Sponsored By Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
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10 Oct 24. Airbus, Multiverse to build gesture-based control system for fighters. The initiative forms part of the EPIIC European Defence Fund project to improve operational efficiency and pilot performance.
Airbus Defence and Space is collaborating with Spain-headquartered Multiverse Computing to develop advanced gesture recognition software for future fighter aircraft, leveraging quantum-inspired algorithms and Large Language Models (LLMs).
This initiative is part of the European Defence Fund’s Enhanced Pilot Interfaces and Interactions for Fighter Cockpit (EPIIC) project.
It aims to improve operational efficiency and pilot performance in military aviation. The project will run until September 2025.
Quantum-inspired algorithms are set to revolutionise how pilots interact with their aircraft systems by offering potentially faster and more accurate recognition capabilities than traditional computing methods, stated Multiverse.
The EPIIC programme focuses on five key areas including Virtual Assistant, Adaptive HMI, LAD, Helmet Mounted Display, and gesture-based interactions. Airbus is leading the development of gesture-based hardware and algorithms.
The ability to process complex data sets efficiently is vital in the cockpit of a fighter jet, where quick and reliable system responses can be a matter of life and death.
The gesture-based solutions will be developed to meet the demanding conditions of a fighter cockpit, addressing challenges such as high vibrations and the necessity to operate the system while wearing gloves.
The integration of virtual and augmented reality technologies is also being explored to potentially enhance pilots’ situational awareness and their interaction with the aircraft’s systems.
Multiverse Computing co-founder and CEO Enrique Lizaso Olmos said: “These new non-contact gesture-based control interactions will enhance pilot situational awareness, mission effectiveness, and overall aircraft performance.
“Combined with Airbus’ insight into pilot interfaces, our expertise in building quantum machine learning algorithms and efficient LLMs positions us well to develop these controls.”
The EPIIC pan-European initiative involves participation of more than 20 organisations from a dozen European countries to address the challenges of future air warfare and collaborative combat by identifying, assessing, and developing innovative and disruptive technologies. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
09 Oct 24. Navigation & Inertial Sensing Technologies on Display at AUSA 2024. From October 14th to 16th at the AUSA 2024 conference in Washington DC, EMCORE will be displaying its state-of-the-art navigation and inertial sensing products at Booth #4138. EMCORE Corporation, leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance inertial sensing and navigation products, will attend the AUSA Annual Meeting & Exposition from October 14-16 this year at Booth #4138. Book a meeting >>
Taking place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., AUSA highlights the capabilities of military and government organisations by showcasing a wide range of industry and defense products from over 700 exhibitors.
EMCORE will be displaying their broad range of technologies, including Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG), Ring Laser Gyro (RLG), and MEMS-based inertial sensors and navigation systems for aerospace and defense.
The company’s comprehensive product suite serves a broad range of tactical, navigation- and strategic-grade requirements for armed forces worldwide, and are integrated into demanding defense platforms in the harshest conditions on land, sea, air and space.
The U.S. government and the aerospace, defense & homeland security markets in particular have demanding requirements for reliability and durability. EMCORE has a long history of providing tech with unprecedented miniaturization, high-frequency, dynamic range, and extreme temperature and vibration tolerance that meets those standards.
EMCORE’s next-gen FOG and RLG technology, combined with its Systron Donner line of world-leading quartz MEMS navigation products, can achieve impressively high performance while maintaining a low CSWaP.
Satellite-based data is vulnerable to disruption from both natural causes and electronic jamming by enemies putting the mission at risk, and yet GPS and GNSS are the primary sources for essential positioning navigation and timing (PNT) for tactical missions. Accurate and reliable PNT can be found in EMCORE’s battle-proven TACNAV® family of inertial-based navigation systems.
Find out more about EMCORE’s innovative technologies by visiting the company and seeing their products in person at Booth 4138 of AUSA 2024, 14th-16th October in Washington DC. (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
10 Oct 24. New SOSA-Aligned Video Graphics Card Based on NVIDIA Ada Lovelace Architecture. The Condor GR5S-AD5000 is designed for high-performance mission-critical computing applications that require powerful parallel processing capabilities.
