Web Page sponsor Oxley Developments
www.oxleygroup.com
Oxley Group Ltd
Oxley is on Stand No. C4-608 at DVD
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12 Sep 22. Oxley – Selecting effective lighting solutions for turrets in modern warfare. Modern warfare the battlefield focus is on human and machine interface, users increasingly need ‘fit and forget technology’ and controllable solutions, but there are also many other factors to consider in selecting an appropriate lighting solution.
Turrets contain powerful electronic equipment, users specifying lighting need to consider EMC characteristics and choose a solution that offers advanced Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) which prevents interference with other on-board equipment.
Increasingly in a ‘network battlefield’ scenario the user requires a digital solution that can interface with other battlefield technology and offer the user full controllability. Solutions should be software controlled and offer functions such as dimming & tactical modes and work in conjunction with night vision systems. Digital control also enables remote operation where required.
Users are increasingly looking at LED solutions for both new build and retrofit programmes, the use of LEDs that are correctly housed and managed will offer longer life, which could be extended by five times, and consistency in performance over existing technology. LEDs offer a fit and forget solution, extended working life reduces overall costs including replacement, maintenance, disposal and labour costs.
Advanced lighting solutions now can incorporate health monitoring, and products such as the Oxley DC Combi contain sophisticated internal electronic controls and feedback circuits to maintain thermal balance and provide usage and performance data. Health monitoring allows dynamic life extension of lights as replacement isn’t necessary after a set time period, reducing service and hardware costs.
Oxley LED turret lights are specifically designed for both the military vehicle retrofit and new build market with a low-profile rugged design which increases the available headroom, they have high MTBF and outstanding durability. The DC Combi delivers white light plus a software controlled integrated tactical secondary or blackout mode which can come in a choice of colours. The MTBF at 50,000 hours, dramatically reduces through life costs compared to existing lighting technology.
The Oxley DC Combi is qualified to the latest and most stringent UK military vehicle standards for EMC standard DEF-STAN 59-411 Land Class A and B and to Input Voltage standard DEF-STAN 61-5 PART 5.
16 Sep 22. WL Gore & Associates are demonstrating at DVD and update the Gore technologies: – GORE-TEX PYRAD® Flame Retardant Rainsuits, GORE-TEX STRETCH Rainsuits and GORE-TEX THERMIUM® Footwear. W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. is an American multinational manufacturing company specializing in products derived from fluoropolymers. It is a privately held corporation headquartered in Newark, Delaware. It is best known as the developer of waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex fabrics.
16 Sep 22. Consolite, stand C4-213, presents Ground Forces LiFi System.
Based on Signify’s highly successful LiFi system, Consolite has re-engineered the technology to be suitable for the Military environment.
Meeting the relevant Def Stans and Mil-Stds this product is developed for use in situations where Wifi is not an option.
LiFi Technology, advantages and uses
LiFi (Light Fidelity) is a method of transferring data using light, whereas WiFi transfers data using radio frequencies.
There are many benefits of transferring data through light.
- Security: The USB key must be within the “Line of Sight” (light cone) of the transceiver providing a high level of Physical Security. The USB Key must be in line of sight of the transceiver.
As light does not penetrate walls this provides a Low Probability of Detection (LPD) and a Low Probability of Interception (LPI).
The communications does not suffer from interference in the same way RF does.
- Speed: The data from the Access Point (AP) is only used by those beneath the AP so it is not shared amongst multiple users.
- Bandwidth: WiFi makes use of radio communications, of which the spectrum has become very crowded and is very often licensed. The LiFi spectrum is unlicensed and offers virtually unlimited bandwidth.
- RF interference: LiFi does not interfere with sensitive equipment in the way that WiFi can so it can be used in highly technical areas like machinery spaces and operations rooms, in explosion proof areas and nuclear facilities.
Providing fast, secure wireless data which is easily transported and quickly deployed, linking each shelter without the need for cumbersome cables. Operators can become connected in the same way as society does. Fast communications, video linking, geo-location, instant access to documents, on the job training through augmented reality and fast logging of maintenance activities are just some of the new realities of a secure Command Post.
