak current with 28V input power to deliver more than 3kW of power.
• Electromechanical Actuation: Accurate, efficient, and battle-ready linear actuators and brushless servo motors deliver maximum force and robust performance in small packages.

For additional information about Curtiss-Wright MOSA technologies, please visit www.curtisswrightds.com, LinkedIn, and X @CurtissWrightDS.

About Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a global integrated business that provides highly engineered products, solutions and services mainly to Aerospace & Defense markets, as well as critical technologies in demanding Commercial Power, Process and Industrial markets. Headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina, we leverage a workforce of approximately 8,600 highly skilled employees who develop, design and build what we believe are the best engineered solutions to the markets we serve. Building on the heritage of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright, headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina, has a long tradition of providing innovative solutions through trusted customer relationships. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.

 

16 Oct 24. At EDGE, Lockheed Martin Drives Advancements in AI, Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming and Networked Connectivity for U.S. Army.

The Big Picture

At several 2024 U.S. Army demonstrations such as Project Convergence and Army Futures Command’s Experimental Demonstration Gateway Event (EDGE), Lockheed Martin is demonstrating crewed-uncrewed teaming, uncrewed-uncrewed operations, Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) and integrated systems in various missions relevant to 21st Century Security® in all domains including through the digital frontier.

The Details

During EDGE, Lockheed Martin conducted highly realistic air/ground teaming scenarios with uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), acting as launched effects surrogates, and uncrewed ground vehicles (UGV).

In one mission scenario, a launched effect provided autonomous overwatch guidance for a quadruped that navigated urban terrain with human and vehicle obstacles. This technology is designed to operate in environments with degraded or intermittent communications, and scale to many uncrewed systems.

The successful demonstrations included rapid integration into Lockheed Martin’s mission systems thanks to the company’s open architecture systems.

The scenario played out in the Air-Ground Littoral, an area where the majority of Army operations, both air and ground occur.

Lockheed Martin sees the Air-Ground Littoral as the space primarily occupied by ground forces, supporting helicopters and launched effects, between the ground and up to a few thousand feet of altitude.

Expert Perspectives

Dan Morrison, technical program manager, Lockheed Martin

“Our experimentation is refining autonomous, collaborative behaviors and proving out AI/ML systems in a realistic and challenging environment. Ultimately, this will further enable commanders to better integrate humans and machines in formation and offer increased standoff and reduced workload for Soldiers.” Michael Harasimowicz, director, AI Innovations, Lockheed Martin.

“AI enabling technologies are critical for the U.S. Army to harness decision advantage by extending and expanding sensor understanding at the edge of the battlespace. One day very soon you will see a mission where a Black Hawk helicopter sends information to launched effects that is out ahead of the fight and communicates with a UGV for first contact with the opposing force.”

Going Deeper: The Lockheed Martin AI Center

Lockheed Martin’s AI Center (LAIC), and the experience of our Applied AI researchers combined with the expertise of teammates who are U.S. Army veterans led to the successes at EDGE.

Fifteen members of the LAIC went to Yuma to support EDGE to support five separate AI-enabled capabilities.

“We are demonstrating our suite of AI capabilities for coordinated use and intuitive control across the Air and Ground domain featuring the Lockheed Martin Stalker uncrewed system and a Spot®, Boston Dynamics Quadruped Robot,” said Harasimowicz. “This synchronization of airborne and ground-based defenses demonstrates Lockheed Martin’s commitment to Force Protection Technologies, a key mission for the U.S. Army.

 

11 Oct 24. Kite-Strike II x86 Embedded Computer to be Unveiled at AUSA 2024.

Systel is introducing the latest addition to its Kite-Strike II series at AUSA 2024 featuring the next-gen Intel x86 COM-HPC architecture for edge computing applications.

Systel, a leader in ruggedized computing, will showcase its new Kite-Strike II x86 embedded computer, designed for high-performance computing in mission-critical environments at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2024 Annual Meeting.

Featuring a next-gen Intel x86 COM-HPC architecture that supports a range of compute at the edge applications, the Kite-Strike II x86 will be displayed at booth #1015 during AUSA in Washington, D.C.

The proven x86 architecture is widely used and designed for high-performance computing tasks running on operating systems including Windows and Linux. The new small form factor (SFF) computer is the perfect solution for managing and controlling various equipment on platforms, including sensors, communications suites, and other mission-critical systems.

This builds on Systel’s dual-architecture approach to rugged computer development, giving customers the flexibility to choose what is most appropriate for their mission requirement.

The x86 version (model number EC7220) follows the significant success of the NVIDIA-based Kite-Strike II AI at the edge product (model number EC7210) that integrates the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin SOM, the world’s most powerful embedded AI computing engine. Kite-Strike II x86 is configured with an Intel x86 COM-HPC CPU module, which is optimized for use across a range of Department of Defense (DoD) programs.

Both Kite-Strike II versions share the same form factor and chassis, giving customers significant compute power in applications where size, weight and power (SWaP) is limited. This includes ground and air platforms in both crewed and uncrewed configurations.

Kite-Strike II is also highly modular, allowing customers to configure the computer with different cards and expand capabilities where required. The x86 version has a robust IO capability that includes 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports with TSN (as well as the option for 10GbE), multiple USB 3.0 and 2.0 connectors, multiple serial, and dual HDMI. Storage options include Internal M.2 or mSATA and removable U.2.

The new Kite Strike II meets a range of MIL-SPEC standards, including stringent US DoD environmental and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements. Systel is a world leader in military-grade computer ruggedization, and this experience has once again been brought to the fore for Kite Strike II.

Brian Russell, vice-president of product at Systel commented, “The Kite-Strike II x86 brings true compute power to the edge. It’s designed to meet the demands of programs that require high-performance computing without the requirement for running complex AI algorithms. With this architecture, we’re giving our customers the flexibility to control complex systems in a very small form factor and where low SWaP is critical.”

Kite-Strike II x86 Features:

• Powered by Intel x86 COM-HPC architecture
• Small form factor (SFF) suitable for SWaP-constrained applications
• Ideal for managing complex systems without requiring AI capabilities
• Dual Ethernet ports, USB 3.0 and 2.0, multiple serial and HDMI ports
• Compliant with MIL-SPEC standards, including environmental and EMC requirements
• (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)

 

15 Oct 24. Low-SWaP SDR Module for Unmanned Military Platforms Released.

Domo Tactical Communications (DTC) has launched the BluSDR-90-UL, a software-defined radio (SDR) module designed to provide long-range communication for unmanned military platforms.

Domo Tactical Communications (DTC) has launched the BluSDR-90-UL, a cutting-edge software-defined radio (SDR) module and the latest addition to its trusted BluSDR™ product line.

Designed to meet the evolving needs of both mobile and fixed-site applications, BluSDR-90-UL is optimized for long-range communication on drone platforms, enabling reliable connectivity capable of over 150km in line-of-sight applications.

BluSDR-90-UL delivers 10W of power output while maintaining an ultra-lightweight, low size, weight, and power (SWaP) profile at just 210g, fitting in the palm of a hand. This ultra-low SWaP also means that multiple units can be installed on a single vehicle for maximum resilience and mission flexibility.

These features make the BluSDR-90-UL one of the lightest and most powerful radio modules of its type. It is ideal for medium-sized fixed-wing drones, unmanned ground vehicle (UGVs) and unmanned surface vehicle (USV) platforms, as well as other soldier and vehicular systems where reliable communications and operational flexibility are critical.

User-Centric Innovation

The BluSDR family offers a versatile software-defined, multi-waveform architecture on a single radio. Delivered with DTC’s battle-proven MeshUltra™ family of high bandwidth MANET Mesh waveforms, BluSDR radios will also enable users to choose from a range of alternative waveforms, including TrellisWare’s TSM or a unidirectional “one to many” video downlink waveform.

The MeshUltra waveform family capability enables up to 144 nodes to operate with the network. In support of efficiency and minimizing modern electronic warfare threats, the MeshUltra family features beam forming, anti-spoofing, anti-jamming, spectrum scanning, and AES256.

Visit Domo Tactical Communications at AUSA 2024

For a hands-on demonstration of the BluSDR-90-UL, connect with DTC at AUSA 2024 in Washington, D.C., October 14-16, Booth 7601.

In addition to BluSDR-90-UL, DTC is showcasing its full range of multi-waveform SDR solutions, including the SDR-H2 and Sentry Mesh 6161, providing an opportunity for visitors to experience the future of mission-critical communication technology.

Steve Beeching, SVP and Managing Director EMEA, DTC, commented, “Our goal is to ensure that DTC continues to be at the forefront of mission-centric communications technology – and this is continued with powerful BluSDR-90-UL meeting ultra-SWaP for multiple waveform, low latency and high bandwidth in highly contested and congested environments.

“We continue to invest in providing the flexible solutions required by our customer at the speed of relevance. Our experience of austere environments, assured resilient integrated networking and radio engineering allows us to rapidly innovate hand-in-hand with our customer to produce leading solutions focused on providing confidence in achieve required outcomes all the way to the tactical edge.”

Rob Garth, Business Unit Director, Uncrewed Systems, DTC, added, “The BluSDR-90-UL with MeshUltra™ is a game changer for medium to large-sized Uncrewed platforms in all domains and long-range communication needs. This powerful solution is built with our customers in mind – designed for ease of integration, adaptability, and, most importantly, the ability to support seamless communication in even the most challenging and contested environments.”

(Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)

 

15 Oct 24. Four Advanced Cross-Domain Solutions for Secure Battlefield Communications Unveiled at AUSA.

General Micro Systems assures highly secure gigabit battlefield communications with the introduction of 4 customizable cross-domain systems at AUSA 2024, offering enhanced data security with new Enhanced SecureDNA™ technology.

General Micro Systems (GMS), a leader in defense communications and secure data processing, has launched four cutting-edge Cross-Domain Systems (CDS) designed to ensure real-time, secure communications across multi-domain environments.

This lightweight, compact form factor combines four new customizable airborne and ground-based cross-domain systems (CDS) by GMS provides highly secure gigabit battlefield communications between secure, classified, and insecure comms links in

The new systems, debuting at the 2024 Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) annual meeting, provide compact, lightweight solutions for secure battlefield data transmission, protecting mission-critical information.

The four new cross-domain systems from GMS include an airborne 3-domain CDS, two ground-based CDS systems, and a ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based CDS. These systems enable secure mission processing, storage, encryption, and network capabilities with options for SATCOM, AI, and data diodes. The systems are equipped with the newly enhanced SecureDNA™ cyber suite, which safeguards data from unauthorized access or tampering.

Key Features:

• Airborne 3-domain CDS: Ideal for secure airborne operations with ultra-secure data separation using General Dynamics TACDS.
• Two ground-based CDS systems: Offering robust data security and customizable configurations for various field deployments.
• ¼ ATR OpenVPX CDS: A compact solution based on the X9 architecture, designed for smaller spaces with advanced encryption and removable storage.

The new airborne and ground-based systems enable higher levels of real-time security across multi-domain secure and public systems during live combat in a compact, lightweight form factor with enhanced SecureDNA to prevent the removal or tampering of mission-critical data.

The introduction of the four CDS is the culmination of decades of system-level experience with increasingly complex and secure systems. A recognized expert in defense communications, sensor processing, and data recorder systems, GMS is currently demonstrating all four CDS at AUSA this week at Booth #8407.

“In an era of interconnected systems and sensors, ‘joint’ operations between the services, and increasing cooperation between the US and NATO (and other allies)—data is being slung around the battlefield at gigabit rates,” explains Ben Sharfi, CEO and Chief Architect of GMS.

“With more and more ‘at the edge’ and embedded processing ‘at the tip of the spear,’ data comes in different colors – red for classified and black for unclassified. Keeping this data correctly categorized while sharing it between machines and allies requires robust cross-domain systems like the four we’re announcing at AUSA. No systems have ever been done like this before.”

Different from multi-domain Red/Black systems, CDS provide the gateway between highly secure, classified systems and insecure (often public) systems and networks. They offer higher levels of security than multi-domain, such as via data diodes for rules-based routing, and beefier crypto and sanitization for data-at-rest within storage devices.

Generically and insufficiently called Red/Black systems, the Department of Defense’s (DoD) SIPR (classified) and NIPR (unclassified) networks co-exist because data must often transit between US allies and disparate networks, and in an age of “connectedness,” often travels across public networks and systems such as Wi-Fi, 5G cellular, SATCOM such as Starlink or Starshield, and other public networks.

