Sponsored By Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
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17 Feb 22. The UK Air Fuels and Sustainable Energy Association AFSEA has been established for over a year now; in that time we have garnered the endorsement and supported of several key functions and senior personnel in roles across the RAF and MOD, including Director Support Transformation and RAF Logistics Professions Lead Air Vice Marshal Rich Hill CBE, COS Support and ACOS A4 amongst many others. Our presence and contribution to the Defence and RAF energy and sustainability agenda has been recognised in MOD centre, through Def Logs and out in industry through multiple relationships we have already built. We have gone above and beyond to deliver on our mandate and aspirations which remain as firstly, in cohering the fuels and energy cadre across all ranks in the RAF, but of equal importance is our championing and highlighting of excellence and innovation across our membership and the energy field in terms of both people and technology.
In 2022 we will continue to expand on the good work of last year, delivering more forums, live events, and support to our members and the MOD. To build on that foundation we have decided to roll out of Affiliates Network, a joining together of all our key strategic relationships to date and to support the development of stronger future ties. Building on the individual relationship with have with our members, the Affiliates Network will provide common ground for all our key partners to work with AFSEA to support faster, more efficient proliferation of innovative technology and thinking in to the RAF and MOD. Moreover we understand the importance of a shared vision and wish the relationship for those outside the military outfit to be as advantageous for those inside; therefore we intend for the Affiliates Network members to share common spaces as the Defence sector work together for a mutually beneficial future.
The Leadership team has identified a number of subsets of members within the Affiliates Network, ranging from non-fuels qualified personnel in positions of influence, to ex-serving personnel still in the fuels and energy sector, and to purely commercial or informing partners. For the purpose of these introductions we have grouped you into these broad subsets, there are more members than those you can see in the address bar; worry not, there will be opportunities down the road for the complete Affiliates Network to meet! To each individual on the list, we have identified you as a party we already have a relationship with, or we wish to build on existing organisational/personal relationships. Currently the Affiliates Network offers membership through association, i.e. there is no charge, it is simply our way of bringing together all of our relationships in to one place, however in time we intend to formalise membership to the Affiliates Network, in order to formally present the work AFSEA and its Affiliates undertake together to support UK Defence, the MOD, and the RAF.
The long terms vision is for the Affiliates Network to be part of the genesis of relationships that support Defence in the long term, bringing together the best in the fuels and energy sector to support the future of sustainability in energy and promote best technology and learning.
Key members of the AFSEA Leadership Team, from the wider management team, in the cc’s of this email as the key touchpoints for your future interaction with the Association. Flt Lt Dan Smith sits as Co-Chair and Co-Founder of AFSEA alongside Flt Lt Greg Curtis MSc RAF, Group Captain Jamie Miller sits as President, and Flt Lt Craig De Jonghe sits as General Secretary.
16 Feb 22. US Navy’s ONR tests hydrogen fuel-generation prototype device. The device, called H-TaRP, is designed to serve as a portable, readily available power source for US Marines. The US Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) has tested a hydrogen fuel-generation prototype device at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The move is a part of an initiative that seeks to convert aluminium into hydrogen fuel that can serve as a portable and readily available power source for the US Marines. The prototype device is called hydrogen tactical refuelling point (H-TaRP). During the demonstration, the US Marines received training on how to assemble and use the H-TaRP. The device was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory under ONR Global TechSolutions programme. The TechSolutions programme seeks to advance prototype technologies that may benefit the marines or sailors.
ONR Global TechSolutions programme director Jason Payne said: “ONR Global TechSolutions got involved with H-TaRP when the Marines expressed their desire to get fuel in an expeditionary environment.
“TechSolutions took the concept and reached out to our network of providers to create that solution, and MIT was chosen through a competitive process. TechSolutions provided the resources needed to develop a proof-of-concept prototype.”
