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15 Feb 24. DOD Announces Next Round of Projects to Receive Funding From the Pilot Program to Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT).
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) announced the next round of projects to receive funding via the pilot program to Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT). These projects are the first to be selected during FY24 with additional selections expected following an appropriation.
The purpose of the APFIT pilot program is to expeditiously transition technologies into production, and to accelerate the fielding of needed technologies to the warfighter, with priority given to technologies developed by small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors. The benefits of this pilot program will be to deliver war-winning capability earlier than scheduled, while contributing to the viability of small business and nontraditional defense contractor vendors. APFIT is an additional tool the DoD can use to propel innovative capabilities across the “Valley of Death” and accelerate fielding into the hands of warfighters.
“It was important to get a head start on the first round of FY24 projects as we await a full appropriation because of the critical capabilities they offer to the warfighter. We must continue to move fast in order to maintain our technological advantage against our adversaries,” said Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. “APFIT now has a proven track record of accelerating capabilities by many years, and our warfighters will greatly benefit from accelerated feilding of the capabilities we’re announcing today. We look forward to a full appropriation so we can award additional funding for APFIT projects.”
The National Defense Authorization Act of FY22 established APFIT under the Secretary of Defense as a competitive, merit-based program for innovative and mature technologies and products that can meet warfighter demands but lack the necessary funding to transition the capability into the production phase.
The U.S. Congress funded $100m for APFIT in FY22 and increased funding to $150m in FY23. In those two years, twenty-one DoD programs were selected to receive APFIT funding to procure innovative technologies from these small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors. While awaiting an appropriation before making additional selections, the APFIT program will provide FY24 Continuing Resolution (CR) funds to the following projects:
- Accelerated Procurement of Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response Advanced Capability Modules (APMAC) – $11.95m, U.S. Marine Corps.
- ARCHER Airborne Threat Detection & Tracking – $13.55m, U.S. Air Force.
- Electronic Intelligence Modernization Upgrade (EIMU) Production – $14.40m, U.S. Navy.
- Micro Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) – $10.10M, U.S. Marine Corps.
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: U.S. DoD)
09 Feb 24. EDA opens contest for best defence research papers. European Defence Agency (EDA) has published on 9 February 2024 its call for applications to its EDA Research, Technology, and Innovation Papers Award 2024. The competition, now in its second year, focuses on innovative technologies, processes, and applications for enhanced future defence capabilities. EDA is looking to hear from early career researchers before the deadline for applications on 29 March 2024. The awards will be presented at Eurosatory in Paris in June with each prize winner receiving €4,000.
Innovators of tomorrow
This year, papers shall be related to the topic of “Innovative technologies, processes, and applications for enhanced future defence capabilities.” The winning entries will come up with ideas which, if implemented between now and 2035, would contribute to enhance specific EU defence capabilities. Entries will be judged on their quality and impact, with a special emphasis on technology and innovation to help cover the European Union’s defence needs and shortfalls.
The contest aims to promote and support the work of early career researchers by introducing their work to the defence community, stimulate engagement of innovators to widen their access to emerging and potentially disruptive research, and identify areas in which additional investment is needed to address future defence capability needs.
More than a prize
EDA’s award seeks to increase the visibility and impact of tomorrows innovators, with the contest conceived to offer more than just the financial prize. The winners will have the opportunity to expose their ideas during the dedicated session at EUROSATORY 2024 exhibition and conference in Paris on 19 June, 2024. An official EDA Booklet of papers to be edited and published in a scientific review by EDA, including ISBN (International Standard Book Number) reference. The Best Papers Award and names of the winners will also receive coverage on the EDA website and social media channels.
How to apply?
The deadline for submitting applications is 29 March 2024, with the following documents.
- Rules of Contest
- Annexes to the Rules of Contest
The contest is open to all citizens of EDA’s 27 participating Member States. For the first time in 2024 the contest is open also to citizens from Switzerland.
HEDI
The EDA Research, Technology, and Innovation Papers Award is done under the ‘’umbrella’’ of HEDI (Hub for EU Defence Innovation), which is the new platform for innovation, led by EDA, that was established in March 2022 as an action derived from “Strategic Compass for EU Defence and Security’’.
HEDI has the objective of fostering innovative technological solutions following a systemic approach towards cutting-edge military capabilities. Furthermore, HEDI serves as a platform to stimulate and facilitate cooperation on defence innovation while ensuring synergies with related European Commission activities, notably the EU defence innovation scheme, coherence of output with NATO innovation and other EU Defence Innovation organizations.
This Call for Papers complements other HEDI’s services, such as e.g., the EDA Defence Innovation Prizes, or Proofs-of-Concept.
EDA’s wider role
EDA supports its 27 Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative capability projects, the Agency has become the hub for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks allowing it to the whole spectrum of defence capabilities.