EIZO Rugged Solutions has launched the Condor GR5S-AD5000 – a SOSA-aligned 3U OpenVPX form factor video graphics and GPU output card powered by the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation GPU.
The Condor GR5S-AD5000 3U VPX card is designed for high-performance mission-critical computing applications that require powerful parallel processing capabilities, including ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), avionics and robotics.
The NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada GPU is based on the NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture, supporting 16 GB of GDDR6 graphics memory with error correction code (ECC). The expanded memory of 16 GB enables users to tackle larger projects, and support for ECC delivers greater computing accuracy and reliability.
The NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada GPU includes computational upgrades with 9,728 CUDA cores, 304 Tensor Cores (fourth-generation), and 76 RT Cores (third-generation). The fourth-generation Tensor Cores provide up to 1.8x AI throughput over the previous generations while the third-generation RT Cores provide up to 1.7x faster ray-tracing performance for high-fidelity, photorealistic rendering.
This solution features PCI Express Gen 4 (x4, x8, or x16 lane) connectivity and bifurcation/daisy chaining support, delivering high flexibility and ultra-fast data transfer speeds that help ensure unparalleled efficiency and responsiveness for data-intensive tasks. This makes the Condor GR5S-AD5000 an ideal choice for applications requiring high-speed data processing and real-time AI-accelerated data analysis. Additionally, the Ada Lovelace architecture includes an eighth-generation dedicated hardware encoder (NVENC) with AV1 encoding for superior video-streaming capabilities.
The Condor GR5S-AD5000 was developed in alignment with the SOSA Technical Standard, supporting slot profiles 14.6.11-0 and 14.6.13-0. It is available in both conduction-cooled (CC) [VITA 48.2] and Air Flow Through (AFT) [VITA 48.8] variants to address various thermal needs. The AFT cooling option, developed by EIZO, is ideal for high-power environments, preventing thermal throttling and ensuring optimal performance under heavy workloads. For added flexibility, an optional front DisplayPort output is available for lab and development use.
The Condor GR5S-AD5000 is designed to meet MIL-STD-810 for security and aerospace environmental specifications for temperature, shock, vibration, and power.
John Payne, Senior Product Manager at EIZO Rugged Solutions, said: “High-performance GPUs like the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada can present thermal challenges in passively cooled configurations. The Condor GR5S-AD5000 features AFT and conduction cooling technologies to mitigate performance impacts at extended temperatures.”
Learn how EIZO provides end-to-end solutions for high-performance mission systems at the annual AUSA Meeting and Exposition October 14-16, 2024 at Booth 8309. (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
10 Oct 24. Systel will showcase a new product in its popular Kite-Strike II embedded computer line at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2024 Annual Meeting and Exposition, featuring a next-gen Intel x86 COM-HPC architecture that supports a range of compute at the edge applications.
The proven x86 architecture is widely used and designed for high-performance computing tasks running on operating systems including Windows and Linux. Known as the Kite-Strike II x86, the new small form factor (SFF) computer is the perfect solution for managing and controlling various equipment on platforms, including sensors, communications suites, and other mission-critical systems.
This builds on Systel’s dual-architecture approach to rugged computer development, giving customers the flexibility to choose what is most appropriate for their mission requirement.
The x86 version (model number EC7220) follows the significant success of the NVIDIA-based Kite-Strike II AI at the edge product (model number EC7210) that integrates the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin SOM, the world’s most powerful embedded AI computing engine. Kite-Strike II x86 is configured with an Intel x86 COM-HPC CPU module, which is optimized for use across a range of Department of Defense (DoD) programs.
Both Kite-Strike II versions share the same form factor and chassis, giving customers significant compute power in applications where size, weight and power (SWaP) is limited. This includes ground and air platforms in both crewed and uncrewed configurations.
Kite-Strike II is also highly modular, allowing customers to configure the computer with different cards and expand capabilities where required. The x86 version has a robust IO capability that includes 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports with TSN (as well as the option for 10GbE), multiple USB 3.0 and 2.0 connectors, multiple serial, and dual HDMI. Storage options include Internal M.2 or mSATA and removable U.2.
