Sponsored By Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
————————————————————————
09 Dec 22. Defense Department Launches Innovation Pathways Website. The DoD announced today significant updates to the Innovation Pathways website that will allow it to serve as a “one-stop shop” for learning how to deliver innovation to the DoD. Located at www.ctoinnovation.mil, this site serves as a gateway for industry, small businesses, students, universities, and other organizations within the Department itself to discover opportunities with DoD organizations and affiliate programs involved in research and development.
“The Innovation Pathways website allows those inside and outside the Department to quickly connect with the innovation organizations best suited to their needs,” said Jen Bird, Director of the Innovation Steering Group in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. “The site includes a guided tour tool so that users can identify relevant opportunities across the defense innovation ecosystem.”
The DoD manages a broad and diverse network of organizations and opportunities that offer a variety of resources to those who want to work with the Department. Though the aggregate capabilities of these organizations are significant, navigating to the right opportunity can be overwhelming, particularly for those approaching the process for the first time. The new website provides a user-friendly platform, segmented into three sections, one for businesses, one for students and academia, and one for DoD users. This design enables users to get the information and contacts they need in a streamlined manner.
The Innovation Steering Group was responsible for building the website, and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering will maintain and update it. As with any website, development is continuous, and the Department will offer more features and relevant information in the months to come.
About USD(R&E)
The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E) is the Chief Technology Officer of the Department of Defense. The USD(R&E) champions research, science, technology, engineering, and innovation to maintain the United States military’s technological advantage. Learn more at www.cto.mil, follow us on Twitter @DoDCTO, or visit us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/ousdre(Source: US DoD)
07 Dec 22. Iraqi Bell 407 helicopters to get avionics upgrade. The US Army is looking for a contractor to install Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFISs) made by Genesys Aerosystems on the Bell 407 helicopter fleet operated by the Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IAAC), according to a notice published via the US government’s System for Award Management website on 30 November.
The EFIS will be the IDU-450, a product that Genesys says significantly reduces pilot workload while increasing situational awareness with features that include 3D synthetic vision, highway-in-the-sky navigation, and a terrain alerting and warning system.
The notice said the EFIS will be installed on 18 IA-407 and three T-407 helicopters at the IAAC’s Tajibase north of Baghdad within a year of the contract being awarded.
The IAAC received three T-407s in 2010 for training purposes followed by 24 IA-407s in 2012–13. Used extensively by the IAAC to support counter-insurgency operations, the IA-407 is equipped with an electro-optical system and armed with forward-firing .50 calibre machine guns and rocket pods.(Source: Janes)
08 Dec 22. Dstl tests new technology at Army Warfighting Experiment.
Part of the second phase in the AWE Urban series which focuses on how the Army can sustain and protect a Brigade force in an urban environment
Experts from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) have played a key role in supporting the Army Warfighting Experiment Sustain and Protect (AWE S&P) exercise at His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth (HMNBP). Dstl scientists from a wide range of specialisms including sensing, platform survivability, human science, autonomy and power deployed to operate and assess a variety of technologies such as novel robotics and data fusion.
The purpose of AWE S&P is to identify current, emerging and novel technologies from industry partners to inform current and future equipment programmes and encourage closer collaboration across government, allies, partners and industry to make the Army more lethal, agile, resilient and persistent. AWE gets these technologies into the hands of the user and provides the opportunity to develop sufficient evidence to:
- De-risk major concept and equipment programmes – by identifying and assessing candidate systems, informing future requirements and investment decisions
- Enhance relationships with industry, partners and allies – through engagement, cooperation and burden-sharing where appropriate
- Accelerate Army transformation – by focussed hypotheses, integrating related technology and further exploiting through spiral development and Concept Capability Demonstrators.
The Portsmouth exercise is part of the second phase in the AWE Urban series which focuses on how the Army can sustain and protect a Brigade (and below) force in the urban environment through the utilisation of intelligent logistics, novel medical extraction and autonomous vehicle extraction. It also aims to assess the implementation of physical and non-physical barriers which encompass counter-uncrewed air systems (C-UAS) and counter-cyber and electromagnetic activities (C-CEMA) to ensure automated platforms are survivable on the modern battlefield in a c2030 timeframe.