Connectivity of the medical centre can help Medical Professionals link with their counterparts at Base Camp to help with complicated procedures and allow real time support where time is crucial. The addition of augmented reality or head up video and voice devices like the Microsoft Hololens or Vuzix Blade makes access to information as fast as anywhere in the world. The system consists of 3 components:
- • 1 x Access Point (see page 3) to connect power and data
- • Up to 6 x Transceivers (see page 4) can be connected to the Access Point
- • Up to 16 x USB Keys (see page 5) can be connected at any time
- Transceiver (detector connected to access point)
- The transceiver is designed to be used between 1.2 and 2.8m from the USB key. Data rates are best inside a 60 degree cone. The transceiver is designed to stow data cable wrapped around the transceiver body. The exit window is in the central part of the product. The unit is hung with Velcro for easy deployment to cords, cables or poles.
Access Point (connection for data and power)
The Access Point is the connection point for power and data. The Transceivers are plugged in here with
- IP65 glands. A WiFi capable version is available – the WiFi is disabled locally when not required.
- We specialise in custom housings to suit each application – please ask for bespoke housings.
- Consolite has worked with military lighting for over 40 years on both Air and Ship platforms. Consolite specialises in advanced lighting design and test and has become the authority in lighting for Naval applications worldwide.
- The Consolite Data via Infra-Red system is the next generation of that expertise, taking lighting to a new level.
- Consolite’s partnership with the Philips Signify Team has brought the combination of Signify’s huge industrial investment with Consolite specialist military focus. As a team we are providing connectivity to Naval ship operations which is revolutionising data use at sea.
15 Sep 22. Solid State Supplies Ltd at DVD 2022, Stand: C3-715. Solid State Supplies (part of Solid State plc) is a technical, franchised electronic component distributor serving the UK electronics community. We have particular expertise in high-reliability components for mil/aero applications. Our Quality Management System accords with ISO 9001: 2015, AS9120, and AS9100.
Our portfolio at DVD 2022 includes:
VPT Hi-Rel DC-DC Converters – Ideal for commercial and military aircraft, weapons systems and more. Designed to save board space, weight, and cost, and with extreme temperature ranges of -55 °C to +125 °C.
Military Switching & Sensing Devices – Durakool’s DG86N Automotive relay used in explosive ordinance disposal vehicles along with PNI Sensor Corporations Field Ops Remote Tracking (FORT) device, designed for use by dismounted foot soldiers. Teledyne relays used in turret motor control, radar, signal processors, satellite communication and any military based RF applications.
Optoelectronics – Excelitas range-finding solutions including pulsed semiconductor lasers for long-distance time-of-flight or phase-shift range-finder or LIDAR systems. Excelitas laser warning detectors for ground vehicle, naval vessels, and fixed or rotary wing aircraft Laser
Warning Systems. Imaging technologies including InfraRed sensors delivering high-pixel, high-thermal-resolution images, Time-of-Flight (TOF) Imager chips, modules and miniaturised 3D cameras, and best-in-class CMOS image sensors and miniaturised camera modules.
Embedded System Technologies – Overcome power, system size, cost and security challenges across all kinds of applications by selecting from our families of FPGAs. You’ll find pre-built solutions for Digital Signal Processing (DSP), Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes), networking, microcontrollers (MCUs) and microprocessors (MPUs). Explore the FPGA demo of AI, recognising different objects and facial recognition.
Military Displays – Rugged LCD monitors, handheld devices and smart displays. All built for optimal image quality under all lighting conditions from NVIS to full sunlight. Enhanced to meet all relevant MILSPECs.
Sourcing & Obsolescence Solutions – sourcing service for obsolete and hard-to-find electronic components for Military and Hi-Rel applications, utilising the latest anti-counterfeit detection methods. We also offer DEF STAN 81 -41 unique long-term storage packaging material with up to 15 years product protection against ageing and corrosion from -35°C to +80°C
www.sssltd.com
15 Sep 22. Galleon’s XSR & G1 Rugged Computing Solutions Achieve NIAP Certified Dual Layer Galleon Embedded Computing at DVD Stand No. C4-613. The XSR & G1, Galleon’s most versatile and sought-after rugged computing solutions, have achieved certification through the National Information Association Partnership on its hardware and software full-disk encryption. NIAP oversees the certification of commercial information technology products for national security systems, and after an extensive evaluation through a NIAP-approved Common Criteria Testing Laboratory (CCTL), the XSR & G1 will carry Dual-Layer Encryption Certifications. This certification applies in all Common Criteria partner countries and will allow Galleon’s customers to deploy the rugged XSR & G1 computing solutions quickly, effectively, and into harsh environments where classified data protection is required. View NIAP Certification
Cory Grosklags, President of Galleon Embedded Computing, states “This is an exciting milestone for the XSR & G1 and it demonstrates our commitment to providing best-in-class security features for our customers.”