The new Kite Strike II meets a range of MIL-SPEC standards, including stringent US DoD environmental and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements. Systel is a world leader in military-grade computer ruggedization, and this experience has once again been brought to the fore for Kite Strike II.
Brian Russell, vice-president of product at Systel, said: “The Kite-Strike II x86 brings true compute power to the edge. It’s designed to meet the demands of programs that require high-performance computing without the requirement for running complex AI algorithms. With this architecture, we’re giving our customers the flexibility to control complex systems in a very small form factor and where low SWaP is critical.”
Kite-Strike II x86 is expected to be available for sale in Q2 2025. A pre-release engineering prototype will be on display at this year’s AUSA Annual being held from 14-16 October 2024 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
For more information on the Kite-Strike II x86, or on any of our other rugged computing solutions, visit us at booth #1015 or get in contact with the team using the details below.
09 Oct 24. Transition Tracking Action Group Uses Artificial Intelligence, Analytics to Speed DOD Innovation. Speed is crucial to innovation, and the Defense Department has established a new group to speed the flow of information to innovators around the military.
The Transition Tracking Action Group looks to improve the department’s ability to track transitions from the initial stages of research and development to fielded capabilities in the hands of warfighters, said Cyrus Jabbari, the chief data officer to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
The Transition Tracking Action Group will not only help us deliver insights and capabilities to the warfighter, but it will also help the DOD and its partners in industry and academia realize the national economic impact of our early stage research and investments that are later productized and oftentimes even bought back by the department.”The group “represents a new approach to technology portfolio management that leverages advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to provide DOD officials with the insights to make informed, innovative decisions,” Jabbari said.
Specifically, the group enables DOD to better align investments with strategic objectives at scale, he said. The group will also allow the department to identify and eliminate waste and duplication and accelerate its ability to field new technologies.
The bipartisan Congressional Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Reform also stressed this need in their report issued earlier this year.
The group is building an enterprise-wide, data-driven understanding of all technologies DOD invests in and manages them from initial stages of research to the hands of warfighters, Jabbari said.
DOD is a huge enterprise and collecting this information is a monumental task on its own. “While the department has long sought to address this decades-old problem, it previously lacked the necessary tools and capabilities at scale to track technology transitions effectively,” the chief data officer said. “This has the potential to save DOD ms, if not bns, of dollars — in addition to obvious savings in man-hours from manual requests for information.
“The group is integrating business systems and deploying data analytics capabilities that enable greater visibility and management of technology transition efforts,” Jabbari said. The group focuses on increasing transparency and understanding of where DOD’s investments exist and align, and their outcomes. Officials “can better gauge and strengthen allocation of resources amidst a global race for technological advantage,” he said.
A senior defense official also commented, “the Transition Tracking Action Group will not only help us deliver insights and capabilities to the warfighter, but it will also help the DOD and its partners in industry and academia realize the national economic impact of our early stage research and investments that are later productized and oftentimes even bought back by the department.”
The group can sift through DOD’s data to see how investments align to critical technology areas. These changes allow officials to put money where it will do the most good.
The group has mapped the defense innovation system, evaluating economic impacts, streamlining the journey of technologies from concept to combat readiness and preventing investment duplications across DOD’s research and engineering enterprise, Jabbari said. “Since its February 2024 inauguration, has accomplished a wide range of goals to collect data and track technology transitions by building applications and artificial intelligence tools within DOD’s unified Advancing Analytics — Advana — platform,” he said. “By connecting the native financial and procurement data sources with newly created and connected datasets and analytic techniques, the group is delivering new insights to answer critical business questions.”
One example of this ability is a tool that enables DOD to map $800 bn in research, development, test and evaluation contract obligations and expenditures back to Congressionally appropriated programs and activities in real time, Jabbari said. “The group will augment this capability with enriched information fielded from thousands of points of contact across the defense innovation ecosystem — from program owners to performers — to deliver new insights on technology investments and transition pathways,” he said. “These developments utilize advanced methodologies including automation, natural language processing and increased querying capabilities.”
