Sponsored by Hobson Industries
www.hobsonindustries.co.uk
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27 May 20. Pentagon looks to expand JAIC’s supply chain pilot. The Defense Department is looking to scale a new tool that predicts weak spots in the supply chain due to COVID-19 outbreaks and countermeasures.
The Pentagon’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center developed Project Salus, a data aggregation platform that uses predictive modeling, to narrow down supply chain demands and shortages in specific locations so front-line workers can get needed equipment.
Nathaniel Bastian, the JAIC’s chief artificial intelligence solution architect and acting chief for the data science and AI engineering division, said the platform, which has been tested by combatant commanders in the National Guard Bureau and U.S. Northern Command, is in its second series of sprints and is being prepped for transition.
“Until June 1, the JAIC is actively looking to transition the capability and finalize those transition partners,” Bastian said during an AFCEA International and George Mason University event on artificial intelligence May 20. That transition means making Salus, which focuses mostly on supply chain, adaptable to more generalized problem sets and future pandemic modeling efforts. (Source: Defense Systems)
26 May 20. BAE Awarded GBP350m Contract for UK Mod Decision Support. BAE Systems has been announced as the preferred supplier for a major new framework contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). The Analysis for Science & Technology Research in Defence (ASTRID) framework will be the primary mechanism for providing wide-ranging decision support, analysis and advisory services to the MOD for up to seven years, with a contract value of up to £350m.
The contract was placed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and will be delivered by BAE Systems’ analytical consultancy, CORDA, which has provided analysis and decision support services to the MOD for over 30 years.
ASTRID will be the successor to the £120m Analysis Support Construct (ASC), Dstl’s current flagship framework for defence and security analysis which has been managed by BAE Systems since 2015.
Under the ASC, BAE Systems manages a 150-strong supply chain of defence companies, SMEs, consultancies and universities to deliver more than 300 separate analysis activities. This approach will continue under ASTRID, with a large, diverse supply chain delivering the majority of the work. The framework will be open to all government departments with defence and security decision support requirements. BAE Systems will source and select the best supplier from its specialist supply chain to conduct analysis and inform decision-making. ASTRID will therefore help ensure, for example, that investment decisions provide the best value for money.
Suzanne Harrison, Director BAE Systems CORDA, said: “We are excited to continue in our role as the MOD’s partner of choice for analysis and decision support, working closely with partners across the supplier community to deliver this.
“It has been fantastic under the ASC to see collaborative teams from across industry and government working to deliver essential support to defence and security decision-makers. Our approach to ASTRID will build on the many strengths of ASC, while bringing in new innovations to keep improving on the successes of the last five years.”
Dstl Divisional Head Rob Solly commented: “The ASTRID contract will maintain the provision of high quality analysis to underpin decisions across MOD and our partners in wider Government. It will build on the successful collaborative approach of ASC, providing access to the best talent in the UK and overseas. We also aim to progressively and significantly exceed the MOD target of awarding 25% of the work to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) including non-traditional defence suppliers.” (Source: ASD Network)
26 May 20. US Department of Defense Selects XENDEE for Standardized Design Platform of Resilient Microgrids. XENDEE Corporation has signed a contract with the US Department of Defense (DoD) to develop the Standardized Platform to Guide Rapid and Repeatable Modelling and Design of Secure and Resilient DoD Microgrids globally. XENDEE has been tasked to deliver design solutions that enhance energy reliability, while providing new services such as the ability to safely ride-out prolonged utility power outages and sustain mission critical operations, using renewable energy resources and storage in an integrated Microgrid system.
Tim Tetreault, Energy and Water Program Manager, ESTCP, said, “Reducing the time and cost associated with Microgrid design and implementation will expand the application of this technology to more DoD installations increasing energy resilience and mission readiness. XENDEE provides a solution that not only expedites the design process but also offers integrated power analytics capabilities.”
Michael Stadler, CTO of XENDEE, said: “We are highly encouraged and see this competitive award by the Department of Defense as signifying the importance that they place on new technology in this area and in particular our integrated approach to solve the complex challenges surrounding the need for Microgrids to achieve resiliency.” XENDEE’s efforts will be supported by Distributed Energy Resources (DER) resilience and cybersecurity experts from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Arizona State University, California Polytechnical Institute, as well as Reilly Associates, along with mission critical Microgrid planning experts from US Naval Facilities Command Expeditionary Warfare Center, Peterson Air Force Base, US Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, US Army Corps of Engineers, and US Army Garrison Bavaria.
XENDEE technology builds on well-established methods and scientific research and expands Microgrid design optimization capabilities under a unified end-to-end platform that has become the leading decision support system for DER and Microgrid planning. This DoD ESTCP award will augment XENDEE’s Fight-Through™ design optimization technology with enhanced Microgrid design capabilities tailored to DoD requirements and applications, including integration of cybersecurity as a design criterion. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
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About Hobson Industries
Hobson Industries is a private company established in 1987 by Peter Hobson, after serving as a Charge Chief Weapons Engineering Artificer in the Royal Navy. Hobson Industries is an innovative and highly technical engineering business operating to the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System which is complimented with our ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System.
Across the markets we serve in, the UK and globally, we establish close relationships with the people that trust and depend on us. We specialise in the through life support management and development of Land Rover heritage military and civilian platforms – in effect, the Land Rover need never die!
Hobson Industries offer four core services that we specialise in:
Vehicles:
We offer Land Rover vehicle builds to original specification or complete with modifications and upgrades at the customers request. All work is done in house using our bountiful facilities. In addition to vehicle refurbishment, reconditioning and homologation across all Land Rover models.
Powertrain and Transmission Units:
We offer new and reconditioned units, perfect for your Land Rover. All built using Land Rover tolerances and specifications. All for sale on our website. Additionally, we offer reconditioning services to your own units.
Parts Supply:
With over 16,000 part lines in stock, and the Asset Management programme pioneered by the company, we are able to provide a cost effective range of parts which may no longer be available. Additionally, we are offering Hobson Original branded parts to drawings for obsolete parts to help provide Land Rover owners the parts to keep them on the road. Our parts strategy ensures that all re-cycled, asset managed and reconditioned parts and units meet original equipment standards and specifications to ensure your safety while driving on or off road.
Amour – Design and Fabrication and Blast Protection
We offer armouring in steel, composite and ceramic of new and refurbished vehicles and fleets.
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