Multi-layer protection is the basis on which the US program for Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) is based. Software Full Disk Encryption (SWFDE) uses the central processor for authentication, and Hardware Full Disk Encryption (HWFDE) uses a separate processor for authentication and loading the DEKs into inline crypto devices.
Hardware Encryption Features:
- Multi-channel SATA encryption
- Separated main processor key handling
- Symmetric AES-256 encryption
Software Encryption Features:
- LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup) for key exchange/authentication
- Supports up to 8 users per drive
- Independent from hardware encryption layer
- Available system SSD encryption
Galleon Embedded Computing is an innovative leader in the development of extremely rugged, secure storage solutions, data recorder systems, servers, network-attached storage devices & processing systems intended for deployment in the harshest environmental conditions. Galleon has been part of the Spectra Aerospace & Defense group since August of 2021, a trusted group of defense electronics companies providing innovative solutions in support of national security requirements around the world.
15 Sep 22. Rheinmetall and Helsing – partners for the next generation of armed forces. Rheinmetall, a longstanding, tried-and-tested partner of digitized armed forces around the world, and Helsing, the leading European provider of software and AI for defence systems, have announced a strategic partnership to transform land defence capabilities.
Through the joint development of software-based defence systems and retrofitting of existing platforms, this partnership will provide the armed forces with advanced and future-proof capabilities, enabling them to meet current and future challenges.
The unprovoked attack on Ukraine has forced Europe into a new era of land-based warfare. With the return of peer-to-peer conflicts and the emergence of novel, digital capabilities on the battlefield Europe must modernise its armies at speed. One of the key lessons of the Russo-Ukrainian War is that digitization and AI-supported mission systems can give armies a meaningful edge on the battlefield. They are destined to play a key role in defensive operations.
The Rheinmetall/Helsing partnership combines world-leading, battle-tested components, platforms, systems and software with modern, military-grade AI capabilities in order to deter and, if necessary, successfully take on an adversary. By investing in technology development upfront and delivering new products at speed, this partnership will provide the armed forces with fast access to the latest technological innovations.
“Rheinmetall has been supplying advanced networked products, systems, software and technologies in the defence and security realm for many decades, for which we are very grateful. Our partnership with Helsing will further augment our capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence, enabling us to equip our products with the latest technologies faster than ever. This lets us modernize legacy platforms and systems, providing our customers with new, world-leading capabilities”, states Christoph Müller, CEO of Rheinmetall Electronic Solutions.
Dr Gundbert Scherf, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Helsing adds: “Helsing is a new type of defence company, focused purely on software and AI, funding our own product development. We are therefore delighted to partner with Rheinmetall and combine our advanced AI capabilities with their world-leading land platforms. Recent geopolitical events have shown that democracies need to be able to protect and deter. But democracies also need to out-innovate and out-pace autocratic regimes. We believe this partnership has the potential to do that, equipping land forces for the future at pace.”
About Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH
Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH supplies the world’s armed forces, government agencies and civilian customers with mission equipment and learning and training solutions. The company, which belongs to Rheinmetall AG’s Electronic Solutions division, has been in the business for decades.
Working in close cooperation with customers, Rheinmetall Electronics develops high-end products and integrates advanced system solutions.
Its Integrated Electronic Solutions portfolio encompasses reconnaissance, fire control, soldier systems and command and control technology as well as training, learning and development applications for individuals, groups and entire customer organizations. Security solutions and specific IT and cyber systems round out the company’s portfolio.
Customers in over forty countries place their trust in technology from Rheinmetall Electronics. Eager to be close to its customers, the company maintains a significant international presence, with multiple subsidiaries around the world as well as an extensive supplier network.
About Helsing
Helsing is a European software and artificial intelligence company working in defence and national security, providing world-leading technology with presence in Germany, UK and France. Helsing believes that software – and artificial intelligence (AI) in particular – will be the key capability to keep liberal democracies from harm. Helsing’s AI powered mission modules and real-time software platform process data from multiple sensors on the edge and provide an integrated view of the operational environment, to deliver faster and more accurate decision-making at the tactical, operational, and strategic level. Helsing’s AI is built to be traceable and explainable from the outset.