More is coming, he said. The group has pilot programs that will build on the accomplishments to date. “The applications will mature to give senior leadership more visible, accessible, understandable and secure data analytics tools to assist in making informed decisions,” Jabbari said. “These tools are already reducing the burden, costs and errors of manual data calls and empowering DOD to discover information quickly, with high fidelity, and communicate it effectively. Transparency and visibility will undoubtedly enhance our ability as a department and as a nation to create and field capabilities at speed and scale.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
08 Oct 24. A Revolutionary Solution for Contested Air Transport.
• Fan-in-wing technology powers Aurora’s concept for unprecedented speed and stealth in a vertical lift platform.
Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing company, is designing an X-plane that uses fan-in-wing technology to provide high-speed, runway-independent mobility for contested environments. Newly released renderings of the vertical lift concept depict a scalable technology for airborne logistics and personnel recovery missions in locations without a prepared runway.
The design work is part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) program. The SPRINT program aims to design, build, and fly an X-plane to demonstrate the key technologies and integrated concepts that enable a transformational combination of aircraft speed and runway independence.
Aurora and Boeing are collaborating on the development of key technologies that combine to deliver a revolutionary solution to mobility challenges in contested environments and across distributed military bases. Fan-in-wing (FIW) technology combines an embedded lift fan with a blended wing body design to enable vertical lift agility without sacrificing the payload capacity and aerodynamic efficiency associated with today’s fixed wing aircraft.
The team is currently designing an uncrewed demonstrator with a 45-ft wingspan and 1,000-pound payload capacity for the SPRINT program. The propulsion system includes off-the-shelf turbofan and turboshaft engines that would power the vehicle to a maximum of 450 knots true airspeed (KTAS).
The technology demonstrated in the SPRINT X-plane could be scaled to medium and heavy lift aircraft, creating a future family of systems. For example, Aurora envisions a manned, 130-ft wingspan aircraft with four lift fans and 40-ft payload bay. The FIW aircraft could meet or exceed the payloads, ranges, and speeds typical of fixed wing military transport aircraft while delivering the tactical advantage of true vertical takeoff and landing.
“The SPRINT program offers the opportunity to deliver a game-changing capability to the warfighter,” said Mike Caimona, president and CEO of Aurora Flight Sciences. “High-speed, stealth, runway-independent transport could help keep warfighters safe and effective in contested environments, so no domain is out of reach for our U.S. military.”
Earlier this year, the team completed the first of three major test events scheduled for the current phase of the SPRINT program to prove out the feasibility of the FIW technology. The ground effect test, conducted using a 4.6-ft wingspan model with three lift fans, showed that suck down effects created by the lift fans in hover were negligible and that the landing gear is set to the appropriate height to minimize adverse pitching moments from forming during ground operations. Wind tunnel tests planned for late 2024 and early 2025 include a stability and control test using a 9-ft full wingspan aircraft model and a 5¼-ft semi-span embedded lift fan test to model aerodynamic effects.
The current phase of the program continues through May 2025 with preliminary design review scheduled for April 2025. Flight testing for the program is planned for 2027. (Source: ASD Network)
09 Oct 24. Palladyne AI Successfully Completes 1st Phase of Multi-M-Dollar US Air Force Contract. Phase I completion demonstrates application of Palladyne AI software platform for use on industrial robots in unstructured environments
Palladyne AI Corp. (NASDAQ: PDYN and PDYNW) (“Palladyne AI”), a developer of artificial intelligence software for robotic platforms in the commercial and defense sectors, today announced that it has completed Phase I of its previously announced multi-m-dollar contract with the Air Logistics Complex at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. Phase II will continue integration and use case validation of Palladyne IQ software for use in remediation activities including media blasting for complex aircraft components. This is the second year of a contemplated four-year effort valued at $13.8 m, the result of Palladyne AI’s selection in the highly competitive Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) program emerging from the Air Force’s innovation incubator, AFWERX AFVentures.
In Phase II of the contract, Palladyne IQ software will be used in preparation of complex, high-value aircraft components of varying types and sizes via detection, identification, and surface mapping to maintain the correct distance and angle for optimal application of surface preparation materials.
“The Palladyne AI software is a transformational technology that will benefit both commercial and Department of Defense (DoD) industrial and maintenance automation advancements,” said Mr. Shane Groves, Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex Robotics and Automation. “The software has successfully shown the ability to autonomously prepare contoured surfaces using sanding and media blasting techniques and has delivered high-value to our repair and maintenance operations in a short amount of time. I have no doubt that this critical work will deliver long-term benefits for Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex industrial automation and productivity.”
