Sponsored by AOC Europe
https://www.aoceurope.org
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04 Nov 21. Global MilSatCom 2021’s week of events formally began today with the Disruptive Technology FocusDay at the St James’ Court hotel. Concentrating on several emerging fields and innovative companies, the day was a fantastic example of the power of innovation and disruption in the space industry. With a high-level audience from across the world, it was a great day of collaboration, exploration, and discovery.
The day began with a keynote briefing from Mr Ian Annett, Deputy CEO for Programme Delivery, UK Space Agency, who provided a insight into the innovationand disruption pillars of the National Space
Strategy and how both UKSA and the UK’s space industry can support innovative approaches. Following this was a fascinating panel discussion with five of the UK’s spaceports: Spaceport Cornwall, SaxaVord Spaceport, Sutherland Space Hub, Spaceport One, and Prestwick Spaceport. The first time so many spaceports have shared a stage, it was a full and entertaining discussion with some excellent contributions from the audience. The overwhelming message was that the UK is ready and eager to become a launch provider. The day’s sponsors, ExoAnalytic Solutions, then presented a compelling argument for a rethink of civil/military relations. Offering a number of clear solutions to the disconnect between military organisations and commercial entities, this was an excellent way to focus the audience on the topic of the day. The NewSpace section featured two innovative companies making waves in their respective spaces.
First up was Doug Liddle from In-Space Missions who presented their work on software-defined space capabilities and their work with multiple occupancy/reusable satellites. Dr Chris Brunskill, from D-Orbit UK, then followed this with numerous examples of their own NewSpace approach,
including in-orbit demonstrations and edge data processing, that are set to disrupt the space industry in the coming years. An examples of UK disruption in space, two small companies then delivered updates on their work to a highly receptive audience. LMO Space, represented by CEO Michel Poucet, is providing SSA and propulsion solutions to the small satellite market, and Michel spoke passionately about the need for a more sustainable approach to space. They were followed by possibly the most interesting find of the event, Space Forge. Delivering a game-changing in-space manufacturing capability, Space Forge and its CEO, Josh Western, are creating something new and truly innovative with wide-reaching ramifications for the space industry. Following these presentations was a panel focused on space finance and the best ways to support innovation and sustainability with funding. Though a robust conversation at times, a clear message emerged: the real need for funding is in people and skills, not in ideas, and the takeaways for military are obvious also.
The final session of the day centred on XGEO/cislunar space. As an emerging area in the space industry, XGEO offers a number of challenges and opportunities for space professionals and these were effectively communicated by Dr George Pollock from the Aerospace Corporation who also offered a challenge for the community to be more collaborative in its approach. A fireside chat then followed with Dr Pollock, Dr James Frith (the XGEO Area Lead at AFRL), and the Focus Day chair, Ralph Dinsley from Northern Space and Security. This fireside chat built on this challenge for greater collaboration and urged a greater governmental effort to create meaningful regulation of XGEO to prevent a new “Wild West” in space.
Overall, this day has been an excellent advert for the space industry and its proclivity to push the bounds of what is possible. With an engaged audience and cutting-edge subject matter, the Focus Day demonstrated that there will always be an appetite for truly innovative work, and we’re looking forward to welcoming this community back to the Military Space Disruptive Technology conference on 25-26 April 2022. Tuesday 2 November 2021
After a virtual event in 2020, Global MilSatCom 2021 returned to the QEII, Westminster in London with a bang. Featuring a full exhibition area and a packed delegate list, this was a fantastic day of collaboration, networking and learning.
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander UK Space Command, delivered a powerful opening keynote address, highlighting some of the UK MOD’s main lines of effort in space. He was followed by updates on SKYNET 6 from UK
Strategic Command, and a powerful argument for greater international collaboration from STRATCOM’s international partnerships team. A UK MOD panel then examined some key themes for the UK MOD moving forward, such as upskilling and training.
Airbus, the current primary partner for SKYNET, presented how they are rising to meet the challenge of modern-day operations, before Lockheed Martin examined a number of issues within military space. A key
message from this session was that our adversaries are, in many places, outpacing us and we must respond fast in order to meet this. A French section then followed, with updates from the DGA and Thales, who both outlined the way forward for French MILSATCOM. After lunch, NCIA outlined a number of upcoming programmes with their associated budgets, and they were followed by Northrop Grumman’s work on on-orbit servicing: this is truly next-gen technology, and there was a lot of interest in the military applications for this.