Member States use EDA as an intergovernmental expert platform where their collaborative projects are supported, facilitated, and implemented. For more details, please see here: https://eda.europa.eu/what-we-do
(Source: EDA)
25 Jan 24. ‘Combat cloud’: EDA study shows benefits of cloud computing for EU militaries. Across land, sea, air, space and cyber, military operations increasingly rely on data. That makes access to cloud technologies essential. A European Defence Agency-financed study has concluded that cloud computing can be applied to defence, both at the strategic level and in the field, to help European armed forces achieve information superiority against an adversary.
The EDA study over four years, ‘Cloud Intelligence for Decision Support and Analysis’ (CLAUDIA), looked at the application of civilian cloud technologies in defence, including computing capabilities, data storage and software tools hosted externally. Results of the study were presented on January 25th, with a view to follow-up activities looking at constraints to cloud computing in defence.
Given the pressures of the battlefield, such as relying on a range of connections from satellites to radios in an extreme environment, EDA’s research is crucial to increasing situational awareness and shortening reaction times across multiple domains.
As cloud technology uses virtualisation − creating a virtual version of servers, storage devices and networks using software − the study focused on the overall advantages for defence. These are simplicity, flexibility and the ability to scale up in military environments, as well as working with ‘big data’ supported by artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These advantages can significantly improve the situational awareness and decision-making process both at strategic and tactical level.
CLAUDIA’s objective was to research using cloud technologies to support analysis of hybrid warfare including:
- Management and processing information from heterogeneous sources
- Tactical cloud infrastructure for Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) − or C4ISR − systems
- Information-process enhancement by using AI and big data
- Joint strategic, operational and tactical level simulators
- Simulation as a Service (SaaS) for computer simulations of theatres of war (synthetic environments) and rapid scenario generation
Thanks to CLAUDIA, a Software Analysis (SWAN) platform has been developed to demonstrate the cloud-based capabilities, with different modules to address the different technology topics, including:
- Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Analysis at the strategic level
- Tactical Cloud
- Internet of Military Things
- 5G for Tactical Cloud and AI in Wargaming
The demonstration showcased the benefits of cloud technologies with the SWAN platform at both the strategic and tactical level. Edge computing – at or near the location of either the user or the data source – was also introduced to demonstrate the benefits of using such technologies in the field, providing real-time situational awareness with enhanced data and visual capabilities. The demonstration included simulation and wargaming for a hybrid warfare scenario, with the use of wargaming and advanced training and exercises capabilities. The study recommended making the SWAN platform available to all Member States for further testing. (Source: EDA)
19 Jan 24. QuantaQuest project explores application of quantum technologies in defence. A ground-breaking defence research project exploring the application of quantum technologies in defence in the areas of secure communication and navigation has successfully closed. QuantaQuest – Quantum Secure Communication and Navigation for European Defence – a 28-month EU-funded project under the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR) held its final meeting in December 2023, after delivering on a variety of operational scenarios and developments.
Led by THALES SA (France), the p roject brought together nine defence companies and research institutes from three Member States – France, Italy, and the Netherlands – with a budget of approximately € 1.5 m. The project proposed the development of quantum sensors and communication for defence applications in the following fields:
- Fully autonomous positioning and timing for military platforms;
- Secure communication for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR);
- Quantum network of sensors for synergic connection.
During the final meeting at the European Defence Agency (EDA), QuantaQuest consortium detailed the scenarios and requirements and presented the main technological developments across the three areas highlighted above.
In the positioning and timing part, the project developed an important building block toward a deployable fully quantum inertial measurement unit for fully autonomous positioning and timing. Using cold atoms trapped in a chip and photonic integrated circuit technologies will take the benefits of ultraprecise quantum measurements while reducing its size. This will allow to integrate the technology into future mobile systems to navigate precisely with reduced drift even in global satellite navigation systems denied environments.
In the field of secure communications for C4ISR, the project implemented a free-space quantum key distribution in an urban environment. With this the photons are sent via free air instead of transferring them via an optical fibre connection. Future systems applying this technology will help in operation to securely transfer the keys for encrypted communication.
Finally, the project developed a quantum interface and evaluated the performances of a quantum synchronisation of two clocks, leading to disruptive improvements concerning the sensors sensitivity.
QuantaQuest also investigated operational scenarios of use of the previously mentioned quantum technologies to build the next step roadmap for the military application of quantum technologies. Building on the progress made over the past 28 months, QuantaQuest also kicked off a follow up project “ADEQUADE – Advanced, Disruptive and Emerging Quantum technologies for Defence” funded under European Defence Fund (EDF) 2021.
QuantaQuest and PADR
QuantaQuest project is funded under the Preparatory Action for Defence Research (PADR) call on the topic “Future Disruptive Defence Technologies – Emerging Game-changers”, subtopic “Quantum Technologies for defence applications”.
PADR was launched by the European Commission in 2017 to assess and demonstrate the added value of EU supported defence research and technology (R&T). It paved the way for a proper European Defence Programme to come as part of the European Defence Fund (EDF), under the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027).