“The U.S. Air Force continues to broaden access to disruptive technologies through their support and engagement with emergent technologies and novel commercial solutions,” said Ben Wolff, President and CEO, Palladyne AI. “We look forward to this continued partnership to advance our Palladyne AI autonomy software with agility, focus, and speed to automate dull, boring, and dangerous tasks that have historically been too challenging and complex to automate.” (Source: ASD Network)
08 Oct 24. Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), a global leader in advanced defence and aerospace technology, announced the integration of the Opus Suite software into its engineering, logistics, and system design processes for the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operational Center (SAOC) platform. This comprehensive integration will support lifecycle management, enable Model-Based Product Support (MBPS), and facilitate early system design evaluation. Furthermore, Opus Suite will be integrated into SNC’s Integrated Digital Environment (IDE) and key engineering tools like Cameo Systems Modeler, ensuring seamless collaboration across all phases of the SAOC platform’s lifecycle.
By incorporating Opus Suite into SNC’s IDE and engineering toolchain, the company will deliver enhanced operational readiness, reduced sustainment costs, and optimized system performance from the design phase through the operational lifecycle. Opus Suite, developed by Systecon, is a world-leading toolset for system analysis, logistics optimisation, and predictive modelling, designed to support decision-making across complex defence systems.
“The integration of Opus Suite into our engineering and logistics environments marks a significant step forward in SNC’s ability to deliver high-performance solutions for the SAOC platform,” said Systecon CTO, Justin Woulfe. “By embedding Opus Suite into their IDE and integrating Opus into the engineering process, we can perform early system design evaluations, optimize lifecycle management, and ensure that the SAOC platform meets mission requirements throughout its entire service life.”
SNC will integrate Opus Suite into its Integrated Digital Environment (IDE), creating a seamless workflow between logistics and engineering teams. By embedding Opus Suite into the IDE, SNC ensures that real-time data flows across various systems, enabling holistic decision-making based on up-to-date logistics, design, and operational data. This integration bridges the gap between engineering, supply chain, and sustainment operations, fostering more efficient coordination and allowing for data-driven decisions throughout the SAOC platform’s lifecycle.
SNC will leverage the power of Opus Suite in conjunction with Cameo Systems Modeler, a leading systems engineering tool based on the Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach. Through this integration, SNC will perform early system design evaluations, ensuring that the SAOC platform’s architecture is optimized for performance, reliability, and sustainment before the system enters production.
The combination of Opus Suite’s predictive modelling with Cameo’s system design capabilities will enable SNC to simulate various design alternatives, assess their impact on lifecycle costs, and ensure that the SAOC platform meets long-term sustainment goals. This integration allows SNC to refine the system architecture early, ensuring efficient allocation of resources, optimized spare parts strategies, and a design that aligns with the SAOC’s mission requirements from the beginning.
SNC will use Opus Suite to simulate a wide range of operational scenarios for the SAOC platform, such as high-tempo mission demands and contested environments. These simulations will provide insights into how the platform will perform under various conditions, enabling SNC to make data-driven adjustments to maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) strategies.
This simulation capability, combined with Opus Suite’s integration into SNC’s IDE, ensures that all departments—engineering, logistics, and operations—can access the same data and insights, streamlining decision-making and improving the platform’s ability to meet operational readiness standards.
Opus Suite will be used to optimise spare parts inventories and maintenance resources based on predictive failure data and real-world mission profiles. By analysing operational conditions and failure rates, SNC will ensure that the SAOC platform has the right balance of spares and resources to maintain mission readiness without overburdening the supply chain.
In addition, SNC will utilize Opus Suite for comprehensive lifecycle cost management. The ability to forecast total cost of ownership will enable SNC to assess and optimise long-term sustainment strategies, minimising costs while ensuring that the SAOC platform maintains high performance and availability throughout its lifecycle.