The cross-domain system filters the data, makes decisions about what data can pass between the domains, and encrypts/de-crypts data on-the-fly and at-rest on storage drives—all in real time. The CDS must also prepare for the eventuality that the vehicle, platform or location come under enemy control, so it must sanitize and eradicate its data in all kinds of circumstances, often autonomously with no operator ever pushing the big red button.

GMS History in Secure Systems: A Long Road with Demonstrated Results

“In our 45-year history, these GMS cross-domain systems are the pinnacle of everything we’ve learned about secure, rugged, networked, sensor processing and storage systems,” Sharfi said. “Our partnerships with security leaders like General Dynamics Mission Systems and learnings from the Army, Navy and Air Force are rolled into these highly secure, ready-to-deploy cross-domain systems that are unlike anything we’ve seen before.”

GMS explains that no other vendor or prime DoD contractor has systems that fit into such small spaces, weigh so little and are yet so full-featured and powerful while being completely off-the-shelf and ready to deploy. The airborne system, for example, has three domains—two in the Red enclave separated by a GD-MS TACDS for ultra-secure data within SIPRnet. The other three CDS offerings are tailored to different use cases but remain customizable.

Exceptional Security in Airborne, Ground and ¼ ATR OpenVPX Cross-Domain Systems

The new cross-domain systems being shown at AUSA include:

• Airborne three-enclave (Purple, Red, Black) with user tablet interface
• Large ground-based CDS with storage canister, Ethernet switch and user tablet interface
• Small-sized ground-based called “The Cube”
• A ¼ ATR 3U OpenVPX CDS

All systems are based upon the high TRL X9 architecture in either Spider small form factor or Venom OpenVPX and all systems will be TEMPEST certified.

The X9 architecture allowed the systems to be created quickly with features such as network ports, including fiber optic 100GigE, legacy I/O including MIL-STD-1553, mission processors and AI, plus removable storage using NSA encrypted, NIAP-listed FIPS-140-2 SSDs and CSfC offerings.

Each Domain IO controller has two removable drives: one R/W drive for large data sets and one drive programmable as read-only, intended to store the operating system or mission profile(s).

Drives are fully sealed when removed, IP67 rated, virtually indestructible, and are smaller than ever before. All internal I/O uses fiber optic connections to minimize EMI, relying on Intel’s Thunderbolt™ 4-over-fiber connections. Incoming power is isolated and each domain sports its own power supplies, including 3-phase/400Hz AC options and MIL-STD-1275 DC for vehicle power. All I/O to the outside world is opto-isolated and the domains are shielded Faraday boxes.

All GMS cross-domain offerings include provision for the General Dynamics KG-175N Type 1 encryptor. The airborne system includes the GD-MS TACDS CDS between the “landing zone” (Purple) and Red domains for a rules-based dual simplex data diode configuration to separate ultra-secure from secure data. In this manner, data snooping isn’t possible since data is not on the same link.

Enhanced SecureDNA™

For these systems, GMS has also beefed up the company’s SecureDNA cyber suite. As before, all storage can be erased along with the system’s firmware and BIOS via button-press, software call, or external input such as general-purpose input/output (GPIO).

Additionally, all SSDs include hardware secure erase and write-protect for a positive transaction, plus drive bay doors have switches that can trigger an intruder alert which can start SecureDNA. Enhanced SecureDNA™ adds a Domain IO Controller with CAC authentication card (SIPR token for the Red) for each domain to provide differing enclave security profiles, and a chassis-level System Information Module with daisy-chained physical connection to all modules to prevent removal or tampering lest an intruder alert be triggered. All inputs are opto-isolated to prevent crosstalk or side channel data analysis.

Additionally, care was put into defining various cyber sanitization use cases. For example, a new intruder alert connection on all X9 modules and the chassis System Information Module assures that all elements have a coordinated cyber response to “maskable” and “non-maskable” events.

Maskable events include the disconnection of the normally closed daisy-chained intruder line that runs to all X9s, the opening of a drive bay door, system shock detected by the Mission Processor’s accelerometers, and more. Maskable events can be configured to be ignored, depending on use case. Non-maskable events can not be ignored and include a software command, an external I/O line trigger—such as a pilot’s ejection seat—or the pressing of the Zero button on the chassis or tablet.

Two scenarios can be envisioned: opening a drive bay door can immediately trigger an intruder alarm, which causes SecureDNA to run and sanitize the drives and wipe the BIOS. In another scenario, disconnecting one of the intruder lines in an attempt to remove an X9 module triggers intruder mode, thus sanitizing the system and foiling a bad actor. Optional internal UPS hold-up power allows Enhanced SecureDNA to run even if the system is off or disconnected from external power.

GMS showcased the Cross-Domain Systems based upon X9 Spider and X9 Venom OpenVPX at booth #8407 at AUSA 2024, October 14-16.

 

16 Oct 24. Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW) congratulates X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC (X-energy) on its collaboration with Amazon to generate and deliver more than 5 gigawatts of new power projects across the U.S. by 2039, representing the largest commercial deployment target of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to date. The partnership will support future carbon-free projects that will use X-energy’s Xe-100 advanced SMRs as well as long-term power purchase agreements to power Amazon operations, including energy-intensive data centers.

Through its collaboration with Amazon, X-energy plans to build one of North America’s first grid-scale advanced nuclear reactors with Energy Northwest in Washington state, initially supporting one four-unit 320-megawatt (MW) high-temperature gas reactor plant with the option to increase that project to 12 units and 960 MW.

In September 2022, Curtiss-Wright and X-energy signed a preferred strategic supplier agreement to advance the design and deployment of X-energy’s advanced reactor, which is expected to provide the capability to both generate electricity or provide process heat for industrial applications. Under the terms of that agreement, Curtiss-Wright was selected to design and develop three of the most critical systems for the Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS) on the Xe-100 reactor, including the Helium Circulator System, Fuel Handling System and the Reactivity Control and Safe Shutdown System.

“On behalf of Curtiss-Wright and our entire commercial nuclear team, I would like to congratulate X-energy on solidifying this relationship to meet the growing power needs of Amazon’s data centers. We remain excited and aligned with the X-energy team as they continue to advance their next-generation reactor design and expand the breadth of customer applications,” said Lynn M. Bamford, Chair and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation.

“Curtiss-Wright continues to build on its heritage as one of the leading global suppliers of nuclear reactor technologies, and we remain committed to delivering innovative, safety-critical solutions to our customers and the nuclear industry. We remain in a unique position to support X-energy and other advanced SMR developers in their efforts to provide carbon-free energy supporting both electricity and process heat applications.”

X-energy’s Xe-100 is a Generation IV, High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor optimized to deliver 320 MW of electric output. The reactor can provide clean, reliable, and safe baseload power to an electricity system or support various industrial applications. X-energy is developing its initial Xe-100 plant at Dow Inc.’s UCC Seadrift Operations manufacturing site on the Texas Gulf Coast. In addition, X-energy’s advanced reactor technology offers remarkable efficiency and resiliency to meet the requirements of energy-intensive data centers.

Curtiss-Wright maintains one of the most comprehensive and diverse portfolios of advanced nuclear power equipment, technology, and services globally to support both operating reactors and new build opportunities.

 

16 Oct 24. Supportive funding for digital networking: Federal Minister Robert Habeck presents funding notification to Rheinmetall. Key facts

• Rheinmetall subsidiary YardStick Robotics receives funding for research project in the field of AI/robotics
• The total project volume for “RoX” is €52m
• Rheinmetall subsidiaries receive funding totaling  €1.4m

Rheinmetall subsidiary YardStick Robotics GmbH, which develops AI-controlled robots for extreme operational environments, and Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH were awarded a supportive funding notification for the “RoX” research project for a total of €1.4 m. At the ‘Scaling Industrial Data Ecosystems’ event in Berlin, Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, presented the notice to Klaus Kappen, Chief Technology Officer of Rheinmetall AG, and Domenico D’Agostino, Managing Director of YardStick Robotics.

“RoX” is a research project funded by the BMWK with a total volume of €52 m. The share of the project volume for the Rheinmetall companies is €3.5 m. Launched in September 2020 and scheduled to run for 30 months, “RoX” has set itself the goal of developing a digital ecosystem for AI-based robotics with scalable and innovative solutions for practical implementation.

YardStick Robotics relies on an efficient and cost-effective development workflow that is made possible by digital networking and model-based system development, as well as the use of artificial intelligence. This opens up access to customised robots and automation lines, particularly for small and medium-sized companies – for future-oriented and efficient automation in various industries.

Looking into the future, this will open up a wide range of application scenarios for the Rheinmetall Corporation. These will be implemented at the site in Unterlüß as part of RoX, together with Rheinmetall Waffe & Munition and others.

Already in spring of this year, YardStick Robotics was able to acquire a funding sum of €3.2m as part of the Manufacturing-X initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) for the Robot-X research project in cooperation with the Rheinmetall entities Pierburg GmbH and Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH.

About the project “RoX”

“RoX” is a research project funded by the BMWK that started in September 2024 and will run for 30 months. The goal which has been set by a consortium of leading industry and science partners is to develop a digital ecosystem for AI-based robotics with scalable and innovative solutions for practical implementation.

The project aims at establishing a digital ecosystem that facilitates or even enables the use of innovative AI-based robotic solutions in various practical applications and industries. Manufacturing in particular, as well as the logistics and service sectors, will benefit from the project results.

The use of AI-based robotic systems offers enormous potential for strengthening those industries that depend on the high efficiency and flexibility of robotic systems. In the coming years, the market for robotics will be characterised by significant growth. In order to fully utilise this potential, the “RoX” project will take robotic systems to a new level of performance by combining advanced robotic components, artificial intelligence (AI) and a digital ecosystem. This will shorten innovation cycles and significantly improve system integration and commissioning.

No single market participant can cover or master the high complexity of AI-based robotic systems alone. That is why a consortium of industry and science is cooperating across company boundaries in “RoX”. The focus is on practice-relevant use-cases that address the current need for action in industry and offer innovative, transferable solutions. The central application areas include

• Loading and unloading processes along the entire logistics chain,
• Commissioning processes in unstructured areas,
• Multifunctional and location-flexible robot systems in production and
• AI-based commissioning of robot systems.

In these areas, the feasibility and practicality of the developed solutions are demonstrated and evaluated in terms of their potential for continuous further development and scalability.

In order to develop a scalable digital ecosystem for AI-based robotics, “RoX” focuses on the integration of practice-oriented solutions in development and application environments, the provision of quality-assured software components and AI models, and the design of semantic models and meta-data structures. Data security of the robotics ecosystem and networking with international initiatives are also addressed as an integral part of the project.

The sustainable organisational structure ensures that the developed software modules, semantic models and the digital ecosystem will be provided and further developed beyond the end of the project. In this way, “RoX” will make an important contribution to the future of AI-based robotics and sustainably strengthen the innovative power of the participating industries.

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Oxley Group Ltd

 

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

 

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

 

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

 

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

 

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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03 Oct 24. UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía Contributes to Development of the Future Combat Air System. UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía has announced that SATNUS (a company formed by GMV, Sener Aeroespacial and Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía) has counted on its collaboration in the ambitious European program Future Combat Air System (FCAS). This program aims to develop a future-generation weapon system (NGWS), which will integrate a new generation of manned fighters (NGF) and multiple remotely piloted air systems (Remote Carriers or RC), all interconnected through a Combat Cloud (CC).

Within the FCAS program, UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía participates in Pillar number 3 of Remote Operators through a subcontract with SATNUS Technologies SL, which is in charge of maturing technologies and minimizing risks in the development of remotely manned elements of the future generation weapon system. Airbus GmbH is leading this pillar at the European level, with the participation of MBDA as the lead company from France and SATNUS as the lead company from Spain.

In the framework of this project, UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía provides its autopilot for the Manned-Unmanned Teaming & Common Systems Demonstrator (MCSD). This demonstrator, led by SATNUS, will allow the rapid development and testing of concepts and technologies, with a special focus on Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUT) functions and architecture during phase 1B of the program’s technology demonstration.

With its participation, UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía will provide innovative technological solutions and offer comprehensive support in the autopilot technical development, integration and operation phase. This support will be fundamental for the evolution and maturation of the technological capabilities of the program, contributing to the remotely piloted manned systems meeting the demanding requirements of this future combat air system.

For more information about the participation of UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía in the FCAS program, please visit our website or contact our team of market-leading specialists in guidance, navigation and control systems for unmanned aerial vehicles.

UAV Navigation – Grupo Oesía

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía is a company specializing in the design of guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) solutions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) since 2004. UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía’s flight solutions are used by a wide range of leading aerospace manufacturers for a variety of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) or “drones.”