The PADR implementation is run by EDA following the mandate via a Delegation Agreement between the European Commission and EDA signed on 31 May 2017. Under this agreement, the Commission entrusts EDA with the management and implementation of the research projects launched within the PADR. (Source: EDA)
20 Dec 23. Propelled forward – EDA project on low-noise naval propeller development finalised. The final meeting of the EDA project “Next Generation of Propellers” (NextProp) took place in Brussels this month. NextProp, a cross-domain activity involving EDA’s CapTechs “Naval Systems” and “Materials & Structures”, successfully developed models and tools for the design of low-noise naval propellers. With a budget of 4 m Euros, NextProp was cooperatively funded by Italy, Norway, and Poland. Eight partner entities from these three countries implemented the project over the past three years.
Designing modern naval propellers involves various considerations such as efficiency, weight, durability, cost, and detectability. Testing these propellers through experiments, using either scale models or full-size prototypes, is crucial but can be expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, advancements in high-performance computing have increased the importance and feasibility of numerical simulations and modelling.
Creating a model for the acoustic field generated by propeller motion is a complex task. It encompasses factors like the flow around the hull, turbulence, fluid-structure interaction at the propeller blades, and the interaction between the hull wake and propeller. This complexity defines a multi-physics and multi-scale problem that needs simplification in a computational model.
Reducing the signature
The primary project outcome is an improved software tool for the minimisation of the acoustic signature of naval propellers. To this end, models based on hydro-elastic physics are used to predict the behaviour of typical propeller materials, including metals and advanced composites, under operational conditions. Results obtained from NextProp improve the understanding of sound generation and propagation from naval propellers and support advanced low-noise propeller design. Beyond this, NextProp brings forth new methods and setups for experimental propeller tests as well as advanced knowledge of sensor integration for the purpose of condition-based maintenance.
More detailed information on NextProp is available in the executive summary.
In combining knowledge in the fields of hydro-acoustics and advanced material properties, the project has effectively exploited synergies among EDA’s Capability and Technology Groups (CapTechs) “Naval Systems” and “Materials and Structures”. Several Member States support the continuation of the NextProp research line towards further optimisation and validation of the design and fabrication of composite and isotropic polymer propellers, with a follow-up project currently being prepared.
Eight partner entities from Italy, Norway and Poland
FFI (coordinator), FiReCo, Light Structures, SINTEF Ocean, CNR-INM, CETENA, Politecnico di Milano, Polish Naval Academy. (Source: EDA)
15 Feb 24. Goldilock, creator of the unique physical network isolation solution Drawbridge, has signed a US development and production deal with bespoke machine manufacturer Patriot Tools, LLC using its “measurably secure” production methods for critical infrastructure. Commonly referred to as a ‘cyber kill-switch’, the license grants Patriot Tools the right to manufacture and supply Drawbridge within the United States for five years, using solely US-made and sourced components.
Goldilock’s NATO selected, multi-patented technology is already deployed in the UK, Europe and Asia, with customers including the UK Ministry of Defence, Ukrainian CyberCommand, the UK’s third largest energy provider and other energy and water utilities. Goldillock’s US expansion marks the next era of the company’s growth after the launch last month of their facility at the Technology Advancement Centre (the TAC) in the state of Maryland.
“As a direct result of supply chain compromise attacks, Goldilock has been obsessive about our own processes and materials since day 1, by producing everything in-house, or sourcing exclusively from vetted suppliers within NATO and the EU”, says Goldilock CEO Tony Hasek. “We want to bring that same level of security and peace of mind to our U.S. clients and Patriot Tools provides the level of integrity we have been seeking.”
Phase one of Goldilock’s partnership with Patriot Tools will focus on the US manufacturing of our appliance with an external remote proprietary kill-switch trigger designed specifically to protect U.S. Operational Technology networks. Based on the current Drawbridge 4 port model, the design focuses on US energy generation and transmission, and financial services sector needs. Built according to ‘measurably secure’ principles, the unit will comply with stringent standards established under the CHIPS for America ACT (P.L. 116-283) and by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) P1547.3 (GUIDE FOR CYBERSECURITY OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES INTERCONNECTED WITH ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS), and recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and North-East Regulatory Commission (NERC) regulations.
Goldilock’s agreement with Patriot Tools comes amid increased awareness of the need for robust cyber kill-switches, following China’s Volt Typhoon attack on US critical national infrastructure.
Goldilock CEO and Founder Tony Hasek commented: “Criminal and nation-state actors are becoming increasingly sophisticated and brazen – as demonstrated by China’s recent Volt Typhoon attack. This requires a paradigm shift in our approach to cyber defence. Not all personal, business, national critical infrastructure and military systems and data should be online 24/7. Instead, organisations must adopt ‘disconnectedness’, and be prepared to disconnect OT, IT systems and other digital assets at the drop of a hat. The new default must be true physical connection or disconnection on-demand, which is precisely what Goldilock’s patented Drawbridge delivers. We’re excited to bring our revolutionary hardware-based product to the U.S. market to give control back to asset owners and managers.”