Through Opus Suite, SNC will enable a fully digital Model-Based Product Support (MBPS) framework for the SAOC platform. MBPS represents a shift from reactive maintenance approaches to proactive, data-driven sustainment strategies. The integration of Opus Suite into the IDE and tools like Cameo will allow SNC to support predictive maintenance, resource allocation, and real-time data updates, ensuring that the SAOC platform remains operationally available and cost-effective over its lifespan.
Integrating Opus Suite into SNC’s engineering and logistics processes, including its IDE and systems engineering toolset, will significantly enhance SNC’s ability to deliver a high-performing, mission-ready SAOC platform. SNC reaffirms its commitment to providing superior lifecycle management and operational effectiveness for defense and aerospace platforms by ensuring that system design, sustainment, and operational readiness are considered from the earliest stages. (Source: Google/APDR)
08 Oct 24. LDRA, a leader in automated software verification, traceability and standards compliance, today announced extended support for the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA) with the company’s industry-leading high assurance quality analysis and verification tool suite. Building on its suite of Target License Packages to support emerging RISC-V implementations such as Synopsys ARC-V™ processor IP, the LDRA tool suite continues to provide developers the tools they need to produce RISC-V-based critical applications for aerospace and defense, mobile, industrial, IoT, artificial intelligence and automotive that must adhere to strict functional safety and security standards.
The RISC-V architecture is gaining momentum with developers due to its extensibility, scalability, and commercial business model. The LDRA tool suite provides development and on-target testing tools that enable a high assurance workflow for developers who must comply with functional safety and security standards. The tool suite works with commonly used compilers that support the RISC-V architecture as well as hardware tools used in on-target testing.
“LDRA has once again positioned itself as the industry leader in support of on-target testing for critical embedded applications,” said Ian Hennell, Operations Director, LDRA. “Our tools enable developers to assure high software quality across the entire design cycle, from requirements to deployment and test. We’ve achieved this by working in partnership with companies leading the move to RISC-V.”
LDRA works closely with companies such as Andes Technology, Green Hills Software, Lauterbach, Synopsys, TASKING, and Wind River to offer high assurance software quality development and verification tool chain from requirements through deployment and test on processors based on the RISC-V architecture. Demonstration videos are also available with SEGGER and IAR.
The LDRA tool suite offers full support for both 32- and 64-bit instruction sets and addresses requirements traceability, coding standards compliance, and static and dynamic coverage analysis. Developers also have the flexibility to perform unit- and system-level testing both on the host development platform as well as on both simulated and physical RISC-V processors. Support for on-target testing is provided through LDRA’s full suite of Target License Packages, which leverage compiler and RISC-V processor pairs to both test on target and collect and display test results.
07 Oct 24. Marine AI, one of the world’s leading maritime software companies, is to deploy its cutting-edge Guardian Helm software stack onboard the Royal Navy’s state-of-the-art technological trials ship, XV Patrick Blackett. This collaboration is part of a major Royal Navy initiative to explore and demonstrate the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems across the fleet.
The XV Patrick Blackett, a key asset in the development of the future Royal Navy, is specifically designed to test and trial new equipment and technologies. A significant focus of these trials will be innovations in autonomy and AI, areas in which Marine AI’s Guardian Helm software offers state-of-the-art capabilities.
This partnership between Marine AI and NavyX is officially launched this week (1 October), with a landmark demonstration scheduled for later this year.
Guardian Helm, specifically optimised for lean-crewed vessels such as the XV Patrick Blackett, will play an integral role in supporting the crew’s decision-making. By delivering real-time route recommendations based on full situational awareness and advanced tactical path planning, the software significantly enhances operational efficiency and builds trust in autonomous technologies. This AI-powered support enables the crew to make swift, informed decisions, reinforced by Guardian Helm’s comprehensive analysis and strategic insights.
This ground-breaking project will clearly demonstrate how AI can be seamlessly integrated into naval operations, aligning with the Royal Navy’s strategy to future-proof its fleet. It will also provide crucial insights into the evolving role of autonomy in maritime defence, marking a bold step forward for innovation in both the Royal Navy and the wider maritime industry.