UAV Navigation is part of the Grupo Oesía, a 100% Spanish-owned, private, and independent group of companies dedicated to technological and digital engineering. It develops and implements projects in 40 countries and has approximately 3,400 professionals in 19 corporate offices spread across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Over its 46 years of history, it has innovated in products and services that benefit over 2 bn people worldwide, with the purpose of creating a better, more efficient, secure, and sustainable world.

The industrial companies within the Grupo Oesía ecosystem are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining cutting-edge technology for the Security, Defense, and Aerospace sectors, with a long track record of work in avionics for significant projects such as the Eurofighter EF-2000, A-400M, F-18, C-295, P3-B Orion, or MH-60R. The group is now involved in the most important UAV projects, including FCAS/NGWS, Eurodrone, and SIRTAP, among others.  (Source: UAS VISION)

 

04 Oct 24. New Funding for 50-Mile BVLOS Flights Through NAS from Grand Forks Air Base. Project ULTRA, a leading initiative to accelerate integration of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS), has officially received approval for Task Order 2. With $3.49m in funding approved by the Office of Undersecretary of Defense (A&S) and Grand Forks County, Task Order 2 will focus on transitioning from simulations to live flight operations, taking a significant step toward advancing air traffic management technology and logistics.

Task Order 2, scheduled from September 30, 2024 to September 29, 2025, marks the beginning of actual logistics flights between Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) and Cavalier Space Force Station (CSFS). These flights will validate the real-world application of the AirSpace Integration Services (ASIS) and selected UAS platforms, moving beyond the simulations completed in Task Order 1. The UAS will transport cargo across approximately 50 miles, flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) through both civilian and military-controlled airspace.

“This milestone highlights our transition from theory and simulation to real world flight operations,” said Chris Hewlett, Director of Project ULTRA. “With live flights, we are excited to apply everything we’ve learned to date in Task Order 1 and demonstrate our ability to integrate UAS into the National Airspace System safely and efficiently.”

Task Order 2 is notable for several reasons:

• Flights will take place in the National Airspace System, requiring coordination with the FAA to obtain the necessary authorizations and waivers for safe operation.
• The UAS will fly roughly 50 miles, one way, transporting cargo between GFAFB and CSFS, two military bases, crossing from civilian into military airspace and back again.
• Safety risk management will remain a top priority. ASIS systems, along with GrandSKY’s BVLOS Ground-Based Sense and Avoid (GBSAA) system, will ensure real-time airspace awareness and safety throughout the flight. GrandSKY’s BVLOS system, which has been is use for over five years, will provide an additional layer of security during the operation.

Project ULTRA is in year two of a five-year ID/IQ contract. The total contract value is $18.25 m, with $12.25 m in funding remaining for future tasks. Task Order 1, which was funded at $2.49 m, focused on assembling and deploying the systems that demonstrated ASIS capabilities through simulations. Now, with Task Order 2, Project ULTRA will apply these systems to real-world flights, showcasing the research and technological advancements made in collaboration with NASA and the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). Task Order 2 will also allow the Grand Forks County Team to bring additional collaboration partners and vendors to the project.

Project ULTRA represents a groundbreaking contract aimed at integrating safe UAS operations into the combined military and civilian environment, a challenge encountered daily in the Grand Forks region and at GrandSKY. The lessons learned from Task Order 2 will have implications not only for future UAS logistics missions but also for UAS integration and next generation traffic management of airspace throughout the United States.

“Project ULTRA is creating the opportunity to solve real world challenges in a safe and secure air space,” said Tom Swoyer, President of GrandSKY. “We are pleased to be a part of ULTRA network.”

The Grand Forks County Team for Project ULTRA includes key partners such as Grand Forks County, GrandSKY, Northern Plains UAS Test Site, Simulyze, CScott Solutions, POI Federal, Aura Networks, and MTSI. Additional partners are expected to join the team as the project advances.

“Conducting real flights has always been a goal of ULTRA,” said Hewlett. “It allows us to bring together the outstanding research done by NASA and AFRL around increased airspace safety and awareness. Now we’re thrilled to put that research to operational test in real-world conditions.”

About Project ULTRAProject ULTRA (UAS Logistics, Traffic, Response, and Autonomy) was initiated to meet the Department of Defense’s goal of integrating emerging UAS technologies into the National Airspace System. Supported by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions and Sustainment, the project focuses on advancing UAS traffic management and safety protocols for both military and civilian airspace.About GrandSKYGrandSKY is a UAS-focused flight operations center located on Grand Forks AFB in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. The 217-acre flight center provides Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) tenants and partners with unmatched research, development, training, and testing amenities. GrandSKY leverages access to the Air Force runway and tower support with commercial amenities and investment through a unique public-private partnership supporting civilian and military flight UAS flight operations. GrandSKY has been offering industry leading amenities such as over 11,000 square miles of BVLOS capability and 24/7 operations.

(Source: UAS VISION/GrandSKY)

 

03 Oct 24. New Waterproof Embedded Computers to be Unveiled at AUSA 2024.

Neousys Technology will be at AUSA 2024 in Washington, DC, from October 14th-16th, at Booth 4054, showcasing new releases and reliable advanced rugged computing solutions.

Neousys Technology, an industry-leading provider of rugged embedded systems, will be exhibiting at AUSA 2024 in Washington, DC, from October 14th to 16th, at booth 4054.

Neousys will showcase its advanced rugged computing solutions, designed to ensure reliable performance in extreme and in-vehicle environments.

Featured products include extreme-rugged waterproof computers, edge AI systems, and rugged panel PCs, engineered for demanding conditions with SWaP-optimized (Size, Weight, and Power) form factors, rich interface options, and powerful processing capabilities.

Highlights at Neousys Booth will include:

IP69K-rated Waterproof Computers

The SEMIL Series features corrosion-resistant stainless steel and aluminum chassis with waterproof I/O connectors. Compliant with MIL-STD-461G, MIL-STD-1275E, and MIL-STD-810H standards, these systems are ideal for hazardous environments and defense applications. Powered by Intel® 14th Gen Core™ processors and supporting 8V to 48V wide-range DC input, they are perfect for intelligent mobile systems such as Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs).

SWaP-optimized Fanless Computers

The compact computer POC-700 series, powered by Intel® Core™ i3/ Atom® processor, offers robust connectivity with four USB3.2 Gen2 ports and four GigE PoE+ ports with secure screw-lock mechanisms. Also, the FLYC-300 AI mission computer, featuring the NVIDIA® Jetson Orin™ NX, delivers 100 TOPS AI performance in a lightweight 297g design, equipped with two GbE, two USB3.2, and two GMSL2 ports.

Rugged Edge AI Computers

Neousys’ rugged Edge AI computers are built for reliable AI inference in harsh environments. Supporting NVIDIA® L4/RTX series GPUs or Jetson modules, these systems offer versatile I/O options, PCIe expansion, and durable mechanical designs, making them ideal for AI-powered applications in extreme conditions. (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)

 

03 Oct 24. DOD Tests and Evaluates Improved and Sustainable Technologies. The Defense Department has implemented a new program designed to demonstrate and validate sustainable technologies used in operational and training environments.

This program, called the DOD Sustainable Technology Evaluation and Demonstration Program, or STED, “tests and evaluates technologies using warfighters, DOD civilians and personnel, and other federal agencies in operational and training settings,” said David J. Asiello, director of the STED Program.

These technologies are evaluated on whether they improve performance and reduce lifecycle costs, while increasing supply chain security, by using domestically sourced materials, Asiello said.

“In addition to the operational and resilience benefits, these technologies improve the health and safety of the warfighter; help ensure much-needed air, land, water and energy resources for installations and training operations, reduce waste and protect the environment,” Asiello added.

One recent example of the many STED Program successes is the Marine Corps Shooting Team field testing and evaluation of a bio-based cleaner, lubricant and preservative, better known as CLP.

The shooting team provided real-time feedback to Marine Corps Systems Command on the CLP performance. This feedback included reduction in cleaning time by 50%, reduced smoke during firing, decreased carbon buildup, improved cycling, reduced odor, reduced malfunctions and less lubricant was required than traditional CLP that Marines have been using for decades, said Reginald M. Mack, deputy director of the STED Program.

Because of the STED Program’s successful CLP demonstration, the military specifically requires all CLP for weapons and weapons systems to contain a minimum of 33% bio-based content. This is the first revision of a weapon system military tactical specification to require bio-based content, Mack said, adding that when implemented DOD-wide, the transition would save $1.74m annually.

There are numerous other successful STED Program demonstrations. For example, the Army Materiel Command and Anniston Army Depot successfully demonstrated bio-based sorbents which are used to absorb spilled oil and other chemicals. The traditional cleaning solution contains crystalline silica, which is a known carcinogen, Mack said. Savings if implemented DOD-wide would be $6.1m annually, perform much better and protect the health of the warfighter.

Sustainable, energy efficient building doors were developed and shown to reduce building energy consumption and energy loss, which could result in a $170m a year energy savings, if implemented DOD-wide, Mack explained.

LED alternatives to disposable chemiluminescent lights, better known as chem lights, were shown to improve performance, brightness and durability. If adopted DOD-wide, savings would result in $1.9m in savings, Mack said.

The program has expanded to other federal agencies as well. “The STED Program recently partnered with the FBI to test the viability of a new automotive tire technology that incorporates domestic soybean oil as a key ingredient, replacing traditional petroleum-based materials,” according to Asiello.  As a result of the successful testing, the FBI is now using these tires for its field vehicles.

Other successful demonstrations, include bio-based rifle bore cleaners, bio-based corrosion inhibitors, PFAS-free disposable food service ware, hypochlorous acid disinfectant cleaners, bio-based multipurpose lubricants, safe sidewalk deicers, bio-based road marking paint, bio-based dust suppressants and bio-based brake cleaners.

The department has made strong headway implementing and expanding the STED Program to include securing participation with major commands and is developing and implementing additional initiatives to expedite the transition of successfully demonstrated technologies across the department and federal agencies, Asiello said.  (Source: U.S. DoD)

 

03 Oct 24. New report released highlights the vital role of the subsurface and the challenges it faces.

A new report on the future of the subsurface has been published by the Government Office for Science today.

Future of the subsurface report.

The report, produced by the Foresight team, highlights the important role of the subsurface for housing everyday resources and services such as water, building materials and fertile soil. It also explores how the subsurface can help contribute to net zero emissions through initiatives like electricity grid upgrades, adapting to climate change with underground drainage systems, and taking advantage of new technologies such as quantum sensing.

The project takes a long-term view of subsurface management, looking out to 2040 for possible challenges and opportunities, and uses a systems-thinking approach, which considers multiple perspectives rather than a singular view, to explore the complexity and interconnectedness of subsurface features and activities.

New technologies, including quantum sensors, AI and robotics offer potential solutions that make it easier and cheaper to measure, monitor, excavate, tunnel and maintain the subsurface. These are on the horizon but may need new policy or regulation to enable their widespread use.

The government is committed to reach net zero emissions by 2050, which will require the reduction of carbon emissions across different industries and sectors. Many of the infrastructure and technological solutions needed for net zero, such as EV chargepoints and ground source heat pumps, require subsurface space.

Dame Angela McLean, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, said:

This Foresight report highlights the crucial role of the subsurface in the UK’s future, demonstrating that the choices we make today in subsurface management can profoundly shape our tomorrow.

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

03 Oct 24. Significant EU funding for VTT’s semiconductor development – supporting the growth of the semiconductor industry.

The Public Authorities Board of the Chips Joint Undertaking (EU Chips Act) has decided to fund European semiconductor pilot line proposals. VTT is involved in two of the pilots that are about to start their operations. Its share of the funding will be used to purchase equipment for the shared-use Kvanttinova cleanroom to be built at Espoo, Finland. The pilot lines will support European chip technology development and chip production growth targets, and Finland will be strongly integrated into the European semiconductor industry ecosystem. VTT’s shared-use cleanroom will allow companies to develop and pilot microelectronics components.

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is participating in two of the European pilot line projects that are aiming to strengthen development of the European semiconductor industry. Large European-funded pilot lines, FAMES and NanoIC, are operated by CEA-Leti in France and imec in Belgium. The lines will develop new semiconductor processes and technologies that will be accessible to companies for product development and scaling up to production. The technologies under development include the latest transistor and RF technologies and new memory technologies.

The 32m euros in funding provided by the EU and the Finnish Government will be invested in VTT’s shared-use cleanroom equipment and the development of semiconductor manufacturing processes.

“The recent EU Chips Act funding, together with funding provided by the Finnish Government last autumn, will ensure Finland’s involvement in pilot lines that are important to the European semiconductor industry. The development will support and strengthen Europe’s role in the global chip market, and bring Finland into this ecosystem,” says Tauno Vähä-Heikkilä, Vice President, Microelectronics and Quantum Technologies at VTT.