Patriot Tools CEO Scott Palmer added: “We’ve been creating efficient solutions to industrial problems for decades. As an American manufacturer, delivering trust in the form of “measurably secure” devices is the foundation of our business. We look forward to building on our collaboration with Goldilock to secure American businesses’ OT and IT infrastructure.” (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
14 Feb 24. Reliable Robotics Demonstrates Flexibility of Autonomous Flight System in an Operational Mission for the U.S. Air Force. Reliable Robotics, a leader in autonomous aircraft systems, today announced that it has completed a demonstration for the Department of the Air Force’s AFWERX Autonomy Prime branch. In conjunction with the Air Combat Command branch of the U.S. Air Force’s AGILE FLAG exercise, Reliable demonstrated its autonomous flight system for intra-theater military logistics. Reliable’s autonomous flight system includes an “always on” autopilot which handles all phases of aircraft operation including autotaxi, autotakeoff, autoflight and autoland.
On the heels of the first uncrewed flight of a large cargo plane in late 2023, Reliable unlocked Military Airworthiness at the start of 2024 to support autonomy testing on their experimental aircraft. Immediately, Reliable exercised its capabilities for AGILE FLAG forces, and showcased the flexibility, speed and maturity of remotely piloting with a highly portable control center. During this first-of-its-kind mission, Reliable flew to Sacramento McClellan Airport, retrieved a pelican case from the cargo pod, quickly set up the mobile control station in less than 20 minutes and remotely operated a fully automated flight that took off from Hollister Municipal Airport, over 120 miles away. The flight was overseen at McClellan by a remote pilot, who was responsible for route planning and communications.
“Demonstrating the rapid deployment of autonomous aircraft at AGILE FLAG highlights the operational and tactical advantage portable, rapid autonomous flight brings to the Department of the Air Force and offers new perspectives on the art of the possible,” said Kate Brown, AFWERX Autonomy Prime deputy branch chief.
With the only FAA-approved autonomous aircraft certification plan for full aircraft automation, Reliable has the most advanced certification program for an autonomous flight system. Reliable’s dual-use autonomous system was designed to improve aviation safety and prevent the most common causes of fatal accidents in general aviation including controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) and loss of control in flight (LOC-I). Reliable’s system has been adapted for and successfully flown on the Cessna 172 and the Cessna 208B Caravan, and evaluated for multi-engine jets like the KC-135 Stratotanker with positive findings about transferability of the technology as part of a large aircraft automation study with the U.S. Air Force.
“This successful demo underscored two important mission enablers – the ability to deploy Reliable’s control station wherever the Air Force needs, and convert existing aircraft using our aircraft-agnostic autonomous flight system,” said Dr. David O’Brien, Major General (Ret.), and Senior Vice President of Government Solutions at Reliable Robotics. “This combination provides commanders more aviation options and greater operational flexibility which is critical to prevailing in contested environments around the globe.“
About Reliable Robotics
Reliable Robotics launched in 2017 to bring safe, certified automation systems to commercial aviation. The company’s system enables remote operation of any aircraft type. Reliable’s vision is to transform the way we move goods and people around the planet with safer, more convenient and more affordable air transportation. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, CA and has a distributed global workforce. Learn more and see job openings at https://reliable.co. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
14 Feb 24. Collaboration, Technology Innovation on Display at Joint Interagency Field Experimentation. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering conducted the first of multiple Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) technology showcases Feb. 6 – 8 at Camp Roberts, California.
The event, a partnership between R&E’s Office of Innovation and Modernization and the Naval Post Graduate School, aimed to foster the defense innovation ecosystem by bringing together stakeholders across the Department of Defense and U.S. Government with technology developers from industry and academia.
JIFX is part of the DoD’s holistic effort to support technology maturation and lead to transition through partnerships with Services, Combatant Commands, and other defense agencies to enable effective, affordable, and critically needed early-stage prototype technologies.
The event takes place four times a year and provides innovators access to Camp Roberts’ sprawling training areas for operational field testing, showcase their emerging solutions, and gain valuable feedback from government subject-matter experts. Each event aims to identify, influence, and mature early prototype technologies into next-generation capabilities that will support the United States national security objectives.
“Collaboration with industry is key to the Department of Defense’s ability to resolve some of our greatest technological and security challenges,” said Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu. “Field showcases like JIFX will allow us to explore, develop and field the capabilities that our troops deserve.
JIFX 24-2 focused on Multi-Domain Uncrewed Systems and countermeasures. Multi-Domain UxS encompasses autonomous vehicles capable of traversing between physical environments, such as moving along in “boat mode” before taking off above the waves as an Unmanned Aircraft System. Approximately 25 companies and non-traditional performers showcased their novel multi-domain UxS and countermeasures at the event.