12 Sep 22. Launch of new UK innovative defence programme backed by £16m on July 27th. A £16m programme to boost small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) defence innovation has been launched today.
- Keeping the UK at the forefront of defence technology
- Joining innovations and up to 50% of government funding with large suppliers
- Grants of up to £500,000 available per project
With the innovation of SMEs, the resources of big suppliers and initial funding from government, the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) is designed to bring the key components together to allow pioneering projects to flourish. The aim is to keep the United Kingdom at the forefront of defence technology, improving the capabilities available to our Armed Forces, the competitiveness of UK industry and growing potential exports benefits.
Individual grants of up to 50% of a project’s value – to a maximum of £500,000 per grant – will be available through DTEP for collaborative projects between SMEs and larger suppliers, supporting the integration of novel technologies, materials and processes into MOD’s supply chains.
DTEP will be open for proposals year-round, with cycles closing at 3-month intervals for assessment of submissions.
Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said: “Innovation within defence is crucial to maintaining competitive advantage for our Armed Forces. The Defence Technology Exploitation Programme is a positive step in how we support SMEs and larger suppliers to work together to improve the resilience and competitiveness of the MOD’s supply chain. Today’s launch builds upon the successful BEIS-funded National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) and a pilot of DTEP conducted with Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI). An example of work supported by this pilot is CCP Gransden, based near Ballygowan, collaborating with Thales and Ulster University on a project to replace the Starstreak surface-to-air missile system’s metallic canister with a composite version – reducing reliance on global supply chains for the over 50 components currently needed.”
Head of the Defence and Security Accelerator, Anita Friend said: “DTEP has been designed to help SMEs join defence supply chains and offers SMEs and larger suppliers the opportunity to come together to solve defence problems. For an SME, DTEP offers not only funding but also the opportunity to deliver new innovations into the UK defence supply chain and a way to develop and scale up their business. DTEP is also beneficial for larger companies, offering early access to new technologies or processes that they may be able to help commercialise.”
Applications to DTEP can be made by UK-based SMEs looking to form a collaboration with a UK-based higher-tier supplier to help integrate and take the novel solution to market. The key areas of interest for proposals are set out in detail on the DTEP portal and are aligned with the recently published Defence Capability Framework.
DASA DTEP Business Relationship Managers will be available at all steps of the process, from project formation until after project completion. They will support SMEs through signposting, mentoring and offering other support services.
DTEP will be delivered by the MOD’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), in partnership with the Innovate UK group, and it is a core commitment in the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy and SME Action Plan.
Background
- The DTEP page can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-technology-exploitation-programme
- The specific areas of interest follow the MOD’s Enduring Capability Challenges. More information can be found in the Defence Capability Framework here.
- More details on the CCP Gransden, Thales and Ulster University programme can be found here.
- Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency. The Innovate UK group is an ecosystem of expertise, funding, and powerful connections driving value through innovation. Innovate UK and Innovate UK KTN are working in close partnership with the MOD and DASA on the delivery of the DTEP programme. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
12 Sep 22. Marshall Futureworx signs Memorandum of Understanding with sees.ai and ISS Aerospace to create new drone technologies. Marshall Futureworx, sees.ai, and ISS Aerospace are excited to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see the three companies collaborate to create new autonomous robotic drone technologies for sectors such as offshore renewable energy, defence and security, and nuclear decommissioning.
Marshall Futureworx is the venture building arm of the Marshall Group and has expertise in delivering support services in challenging and highly regulated environments enabled by complex systems, building on Marshall’s 100+ year heritage in the aerospace sector.
Drone technology provider sees.ai is a pioneer in state-of-the-art autonomous navigation and command & control software for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, providing aerial intelligence and enabling economies of scale for the use of drones in industrial applications.
ISS Aerospace is an industry-leading Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) provider specialising in cutting-edge design, manufacture and operations for a wide range of international customers in various sectors such as energy, defence, security, utilities and surveillance.
In combination, all three UK-based companies are confident they can bring world-leading drone services to emerging and challenging sectors.
Marshall Futureworx is leading the development of a permanently deployed BVLOS autonomous drone solution, which integrates the combined expertise, technologies, and capabilities of Marshall, sees.ai, and ISS Aerospace. The system has a number of potential use cases across industries and environments with the potential to offer significant operational and safety benefits to customers.