Construction of the European pilot lines has already started and will accelerate with confirmation of the funding. The European pilot line equipment, operations and services provided by VTT will be integrated within Kvanttinova, a semiconductor and quantum technology RDI hub located in Espoo, Finland. Kvanttinova is a new RDI hub for microelectronics and quantum industry players in Espoo, currently at the peak of its planning stage. In addition, some equipment will be placed in the Micronova Centre of Micro- and Nanotechnology already located in Espoo. Services will gradually be offered to companies, and the first semiconductor processes in Finland are scheduled to start up in late 2026.

The recent Chips Act funding decisions and the resulting equipment acquisitions by VTT will support the strongest Finnish semiconductor industry competence areas, especially new materials, ALD (atomic layer deposition) technology for memory applications, and RF technologies.

“The Kvanttinova shared-use cleanroom will provide Finnish companies with the opportunity to develop materials, technologies, and innovations for new products and markets – without the need for significant investments. It will also give companies access to the services and processes of major European operators, such as CEA-Leti and imec,” says Pekka Pursula, Research Manager at VTT.

 

02 Oct 24. Elma Electronic has enhanced its RP24 rugged power supply system to include the RA24 rechargeable battery module that improves the uninterruptable power supply (UPS) capabilities of the system. The RP24/RA24 Rugged Power Solution is a comprehensive power system designed for critical remote applications in challenging environments.

Combining the rugged RP24 Power Module with the high-capacity RA24 Battery Module ensures continuous, reliable power for mobile, semi-mobile, and stationary systems, even in the most extreme conditions. Up to 10 RA24 modules can be cascaded, providing extended battery operation for several hours, while up to five RP24 units are stackable in a single configuration for a combined 4,500W of continuous power.

The rugged power system provides enhanced power monitoring with intuitive controls and a user-friendly interface. The RP24’s easy menu navigation and alphanumeric display provides real-time diagnostics and status updates. Remote monitoring is supported via SNMPv3-compatible Ethernet.

The high-performance, compact RP24 is a modular power supply in a 19-inch aluminum chassis, ideal for auxiliary DC power needed for field-deployed radios and other communications equipment in military, industrial automation and emergency response applications.

Oskar Schulthess, business development manager, head of power solutions, for Elma Electronic, noted, “The criticality of reliable power in remote, harsh environments can’t be underestimated. This rugged power system not only offers a scalable infrastructure to meet the various needs of in-the-field applications, but now provides a means for extended operation for increased piece of mind and reliability during military operations.”

The RP24 features a flexible 115/230 VAC input range, a stable 27 VDC output, Class II reinforced isolation and IP67 protection. In addition to EMP, overvoltage, shock and vibration protection, each 1000W AC/DC unit provides full load operation from -35°C up to +60°C at an altitude of 3500m.

The system can withstand shocks from falls up to 1.5 meters, ensuring reliability during transport and deployment compliant with MIL-STD-810G. It also complies with MIL-STD-461G for EMC and meets HEMP (High-altitude Electro Magnetic Pulse).

Fully charged in as little as four hours with sequential charging, the new, high-capacity RA24 provides a 50 Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery known for its safety and longevity. With a nominal output voltage of 25.6V, the RA24 ensures continuous power delivery during outages or in the absence of an external power source.

 

01 Oct 24. Alva Industries, a manufacturer of frameless motors with FiberPrinting™ technology, has today announced the launch of SlimTorq™, a new range of slotless thin-section motors ideal for high-precision applications on land, sea and air.

SlimTorq™ motors are available in sizes from 39mm to 130mm outer diameter and manufactured by the company’s next-generation, patented FiberPrinting™ technology. FiberPrinting™ enables ironless and slotless motor windings with a 60% copper fill factor, setting a new standard in precision, torque density and adaptability.

Visit http://www.alvaindustries.com/product/slimtorq-motors or download the product catalog here to learn more.

Attributes of SlimTorq™ motors include:

• Ultra-thin& compact form factor
• High precision & power
• Brushless for reliability
• Low noise and vibrations
• Non-skewed windings for maximised torque output
• Infinite design possibilities, enabling rapid customisation

Applications for SlimTorq™ motors include:

• High precision gimbals
• Medical devices & surgical robotics
• Defense & satcom
• Marine propulsion
• Metrology
• Semiconductor

“We hear all the time from engineers developing systems for high-precision applications that they need to reduce size and weight, while improving overall performance,” said Nicolas Giraudo, CCO at Alva Industries. “With SlimTorq™ this is now possible, as it is the thinnest and lightest precision torque motor available on the market.”

“One of the key benefits of FiberPrinting™ is its intrinsic flexible process, allowing us to develop custom windings faster than competitors”, said Jørgen P. Selnes, CEO & co-founder of Alva.

Visit http://www.alvaindustries.com/product/slimtorq-motors or download the product catalog here to learn more.

 

02 Oct 24. Red Cat and Palladyne AI Partner to Embed Artificial. Intelligence into Teal Drones to Enable Autonomous Operation

• Combined system capabilities to be featured at Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual meeting October 14-16, 2024

Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN and PDYNW) (“Palladyne AI”), a developer of artificial intelligence software for robotic platforms in the defense and commercial sectors, and Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT) (“Red Cat”), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, today announced a partnership intended to enhance the autonomous capabilities of all Red Cat’s Teal drones using Palladyne AI’s Pilot software.

Leveraging its years of innovative development work for U.S. Government customers, Palladyne AI is developing an artificial intelligence platform for unmanned systems to enable persistent detection, tracking, and classification of objects of interest by synthesizing multi-modal sensor fusion data in real-time. The AI product for mobile systems, known as “Palladyne™ Pilot”, will facilitate shared situational awareness across multiple drones and autonomous navigation when integrated with drone autopilot systems. Palladyne Pilot is expected to be made available for all Teal drones, including those already in the field.

Palladyne AI’s artificial intelligence software platform is designed to train and enhance the effectiveness of autonomous, mobile, stationary and dexterous robots. Teal has developed a drone system comprised of two robotic UAVs and related control systems that have earned Blue UAS Certification by the U.S. Department of Defense. The partnership will expand the drone system capabilities, facilitating the creation of a network of collaborating drones and sensors that self-orchestrate to provide superior intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

“Red Cat’s partnership approach to delivering the best in class solutions has earned them recognition and certification from the U.S. Department of Defense for their drone systems,” said Ben Wolff, CEO, Palladyne AI. “We are honored to team with Red Cat to offer advanced and effective technology for aerial intelligence needs for defense, public safety, and commercial operations in challenging environments.”

“Palladyne AI is enabling cost-effective small drone platforms that incorporate some of the same autonomy capabilities typically only found on large drone platforms costing tens of ms of dollars,” said George Matus, CTO, Red Cat. “Their Palladyne Pilot autonomy software provides our drone systems with generalizable autonomy that enables a high level of adaptability and performance in challenging environments, materially reducing the cognitive load on drone operators and enhancing the operational capabilities and mission effectiveness of our drone platforms.”

Palladyne AI will join Red Cat at the AUSA conference in booth 330, as well as other joint marketing initiatives throughout the year.

(Source: ASD Network)

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Oxley Group Ltd

 

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

 

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

 

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

 

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

 

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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26 Sep 24. US: Semiconductor manufacturing bill will increase targeted activism, reputational risks for sector. According to reports on 25 September, environmental activist groups are strongly urging President Joe Biden to veto a bill that would weaken federal scrutiny of semiconductor manufacturing. The bill would specifically exempt semiconductor manufacturing facilities that receive federal funding from environmental reviews. Opponents of the bill allege this will result in less oversight of the industry and increased levels of pollution. The bill enjoys broad bipartisan support; it passed the Senate in late 2023 and the House on 23 September. As such, we assess that Biden is likely to sign the bill in the short term. In the long term, the bill will help to prevent delays to manufacturing projects and decrease the US’ reliance on China and Taiwan for semiconductors, a key technology used in defence systems and renewable energies. Nonetheless, Biden is likely to face criticism from a coalition of House Democrats who oppose the bill over environmental concerns. In the medium-to-long term, new semiconductor manufacturing plants are likely to face increased scrutiny and targeted activism from environmental groups. The possibility of on-site protests will increase disruption risks for such firms. (Source: Sibylline)

 

25 Sept 24. Aitech now offers a rugged AI supercomputer that uses the most powerful NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin System-on-Module (SoM) currently available for high-performance military systems. With its compact size, the A230 Vortex is the most advanced embedded computer for AI, deep learning, and video and signal processing in distributed systems that need to reliably operate in remote, harsh conditions.

Optimizing the full performance of the Ampere GPU, the new rugged HPEC system provides up to 2048 CUDA cores and 64 Tensor cores that reach up to 275 TOPS at a remarkable level of energy efficiency. The system also features two scalable, highly configurable, dedicated NVDLA (NVIDIA Deep-Learning Accelerator) engines that simplify integration and portability as well as promote a standard way to design deep learning inference accelerators.

Dan Mor, director, products and solutions at Aitech, commented, “Military systems keep integrating more information inputs at the edge, meaning remote systems need high-powered processing to manage this data and provide actionable intelligence. The A230 sets a new standard for advanced, rugged AI that enables deep learning as well as video and signal processing in next generation autonomous vehicles, surveillance systems, and advanced weapons systems.”

In addition to providing AI-based local processing right where it is needed, the A230 features high-speed interfaces and a variety of data and video I/O to enable easy adaptation to specific system requirements. This includes four SDI (SD/HD) and eight composites (RS-170 [NTSC]/PAL) that are simultaneously available as well as Gigabit Ethernet, discrete, USB, DVI/HDMI out, and UART Serial ports. Optional NVMe SSD and a microSD card slot helps extend memory resources for the robust 64 GB of LPDDR5 RAM that comes standard. More interfaces are available upon customer request.

The new system offers cold-plate cooling, weighs less than 8 lbs and has low power consumption, while meeting MIL-STD-810H for vibration, shock, acceleration, altitude, humidity, dust and salt fog.

 

26 Sept 24. New support for semiconductor firms to grow, powering growth in £10bn UK industry.

Support for semiconductor scale-ups announced as Lord Vallance kicks off a stakeholder forum ahead of the G7 Semiconductors Points of Contact group in Cambridge.

16 semiconductor scale up projects backed to advance innovative tech

• Science Minister Lord Vallance unveils new support for UK semiconductor scale-ups to advance innovations, from phone screens to medical tech
• Support to help businesses grow unveiled as Minister welcomes leading tech nations to a stakeholder forum preceding the G7 Semiconductors Points of Contact group in Cambridge
• Comes as new report finds rapidly growing UK semiconductor industry valued at nearly £10 bn and expected to rise this decade

UK semiconductor firms producing vital technology from phone screens to surgical lasers are being backed in their efforts to scale up into large businesses and drive economic growth.

The science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance has announced the 16 projects that will win a share of a £11.5m pot – provided by Innovate UK – that will help drive innovation, as he opened an industry conference of G7 nations today (Thursday 26 September).

Pioneering projects across the country will help take the UK’s thriving semiconductor industry to the next level as it further enhances everyday life – from more efficient medical devices to energy saving phone screens – and kickstart economic growth.

This comes shortly before the Government’s International Investment Summit which will showcase the UK as a place to do business. Today’s move is yet another reason for business to choose the UK as a place to invest – as it is backing the industries of the future.

A new report by Perspective Economics reveals the UK semiconductor sector, which includes over 200 companies in research, design, and manufacturing, is valued at almost £10bn and could grow up to £17bn by 2030.

Semiconductors are small chips at the core of everyday technology from smartphones to renewable energy systems and this support will help to scale up domestic manufacturing and strengthen supply chain resilience, so the UK is fit for the future in a global industry.

The funding comes as the G7 Semiconductors Point of Contact group kicks off with a stakeholder forum at major UK tech company Arm’s HQ in Cambridge, where member states, research organisations, and industry representatives are discussing key issues affecting the global semiconductor industry, like supporting early-stage innovation and sustainability.

Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

Semiconductors are an unseen but vital component in so many of the technologies we rely on in our lives and backing UK innovators offers a real opportunity to growth these firms into industry leaders, strengthening our £10 bn sector and ensuring it drives economic growth.

Our support in these projects will promote critical breakthroughs such as more efficient medical devices that could significantly lower costs and faster manufacturing processes to improve productivity.

Hosting the G7 semiconductors Points of Contact group is also a chance to showcase the UK’s competitive and growing sector and make clear our commitment to keeping the UK at the forefront of advancing technology.