Dstl experts were involved in the down selection of the 159 systems originally submitted by industry against AWE S&P specific hypotheses. Throughout the process more than 20 Dstl staff worked closely to support QinetiQ, DE&S and Army Trials and Development units (TDUs) in their assessments of systems.
Ultimately, approximately 20 technologies progressed to the final stage, the integrated experimentation assessment, at Portsmouth Naval Base in November 2022. In this simulated live fire event, troops from 2 YORKS and 3 PARA, as well as allied partners from elements of the Dutch Army’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems Unit and the US Army Experimentation Force used the industry technologies in representative platoon level force-on-force urban scenarios. Staff observed the use of these technologies in the activities, providing feedback to military suppliers and AWE organisers, helping guide the development of future capabilities for Army use in for Urban Operations.
Lt Col Arthur Dawe, Commanding Officer, Infantry Trials and Development Unit, said: “Dstl is constantly seeking to improve the effectiveness of the UK’s armed forces by identifying and assessing novel technologies. These new technologies will offer operational advantage in a number of areas, such as improved sensing to identify and track adversaries, or through increasing the speed and compatibility of data, enabling commanders to make faster and more impactful decisions.”
Dstl supports trials and experimentation for all of the armed forces including multi-national exercise such as Project Convergence and the Contested Urban Environment. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
08 Dec 22. Altitude Angel and Saab to Partner on Digital Tower Technology. In a joint announcement, Altitude Angel and Saab have revealed they have formed a partnership which will see Altitude Angel’s market leading UTM technology platform integrated as part of Saab’s Digital Tower (r-TWR) offering. Saab’s r-TWR is a next-generation Digital Tower solution, which builds on proven Saab video processing, visual presentation, and automation solutions. The Saab r-TWR is a flexible and scalable solution for a broad range of use cases and is already deployed for civil and military airports in Sweden, UK, US, and Germany and with implementations on going in Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland, and Romania.
With the formal partnership agreement in place, Altitude Angel will begin integrating its GuardianUTM services into the r-TWR digital tower solution offered by Saab, allowing ANSPs and appropriate stakeholders to digitally authorise and manage uncrewed flights in conjunction with crewed flights, directly communicating authorisation, clearance, and in-flight instructions to provide enhanced situational awareness of drone operations.
Richard Ellis, Altitude Angel, Chief Business Officer, said:
“We’ve been working with Saab Tower Systems and Saab (operating the world’s first Digital Tower Centre in Sundsvall, Sweden) for some time and I’m excited to announce the formal partnership agreement. Our partnership with Saab allows us to seamlessly fuse cutting-edge ATM and UTM technologies in one innovative offering reducing time, effort, and complexity for airports, ANSPs, and drone operators to safely carry out operations integrated into the airspace.
Through the integration of GuardianUTM, Saab will be able to provide Digital Towers which are equipped and ready for the demands of our future skies, as the use of drones increases and Urban Air Mobility through eVTOL aircraft becomes a day-to-day occurrence.”
Per Ahl, Saab Digital Air Traffic Solutions, Chief Executive Officer:
“In Altitude Angel, Saab can partner with the provider of the leading UTM platform in order to provide our airport and ANSP customers with the greatest and most accurate picture of the sky they manage. In harmony with the capability the Saab r-TWR gives us, GuardianUTM Enterprise is providing us with key functionalities the future proof our product for existing and new customers.” (Source: UAS VISION)
07 Dec 22. Lockheed Martin and Sintavia Team Up to Advance Metal Additive Manufacturing. Lockheed Martin Corporation, (NYSE: LMT), and Sintavia, LLC, today announced a collaboration to expand research of metal additive manufacturing (AM) opportunities as an alternative to castings and forgings. AM, also known as 3D printing, has the capability to improve efficiencies in existing castings and forgings supply chains, and provide parts with a higher level of detail and greater design opportunities.