The day then saw a lively panel on the ground segment and SATCOM terminals. Touching on a number of critical problems and challenges, a clear need for better international collaboration emerged. This was then followed by a number of fascinating industry presentations by Inmarsat, ST Engineering iDirect, BT and GovSat, before Geoffroy Beaudot from Luxembourg closed the event with an update on some of the very innovative work underway in his department. Overall, Day 1 of Global MilSatCom proved that it is a truly global meeting point for the SATCOM community; with such a large spread of countries in attendance, the message of the power of collaboration was hammered home time and time again. With two days to go, we look forward to seeing how the community comes together.
02 Nov 21. MoD and Dstl host 23rd annual Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference. Vital discussions on the importance of chemical weapon demilitarisation began on 2 November, with Defence Minister Baroness Goldie delivering a keynote speech. Hosted by the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation (CWD) Conference has been held every year since 1998 (except 2020), shortly after the Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force, banning chemical weapons and requiring states to destroy any existing stockpiles. With over 98% of the world’s declared chemical weapon stocks now destroyed, the Conference provides an opportunity for experts from all over the world to discuss their progress and co-operation in eliminating chemical weapons and addressing the remaining challenges, and to share experiences and lessons.
In her keynote speech to the Conference, Defence Minister Baroness Goldie commended the vital work of scientific and technical experts to make the world safe from chemical weapons. The Minister also acknowledged the continued threat from the use of chemical weapons, including in Syria, Russia and Salisbury, and the need for those responsible to be held to account.
Defence Minister Baroness Goldie said, “I am very pleased the Ministry of Defence and Dstl have hosted the Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference, bringing together experts from Defence, industry and academia to strengthen the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.”
The use of chemical weapons shows there is still much to do before we reach our goal. The UK is determined to uphold the international resolve against the use of chemical weapons. We remain firm in our determination to hold to account those who continue to use chemical weapons.
Welcoming to the Conference Ambassador Fernando Arias, Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Baroness Goldie added:
I congratulate and thank Director General Fernando Arias and the Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for their unwavering commitment and continuing determined and professional efforts to implement the Convention effectively and impartially. You bear unique responsibilities, on behalf of the international community, for achieving the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention and we acknowledge the critical importance of your role.
More than 70,000 tonnes of chemical weapon agents and ms of bombs, rocket warheads and artillery shells have been destroyed since 1998, but technical challenges remain. Chemical weapon attacks, including on Alexey Navalny in Russia in August last year, in Salisbury in the UK in 2018 and the numerous chemical weapon attacks by the Assad regime in Syria, make it clear the Convention requires global cooperation to affect lasting change.
OPCW Director General Fernando Arias said: “The complete elimination of the possibility of the use of chemical weapons is at the core of the Chemical Weapons Convention – there are no exceptions, it is absolute in its scope. Despite the achievement since the Convention’s entry into force 24 years ago, the use of chemical weapons in Iraq, Malaysia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom demonstrate that these weapons remain an insidious threat. Our world today is very different from the one in 1997, when the OPCW was founded. To meet challenges, it is imperative for us to keep adapting and evolving in an ever-changing global landscape. The OPCW Centre for Chemistry and Technology, or ChemTech Centre, which is now under construction close to The Hague, will be an integral part of our effort to better implement the Convention.”
Preventing re-emergence of chemical weapons will require the commitment and efforts of all stakeholders: governments, industry and civil society. You can count on the Secretariat of the OPCW to continue working with all States Parties to uphold and reinforce the norm against the use of chemical weapons.
Dstl interim chief executive Doug Umbers said, “Recent events have again shown the importance of science and technology in countering chemical weapons. Dstl is proud to play a leading role in organising the conference on behalf of the international community.”
Dstl continues to support the aim of having a Designated Laboratory such as our own in every continent, so that this high level of technical expertise is widely available to support the OPCW. The UK has provided voluntary funding to the OPCW to support this objective, working particularly with colleagues in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. It is therefore encouraging to see that Brazil has recently achieved the accolade. This brings us one step closer to achieving a future free from chemical weapons. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
02 Nov 21. Chief of the Defence Staff hosts Gulf partners onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, has hosted a meeting of the Dragon Group onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. The Dragon Group, named after its first meeting aboard HMS Dragon in 2018, is a regular meeting of Defence Chiefs from the Gulf and wider Middle East region. The Dragon Group meeting highlights the importance of the UK’s relations with countries in the region. The UK is committed to working alongside our partners to secure a more stable and safer world. Today’s meeting focused on regional trends as well as new capabilities to combat our shared global threats.
Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter said: “Today’s Dragon Group meeting aboard the HMS Queen Elizabeth was a tremendous opportunity to engage with our Middle East partners and discuss issues of mutual concern. The UK Armed Forces truly value our partnerships in the region and we continue to work with them to help them improve regional security, stability and prosperity. HMS Queen Elizabeth is on her maiden operational deployment, leading the Carrier Strike Group. Its presence in the Middle East demonstrates our commitment to bolstering regional security and stability. A stable and prosperous region is beneficial to both the UK and the rest of the world. The UK’s military and security partnerships in the region are strong and long-standing. Defence routinely has over 1,000 military personnel deployed in the region, in addition to aircraft and ships. Our Defence partnerships help us mount counter-terrorism, anti-piracy and counter-smuggling operations that keep everyone safe.”
This will be General Sir Nick Carter’s last Dragon Group meeting before handing over to his successor as Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
03 Nov 21. EUROSATORY – The Defence & Security Global Event. June 13 to 17 June 2022, Parc des Expositions Paris Nord Villepinte.
For 5 days, Paris hosts:
- The international event dedicated to land and airland defence, security and safety, civil security and fire fighting
- The presentation of the latest technological innovations
- The hub of the entire industry coming from all continents
- Business opportunities and access to the world’s Defence and Security markets
- The global crossroads for think tanks, experts and researchers
29 Oct 21. C4ISRNET announces keynote speakers for CyberCon 2021. Senior cybersecurity leaders from across the U.S. Defense Department will discuss strategy, information warfare and emerging threats at the seventh annual CyberCon on Nov. 10.
The virtual event is hosted by C4ISRNET.
This year’s lineup includes keynote conversations with Lt. Gen. Charles “Tuna” Moore, the deputy commander of U.S. Cyber Command; David McKeown, the department’s chief information officer for cybersecurity; and Mieke Eoyang, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy.
The agenda highlights discussions about the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the cyber realm. Panelists include Col. Brian Russell, commanding officer of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force’s Information Group, to discuss the rise of cyber specialists and tactical info ops.
Lt. Col. Vito Errico, director of the Army’s software factory, is expected to speak on what the services are doing to push software updates to the frontline faster, ensuring forces can harness bleeding edge technology to tip the scales of battle.
Finally, defense leaders will spotlight the evolving role of cyber leadership going forward: what it means to effectively lead information operations, protect the enterprise and institute zero-trust policies across the organization.
Attendees will be able to submit questions in real time.
Registration is available here: https://cybercon.c4isrnet.com/register/ (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
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AOC Europe
AOC Europe connects organisations and individuals across government, defence, industry, and academia to promote the exchange of ideas and information, and review the latest advances in electromagnetic and information-related fields. With a history spanning more than 25 years, AOC Europe is the Association of Old Crows’ flagship international event with 70+ manufacturers and 1000+ attendees from 40+ countries coming together to engage, innovate and network and to discuss all things within this dedicated sector.
Our 2022 conference theme:
Integrating Electromagnetic Effects across all Domains
The control of the electromagnetic spectrum is a fundamental requirement in modern warfare in all domains whether land, sea air, space, information or cyber. Systems operating in these domains must be able to communicate, make decisions, share information and take actions in a coordinated, controlled and effective manner using the electromagnetic spectrum.
To achieve and maintain this dominance, electronic warfare, radar, navigation, situational awareness and other information and communication systems require significant levels of integration and interoperability across all types of platforms and in all domains. Innovative integrated systems requirements, applications and enabling technologies will be considered from intelligence data gathering, analysis and data fusion through to the deployment of countermeasures and other actions that use the electromagnetic spectrum.
For more details on exhibiting/sponsoring, submitting a paper or attending the event visit www.aoceurope.org
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