Among the funded projects, receiving a share of £11.5 m, is Vector Photonics Limited in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, which aims to enhance the power and cost-effectiveness of blue light lasers in everyday technology by using gallium nitride, a high-performance material. Blue lasers are key in devices like medical equipment, quantum displays and car headlights.

Another project, led by Quantum Advanced Solutions Ltd with the University of Cambridge, is developing advanced shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensors which improve vision in critical sectors like defence, by supporting surveillance in challenging conditions in low-visibility environments, such as during adverse weather conditions or atmospheric disturbances. The project looks to simplify production using innovative quantum dot materials – tiny semiconductor particles that emit light at specific wavelengths – offering higher sensitivity and performance, cutting costs and making this advanced technology more accessible to multiple sectors including manufacturing and healthcare.

Andrew Tyrer, Deputy Director, Electronics, Sensors and Photonics, Innovate UK, said:

Innovate UK’s investment in this programme directly supports the National Semiconductor Strategy launched in 2023 and aims to ensure the UK’s place in the global landscape.

Iain Mauchline Innovation Lead – Electronics, Sensors, and Photonics at Innovate UK, added:

It has been recognised that semiconductors are key enablers for the UK ambitions across all critical technology areas. Funding these diverse projects highlights the strengths and depth of the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem.

The G7 Semiconductors Point of Contact Group, established under Italy’s G7 Presidency earlier this year, continues its mission to address issues impacting the semiconductor industry, including early-stage innovation, crisis coordination, sustainability, and the impact of government policies and practices.

Rene Haas, CEO, Arm said: “It is an honour to host the G7 Semiconductor working group at Arm’s global headquarters in Cambridge to advance collective efforts from industry, research organizations, and governments to increase supply chain resilience, security, and energy efficiency.  We look forward to continued partnership with the G7 representatives and the UK government as we work to enable innovation and realize the full potential of AI.”

This meeting immediately follows the OECD Semiconductor Informal Exchange Network gathering, where countries and stakeholders shared strategies for strengthening global semiconductor supply chains and addressing shared challenges in the semiconductor industry.

The UK is playing a key role in the OECD’s efforts to unite government and industry in navigating the complexities of the global chip supply chain.

Charles Sturman, CEO of TechWorks said: “This report represents the first detailed economic study of the UK Semiconductor sector in many years. I am proud to have been part of this important work and pleased with the results. Key findings here show that the UK already sees significant revenue from the sector and, by building on strong innovation, we can see significant opportunity to increase this together with our ~2% share of global semiconductor revenues; ultimately creating much more than the 86,000 jobs currently in the wider economy. The industry is set to grow rapidly in the next decade and the right mix of scale-up support and industrial policy can secure future growth of the UK semiconductor sector.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

24 Sept 24. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today announced that it has doubled the storage capacity of the Removable Memory Module (RMM) used in both the HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC commercial off the shelf (COTS) 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) Network Attached Storage (NAS) solutions to 32 Terabytes (TB).  The ITAR-free HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC are designed to store and protect critical data-at-rest (DAR) on air, sea, and ground platforms and meet the DAR storage needs of modern deployed C5ISR platforms that capture and process large amounts of sensor data for mission success. The size, weight and power (SWaP)-optimized rugged devices feature dual 10 GbE interfaces that support up to 1.97 GB/s of data throughput (write) and 2.35 GB/s (read) to provide the high bandwidth and storage capacities needed to support these critical applications. The increased storage capacity of the HSR10 NAS devices will enable extended mission duration while ensuring that no valuable data is lost due to limited storage capacity.

The HSR10-CSfC variant supports National Security Agency (NSA) Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) encryption with two layers of encryption and protects up to 32 TB of data with a combination of software full disk encryption (SWFDE) and hardware full disk encryption (HWFDE). Both the HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC support RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10 configurations and include a Trusted Platform Module (TPM).

“The HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC address the data capture challenge for modern ISR platforms with high-speed 10 GbE optical connections and now up to 32 TB of storage capacity to ensure uninterrupted data acquisition without compromising security,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “With optional support for CSfC two-layer encryption, these turnkey NAS DAR solutions are ready for plug-and-play deployment, faster and more easily than Type 1 encryption-based alternatives.”

Both the HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC feature a PCI Express (PCIe) architecture and NVMe memory that connects directly to the system processor at flash memory speeds. The NVMe memory (~50% faster than SATA based memory) is housed in the rugged RMM to ease the secure transfer of data for post-mission analysis. The HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC are ideal for use in manned and unmanned deployed network-centric system applications.

The HSR10 and HSR10-CSfC product sheet is available for download here.

For additional information about Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions products, please visit www.curtisswrightds.com, LinkedIn, and X @CurtissWrightDS.

 

23 Sept 24. LiquidPiston, Inc., a leading innovator of efficient internal combustion engine technology and hybrid power systems, today announced that it has begun testing its 10kW heavy-fueled generator prototype.

The genset is powered by LiquidPiston’s 25hp heavy-fueled XTS-210 rotary engine, which itself entered its integrated engine testing phase in April 2024.

The company has been awarded over $65m in Department of Defense (DoD) contracts, including an $8.3m development contract with the U.S. Army, in 2023, to develop a lightweight and ultra-portable generator for the military. The 10kW generator prototype now being tested is meant to address DoD priorities for a smaller footprint and increased portability.

“This is an exciting time for the LiquidPiston team as we begin testing the fully integrated generator prototype, which we will continue to refine ahead of delivering it to our DoD customers,” said LiquidPiston co-founder and CEO, Alec Shkolnik. “Our goal is to help address the DoD’s demanding operational energy needs with significantly smaller and lighter portable power generation systems.”

The LiquidPiston 10kW genset is designed specifically to meet the DoD’s portable electric genset specs at approximately one-quarter the size and weight of the U.S. Army’s current Advanced Medium Mobile Power Source (AMMPS) 10kW generator system.

The 10kW system incorporates all components required for reliable and efficient power production in the field, including the XTS-210 rotary engine, a high-performance electric motor/generator, custom power electronics, controls, a thermal management system, a fuel tank, muffling, and military-grade packaging. The generator is designed in the long term to be plug-and-play compatible with today’s AMMPS systems, and it will have similar connectivity and interoperability.

Being smaller and lighter than the DoD’s currently-deployed 5kW and 10kW gensets, and approximately the same size as the currently deployed 3kW genset, LiquidPiston’s 10kW genset could greatly simplify DoD generator procurement and logistics by potentially replacing three products with a single product.

While being developed initially with an eye on military specifications, the base generator technology can be applied commercially in applications operating on heavy fuels including diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel, or can be configured to be multi-fuel capable, compatible with gasoline and gaseous fuels like propane.

The 10kW genset leverages the XTS-210 engine’s patented High Efficiency Hybrid Thermodynamic Cycle™ (HEHC) design, offering several key benefits over current generator technology:

• Lightweight – Up to 75 percent lighter and smaller than the currently-fielded AMMPS.
• Easy to transport – Can be man-portable, instead of requiring a truck, trailer, or forklift.
• Space efficient – Occupies only ~9 cubic feet of space.
• Heavy- and multi- fuel capable – Designed for jet fuel, the engines have also been operated on gasoline, diesel, propane, and hydrogen.

LiquidPiston’s XTS-210 heavy-fueled rotary engine is the result of significant internal research and development, coupled with more than ten contracts secured with the U.S. Department of Defense and over $20 m awarded in development funding, including a $9 m DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory award for a Compact Efficient Rotary Engine announced in November 2022. The XTS-210 is also being integrated into a hybrid eVTOL UAS for a U.S. Army demonstration that will occur later this year.

LiquidPiston has previously raised over $50M in equity crowdfunding, and is currently running a Reg CF equity crowdfunding campaign which is scheduled to close September 27, 2024.

 

24 Sep 24. Flying Fuel Cell: MTU Aero Engines tests an LH2 fuel system.

MTU Aero Engines has reached an important milestone on its path to zero-emission flight—it successfully completed multi-week testing of a liquid hydrogen fuel system for its Flying Fuel Cell™ (FFC).

“The tests show that the system architecture is safe, reliable, and works as expected, so we can ensure a regulated, need-based supply of preconditioned hydrogen to the fuel cell,” says Barnaby Law, FFC Chief Engineer at MTU in Munich. He is pleased about the successful campaign. By developing the FFC, Germany’s leading engine manufacturer is steadily moving toward complete electrification of the powertrain.

Together with MT Aerospace AG, the engine specialist is developing a complete liquid-hydrogen fuel system for commercial aviation that consists of tanks, sensors, heat exchangers, valves, safety systems, and controls. MT Aerospace is responsible for the liquid hydrogen tank and successfully tested the first system at its headquarters in Augsburg. Now MTU is following suit—these results are important and special because the tests were done with liquid hydrogen, which is the actual operating medium for the FFC. The tests performed in Augsburg had used liquid nitrogen, which is easier to handle because of its physical characteristics. Dr. Günther Schullerer, Director of Future Technologies, MT Aerospace, comments, “Now that we have fully confirmed the functionality, we can focus our shared skills on lightweight engineering, integration concepts, and optimized space utilization.”

The basic principle: Hydrogen is transported and stored in liquid form at a temperature of about -250°C. The refrigerated LH2 needs to be heated during operation and changed to a gaseous state; then a defined mass flow is fed into the fuel cell. Law: “This concept, including all of the sensors and functions needed in the aircraft, is what we have now validated.” Dr. Claus Riegler, Senior Vice President Technology & Engineering Advanced Programs at MTU, sums it up: “This is an excellent starting point; it will let us offer an appropriate, reliable, and high-performing LH2 fuel system solution for a wide range of aircraft models.”

What’s next? Testing of a product-specific full-system FFC will begin in 2026. The liquid hydrogen system will be one of its main components.

(Source: ASD Network)

 

24 Sept 24. Legionnaire International has been selected for a $3.19m AFWERX Challenge SBIR Commercial Services Offering contract to design and deliver a new potentially podded refueling boom for tactical aircraft – the Small Hybrid Aerial Refueling Kit (SHARK) – to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF).

Legionnaire International designs, builds and tests weapons and carriage systems, aerospace components, electrical harnesses and critical defense systems and was selected as the prime contractor with partners MatrixSpace, Sixdof Space and Target Arm.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through direct proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded. Legionnaire will begin the contract immediately to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

Quote from J.R. “Flash” Starch, CEO, Legionnaire International

“Rapid and sustained power projection depends upon the long reach of airpower which, in turn, hinges on the availability of sufficient in-flight air refueling. Our modular SHARK system will enable traditional and non-traditional tanker aircraft to safely refuel current and future military aircraft in flight – whether crewed or uncrewed. It also provides this critical capability to our tactical fleet as NGAS matures. This is particularly valuable as the U.S. and our allies depend increasingly upon Collaborative Combat Aircraft and other uncrewed, autonomous aircraft. The SHARK is a perfect example of how to reimagine a standard practice and we are thrilled to be involved in this project with our partners.”

MatrixSpace delivers an ultra-low SWaP, AI-enhanced radar for robust situational awareness of both airborne and ground-based objects, regardless of lighting or weather.

Sixdof Space has developed ultra-fast optical tracking sensors and algorithms to integrate into OEM hardware. The technology uses infrared lights as beacons to report an object’s position and orientation at a very high speed.

Target Arm provides revolutionary, autonomous launch and recovery products, both software and hardware, enabled by its proven Sensor Fusion Engine.

 

23 Sept 24. AMD announces major breakthrough. Researchers from Advanced Material Development (AMD) and the University of Sussex have unveiled a major enhancement in their market-leading carbon nanomaterial-based inks, reaching conductivity levels of 3,000,000 S m⁻¹. This means its non-metal solutions are now approaching the performance of existing metal-based solutions.

Building on more than five years of success with graphitic inks, the latest breakthrough significantly raises the bar. This development reinforces AMD and the UK as leading pioneers of advanced materials for the electronics industry.

This promising breakthrough has exciting applications across a wide variety of industries. AMD’s work in this area sets the UK on track to be less reliant on metal-based solutions, bringing a more sustainable future. Visit AMD’s site to learn more.

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Oxley Group Ltd

 

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

 

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

 

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

 

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

 

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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18 Sep 24. Thales and Underwood Innovation Labs, the inaugural Australian government-backed innovation lab, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish an Advanced Air Mobility Centre of Excellence (AAM COE).

• Located in Queensland, Australia, the AAM COE will facilitate the growth of a scalable and collaborative UAV ecosystem in Advanced Air Mobility, create high-skilled jobs, and provide access to indoor, virtual and physical airspace for the safe design and testing of Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). ​
• The establishment of the AAM COE aligns with the Australian Government’s priorities identified in the Aviation White Paper regarding the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector.