Sintavia is an AM supplier to Lockheed Martin, supporting several programs in the manufacture and production of metal additive parts. The new collaboration will explore additional AM technology areas, including laser powder bed fusion, electron beam-directed energy deposition and friction stir AM.
This enhanced relationship builds on the White House initiative “AM Forward,” announced by President Joe Biden in May, a voluntary compact aimed at strengthening U.S. supply chains by supporting U.S.-based suppliers’ adoption and deployment of AM.
“Sintavia and Lockheed Martin are committed to improving the capability, agility and competitiveness of the defense industrial supply base,” said Brian Neff, Sintavia’s founder and CEO. “Our partnership with Lockheed Martin seeks to identify and streamline manufacturing inefficiencies, specifically in the production of flight critical structures.”
“Lockheed Martin’s collaboration with Sintavia demonstrates our dedication to the White House’s AM Forward campaign in reducing overall operating costs and strengthening our domestic supply chain, efforts that are in line with our 21st Century Security vision,” said David Tatro, vice president for Operations Process Transformation at Lockheed Martin.
About Sintavia
Sintavia designs and 3D prints advanced propulsion and thermodynamic systems for customers in the aerospace and defense industry. A founding member of the Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association, Sintavia is committed to the highest quality standards in the industry and holds multiple Nadcap and other aerospace accreditations. For more information visit http://www.sintavia.com.
06 Dec 22. Leidos Collaborates with Microsoft to Synchronize Warfighting Technologies. Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a FORTUNE® 500 science and technology leader, and Microsoft successfully demonstrated a critical step in the realization of Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) through demonstrations during the U.S. Army’s Project Convergence 22 (PC22) experimentation exercises. The demonstration paired Leidos Edge to Cloud (E2C) technology with the Microsoft Azure Cloud infrastructure to connect disparate legacy systems and new systems. The joint solution enables the rapid fielding of advanced software, applications, and security solutions within challenging operational environments.
“The recent demonstration at Project Convergence 22 proves that the JADC2 vision is attainable through collaboration with leading defense and commercial partners,” said Gerry Fasano, Defense Group President. “Together, Microsoft and Leidos can deploy resilient, state-of-the-art solutions quickly and safely to warfighters across the Department of Defense.”
The collaboration supports the Department of Defense’s (DoD) JADC2 strategy to synchronize digital technology across service branches through legacy and cloud-based networks, allowing joint forces to share data and enhance the decision-making process.
“By partnering with Leidos, we are demonstrating how commercial capabilities in a classified cloud can enable improved situational awareness and decision dominance for the DoD through global connectivity, data aggregation and advanced analytics that support decision making,” said Rick Wagner, Microsoft Federal President.
Leidos and Microsoft continue to work together with a focus on bringing warfighting capabilities to both strategic and tactical levels, creating architectures that enable deployment of rapid software and security updates across cloud, on-premise, and tactical networks—all with the goal of realizing Multi-Domain Operations at speed and scale. (Source: PR Newswire)
06 Dec 22. PacStar® IQ-Core® End User Device Manager Provides Secure Management of Remote Worker Laptops. New PacStar IQ-Core EUDM integrates INTEGRITY Global Security devices into classified networks for secure remote user access to enterprise applications. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division, a leading developer and supplier of advanced Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) communications solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has introduced a new capability set to its PacStar IQ-Core Software suite of products. The new PacStar End User Device Manager (EUDM) provides setup, configuration, monitoring, and updating of user systems for remote Federal defense and civilian organization workers. PacStar EUDM manages networks that require a National Security Agency (NSA) Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) approved solution for transmitting classified information over untrusted networks. The end user devices employ a highly secure real time operating system (RTOS) environment rated at Evaluation Assurance Level 6+ from INTEGRITY Global Security (IGS), a subsidiary of Green Hills Software.
PacStar EUDM can quickly bulk provision IGS secure laptops with a desired state configuration, including automatic creation and installation of certificates. It supports remote “over the air” updating, which eliminates the cost, time, and logistics incurred when a remote worker’s secure laptop must be physically returned (sometimes via diplomatic pouch) to a data center to update its critical software. PacStar EUDM extends the existing certificate and VPN management capabilities of PacStar IQ-Core Software, which simplifies the management of NSA CSfC solutions, significantly reduces equipment costs compared to Type 1 encryption hardware and enables U.S. Coalition Partner interoperability – all without using controlled cryptographic items (CCI).