Usually, the US Marines operate in extremely harsh environments with sophisticated equipment and weaponry. Most of these equipment operate on petroleum or battery. H-TaRP can offer logistical benefits in such situations. It features an aluminium dispenser, reactor vessel, water cooling system and a control system manifold to fill a hydrogen tank. The device is comparatively lighter and will help in reducing the load for Marines. Additionally, it will lessen the need to carry additional petroleum during expeditionary missions. Further development will continue to reduce the size of H-TaRP as well as extend operational time in order to meet Marine Corps requirements. (Source: naval-technology.com)
16 Feb 22. NexTech Solutions Powers the Future of Edge Infrastructure Deployment with MANTLE Automation Platform. NexTech Solutions (NTS), a proven partner of the tactical community across the Department of Defense (DoD), announced today the launch of MANTLE, an automation platform built for the edge, leveraging modern cloud-native technologies to deploy infrastructure components and software services to the Warfighter. MANTLE provides a new kind of automated infrastructure deployment experience that is rapid and repeatable – where in a fully disconnected state, all of the support devices and virtual infrastructure can be completely automated and done so at the push of a button. Using an infrastructure-as-Code approach, MANTLE enables a consistent deployment model, simplifying operations at scale and allowing users to gain control of their infrastructure when operating in both connected and Denied, Disrupted, Intermittent, or Limited (DDIL) environments. MANTLE’s innovative suite of automation tools drastically reduces the resources needed to deploy and eliminates configuration inconsistencies on any H/W platform without compromising the system’s capabilities. MANTLE automatically provisions infrastructure components, deploys modern workloads, and verifies the integrity of the configuration before safely shutting down and preparing for deployment.
“MANTLE makes your IT infrastructure deployment faster, safer, and smarter,” said Will Lester, VP of Engineering, NTS. “At NTS, we seek to provide every possible advantage to the operator, knowing that their equipment must function every time, in any condition, and especially when it matters most.”
MANTLE’s fully automated toolset is designed to be run by DoD communicators without requiring subject matter expertise in Cloud, Python, JSON, or other back-end technology used for automation. MANTLE allows the user to deliver more services faster and with less manual configuration. It automates repeatable tasks needed to build, tear down, and rebuild systems used in demonstration, testing, and evaluation – from password inputs to installing ESXi ISOs and configuring routers and switches.
The usage of containers to scale services in real-time is a significant leap forward in the arena of IT infrastructure management. MANTLE’s consistent deployment model allows the configuration engineer to define a desired end-state in plain text and then quickly deploy that configuration to their mission hardware. MANTLE helps make the Modern Deployable Edge a reality by significantly reducing deployment effort and ensuring the kit is built to spec on-time, every time. (Source: PR Newswire)
16 Feb 22. Turkish Aerospace displays TF-X mock-up, seeks partners. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has displayed for the first time in Asia a full-scale mock-up of its Turkish Fighter Experimental (TF-X)/National Combat Aircraft (MMU), and has made clear its intent to look for potential partners in the region. The TF-X multi-role combat aircraft, which is on static display at the Singapore Airshow 2022 that is taking place from 15 to 18 February at the Changi Exhibition Centre, was shown surrounded by a wide range of dummy weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A TAI representative told Janes that the aircraft will be able to carry out the full spectrum of operations traditionally identified with a fifth-generation stealth fighter, including manned-unmanned-teaming (MUM-T) operations. The UAVs would be controlled by artificial intelligence (AI), as the aircraft has a single pilot. The TF-X is being developed for the Turkish Air Force (TurAF), and the manufacturer is interested in marketing the aircraft as part of a broader strategy to expand its business in Asia. (Source: Janes)
14 Feb 22. French military tees up new tech in rush to conquer the seabed. Autonomous and remotely operated drones are at the heart of France’s ambitions to further explore and exploit the deep sea waters under a new seabed strategy release Monday. The goal of the new strategy is to equip the French military with the ability to reach depths of 6,000 meters, or nearly 20,000 feet, said Minister of Defense Florence Parly in a press conference. “This makes it possible to cover 97 percent of the seabed and effectively protect our interests, including sub-marine cables,” she said. The French Ministry of Defense will partner with its procurement arm, the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) and industry partners to develop new autonomous unmanned vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), said Gen. Thierry Burkhard, chief of the Defense Staff, during the briefing. By 2023, the military should have developed one AUV and one ROV to serve as initial surveillance assets and be used for testing and assessment purposes. A larger program is expected to be launched by 2025, Burkhard said. Two existing programs will also contribute to Paris’ seabed strategy, including the future anti-mine warfare system known by its acronym SLAM-F, which aims to replace Navy divers with robots built by Thales and its partners Saab, ECV and ASV, by 2024. The British navy is also involved in the SLAM-F project, under the Franco-British Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) program.