Thales and Underwood Innovation Labs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish an AAM Centre of Excellence. The AAM COE, supported by the Mayor of Logan City, Hon Jon Raven, will operate as a membership-based, open-ecosystem, enabling organisations to utilize and access state-of-the-art innovation, technology and resources. ​

The location of the AAM COE, in South East Queensland, is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, with population numbers expected to reach 5.4m by 2041. As a key economic hub, the establishment of a centre of excellence will cultivate advanced technology and develop skills for Queensland’s future workforce.

The AAM COE is modelled after a successful initiative in Paris, France, known as Centre d’Excellence Drones Ile De France (CEDIF). CEDIF operates with an approved 40km Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) airspace corridor extending from Saint-Quentin en Yvelines to Bretigny sur Orge. Supported by Thales, Eurocontrol, and Systematic, CEDIF aims to provide a comprehensive platform for incubating, validating, and industrializing all aspects of drone activities, both direct and indirect.

“Thales is thrilled to be the initial founding partner in establishing the forthcoming innovation ecosystem centred on a Centre of Excellence for AAM in Queensland, alongside Underwood Innovation Lab and the City of Logan. Our shared commitment to trust, innovation, and results will unite innovators in addressing everyday challenges, integrating drones and other advanced air mobility systems safely into our daily routines, and contributing to the decarbonization of the future aviation industry.” – Bobby Pavlickovski, Head of Uncrewed Services, Thales Australia,.

“Underwood Innovation Lab is delighted to be partnering with Thales Australia to establish and deliver this catalytic project for Queensland which will propel the Advanced Air Mobility sector in the State and ultimately Nationally. As a first in kind, local government backed innovation Lab this project aligns well with the UiLab mission to positively impact the Australian innovation ecosystem through strategic global partnerships and transformative projects such as this that will create high-value jobs, attract further investment, and ultimately improve National productivity.” – Dr Paul Mathiesen (UiLab Chief Innovation Officer).

 

16 Sept 24. Smarter Technologies IoT solutions support UK Defence estates to better manage on-base water hygiene.

Smarter Technologies, the leading British provider of Internet-of-Things (IoT) solutions, has completed stage one of a rolling programme to support health and safety compliance at His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Portsmouth.  Working closely with the base infrastructure team, the new legionella risk management capability is one of several innovative digital solutions implemented by Smarter Technologies at the dockyard, aimed at improving operational outcomes for the Royal Navy, effectively and efficiently.  Across a range of functions, the combination of IoT data capture and cloud computing has made transformative empirical evidence available to Portsmouth’s operational and strategic decision-makers.  The team will be at DVD (18/19 September) to discuss this and their other IoT solutions.

The latest capability has revolutionised the management of water hygiene, which is a key factor for health and safety at any organisational premises.  Responsibility is governed by statutory legislation and strictly enforced, and it includes the control of water-borne bacteria, such as legionella, which can cause Legionnaires’ disease.    Careful and persistent management is required to ensure that water systems function compliantly, and that legionella is controlled.  It is particularly important, and made more difficult, in mixed estates with aging infrastructure and spaces that are used irregularly, which are common features of many Defence facilities.

Targeting the historic Wardroom at HMNB Portsmouth as a potential at risk accommodation block, Smarter Technologies has positioned IoT sensors strategically around the building’s water system, to monitor the temperature at which it is stored and distributed, in real-time, and enable HSE-recommended temperatures to be pro-actively maintained.  They have also installed automated flushing units at key outlets.  These ensure periodic and programmable water flows, to contain the risk of stagnation and the growth of legionella.  Data captured by these edge devices is passed to Smarter Technologies’ secure cloud platform via “Orion”, a proprietary LPWAN (low powered wide area communications network), which is optimised for large and complex estates by its combination of range, structural penetration and bandwidth.  The captured data is presented back to the user in “SmarterView”, an intuitive, secure, web-based user interface where programmable alerts and notifications can be created, trends can be viewed and reports compiled.

With Smarter Technologies’ IoT solution installed in this potential risk space, HMNB Portsmouth has been able to assure water hygiene much more effectively and far more efficiently.  Legionella is consistently suppressed at safe levels, emerging risks are identified and addressed immediately to avoid actionable events, time spent on manual temperature checks and flushes has been slashed, and the automated system provides an auditable record of due diligence.

Fubara Pepple, Head of Strategic Asset Management at Portsmouth, said, “We have worked closely with Smarter Technologies to ensure any potential risk to water supplies is identified at an early stage therefore making it much easier to keep our people safe.”

Mark Read, Chief Executive of Smarter Technologies Group said, “We’ve been delighted to work so closely with the HMNB Portsmouth team.  They understand the value that our Orion systems can bring and have embraced the use of targeted technology innovation.”

 

17 Sept 24. LDRA Joins The Open Group SOSA Consortium. LDRA today announced it has joined The Open Group Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA™) Consortium, a vendor- and platform-agnostic forum for industry and government to collaboratively develop open standards and best practices. As a leading provider of automated software verification, source code analysis and test tools, LDRA will leverage decades of experience working on standards committees such as The Open Group Future Airborne Capability Environment® (FACE®) Consortium, MISRA, DO-178 and ISO-26262 to help formalize an official SOSA conformance process and encourage innovation in the aerospace and defense industry.

The SOSA Consortium, which includes organizations such as the Air Combat Command (USAF), NAVAIR, U.S. Army CCDC C5ISR, Joint Tactical Networking Center, Collins Aerospace and Lockheed Martin, launched in 2017 to develop the non-propriety SOSA Technical Standard for sensor systems. Aligning with the U.S. Department of Defense’s 2019 modular open systems approach (MOSA) directive, the standard provides reconfigurable, evolvable and affordable capabilities for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligencer, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. For specification of the SOSA runtime environment, the SOSA Technical Standard relies on the FACE Technical Standard, another established MOSA-aligned standard that LDRA has supported since 2012 as a member of the FACE Consortium and an approved FACE Verification Authority (VA) since 2020.

“Given our extensive, hands-on experience with the FACE Technical Standard and other industry standards for the aerospace and defense industry, LDRA is uniquely positioned to help the SOSA Consortium accelerate SOSA adoption by creating a formal conformance program,” said Ian Hennell, Operations Director, LDRA. “Much like with the FACE Technical Standard, as military embedded designers conform with the SOSA standard, they can create new C4ISR systems and upgrade existing systems with innovative capabilities much more efficiently than proprietary technologies would allow. Having a formal conformance program in place facilitates the entire process, enabling organizations to deliver new applications to market faster and more cost effectively.”

The SOSA Approach incorporates specifications for software components and hardware elements, as well as electrical and mechanical interfaces composing the SOSA sensor element. SOSA-aligned services and products specifically address the needs of the aerospace and defense sectors, both of which are working on programs that must follow the DoD’s MOSA directive. Such programs include:

• Joint Tactical Terminal – Transceiver (JTT-X) (U.S. Navy)
• Ephemeral Paragon (E-Gon) (U.S. Air Force)
• Project Foxbox Blanket Purchase Agreement (U.S. Air Force)

The SOSA Consortium is developing and maturing its conformance program, improving upon the current self-certification that products are SOSA aligned, and providing further opportunities for assurance of compliance with the SOSA technical standard. Once the conformance program is formalized, LDRA expects to expand upon its FACE VA services to provide support for SOSA conformance of sensor software.

 

16 Sept 24. Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a technology company that delivers mission-critical processing power to the edge, today announced the expansion of its portfolio of Direct RF digital signal processing products that use Altera™ Agilex FPGAs to detect and process emissions from a wide portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Direct RF components and modules directly digitize radio frequency signals at the antenna signal frequency, eliminating the analog signal down conversion stages required by legacy hardware. This approach requires extremely fast converters, high-bandwidth digital data links, and powerful real-time digital signal processing. The results are reductions in size, weight, power, cost, and latency that can benefit a variety of radar, communications, electronic warfare, SIGINT, and industrial applications.

In January, Mercury introduced the DRF2580, a playing card-size system-on-module (SOM) based on the Intel Agilex 9 SoC FPGA AGRW014 that converts between analog and digital signals at 64 Gigasamples per second. The company now offers the DRF4580L, a small-form-factor module that incorporates the DRF2580 SOM within a ruggedized, conduction-cooled enclosure that is ready for defense applications. The product comes with Mercury’s Navigator® Board Support Package and FPGA Design Kit that allow customers to develop custom IP for the module that can be installed within hours. Mercury delivered the first DRF4580L unit to a customer in August.

“We continue to innovate to enhance the Mercury Processing Platform and make the latest commercial technologies available to the defense industrial base,” said Ken Hermanny, Mercury’s Vice President of Signal Technologies. “With a growing portfolio of products that make Direct RF spectrum digitization possible, our customers now have more options to deploy this technology to capture, process, and exploit signals at the edge.”

“Altera Agilex 9 SoC FPGAs deliver high-performance RF digitization capabilities in SWAP constrained environments that can now be placed closer to the sensor,” said John Sotir, Senior Director, Military Aerospace and Government Business and State-of-the-Art Heterogeneous Integration Packaging (SHIP) at Altera, an Intel Company. “By collaborating with Mercury, a trusted partner in transforming commercial technology for aerospace and defense applications, we are able to deliver this latest technology to our customers developing future radar, electronic warfare, and mission-critical applications.”

The DRF4580L features:

• 6.4″ x 6.4″ x 1.7″ form factor
• Four 64 GSPS A/D and D/A converters
• Altera Agilex 9 SoC FPGA AGRW014
• 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Four 100 GigE optical interfaces
• Ruggedized and conduction-cooled options
• Optional fan kit for table-top development
• FPGA design kit for custom IP development
• Board Support Package (BSP) for software development

Mercury will be showcasing the DRF4580L at booth 1642 at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., September 16-18.

 

13 Sept 24. Momentus Joins DARPA Consortium for Classified Defense Innovation. Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) (“Momentus” or the “Company”), a U.S. commercial space company that offers satellite buses, transportation, and other in-space infrastructure services, has been selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office to become a member of the Bringing Classified Innovation to Defense and Government Systems (BRIDGES) consortium. As part of the consortium, Momentus will be sponsored for a facility clearance, enabling the company to engage directly with Department of Defense (DoD) customers at classified levels. Momentus’ selection is based on their innovative technologies and capabilities that support the DoD’s Space Superiority mission.

“Our technology portfolio is well-suited to this mission area, including our Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle due to its in-space proven maneuverability, flexible heavy/large payload capacity, top-end bus power, retractable solar array, and other attributes.”

Post this

Entry to this consortium is a key enabler for the Company to access and grow in the large U.S. Government classified market for the Department of Defense, military services like the U.S. Space Force, and intelligence agencies.

Once the facility clearance and appropriate personnel clearances are obtained, Momentus will be able to conduct work ranging from Secret up to the Top Secret (TS/SCI/SAP) level. As part of the BRIDGES consortium, the primary focus will be on innovation at the classified level. BRIDGES aims to serve as an incubator for companies with the potential to contribute value to classified DoD efforts.

Consortium members, including Momentus, will have regular one-on-one meetings with Defense Department officials to align their expertise with DoD’s efforts, share progress, and receive guidance and mentorship. Additionally, Momentus will have access to Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) managed by the MITRE Corporation, enabling Momentus to conduct classified work.

“We’re honored by the opportunity to collaborate with DARPA to work at the classified level to increase our nation’s space superiority capabilities. We have the ability to significantly contribute to our nation’s defense and look forward to doing so,” said Momentus Chief Executive Officer John Rood. “Our technology portfolio is well-suited to this mission area, including our Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle due to its in-space proven maneuverability, flexible heavy/large payload capacity, top-end bus power, retractable solar array, and other attributes.” (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

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Oxley Group Ltd

 

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

 

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

 

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

 

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

 

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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Sponsored By Oxley Developments

 

www.oxleygroup.com

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12 Sept 24. Southern Launch to blast off Hypersonix spaceplane next year.

Hypersonix Launch Systems is set to blast off one of its spaceplanes from a Southern Launch spaceport next year after the two firms agreed a landmark deal.

The vehicle will be launched on a rocket before separating and igniting its own scramjet engines to reach speeds up to Mach 12.

The launch forms part of a wider plan to create Australia’s first “turnkey hypersonic testbed service” next year that will rival a similar proposal announced by competitor Gilmour.

It means devices could be attached as payloads to test how they respond to the effects of moving so quickly through the air.