PacStar End User Device Manager
“Over the last few years, we’ve witnessed an exponential increase in remote working, which poses complex challenges for network managers who must track and update the secure networks used by Federal defense and civilian organization workers,” said Chris Wiltsey, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions division. “Until now, the only option for renewing security certificates or updating software on secure laptops has been to physically ship the device back to the data center. The addition of PacStar EUDM to our PacStar IQ-Core Software enterprise network management suite enables these laptops to be managed remotely ‘over the air’. This means a remote worker, based overseas, can have their device’s software patched and their network certificate updated automatically, ensuring timely security upgrades with significantly reduced costs of delivery.”
Key advantages of PacStar IQ-Core Software EUDM include:
Provisioning: Rapid out-of-the-box initial set up of secure laptops, at scale
Updating: Over the air updates of certificates and software patches to deployed EUDs
Monitoring: View current EUD state and activity logs. Receive alerts when software is out of date or certificates are expiring.
Infrastructure Management: Configure and monitor enterprise infrastructure including VPN gateways and firewalls. Ensure compliance with NSA CSfC capability packages.
The PacStar IQ-Core Software Advantage
PacStar IQ-Core Software is the industry’s leading integrated, network communications management software for the military, federal, state/local government, and emergency responder markets. It features an intuitive and integrated single pane-of-glass user interface and provides secure management of communications systems, particularly in remote or infrastructure starved areas, while reducing network misconfiguration, improving uptime, simplifying troubleshooting, and providing cyber situational awareness to tactical networks.
PacStar EUDM integrates with the PacStar family of software products, including IQ-Core Network Communications Manager (NCM), IQ-Core Crypto Manager (CM), and IQ-Core Remote Operations, and Management (ROAM). Product sheets for PacStar IQ-Core Software suite are available for download here.
05 Dec 22. DASA Innovation Partner changes, including recruitment for a new East of England partner. DASA is planning several exciting changes to our Innovation Partner structure, to ensure we can best help innovators right across the UK.
DASA has a team of Innovation Partners who can provide you with support in working with DASA. The Innovation Partners help innovators throughout the UK and abroad, and they are ideally placed to help you understand opportunities across the defence and security community.
Our Innovation Partners know and understand their regions. They have well-established relationships with academic institutions, industry, Local Enterprise Partnerships and trade bodies, and continue to grow their networks of innovators in all sectors.
To ensure our Innovation Partners can continue to support local innovators across the UK, we are pleased to make several changes:
To ensure our Innovation Partners can continue to support local innovators across the UK, we are pleased to make several changes:
- DASA is recruiting a new Innovation Partner for the East of England. Details and applications sought via: https://bit.ly/dasainnovationpartner
- After this post is filled, Clare Green, who currently covers the East of England, will move to cover Yorkshire and The Humber.
- Anna Taylor, who has been covering both the North East and Yorkshire and The Humber, will then focus solely on the North East.
- These changes will enhance DASA’s ability to support local innovators across the UK and enable us to find the very best innovations for the Defence and Security of the Nation.
If you have questions about these changes and how they affect you, please contact us.
How can my local Innovation Partner help me?
DASA relies on diversity of thought in order to find and fund the very best innovations for Defence and Security. DASA is committed to working with all types of organisations and individuals, regardless of background. DASA Innovation Partners can support you by:
- helping you understand how your innovation may be relevant to Defence and Security
- signposting to opportunities
- providing assistance to link you to users across Government
- guiding you through the submission process for DASA’s various opportunities
- connecting you to members of DASA’s Access to Mentoring and Finance team (A2MF) for advice on helping you build the business behind your innovation.
How to get in touch with your local Innovation Partner
If you have an idea or innovation you believe is suitable for a defence or security challenge, we want to hear from you. To speak to an Innovation Partner, visit the below webpage.