Another program already underway, “CHOF” (capacité hydrographique et océanographique future), aims to replace France’s three hydrographic vessels with newer ships that can more accurately monitor the seabed and underwater activities, Burkhard said.
The French military has adopted strategies in the past couple of years related to cyber and space security, and Parly sees the seabed strategy as a natural progression. The three relatively nascent “domains” are all ripe for competition, thanks to advances in unmanned technologies, she noted.
“Today, the emergence of drones and remotely operated robots – driven by the needs of industry [and] capable of carrying out operations that meet military objectives at a depth of several thousand meters – are transforming the seabed into a new space for strategic competition,” Parly said. The sheer immensity and opacity of the deep sea domain will make it difficult to characterize and attribute any actions that take place down below.
But Paris must be able to react to any such actions, and be capable of protecting the critical seabed infrastructure like the fiberoptic cables that carry 99 percent of the world’s digital data, she emphasized.
Mastering the seabed will also help protect military and industrial secrets, Parly said. She cited the recent crashes of a U.S. F-35 joint strike fighter in the South China Sea, and a British F-35 in the Mediterranean Sea, as proof “that the ability to search and recover a sensitive object from very great depths is not only a technical issue, but also a strategic one.”
France is well incentivized to “master” the sea bed. The nation has the largest exclusive economic zone in the world, owing to its many territories still spread across the world – from islands like Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Atlantic, to French Guiana on the coast of South America, to Tahiti and the rest of French Polynesia in the Pacific, to mainland France itself in Europe.
The seabed strategy is consistent with France’s 2030 investment plan, Parly noted. The Ministry of Defense will be supported by the nation’s recently reformed Ministry of the Sea, which has developed a strategy for the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources on the deep sea bed. Government officials have earmarked 650m euros (U.S. $734m) out of a COVID-19 economic recovery plan into the maritime sector.
Other nations have taken note of the seabed’s potential. China is leading the race to mine the deep seas for rare Earth minerals and crucial battery metals. Beijing holds five deep sea mining contracts, the most of any country.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom highlighted the need to focus on undersea warfare in its 2021 Defense Command paper, albeit briefly. In it, the Ministry of Defence warned of Russia’s investment in “significant underwater capabilities, including deep-sea capabilities which can threaten undersea cables, as well as a torpedo capable of delivering a nuclear payload to coastal targets.”
The UK also declared its commitment to develop a new multi-role ocean surveillance ship over the next three years, equipped with remotely-operated and autonomous undersea drones to be used for data and information collection. (Source: Defense News)
15 Feb 22. Amprius Technologies Ships First Commercially Available 450 Wh/Kg, 1150 Wh/L Batteries. Amprius Technologies, Inc., a supplier of Silicon Anode Li-Ion battery cells with its Si-Nanowire platform, announced the shipment of the first commercially available 450 Wh/kg, 1150 Wh/L lithium-ion battery cells to an industry leader* of a new generation of High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS). Amprius Technologies’ high energy density battery cells have enabled groundbreaking capabilities in long endurance, communications, and high-resolution imaging to cutting-edge stratospheric platforms since 2018. This shipment represents the culmination of collaborative development and testing for this latest design win. The deployment of this industry-disrupting battery cell in an advanced aerospace application affirms Amprius Technologies as the leading provider of the highest energy density cells available in the battery industry today.
“This advancement from the 405 Wh/kg product, previously announced on November 8, 2021, highlights the acceleration of our roadmap towards delivering products with unrivaled performance,” said Jon Bornstein, COO of Amprius Technologies. “Our proprietary Si-Nanowire platform and the comprehensive solutions we have developed enable unparalleled performance and continue to sustain our product leadership.”
The newest product release from Amprius, which has been in commercial manufacturing since 2018 at its Fremont, CA facility, represents another proof point in the company’s unique ability to deliver breakthrough performance that enables optimal business cases for its customers. To support surging demand, Amprius Technologies, Inc. has embarked on constructing its first high volume manufacturing facility located in the United States. A mass production site will be selected in the first quarter of 2022. (Source: UAS VISION)
15 Feb 22. European Space Agency Drone Gathers Data with Satellite Navigation Receivers. The Navigation Laboratory of the European Space Agency (ESA) has acquired an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can carry different types of satellite navigation receivers to collect data for follow-on analysis. The NavLab, based at ESA’s ESTEC technical centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, is focused on the testing, analysis and characterization of navigation systems for both ESA and external customers.