Oliver Thompson, technical lead at Marine AI, said: “As a British SME, we are honoured to partner with the Royal Navy to showcase how artificial intelligence can not only support but also transform naval operations. Our Guardian Helm software provides precise, real-time insights, empowering crews to make quicker, more informed decisions. This trial will demonstrate that integrating AI is not just an enhancement—it is essential for the future of naval warfare. Guardian Helm is designed to instil confidence in autonomous systems. With its advanced situational awareness and tactical planning, the Royal Navy will gain a distinct operational edge, highlighting AI’s role as a true force multiplier. This project represents a pivotal moment in shaping the future of autonomous maritime operations, and we’re proud to be leading the way.”
Captain Keith Stephenson, Head NavyX, said: “The Royal Navy is committed to staying at the forefront of innovation, and our partnership with Marine AI on the XV Patrick Blackett is a testament to that. By integrating Guardian Helm, we are not just testing the technology but rapidly increasing our understanding of how to regulate and certify high degree autonomy in larger vessels. AI and autonomous systems will be pivotal in ensuring the Royal Navy’s readiness for future challenges, and this trial is an important step in understanding how these cutting-edge tools can enhance decision-making, operational efficiency, and the safety of our personnel. This collaboration represents a significant leap forward in naval innovation, positioning the Royal Navy and the UK maritime industry at the cutting edge of this journey.”
02 Oct 24. Indra unveils technologies at Army Enterprise Forum in Toledo to equip the Spanish Army with the most advanced digital combat capabilities.
Indra is showcasing some of the technologies that the world’s most advanced armies are adopting to intervene in increasingly complex conflicts and counter emerging threats at the 2024 Army Enterprise Forum to be held from October 2 to 3 in Toledo.
One of the main pillars of this digitalisation is to provide armoured vehicles with greater intelligence. Indra will take part in the operational demo that will be conducted within the framework of the Army Enterprise Forum at the Los Alijares test range to show off the advantages of its Maestre mission system, which is in charge of managing the sensors and systems of the 8×8 Dragon and displaying information to the crew.
Indra’s Miguel Rodríguez Mora explains that “the support of the Ministry of Defence in the development of this technology has brought Indra into the industrial core of large European R&D programs such as FAMOUS I and II and MARTE, which define what the ground platforms of the future will be like and how they will facilitate multi-domain operations.”
The company is also showcasing its new Maestre mission system emulator, which synthetically reproduces vehicle behaviour and the operating environment to evolve the system. It will also unveil its 360º vision system (L-SAS), which incorporates artificial intelligence for real-time analysis of the images collected by the driver assistance cameras (visible, night and infrared range), detect threats, and indicate potential protective measures and lines of action.
Increased integration and coordination: Among the biggest threats facing any armoured vehicle today are drones and new types of munitions. The company has developed small-sized advanced radar to be installed on vehicles which is capable of detecting, identifying, tracking and determining the moment of projectile impact in order to activate appropriate countermeasures. It is an advanced solid-state, electronically scanned, S-band 3D radar (AESA), which offers increased scanning speed by facilitating beam control without having to move the antenna.
The company will also unveil the latest enhancements to its air defence command and control system (COAAAS Plus), which is outfitted for multiple sensors and weapon systems and incorporates NATO-standard interoperability protocols. It will also present its family of AESA MTR radars, which are part of the company’s air defence command and control system (COAAAS Plus) and the Spanish Army’s High Mobility Rocket Launching System (SILAM).
Control of the electromagnetic spectrum is also key to operating in any scenario. Indra brings to this forum its Landef command and control system, designed to be deployed on the ground and manage multiple sensors and jamming emission systems to blind the adversary’s radars and block their communications. Indra’s Antonio Hernández Bejarano, explains that “the system is set up to provide effective integration of electronic warfare in multi-domain operations.”
In the field of training, Indra and the Spanish Army have led the world in the implementation of interoperable simulation systems: they have interconnected the helicopters of the Spanish Army Aviation Academy (ACAVIET), allowing pilots from different bases and aircraft models to train together.
Finally, the company has taken on the role of a driving force and is promoting the development in Spain of the discipline of operational analysis. This discipline, which combines military, technological and scientific knowledge, makes it possible to reproduce combat situations hundreds of times in the laboratory in order to optimise the design of systems and increase their effectiveness, providing the Ministry of Defence with scientific evidence and data to make the best decisions.
(Source: joint-forces.com)
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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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