Get in touch with DASA: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-a-dasa-innovation-partner. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
02 Dec 22. MASA clinches further SWORD contracts, integrates with SitaWare. MASA has recently been awarded several contracts to supply its SWORD command and staff training (CAST) constructive simulation, Janes has learnt.
The most recent contract, worth “more than” EUR1m (USD1.05m), is with the Armed Forces of Côte d’Ivoire to supply a system capable of providing training up to brigade headquarters level. Marc de Fritsch, MASA managing director, told Janes that this “is a very important contract for us as it is the first large system we have supplied to this part of the world, and has been a straightforward commercial agreement; the French government has not been involved”.
The system will be installed at a training centre near Yamoussoukro. Although most exercises are likely to be conducted at the level of battalion and below, brigade-level exercises will be possible, de Fritsch said. Delivery will commence before the end of 2022, the first exercise will take place in mid-2023, and the system will be fully operational by the end of that year, he added. (Source: Janes)
05 Dec 22. Sweden re-issues tender call for a national UTM system.
Sweden’s air navigation service provider Luftfartsverket (LFV) has re-issued its “Call for Competition, UAS Traffic Management (UTM) solution for Sweden” (Reference number: Ä-2022-018144) with a new deadline data of 30 January 2023. The original tender was released at the start of October 2022 with a deadline of November 6 (https://www.unmannedairspace.info/uas-traffic-management-tenders/swedens-lfv-publishes-tender-for-national-utm-u-space-system/).
According to the text of the tender outlined in the European Union’s Tenders Electronic Daily on-line portal:
“The purpose of this procurement is to establish a Framework Agreement with 1 strong and dynamic Partner. The intended scope for LFV is to establish a reliable, robust and efficient UAS/UTM solution for LFV and its associated government authorities, customers and other stakeholders in a cost efficient manner. The UAS/UTM solutions consists of three sub services; U-Space Services, Common Information Services and and other services and interfaces related.
“The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://tendsign.com/doc.aspx?UniqueId=afngejagds&GoTo=Docs .
Additional information can be obtained from the above mentioned address. Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via: https://tendsign.com/doc.aspx?UniqueId=afngejagds&GoTo=Tender”
For more information: https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:675500-2022:HTML:EN:HTML&tabId=1&tabLang=en (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
01 Dec 22. USAF introduces new software factory for B-2 Spirit aircraft.
The new capability enhancement will support efforts to improve/modernise B-2 for deterring advanced threats.
The US Air Force (USAF) has introduced a new software factory, called ‘Spirit Realm’, to enhance the operational capability of the B-2 Spirit bomber fleet.
The software factory has been developed by Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) B-2 Weapons Systems Support Center together with industry partner Northrop Grumman.
The effort was also supported by the B-2 Software Maintenance and Innovation Team, assigned under AFLCMC’s B-2 System Programme Office.
The team provided strategy, sustainment and improvement for capability integration and software development to meet B-2 Spirit’s operational requirements.
The new capability has four main objectives, starting by minimising the risk involved with flight-test and timelines with the help of high-fidelity ground testing.
The second goal focuses on reducing flight-test burdens by collecting additional test points using targeted upgrades while the third aims to boost the integrated functional capability quality via automated testing.
The last objective is to deliver war-winning capability upgrades to B-2 Spirit stealth bomber aircraft.
AFLCMC B-2 System Programme Office B-2 Software Maintenance and Innovation Team lead captain Joel Graley said: “After development and implementation of Spirit Realm, B-2 software is now developed, tested and integrated using modern DevSecOps and Scaled Agile principles and a single software baseline.
“This approach enables fielding of highest priority capabilities at an unprecedented pace and ensures B-2 can rapidly field new capabilities to counter emerging threats.”
Spirit Realm has shortened the software upgrade timelines to three months, unlike conventional code development/testing that took 18-24 months for launch.
Simultaneously, software defects identified during regression testing have also been reduced to zero.
Graley added: “In the near future, software factory, combined with other aircraft modernisation efforts, will enable the capability to deploy software updates to B-2s flying operational missions anywhere in the world.” (Source: airforce-technology.com)
————————————————————————-
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.
———————————————————————-