Technology developers can submit innovative solutions for future JIFX events. For more information about how to participate in future JIFX events, visit: https://nps.edu/web/fx/participate.
Learn more about JIFX at https://nps.edu/web/fx. (Source: U.S. DoD)
13 Feb 24. Northrop to showcase Project Scion tech payloads for unmanned vessels. Northrop Grumman said it will participate in two events to demonstrate autonomy and electronic warfare payloads the company is developing for unmanned surface vessels under its Project Scion initiative. In testing on the East Coast in December, a Martac-supplied and Northrop-outfitted T38 ship autonomously identified, chased and surveilled a target moving through the Chesapeake Bay.
Now, company officials told C4ISRNET, energy has shifted to getting Project Scion products ready for action at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International’s Xponential 2024 in California in April as well as the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division’s Silent Swarm in Michigan in July. The former is focused on collaborative autonomy and applications beyond national security, the latter on electromagnetic warfare and digital deception.
“We’ve been working since December, the two months since we demoed, on taking those next steps,” Dennis Grignon, a business development manager at Northrop, said in an interview. “We did this on a single platform, but we could scale our package down to a very small USV, so we could repeat this.”
The experimentation and investment at the Virginia-based company come amid surging U.S. Navy and Coast Guard interest in uncrewed technologies.
Former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday sought a hybrid fleet, with one update to his so-called Navigation Plan pitching 373 manned ships collaborating with 150 uncrewed vessels. The Coast Guard similarly published an unmanned road map last year. It described a force augmented by robotic aids, ready to counter unlawful activity and domestic threats.
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense in August launched the Replicator initiative, meant to field thousands of uncrewed systems in 18-24 months to overcome the perceived mass of China.
Project Scion pools technologies from other domains, such as aerial drones, ground robotics and smart buoys, to produce payloads that can turn platforms into “true combat-and-surveillance systems for our customers,” according to Grignon.
Northrop, which is exhibiting its tech at the West naval conference this week in San Diego, builds the Fire Scout autonomous helicopter, the Triton unmanned aerial system and more.
“The flexibility with our payload allows it to be programmed for multiple missions,” he said. “It’s part of a bigger-picture need for doing more with fewer resources, and that’s the gap we’re trying to fill here.”
Manpower, knowhow and other resources will be strained in the future fights U.S. defense leaders are girding for. A war with China in the Indo-Pacific would put serious pressure on Navy vessels, the sailors aboard and their logistics chains.
Robo-ships could act as eyes, ears, supply shuttles and even firepower where they would otherwise be lacking.
“We’re receiving the data, processing and analyzing it, and then taking an action on that data, based on commander’s intent,” Matt O’Driscoll, a Northrop chief engineer for maritime systems and integration, said of Project Scion and its December trial.
“The effectors that were onboard our vessels were just cameras,” he added. “But going forward, that could be anything from an electronic attack like jamming, or cyberattack, or it could be kinetic with a human in the loop.”
Development and deployment of semi-autonomous or fully autonomous weapons is governed by what’s known as Directive 3000.09, originally signed a decade ago and updated last year. The Defense Department directive is meant to reduce the risks of failed autonomy and arms. It does not apply to cyber.
Northrop is the third largest defense contractor in the world when ranked by revenue, according to Defense News Top 100 analysis. It made $32.4bn in 2022 and $31.4bn in 2021. (Source: Defense News)
14 Feb 24. Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), signed an agreement with collaboration to utilise NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platform and reference architecture to build a world-class green AI data centre in the UAE. A signing ceremony to initiate the collaboration took place between Eng. Marwan Bin Haidar, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of Digital DEWA and Keith Strier, Vice President of Worldwide AI at NVIDIA, at the World Government Summit, which runs from 12 to 14 February in Dubai.
“We work in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position the UAE at the forefront of the best innovative countries worldwide. This collaboration with NVIDIA will enhance the AI capabilities of our data centres and drive us towards sustainable technology adoption. It is a significant step forward in our journey towards building resilient, future-ready solutions that support the goals of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050. While this collaboration will meet the needs of today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, it will also achieve long term results to enterprises in the UAE,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
With the exponential growth of AI and data-intensive workloads across various sectors, the demand for high-performance computing solutions has surged. Moro plans to integrate its expertise in green data center infrastructure with NVIDIA’s advanced technology to provide efficient, scalable, and sustainable solutions for AI-driven applications.
“NVIDIA is at the forefront of innovation in accelerated computing, and we are pleased to collaborate with them to revolutionise the way AI data centres are designed and operated. NVIDIA’s leading-edge technology with Moro’s proven track record in delivering state-of-the-art data center solutions will empower organizations to unlock the full potential of AI and drive transformative outcomes in their operations across industries,” said Bin Haidar.
The companies’ collaboration will explore building AI data centers that prioritise energy efficiency and sustainability and deliver industry-leading processing power for model training, accelerating timely insights for organizations across various sectors.
“Sovereign AI will enable every nation to train and run AI models in their own language, using their own data, and tuned for their own culture and specific needs. Our work with Moro Hub will help the UAE build efficient AI infrastructure to foster innovation and economic growth,” said Strier.
Together, Moro and NVIDIA are committed to driving the adoption of AI technologies while minimizing environmental impact, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.
13 Feb 24. General Micro Systems (GMS) will showcase its highly flexible, lightweight portable and intelligent X9 Spider Rugged Thunderbolt™ 4 Tablet/Display this week at the West 2024 Conference. This smart version of GMS’ recently introduced high-definition (HD) rugged Thunderbolt display adds the Qualcomm® QRB6165 embedded/AI processor, uniquely enabling the tablet to be mounted on a ship or vehicle; mounted and then dismounted for portable operations or used exclusively as a lightweight handheld self-contained tablet computer.
In October 2023, GMS introduced a lightweight, rugged and high-definition Thunderbolt display that uniquely extended the bus of the X9 Spider Host Computer’s processor into the display to enable local I/O and mix-and-match modular capability. The X9 Spider Rugged Thunderbolt Tablet/Display introduced today offers these same capabilities but adds the mobile phone ARM®-based Qualcomm QRB6165 mobile processor for generative AI, inference tracking, extreme vector graphics and image processing/enhancement. The device can now serve as a “smart” full mission computer with ample built-in I/O in a portable tablet that Navy SEALs, Marines or soldiers can carry for real-time access to highly critical information.
“There’s nothing like this in the market, whether from a defense or pure commercial supplier: it’s a break though first,” said Ben Sharfi, president and chief architect, GMS. “By adding the impressive capabilities of the Qualcomm AI processor, the X9 Spider Rugged Thunderbolt tablet and display becomes a smart, lightweight, flexible tablet like no other on the battlefield. Available in feather-weight carbon fiber, not only can this tablet be mounted on a ship or in a vehicle, connected with Thunderbolt to a separate, distant host computer, but without missing a beat it can be dismounted and used as a long-life portable wireless tablet, providing the exact same information that was available while operating shipboard or in a vehicle.”
With a day-long battery, the tablet meets multiple mission profiles in different vehicles, platforms and theaters of operation. The tablet/display also runs Android and Linux—another unique capability for maximum application flexibility, long life and Department of Defense (DoD) software control throughout the life cycle.
Four size options with bright LCDs, resistive touch screens, removable storage, security
The Qualcomm CPU is mobile-focused and has onboard systems designed specifically for I/O, image tracking and enhancement, video processing, DSP-based audio processing and enhancement, noise cancellation and first-class security with included TPM. Intended for use in embedded machine vision battery-powered appliances, with all-day battery life, object recognition, voice recognition, and of course, blazing speed. As an example, sailors, Marines or SEALs can talk to the tablet—even while under extreme stress—alleviating the need to use the touchscreen interface or optional keyboard.
The smart Thunderbolt Tablet/Display is designed to provide the highest level of performance possible in a fully ruggedized, fanless, completely sealed system with an ultra-bright LCD and optional Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS). While available in 10”, 12”, 17” or 24” diagonal LCD sizes in the thinnest and most rugged display chassis on the market today, the 12” version is ideal for dismounted Navy SEAL/Marines/soldier applications.
“The smart Tablet’s use for the warfighter is game-changing,” Sharfi added. “Cool to the touch, rugged, thin, wireless and lightweight, never before has such a dual-mode smart tablet/display been available. GMS is the first.”
12 Feb 24. Collins Aerospace, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has delivered vehicle-mounted air traffic control systems to the U.S. Air Force to provide air traffic management in the most contested environments.
The units – called Air Traffic Navigation, Integration, and Coordination Systems (ATNAVICS) – are full air traffic control systems that are easily transported to support more austere environments. The systems incorporate new Primary Surveillance Radars, with significant range capabilities.
“These self-contained air traffic control systems can be set up quickly with a small crew,” said Philippe Limondin, vice president and general manager, Resilient Navigation Solutions, Collins Aerospace. “The system is designed to be a full-service air traffic system for those in the field to have surveillance, precision landing and identification-friend-or-foe capabilities at their fingertips.”
Collins’ ATNAVICS radars provide air traffic services in inclement weather and adverse environments. The product features the latest transmitter technology, which enables increased efficiency.
ATNAVICS supports the U.S. Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment doctrine, providing expeditionary air traffic management, embedded mission command, and availability in highly contested environments.
ATNAVICS is currently in operations worldwide with the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and now available for expanded global operations under direct commercial sales. (Source: PR Newswire)
12 Feb 24. Sigma Defense Systems announced the launch of Sigma Software Studio, a cutting-edge DevSecOps platform poised to revolutionize software development for the DoD and government agencies.