Chris Walton, Founder and Managing Director of Futureworx, said: “Marshall has an excellent track record of getting complex systems into the air safely. We are excited to work with sees.ai and ISS Aerospace, who are also leaders in their fields, to unlock the tremendous potential of enabling autonomy at long-range and delivering new and innovative services to defence, security, and industrial customers.”
Kieren Paterson, Co-Founder and Head of Futureworx, added: “We are tremendously excited by the potential of this team and the technology we are developing together. All three companies bring something unique and compelling to the table and together we have the potential to offer game changing solutions and capability for existing and new customers across a variety of different sectors.”
Commenting on the MoU announcement, John McKenna, CEO of sees.ai, said: “Our software coupled with Marshall and ISS Aerospace’s hardware has the potential to open a range of new use-cases and markets across industry and defence & security. Our goal is to unlock the substantial financial, operational, environmental and safety benefits of BVLOS drone operations – and this formidable partnership will accelerate progress towards this goal. We can’t wait to get started.”
Ryan Kempley of ISS Aerospace, added: “We feel privileged to be part of such a ground-breaking
programme and look forward to working with Marshall and sees.ai. Bringing together such a pool of knowledge and expertise will allow for some truly ground-breaking capabilities to be realised. Having deployed and operated our UAS in a number of challenging environments around the world, we believe the drone technologies being fielded by this collaboration will have wide ranging benefits to the industry as a whole.”
About Marshall Futureworx
Coupled with the power of the Marshall Group brand, Marshall Futureworx is a standalone team of highly creative engineering talent established to leverage Marshall’s unique engineering skills, experience, and reputation to identify and develop a new generation of products and services that address existing and future challenges. Acting as the venture building arm of the Marshall Group, the Futureworx team has identified a number of emerging trends in the industrial support, defence and security arenas, and is developing new technologies and service offerings to meet those upcoming demands.
About sees.ai
sees.ai’s software enables single pilots to remotely operate and co-ordinate multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) undertaking complex close-quarter missions in challenging environments. Using the same sensors as an autonomous car (LiDAR, camera, IMU) sees.ai’s software enables the UAVs to operate with a high degree of autonomy and without continuous operator control. This unlocks missions such as close-quarter inspection of industrial and infrastructure assets, and missions in environments with denied or degraded GNSS and/or comms. By no longer requiring a skilled pilot to travel to the mission site, sees.ai’s solution dramatically increases the scalability of drone operations whilst maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety.
Inspired by the team’s backgrounds in Formula 1, sees.ai uses advanced telemetry, diagnostics, analytics and simulation tools to make it possible to safely deliver this capability at national scale. The company was an early participant in the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) Regulatory Sandbox and currently holds the most advanced BVLOS permission ever given by the CAA.
About ISS Aerospace
ISS Aerospace is a UK-based company that designs and manufactures cutting-edge, multimodal, Uncrewed Aerial Systems for a wide range of international clients. Our systems are designed to collect meaningful information or to work as autonomous or semi-autonomous systems under challenging conditions. Onboard computing and AI hardware allow for data to be processed in real time, reducing data bandwidth requirements, and delivering actionable intelligence. We take pride in working closely with our clients to provide an end-to-end service from specification to operational service. We offer both the Sensus 4 and Sensus 8 as “off the shelf” systems in industrial and defence formats.
14 Sep 22. Panasonic today introduced the TOUGHBOOK N1 Tactical, a variant of its rugged Android handheld device, designed for use by the military or public safety officers such as the police. These tactical teams and special operators require the most reliable devices for mission planning, situational awareness (SA) and mission execution. The TOUGHBOOK N1 Tactical, is a next generation device specifically designed for these environments leveraging SA applications such as ATAK.
Ready for operation in the most testing environments, the TOUGHBOOK N1 Tactical is a fully rugged handheld with IP68 rating against dust and water, built to MIL-STD-810G standards to handle extreme temperatures and vibration and meets NIAP[1] common criteria. The 4.7” anti- reflective daylight readable 550 cd/m² display features rain sensing and glove touch modes to assure that the screen can be clearly read and manipulated in any conditions.
8 programmable quick start buttons make launching and switching between applications quick and easy. The device can operate for up to 12 hours with user warm swap functionality. It runs the Android 11 operating system with long-term security updates and can be used with Panasonic COMPASS, