Sponsored by Clarion Events
https://www.dsei.co.uk
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14 Jun 24. Pentagon Exhibit Showcases Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Technologies. Critical materials made from flowers, heat exchangers that help keep military assets on station for longer, and environmentally friendly explosives that help keep American troops safe were among the military technologies Pentagon officials saw at the third annual Defense Department Manufacturing Technology Program Pentagon Day exhibition on June 4, 2024.
The event featured advanced manufacturing technology projects the ManTech program is accelerating to bolster the DOD’s capabilities to deter and defeat adversaries.
The program is made up of investment programs operated by the Air Force, Army, Navy, Defense Logistics Agency and Office of the Secretary of Defense.
In addition to seeing firsthand the technologies, attendees also learned about ManTech’s mission — to keep service members safe and ensure the DOD can deter and defeat ambitious adversaries through the maturation of technologies that support the Joint Force’s needs, in both tactical and operational settings.
All three OSD ManTech investment portfolios — Manufacturing Science and Technology Program, DOD Manufacturing Innovation Institutes and Manufacturing Education and Workforce Development Program — took part in the event alongside the military services and the defense agency ManTech programs that make up the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel.
“The ManTech program is crucial for scaling up technologies from lab innovations to real-world military applications,” said Tracy Frost, ManTech’s program director. “Our mission is to reduce the acquisition and supportability costs of defense systems and shorten manufacturing and repair cycle times.”
This year’s event highlighted how the program supports agility and rapid modernization capabilities to support long-term strategic advancements and urgent modernization projects.
Leaders from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, including Heidi Shyu, the OUSD(R&E), and Aprille Ericsson, the assistant secretary of defense for science and technology, toured the exhibits alongside Frost and other ManTech leaders.
Spotlight: Engineering in DOD
Featured exhibits included a heat exchanger from MII America Makes that uses additive manufacturing to improve cooling efficiency and design flexibility in military engine components, which helps extend operational time for vehicles and other assets. Another item was a rocket nozzle developed through new additive technologies and specialized materials that provides supply-chain flexibility.
BioMADE featured rubber made from dandelions, which promises to increase sustainability and decrease carbon emissions in addition to reliance on imports.
“The MIIs are public-private partnerships that support various technology domains, such as additive manufacturing and photonics,” said Frost. “By uniting public, private, and academic players, we can move faster and more efficiently to benefit the U.S. military.”
Other technologies on display included the JDMTP’s 6T battery technology — an Army ManTech innovation — that revolutionizes ground vehicle energy systems with improved reliability, lifespan and performance of lithium batteries. The Army ManTech team also displayed DBX1 Green Energetics, an environmentally friendly explosive that enhances safety and performance in military ordnance.
Shyu, whose priorities as the Pentagon’s chief technology officer include creating an ecosystem in which members can work together to create integrated defense capabilities, said bringing together innovators to showcase their work was especially critical for leaders to understand the opportunities available in the department.
“We can’t go it alone,” she said. “The innovations I saw showed the depth and breadth the department needs to take on the challenges of today and tomorrow. DOD ManTech’s ability to bring so many experts across the multiple domains together to work as a team is just exactly what keeps America safe and our domestic manufacturing base more dynamic.”
For more information on the capabilities featured, see the attached DOD ManTech Pentagon Demos PDF. (Source: U.S. DoD)
12 Jun 24. Dive into the future of drone technology & security at the UK’s premier Counter-Unmanned Air Vehicle/Counter-Unmanned Air System (C-UAV/C-UAS) Exhibition & Conference.
Pythia Events is delighted to announce the launch of ‘Protecting Critical Sporting Infrastructure,’ to be held at Chepstow Racecourse prior to the Chepstow Military Raceday on November 6th 2024.
Counter drone is a hot topic in Government, there is renewed and increased focus on this subject with commitment to delivery at all levels of Government and Home Office. From the formation of new Police powers and private security legislation, infrastructure and venue protection to tracking and detection requirements to be built into drones at point of manufacture.
Collaborate with policy makers, government agencies, and industry stakeholders who shape drone regulations and policy. Stay ahead of the curve with access to the latest innovations and trends in C-UAV/C-UAS technology and security. Forge strategic partnerships and alliances to enhance national security and safeguard critical infrastructure against evolving threats posed by unmanned aerial systems.
Gain unparalleled access to key stakeholders and potential partners. Engage with a targeted audience seeking solutions in C-UAS. evaluate the current landscape and inform future thinking and research. Our C-UAS Exhibition and Conference in the UK serves as the nexus where academia, policy makers, government officials, industry leaders, innovators, and drone manufacturers converge to shape the future of aerial security.
Governments are requesting EOIs for all areas of C-UAS. The MoD have issued a tender notice for C-UAS procurement with a spotlight on Electro-Magnetic DETECT and/or DEFEAT capabilities. Border Force, the prison service and CT Police are seeking solutions to the UAS threat. Drone incursions at sporting and music events are on the increase. With the announcement of Martyn’s Law to ensure stronger protections against terrorism in public places, the requirement for C-UAS systems is urgent.
As Paris builds up for hosting the forthcoming Olympics, a prime focus is the development and fielding of C-UAS systems to manage the skies over the venues and stadia, protecting them from a myriad of drone threats. A key factor in urban C-UAS scenarios compared to battlefield C-UAS is the limitation of the usage of kinetic and EW defeat systems. Urban sporting events require specialist C-UAS systems which can defeat the drone threat without damaging the infrastructure or jamming the radio spectrum.
In addition, a new menace has emerged on racecourses and sporting stadia throughout the world – drone incursions. These incursions include illegal gambling syndicates who use drones to fly alongside live races to beam photos back to the syndicates to make on-the-spot bets, paparazzi and blog sites filming sportsmen and women and famous high net worth individuals, probing into their private and social life, and even terrorist organisations intent on disruption of these events. This menace has grown exponentially as drone technology develops.
Julian Nettlefold, publisher of BATTLESPACE, said: “The profile of sponsors and attendees at the Chepstow Military Raceday makes it a perfect forum for displaying the equipment available to racecourses to counter the drone incursion threats by illegal gambling syndicates. All the equipment on show has been battle proven and has protected the citizens of Ukraine in particular. Ian Cameron-Mowat has very kindly agreed to chair the event.”
Ian Cameron-Mowat, the former Head of Force Protection in the UK Ministry of Defence, said: Technology marches on, and the threat to sporting events from the illegal and sometimes dangerous use of drones is real, and is evolving at pace. This event gives us the chance to update ourselves on these threats, and on the technology which can counter them.”
Chepstow Racecourse General Manager Lindsay Knox said: “Drone incursions are on the rise and at ARC we have recognised this threat for some time and are working on solutions to counter this threat which clearly poses a danger to jockeys and horses. We are delighted that these companies have chosen Chepstow to showpiece their C-UAS solutions for racecourses.”
Jackson White, Business Development Director of Tactical Data Links and VP
Marketing, SPX Communication Technologies said: ‘We’re delighted to support the inaugural Chepstow C-UAS Conference in its 2024 edition as Platinum sponsors, our presentation entitled ‘CUAS defeat challenges in public sporting events. Kinetic, RF and Interdiction defeats,’ centres on the challenges created by the current and growing UAS threats at public and sporting events.”
“We recognise the ongoing threat to sporting events and have developed a fully integrated, scalable and customisable system designed to detect, defeat and track hostile UAS and drones. We’re delighted to support the Chepstow Military Raceday in its 2024 edition, highlighting the importance of tech innovation to protect our critical sporting culture.”
The Conference is supported by BATTLESPACE Publications who will produce an issue for the event with special distribution during the event.
The Chepstow Military Raceday was started by Julian Nettlefold in 2014 in memory of his late mother who cared for his father who was 100% disabled having lost both hands and an eye in World War 2. Since inception, the Raceday has raised over £300,000 for military charities including SSAFA, Combat Stress and the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The 2024 races are already sold to BATTLESPACE, Comtech, Hall & Watts, Spectra, platinum sponsor, SPX Communication Technologies and TVS and tables are already selling.
The 2023 Chepstow Military Raceday, was a record event hosting 200 guests and raising £26,500, showed a number of C-UAS systems which can be deployed immediately by Racecourses to counter the drone threat and bring the drones down before they enter the racecourse airspace and thus endanger the lives of horses and jockeys.
Companies showing C-UAS equipment at Chepstow 2023 included SPX Communication Technologies’ BLACKTALON C-UAS system which was on display at the Racecourse entrance. Working closely with SPX Communication Technologies was race sponsor Echodyne, the US radar specialist with four of its EchoShield radars displayed on the BLACKTALON system and in the restaurant. Other C-UAS companies attending the event included Openworks Engineering and Chess Dynamics.
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DSEI 2025 – POWERING PROGRESS, DEFINING YOUR FUTURE
DSEI connects governments, national armed forces, industry thought leaders and the entire defence & security supply chain on a global scale. With a range of valuable opportunities for networking, a platform for business, access to relevant content & live-action demonstrations, the DSEI community can strengthen relationships, share knowledge and engage in the latest capabilities across the exhibition’s Aerospace, Land, Naval, Security & Joint Zones.
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