Hypersonix CEO Matt Hill said, “The intensity of hypersonic testing is set to rise rapidly and there are a huge number of both emerging technology companies and large aerospace companies that need hypersonic flight heritage for their products.

“Our hypersonic test bed will make this affordable for these companies to flight qualify their technology.”

Despite its relatively small aerospace industry, Australia is considered a pioneer in hypersonic technology.

The University of Southern Queensland, for example, has its own hypersonic wind tunnel that can simulate the effect of Mach 5 speeds, while Brisbane-based Hypersonix Launch Systems agreed a deal with the US Department of Defense.

Hypersonix Launch Systems was selected ahead of 63 entrants by the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for a program testing aircraft that can fly faster than five times the speed of sound.

The business believes its “DART AE” aircraft can fly at seven times the speed of sound, while founder Michael Smart has previously told Space Connect’s sister brand, Australian Aviation, his long-term aim is to fly customers to space “like you fly with Qantas”.

“Hypersonix’s long-term ambition is to bring affordable aircraft-like operations to access to space, flying to the edge of space for spacecraft deployment and returning to land like a plane,” said Southern Launch.

“Hypersonic engines will also power a future generation of passenger aircraft with the potential of reducing the flight time from Adelaide to London to just 2 hours.”

Southern Launch, meanwhile, currently has two launch sites in SA.

The Koonibba Test Range is designed to test rockets and payloads by blasting them into suborbital space before they return to Earth at the same location.

It’s uniquely a joint venture between the launch firm and the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation.

It differs from Southern Launch’s more traditional Whalers Way Complex at the tip of the Eyre Peninsula, which specialises in orbital launches over the sea.

“The Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex and Koonibba Test Range are designed to be flexible to host a variety of missions,” said Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp

“We are proud that we can work with the Hypersonix team to help with the advancement of hypersonic vehicle technology and add another chapter to our nation’s aerospace capabilities right here in South Australia.”

 

12 Sept 24. DMC supports NP Aerospace in delivering additive manufacturing innovation to UK MOD. Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC), an industry leading production facility and additive manufacturing (AM) innovation hub, is working in partnership with NP Aerospace to deliver state-of-the-art metal engineering solutions. This collaboration is part of the UK MoD’s Project TAMPA.

Project TAMPA is a UK Strategic Command Defence Support sponsored project designed to enable the UK defence industry supply chain to investigate and exploit the key capabilities and benefits available to defence from the speed, quality and flexibility that additive manufacturing (3D printing) can bring.  With expertise developed across multiple sectors such as space, aerospace, motorsport and medical, DMC are leading the way in this rapidly evolving engineering space. Many of the large defence prime contractors are engaged with Project TAMPA to deliver what their UK MoD customer needs.

NP Aerospace has a long heritage of supplying military vehicles and support solutions.  Post-UOR period, in 2019, NP Aerospace was awarded the PMETS engineering support contract, for the UK’s core protected mobility fleet. More recently this has expanded, with NP being one of the companies selected on the Marine Systems Transformation (MaST) framework (total contract value £850m), so are deeply engaged in supporting capability and maintaining a secure UK supply chain.

Underpinned by an ethos of truly creative engineering and the pursuit of perfection, DMC applies a holistic approach to the additive manufacturing process and is pushing the boundaries of possibility while ensuring full quality assurance with AS9100 certification and PPAP (Part Production Approval Process) and NPI (New Product Introduction) practices.  Together DMC and NP Aerospace are rapidly innovating, using the additive manufacturing process in both metal and polymer parts, to help UK defence resolve long standing challenges, meet operational demand, secure the supply chain and combat supply chain obsolescence.   For example, DMC has produced parts for the rear step assembly and the door latch assembly on Mastiff and Ridgback platforms which can be rapidly produced. The future concept includes the ability to securely transfer the digital files to a forward deployed AM production facility to reduce the delivery time. These parts can be seen fitted to a new generation Ridgback Platform on NP Aerospace’s stand OR-13 at DVD taking place 18/19 September, at Millbrook.

David Wilson, Director of Engineering, NP Aerospace Vehicle Systems, Services and Spares said, “Project TAMPA has opened the door to allow us to fully explore the incredible benefits that can be achieved by utilizing the additive manufacturing processes. It has been very rewarding working with DMC, the experts in the field, who not only have the engineering acumen to solve complex problems alongside NP Aerospace engineers, but also have the necessary certification and accreditation to provide essential quality assurance, critical to defence.”

Kieron Salter, CEO of the DMC said, “We are very proud to be supporting NP Aerospace, and many others across the UK defence industry, by sharing our vast experience and expertise in the additive manufacturing process gained from the most demanding of sectors such as Formula 1, aerospace and space.  We pride ourselves at DMC in being more than a traditional ‘build to print’ supplier, although production work is always our end goal.  We also provide a holistic approach to additive manufacturing, being creative and innovative in our engineering that leads to the final production solution.  Hence, DMC delivers truly pioneering solutions for businesses operating at the forefront of their industry.”

 

12 Sept 24. Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) have chosen a Rohde & Schwarz designed and built EMC test solution announced at Land Forces today. This capability is part of Stage 2 of the H-ACE facility where HDA is building the LAND 8116 Phase 1 Huntsman vehicles and LAND 400 Phase 3 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles.

“Our test solutions within the Hanwha E3* capability provide crucial electromagnetic interference/compatibility assurance, mitigating the impact of a contested and congested electromagnetic environment on the operational capability of military equipment, systems, and platforms and ensuring they are fully prepared for battlespace operations,” said Managing Director Rohde & Schwarz Australia Gareth Evans.

“Rohde & Schwarz understands the complexity of modern combat platforms, where multiple integrated systems must work seamlessly to protect the platform. Even the slightest undetected interference between these onboard systems could profoundly impact a platform’s combat effectiveness,” Evans added.

Custom built with a bespoke turntable for heavy vehicles, the E3 capability will be the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, providing the means for H-ACE-built vehicles to be tested to internationally recognised standards.

Rohde & Schwarz Australia will be responsible for all elements of supply, including the in-country coordination and delivery of the E3 capability, and will also train a highly skilled technical workforce to operate the facility.

At the H-ACE located near Geelong in Victoria, HDA will build 129 Redback IFVs under LAND 400 Phase 3 while 30 AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzers and 15 AS10 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles will be built for LAND 8116 Phase 1.

“The EMI/EMC chamber at the H-ACE will support a world leading capability at our facility,” said Acting Managing Director of HDA Dean Michie. “We are looking forward to making use of the facility ourselves alongside offering the space to Defence and Defence Industry customers as a service. The ability of the H-ACE to form the centre of an Australian Industry Capability Hub has been an important consideration in our development and future.”

As the leader in EMC spectrum testing, Rohde & Schwarz has been supplying EMC test equipment for over 50 years and its test experts have been advising EMC standard authorities on T&M issues for decades. The R&S ESW range of EMI test receivers at the core of compliance test feature not only the widest dynamic range, highest accuracy, and lowest noise available, but also the ultra-fast time-domain scans to achieve fast and reliable tests in line with up-to-date test regulations. Rohde & Schwarz has a wide-ranging test equipment portfolio that is based on in-depth EMC compliance, pre-compliance, and debugging expertise and supports all relevant commercial, wireless, automotive, military and aerospace EMC standards.

*The components of E3 include Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), Electromagnetic interference (EMI), Electromagnetic pulse (EMP), Electromagnetic vulnerability (EMV), Lightning, Radiation hazards (RADHAZ), Precipitation static (P-Static) and Electrostatic discharge (ESD).

 

11 Sept 24. Advanced Navigation, a world leader in assured positioning navigation and timing (APNT) technologies, with Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA), global leaders in spacecraft engines, aircraft components and defence solutions, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop strategic-grade APNT solutions.

Signed on the opening day of Land Forces 2024 International Defence Exposition, the agreement will see the three companies collaborate on the development of high-performance inertial navigation systems (INS) for autonomous, airborne and crewed systems. This will be used for precision targeting and vehicle navigation in global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-contested environments across land and air domains.

Under the agreement, the co-developed solutions will be integrated into Hanwha Aerospace’s global supply chain, aiding the advancement of the broader strategic APNT interests for Australia and international markets.

Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw shares, “The landscape of sovereign defence manufacturing is experiencing a seismic shift, driven by advanced technologies like automation, machine learning, and precision engineering. Traditional approaches are no longer sufficient in meeting the complex demands of modern PNT systems.

Collaborating with Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Defence Australia will not only bring together the brightest in engineering minds, it will forge a path toward unrivalled PNT excellence and reinforce our technological sovereignty.”

Hanwha Defence Australia, Acting Managing Director Dean Michie shares, “We are pleased to sign this agreement with Advanced Navigation, as it reinforces our commitment to strengthening cooperation in developing joint advanced military capabilities. In support of uplifting the Australian industrial base, we look forward to equipping partners with next-generation solutions for accurate targeting, secure navigation, and synchronised operations in situations where GNSS signals may be degraded. This important sovereign capability will further strengthen the growing Australian South Korean relationship.”

 

10 Sept 24. Leidos Australia to partner with Lockheed Martin on AIR 6500. Joint-capabilities. Leidos Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia have announced a partnership to provide and develop software and cyber services for the ADF’s future Joint Air Battle Management System under AIR 6500.

As part of the contract, Leidos Australia will provide Lockheed Martin Australia with critical software development, cyber security, verification and validation services to support the development of the AIR 6500 Joint Air Battle Management System.

This work will support Lockheed Martin Australia to deliver to the Australian Defence Force a highly robust and secure open systems architecture for AIR 6500 that will provide an advanced integrated air and missile defence capability to combat current and future threats.

Leidos Australia chief executive Paul Chase said, “We are proud to be partnering with Lockheed Martin Australia to provide this mission critical capability to Defence. This is an exciting opportunity for Leidos which supports our business growth in Australia, while providing our Australian engineering team an opportunity to work in partnership with Lockheed Martin to shape and validate capabilities integrated into AIR 6500.

AIR 6500 Phase 1 will serve as a foundational element of Defence’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability in the Joint Air Battle Management System being delivered under the project.

The project will provide the architecture at the core of the Australian Defence Force’s future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability through the delivery of a command and control system, enabling Defence to coordinate and synchronise air and missile defence capabilities.

The capability represents a significant enhancement beyond Air Force’s in-service Air Defence System and will be delivered in two tranches.

Expanding on the comments made by Chase, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Warren McDonald said, “We are delighted to partner with Leidos Australia, who bring a wealth of experience to AIR 6500. The partnership marks an important focus on designing a rigorous, independently validated, agile air battle management system that supports the Australian Defence Force.”

Tranche one is acquiring four active electronically scanned array radars to replace the in-service Tactical Air Defence Radar System, with the new radars being procured from Canberra-based company CEA Technologies.

The new radars will be able to detect aircraft and missile threats at greater ranges and with increased accuracy, allowing for greater warning, decision and response time, with Defence stating that first radar is scheduled to be delivered in 2024.

“Having Leidos Australia integrated into the AIR 6500 project builds trust and discipline into the agile software development process. It allows Leidos Australia to work directly with our engineers in real time to test and evaluate incrementally. This supports our engineers to continually progress and or resolve technical issues rapidly to achieve project milestones,” McDonald said.

Leidos Australia and its 2,000 local experts have been a trusted partner to the Australian government, including the Department of Defence, for more than 25 years, having delivered some of the country’s most complex software and systems integration projects.

Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The company employs more than 1,600 people in Australia, working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, Defence and civil sectors. (Source: Google/Defence Connect)

 

10 Sept 24. Northrop: Adding a Pilot to New Model 437 Will Speed Testing.

The addition of a pilot on Northrop Grumman’s Model 437 “Vanguard” Autonomous Collaborative Aircraft is to speed demonstrations and test flying, because it can overfly populated areas without special permits from the Federal Aviation Administration and is not restricted to test ranges cleared for uncrewed aircraft, the company said.

The Model 437 flew for the first time Aug. 29, flown by company test pilot Brian Maisler out of the Mojave Air & Space Port, Calif. The aircraft is derived from Northrop’s Model 401, which is an uninhabited craft the company said it is using to explore autonomous collaborative projects.

On Sept. 5, Northrop released a video of the Model 437’s first flight, in which it emphasized the digital techniques used to rapidly fabricate and fly the jet. The video also emphasizes that the Model 437’s wings are removable, which is consonant with senior Air Force leader statements that much of its planned Collaborative Combat Aircraft inventory could remain boxed up, and possibly pre-positioned, until needed.

Colin Miller, Northrop’s senior vice president for engineering, said in an email that having a pilot onboard

“provides many advantages to demonstrating capabilities without the need to gain special permitting to fly an autonomous aircraft in national airspace.”