Rooted in Sigma’s collaboration with PEO Digital and Black Pearl, Sigma Software Studio, is a DevSecOps platform designed for transformation and software modernization across the Department of the Navy. The platform has been accredited with Authority to Operate (ATO) by the U.S. Navy and USMC.
Sigma Software Studio, represents a new approach to software development, enabling rapid and secure stand-up of software factories with reduced cost and complexity compared to traditional methods. By providing a proven, secure DevSecOps platform that unifies and streamlines software development processes, Sigma Software Studio, accelerates the deployment of software applications and significantly lowers costs compared to traditional DIY approaches. This approach allows mission owners to focus their resources on determining how DevSecOps best serves their mission rather than on infrastructure concerns.
“I am very excited about the release of Sigma Software Studio,” said Sigma Defense CEO, Matt Jones. “Working alongside the U.S. Navy, our team developed an industry leading DevSecOps platform that has had tremendous success and achieved ATO by the Navy and Marines Corps. We are now able to deliver that capability to a broader community.”
Benefits of Sigma Software Studio Include:
- Proven Platform: Backed by Sigma’s long and successful track record of delivering DevSecOps capabilities to the Department of Defense.
- DevSecOps-as-a-Service: Reduce or eliminate upfront capital investment in hardware and software, accelerates speed to value from months to days, and allows organizations to focus on their mission of software development.
- Tool Flexibility: Enables developers to bring in their own tools to support their pipelines.
- Accreditation: The only commercial offering accredited at IL2/IL4/IL5 security levels, with IL6 accreditation forthcoming.
- Dynamic Platform: Constantly evolving to support new tools as they become available.
Sigma Software Studio represents a major step forward in DevSecOps capabilities, offering unmatched flexibility, security, and efficiency for software development within the Department of the Navy and beyond.
For more information about Sigma Software Studio, please visit www.sigmadefense.com
About Sigma Defense
Sigma Defense Systems LLC is a leading technology company serving the Department of Defense (DoD) providing systems and services for JADC2, C5ISR and DevSecOps since 2006. The company’s software-focused approach to tactical communications accelerates information collection and sharing for faster decision making and better mission outcomes. Customers turn to Sigma Defense for engineering, program management, and data logistics services for technical solutions that encompass ground, air, and space-based systems and sensors and network and satellite communications. Sigma is headquartered in Perry, GA with satellite offices both CONUS and OCONUS. (Source: PR Newswire)
12 Feb 24. Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has completed a critical assessment of its Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) offering with the U.S. Air Force, moving the program closer to completing its detailed design review. The team is now working towards ground testing of its NGAP prototype, referred to as XA103, which is expected to occur in the late 2020s.
“We are embracing digital transformation with NGAP and changing the customer experience through the entire development process in order to rapidly and efficiently deliver these advanced adaptive engines,” said Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney’s Military Engines business. “This technology is critical to maintaining air superiority, which is why Pratt & Whitney has made significant investments in research and development and advanced manufacturing. Continued government funding for sixth-generation propulsion development must remain a high priority to support critical platform milestones and warfighter readiness.”
The engine will enhance performance that is key to enabling future air dominance capabilities, which are needed to ensure the U.S. Air Force achieves air superiority and deters pacing challenges.
NGAP technologies will provide advanced survivability, fuel efficiency, and robust power and thermal management. These are necessary to enable the required range, weapon and sensor capability, and persistence future air dominance platforms will require to meet evolving operational needs. (Source: PR Newswire)
12 Feb 24. BAE Systems to Enhance US Navy’s MQ-25A UAS with Next-Gen Vehicle Management System Computer. BAE Systems has been selected by Boeing to upgrade and modernize the vehicle management system computer (VMSC) for the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 unmanned aerial refuelling system.
The technology refresh will increase computing power and address obsolescence issues, providing the unmanned aerial tanker with an integrated solution that improves aircraft performance and allows for future capability growth.
BAE Systems’ next-generation VMSC controls all flight surfaces and performs overall vehicle management duties for the autonomous MQ-25. The MQ-25 is the Navy’s first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft and is designed to provide a much-needed aerial refueling capability. It also aims to relieve the refuelling mission workload for F/A-18 aircraft, allowing them to take on other key mission roles, increasing the fleet’s capacity.
“BAE Systems is a leader in flight-critical systems and solutions,” said Corin Beck, senior director of Military Aircraft Systems for Controls and Avionics Solutions at BAE Systems. “Our upgraded VMSC for the MQ-25 will deliver advanced functionality—enabling this platform to execute today and tomorrow’s critical missions, while also reducing the amount of hardware required on the aircraft through consolidation into this computer.”
The cost-effective VMSC upgrade will use quad-core processors to increase computing power while optimizing size, weight, and power footprint on the aircraft. The multi-core processor selected for the MQ-25 VMSC has recently completed qualification on another U.S. military platform thereby reducing cost, schedule, and integration risk for this program.