With UAVs representing a rapidly expanding user base, the new UAV is a timely addition to the NavLab’s suite of platforms for testing GNSS technologies and techniques, ESA said. Other tools include static, mobile and pedestrian platforms and a pair of test vans.
Along with receivers and antennas, the UAV can host radio-frequency spectrum samplers and support equipment such as inertial sensors and stereo cameras, allowing the assessment of performance in specific dynamics and environments related to UAV applications, such as approach, landing, flying beside buildings or indoors. (Source: UAS VISION)
15 Feb 22. Robotics Centre and Smith Myers Announce New, Advanced Small Drone Payload to Find and Reach Mobile Phones during Search & Rescue Operations. Integration of ARTEMIS mobile phone detection technology on Echo SAR payload will enable responders to locate and communicate with any cellular device;
Marks first time this life-saving technology is available on small UAVs;
New payload built for use on the Teledyne FLIR SkyRaider and SkyRanger Unmanned Aerial Systems
Robotics Centre, Inc. and Smith Myers announced that the Smith Myers ARTEMIS Mobile Phone detection, location and communication suite has been integrated into the new Robotics Centre Echo SAR (Search and Rescue) payload for small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) built by Teledyne FLIR Defense.
Echo SAR enables operators to quickly find, map, and interact with mobile phone handsets in fast moving disaster situations, aiding and boosting first responders’ ability to locate victims and save lives.
Designed for use on Teledyne FLIR’s R80D SkyRaider™ and SkyRanger® R70 drones, the advanced Echo SAR payload will provide users with the stand-alone ability to find an individual mobile handset, conduct mass mapping of mobile phones in out-of-service areas, and to communicate either with individuals or groups of mobile phones.
“Previously, ARTEMIS airborne capabilities were only available for use on manned rotary and fixed-wing platforms,” said Dr. Eric Karmouch, CTO of Robotics Centre. “Now, for the first time, this life-saving technology can be deployed in minutes on a small quad-rotor UAV, providing a whole new capability to SAR operators working in the most difficult conditions.”
“ARTEMIS turns a mobile phone into a rescue beacon and was designed specifically for SAR and natural disaster situations,” said Andrew Munro, Director, Smith Myers. “By integrating this capability onto Teledyne FLIR drones through the Echo payload, Robotics Centre has created a truly game-changing tactical UAS solution.
“This new system can prove vital in emergency circumstances where a rapid response can mean the difference between life and death,” Munro added.
The operationally-proven Teledyne FLIR R80D SkyRaider and SkyRanger R70 UAVs, used by military and public safety agencies worldwide, are rugged, all-weather platforms well suited for Search & Rescue missions. Easily deployed and operated by a single user, the drones can provide extended situational awareness when and where it’s needed most.
“The Echo SAR payload adds a critical new sensory capability to our SkyRaider and SkyRanger platforms,” said Anne Bulik, Vice President of Unmanned Aerial Systems at Teledyne FLIR Defense. “From disaster relief to border security and beyond, we see many applications for small UAS mobile device detection across both our defense and non-defense customer communities.”
About Robotics Centre
Robotics Centre, Inc., established in 2009, is an Ottawa-based company with offices in Sapporo, Japan, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We work with Government, SAR, & Industrial clients to create integrated unmanned systems solutions to address a wide range of challenges. To learn more, visit us online: Robotics-Centre.com
About Smith Myers
Established in 1984, Smith Myers is an award-winning UK company specialising in the design, development, manufacture and support of application-specific cellular network and handset capabilities for Network Operators, Government Agencies, Law Enforcement, Military, and Search & Rescue organizations. (Source: PR Newswire)
15 Feb 22. SPEE3D Inaugural Winner of US Military Expeditionary Manufacturing Award. Australian company SPEE3D wins the inaugural Expeditionary & Tactical 3D Printing Excellence Award from the US Defense Strategies Institute for deployable additive manufacturing.
The outstanding contribution SPEE3D’s technology has made to furthering the manufacturing capability of Defense was recognised by the US Defense Strategies Institute (DSI) at their 6th Military Additive Manufacturing Summit, which took place in Tampa, Florida. At the summit, SPEE3D was announced as the inaugural winner of the Defense Strategies Institute’s Award for Expeditionary & Tactical 3D Printing Excellence.