The Air Force has been critical in recent years of the FAA’s slowness in opening up more airspace to large uninhabited aircraft, as this has constrained the pace at which new classes of drones can be tested. A pilot onboard can monitor the aircraft when it is in autonomous mode and take the controls if it behaves in an unexpected or dangerous way.

A “future iteration” could be all-autonomous, “while demonstrating other tactical applications our customers desire for autonomous collaborative programs,” Miller said.

Miller declined to say if the Model 437 is aimed specifically at a particular program like the Air Force’s CCA program, in which Northrop is competing for a slot on Increment 2.

“It is a technology demonstrator operated by [Northrop subsidiary] Scaled Composites for a number of applications, including autonomous collaborative aircraft,” he said. “It is not intended for a specific effort, as we have a broad range” of potential applications for the aircraft “for a variety of customers.”

There is no set flight test plan for the Model 437, company officials said. On their websites, Northrop and Scaled said the Vanguard could carry two AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, but Greg Morris, president of Scaled Composites, declined to comment on whether weapons release tests are expected.

“As a technology demonstrator for autonomous and tactical aircraft of this size, Scaled Composites could conduct a number of tests based on customer requirements,” Morris said, but he added that the company “does not provide this information publicly.”

The Model 437 design was unveiled three years ago, and at the time Northrop touted it as a potential competitor for what was then called the Air Force’s “loyal wingman” project. The fact that the company mentioned that it can carry two AMRAAMs dovetails with Air Force senior leader assertions in the last few months that early increments of the CCA will be focused on air-to-air applications. Northrop said the Model 437 can carry up to a 2,000-pound payload.

The ”other customers” Northrop may be referring to for the Model 437 include the U.K., which has a requirement for a CCA-like capability to escort its F-35s, and the Navy, which is pursuing a CCA effort of its own. Northrop designed and tested the X-47 aircraft to demonstrate that a large-size drone could safely and consistently take off from and land on aircraft carriers without human intervention.

Narration in the video says the Model 437 is ‘part of the broader ‘loyal wingman’ concept, which is aimed at creating affordable, multimission and reusable drones that can take on high risk missions to reduce danger to human pilots.” (Source: UAS VISION/Air & Space Forces Magazine)

 

10 Sept 24. Hanwha Aerospace and SK Enmove Unveil World’s First Immersion Cooling ESS: Leading the Way in Non-Flammable Battery Solutions. Hanwha Aerospace, in collaboration with SK Enmove, has unveiled the world’s first immersion cooling Energy Storage System (ESS), marking a significant step towards non-flammable battery technology.

The announcement was made at a technology briefing held at the Hanwha Building in Seoul, showcasing their breakthrough technology that promises to revolutionize the ESS market and bolster Korea’s leadership in green energy storage solutions.

Hanwha Aerospace’s newly developed immersion cooling ESS uses advanced thermal fluid technology to fill the lithium-ion battery modules, effectively isolating each cell. This innovative design prevents thermal runaway propagation, even if a single cell experiences thermal runaway, and addresses other safety risks such as insulation failures due to environmental factors like dust or salt.

By offering superior safety compared to conventional air- and water-cooled ESS models, the system enhances the non-flammable characteristics of the battery, and has received certifications from major global institutions, including DNV and the Korean Register of Shipping (KR), for its key model, SEAL.

“With decades of experience in ESS design and R&D, we have achieved industry-leading levels of safety,” said Seung-Hyun Son, Head of Energy Systems Center at Hanwha Aerospace. “Our immersion cooling ESS is set to lead the next generation of energy storage solutions, ensuring the highest levels of fire prevention. Safety is a critical requirement for maritime ESS applications.”

SK Enmove, the partner of thermal fluids for Hanwha Aerospace’s submersion cooling ESS, also presented their differentiated fluid technology at the event.

“By leveraging SK Enmove’s world-class Group 3 base oil technology and unique additive formulations, we have maximized the non-flammable properties of the battery,” said Sang-Hyuk Seo, Head of e-Fluids B2B Business at SK Enmove. “We are not only focusing on marine applications but are also developing submersion cooling ESS for land-based uses, including data centers and electric vehicles. Our goal is to position SK Enmove as a global leader in immersion cooling technology.”

SK Enmove, renowned for its market-leading Group 3 base oils and the well-known ZIC lubricants, has been diversifying into electric vehicle fluids and cooling fluids since 2022, with plans to commercialize its immersion cooling technology. This strategic expansion aligns with its goal to capture a significant share of the projected 42 trillion KRW power efficiency market by 2040.

Hanwha Aerospace aims to leverage its extensive experience in supplying ESS to public and – maritime commercial vessels to become a leader in eco-friendly maritime solutions. The company also plans to accelerate the development of a value chain in the eco-friendly ship sector, in synergy with Hanwha Ocean’s maritime business initiatives.

Through this collaboration, Hanwha Aerospace and SK Enmove are poised to drive innovation and reinforce the global competitiveness of Korea’s ESS sector, paving the way for safer and more sustainable energy storage solutions. –

25 Aug 24. Rheinmetall place at ELROB 2024. Rheinmetall has once again demonstrated its expertise in the field of artificial intelligence. It achieved a significant success in connection with the Interoperable Robotic Convoy (InterRoC) project. In the European Land Robot Trial 2024 (ELROB) competition, the Rheinmetall InterRoc team consisting of the Research & Technology division of Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH and Rheinmetall Canada Inc. won first place in the “Automated Convoy” category. The combination of HX truck and integrated PATH autonomy kit proved its worth.

The Rheinmetall PATH autonomy kit (‘PATH A-Kit’) is an AI-supported navigation system that can be installed in almost any vehicle. It has already proven itself several times in trials in various platforms, including in the Mission Master robotic vehicle family. Just last year, it was successfully used in the 2023 Estonia Unmanned Ground Systems Autonomy Trials. At ELROB 2024, the PATH A-Kit controlled two of the highly mobile HX logistics vehicles as part of the convoy scenario. Both HX vehicles were also equipped with a drive-by-wire system.

ELROB is one of the most demanding open international competitions in the field of robotics, sensor technology and autonomy. Every two years, participants from universities as well as civilian and military manufacturers compete against each other. The aim is to test the capabilities of modern robots. This year was the 12th edition. It took place from 24 to 28 June at the  German Armed Forces Technical Center for Land-Based Vehicle Systems, Engineer and General Field Equipment (Wehrtechnische Dienststelle WTD 41) in Trier. 19 teams took part. Rheinmetall subsidiaries Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH and Rheinmetall Canada competed in a tactical leader-follower scenario and an actual real-life scenario.

The level of difficulty of this year’s tasks was significantly increased compared to the 2022 competition. The autonomously driving trucks and the convoy commander had to react to dynamic obstacles, alternative routes and various electromagnetic interferers, among other things. However, the system was able to solve all tasks in an exemplary manner.

The HX vehicles had to overcome eleven different obstacles on a 6 km circuit. The most difficult challenges included narrow paths, transitions between on-road and off-road driving, navigating through open and dense forests, communication interference, reversing and driving around obstacles. “The course was very challenging. The organisers did a fantastic job of making the competition a realistic military scenario and our performance shows that the Rheinmetall PATH-A kit is ready for real-world use cases,” said Paul Rocco, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Provectus. The company was acquired by Rheinmetall Canada in 2019.

The competition organisers also surprised the Rheinmetall team by bringing a car into their convoy. This forced the following truck to slow down and navigate around the moving obstacle. The convoy was also broken up, so the team had to remotely control the following truck on a parallel path and reconfigure the convoy to make the remote-controlled truck the new convoy leader. “The 2024 ELROB scenario was considerably more challenging than the scenario for the 2022 ELROB participation, for example,” commented Sebastian Elze, Rheinmetall Landsysteme Research & Technology division’s project manager responsible for the overall autonomous InterRoC system, among other things.

Despite these challenges, the team completed most of the route in convoy mode without GPS, as the terrain was overgrown with dense foliage. “This is the first time we have demonstrated this new specific capability, which is a significant upgrade for the PATH A kit,” said Luc Brunet, Director of Robotics and Autonomous Systems at Rheinmetall Provectus. “We were able to seamlessly switch between GPS-enabled and GPS-free environments without any degradation in functionality or noticeable change in operation.”

Although ELROB is a non-competitive event focussed solely on research and development, an award ceremony was held at the end of the trial. This is intended to give participants the opportunity to receive feedback and insights from the judges. This year, Rheinmetall received the prize for the best convoy performance, a first for the company and an important milestone for the PATH A-Kit.

In addition to the evaluated scenarios, the area of autonomous driving was also demonstrated to the many visitors – including generals and other military personnel from various countries, officials from the Federal Ministry of Defence, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and WTD41 – in the open presentation area. The vehicles in the competition, which were also on display and available for demonstration drives, were very popular with the visitors and aroused great interest

The Research & Technology division of Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH from Unterlüß took part in this event for the first time as Team InterRoC in 2022 as part of the InterRoC project in the field of automated convoys. At that time, the team took the 2nd place with an American autonomy kit provided by BAAINBw and integrated by Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH.

The InterRoC project was launched four years ago in order to derive customer requirements for future autonomous logistics vehicles. It is continuously being expanded by the BAAINBw through supplementary orders with regard to system capabilities. Among other things, it includes two military HX2 trucks equipped with autonomy kits and drive-by-wire, which follow each other in a leader-follower principle. In view of this competition, the PATH autonomy kit developed by Rheinmetall Canada Inc. was also installed in the vehicles so that participation in the competition could take place with a complete “Rheinmetall solution”.

 

20 Aug 24. First time NVIDIA® based computer for advanced autonomy.

will be seen in Europe. Astute Systems announces the launch of its GXA-1, an NVIDIA®-powered computer, designed specifically for advanced autonomy in the defence sector. The GXA-1 will make its debut at DVD2024, where it will be showcased to key stakeholders in the Land Equipment sector, marking a significant step towards engaging with potential UK customers.

Engineered for SWaP-sensitive (Size, Weight, and Power) platforms, the GXA-1 is the ultimate solution for enabling autonomy in harsh environments. Purpose-built to endure the extreme conditions typical of military operations—including extreme temperatures, moisture, vibration, and shock—the GXA-1 ensures reliable performance where it matters most.

For developers already familiar with the NVIDIA® Software Development Kit (SDK), the GXA-1 offers seamless migration, making it an attractive option for those looking to transition to a more rugged solution. Astute Systems highlights that the GXA-1 is ideal for those content with Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) systems, while also catering to Prime Contractors seeking Modified Off-The-Shelf (MOTS) versions tailored to their specific environmental needs. Pre-qualification units with a developer kit are now available, offering a head start to those interested in early adoption.

Key features (see attached specification for full data):

• Based on the NVIDIA® Jetson AGX OrinTM Industrial SoM
• AI Performance 248 TFLOPS
• Mass storage options (dual M.2 M key SSD)
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet data plane port
• Multiple legacy analogue inputs ideal for existing DVE (Degraded Visual Environment) day/night cameras.
• Enabling autonomous workloads

Ross Newman, Founder of Astute Systems comments “We believe we have the best solution for autonomous military systems and deployment in harsh environments: the NVIDIA high performance; the perfect SWaP optimisation and proven technology.  Initial interest confirms this with one key potential customer explaining “The GXA-1 is exactly what we were looking for it is the right product, right place and the right time” – or put another way, we’re faster, quicker, lighter and better value than anything currently available delivering the best performance per watt of any device in this class.”

Astute Systems, a Queensland-based company, is part of Team Defence Australia, Australia’s national platform for export-capable Australian defence companies.  As such, the company is well placed to understand the requirements of AUKUS Pillar 2 which focuses on jointly developing advanced capabilities, the trilateral security partnership between the UK, the USA and Australia with the intention of cooperating on key defence capabilities including AI and autonomy as defined in AUKUS.

John Brosnan Defence & Security Director at the Australian Trade & Investment Commission (Austrade) says Astute Systems exemplifies the world-class innovation in defence technology that Australia has to offer. Brosnan says “Astute’s latest developments – designed to provide defence end users with an operational advantage – demonstrate the advanced capabilities of Australia’s defence industry and the increased opportunities for collaboration under AUKUS.  Don’t miss your chance to connect directly with Ross and the team at DVD in September.”

For more information on current UK partners and global re-sellers, check out: https://astutesys.com

Reseller and Parnters

Find us at DVD on stand C4-210 DVD: Astute Systems / DefenceX

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Oxley Group Ltd

 

Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.

 

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/

The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.

https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/

 

Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.

 

Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.

 

Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide.  The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting.  It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.

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