This highly efficient and integrated system will deliver more capability by replacing multiple other onboard computers, improving aircraft reliability and reducing total lifecycle cost of ownership for the Navy. The new VMSC also provides growth capability to support future missions of the MQ-25, such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies, and lays the foundation for all future carrier-based unmanned systems by pioneering the cutting-edge manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operational concept.
BAE Systems also provides the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) System for the aircraft.
The company has more than 40 years of experience developing and integrating flight control technology for military and commercial platforms. Work on the VMSC occurs at BAE Systems’ state-of-the-art engineering and manufacturing facility in Endicott, New York. (Source: UAS VISION)
12 Feb 24. General Micro Systems (GMS), the world’s leading technology-independent supplier of computing engines in boxes, boards and servers, today launched its ultra-rugged, naval-focused 1U and 2U “Shorty 4” servers. At only 16-inches deep, the servers flexibly mount in table-top, equipment tray, sideways or vertical orientations, or can be rack mounted in space-constrained naval applications where full-sized server racks are too enormous to be practical. Surface combatants, sub-surface vessels, fast boats, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) drones and manned naval aircraft all need leading-edge scalable rackmount server performance in the smallest possible size, weight and power (SWaP).
“If you’ve been on a ship, no matter how large, you see that the hallways and equipment rooms are very tight and jammed with equipment. This is especially true in submarines and other specialized vessels such as littoral and fast insertion boats,” said Ben Sharfi, CEO and Chief Architect, GMS. “With a footprint similar to a gaming laptop but with 10 times the performance, these two Shorty servers are ideal for cramped and constrained naval applications. No rack is required with Shorty 1U or 2U.”
The leading-edge Shorty 4 servers come equipped with Intel’s 4th generation Scalable Xeon® CPUs, PCIe Gen5, and DDR5 ECC memory, and are available in 1U and 2U versions. Both servers use GMS’ “egg crate” honeycomb-like design, which mechanically divides the server into rigid quadrants to resist flex to dramatically enhance the unit’s shock and vibration performance. Constructed from heavy gauge steel or super lightweight aluminum, plus internal gussets and cross braces on internal structures, the servers can survive high shock and vibration but are still cost effective. GMS RuggedDNA™ methodology for design, ergonomics and environmental tolerance is inspired by MIL-SPEC design guidelines found in GMS’ rugged Level 4 and Level 5 full MIL-SPEC VMEbus, OpenVPX, small form factor, and rugged smart display products used by the Navy in airborne and ship-based applications such as the P-8A Poseidon aircraft, DDG, Aegis and LCAC.
Big Features; Small Space
Shorty 4 servers are inspired by GMS’s successful S1U-401MD 1U red/black multi-domain airborne server as well as the quad Titan 1U and 2U servers used by the Navy on the P-8A. Exceptionally rugged for airborne or shipboard use, there are also value-priced Shorty 4’s with commercial-only options available.
Based on an extended ATX-sized motherboard, Shorty servers are available immediately with the following features:
- RuggedDNA and mechanical short rack 1U and 2U sizes at a mere 16-inches deep
- Dual CPU sockets for 4th gen Intel Scalable Xeon CPUs, up to 44 cores per CPU for a total of 88 cores
- 16 DIMM slots (eight per CPU), DDR5 ECC memory
- Flexible external storage with NVMe or SATA SSDs:
- Up to 4x 15mm SSDs (up to 100TB using 25TB Micron SSD)
- Up to 8x 7mm SSDs
- Dual 4-drive canisters support 7mm SSDs
- Internal storage: 2x M.2 PCIe Gen 5, x4 lanes
- PCI Express Gen 5 busses, up to x16 lanes
- 2x 10GbE, 2x 1GbE and 1x 10/100/1GbE Service LAN port
- 2U expansion slots:
- 6x PCIe Gen5 x16 expansion slots or
- 2x PCIe Gen5 x16 expansion slots with up to 550W GPGPU AI/vector accelerator
- 1U expansion slot: 1x PCIe Gen5 x16
- Miscellaneous I/O: 1x USB 2.0, 3x USB 3.0, VGA
- Dual-redundant 1000W CRPS power supplies (2U; single PSU for 1U)
- Front-to-back cooling with both power and fan profiles for tuning power and fan noise
- RHEL 6.8 and 7, Windows 10, Windows Server 2019, CentOS 7
12 Feb 24. FAA approves Data Blanket and Ascent Aerosystems BVLOS operations for multiple drones. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Data Blanket and Ascent Aerosystems to operate autonomous swarms to operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), according to a LinkedIn post. Ascent AeroSystems designs and manufactures drones for the industrial, public safety and defense markets; Data Blanket design tactical tools for firefighters combating wild fires. For more information visit: www.ascentaerosystem.com; www.datablanket.com (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
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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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