The Defense Strategies Institute (DSI) is a non-partisan Institute designed to assist in advancing the mission critical goals of the United States’ Military and Government. They are also the organizers of the Annual Military Additive Manufacturing Summit event which enables thought leaders & key policymakers across military services, Defense agencies, & civilian organizations to come together for actionable discussions & debate. The 2022 Military Additive Manufacturing Summit focused on advancements made in the 3D printing space, as well as how the DoD is working to quickly integrate AM technologies in order to supply durable, affordable equipment & parts to the Warfighter in the battlespace.
“We had an incredible number of entries this year from various esteemed government, Defense industry and Defense prime organizations based in the US, and internationally. The 3D Printing Awards is dedicated to recognizing individuals, or groups, that have exemplified an outstanding achievement in 3D printing in support of DoD mission priorities. We would like to congratulate all of the recipients making waves in the Advanced Manufacturing space to improve Defense sovereign capability,” states Richard Giordano, Director of Programs at the Defense Strategies Institute.
Since 2020, SPEE3D, and the Australian Army, have conducted several field trials, taking their WarpSPEE3D tactical printer far out into the rugged bushland of Mount Bundey, and Bradshaw Training Areas. At these locations, the Australian Army’s Additive Manufacturing Cell (AMC) technicians manufactured dozens of case studies, proving that it is possible to 3D print, replace, validate, certify, and put to use metal applications in the field.
Steven Camilleri, CEO of SPEE3D states, “SPEE3D is very proud and humbled to be recognized in the US for our work with Defense. We must acknowledge that the Australian Army’s dedication to pursuing new innovation with us has been the backbone of our success. Their commitment to this project helped develop the groundwork for a better sovereign manufacturing future for Defense forces worldwide”.
Developed in Australia, SPEE3D’s metal 3D printing technology offers the world’s fastest and most economical additive manufacturing capability. It is also the world’s only proven capability that is able to be successfully deployed, and instantaneously 3D manufacture and supply metal parts on demand in remote, harsh environments.
More information on SPEE3D’s technology and work with Defense, including videos and case studies are available at: https://spee3d.com/
About SPEE3D
SPEE3D is an innovative supplier of metal-based additive manufacturing technology. SPEE3D focuses on the development, assembly, and distribution of machines and integrated system solutions based on the patented cold-spray technology. The products enable significantly faster, lower-cost, and more scalable production than traditional metal printing techniques for copper and aluminium and other materials.
14 Feb 22. DITRDC Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program open for applications. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications’ aviation technology partnerships program is open for applications. Applications close on 31 March.
The Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships Program will support strategic partnerships with industry, using emerging aviation technology to address community needs, particularly in regional Australia. Its objective is to encourage and enable the development and deployment of emerging aviation technologies to enhance the competitiveness, efficiency and reliability of Australian aviation, including by expanding employment in the aviation sector; improving supply chain and market efficiency and improving connections with regional and remote, including Indigenous, communities. The Program will also contribute to the digital transformation of Australian businesses, increased business efficiency, and reduced carbon emissions through new technology.
Under the Program, the Department will partner with industry to test emerging aviation technology through pilot projects across five focus areas:
- Digital farming
- Connecting regional communities
- Boosting regional supply chains
- Improving health outcomes for remote indigenous communities
- Manufacturing in emerging aviation technology
Funding under the Program will be used flexibly to support a range of activities that contribute to project delivery including direct payments to industry partners and, where agreed between the government and industry partners, provision of a range of other funding for procurement related activities to support the delivery of projects.
All information required is contained within the Program Guidelines PDF: 311 KB. While the Department will be limited in what can be discussed now the grant opportunity has been released, questions or queries can be made to . (Source: http://rumourcontrol.com.au/)
15 Feb 22. US, UK sign FVL co-operation agreement. The United States and United Kingdom have signed an agreement to share information on the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme. Signed on 14 February, the FVL Co-operative Program Feasibility Assessment agreement will see both countries work to ensure the future interoperability of their rotorcraft requirements and programmes, at the same time as exploring and analysing new concepts for the employment of such air power. Specifically, the two countries will assess collaboration opportunities on the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) and the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), the US Army’s top two aviation modernisation priorities, as well as future unmanned aircraft systems, air launched effects, and open systems architecture, among other US Department of Defense (DoD) programmes. (Source: Janes)
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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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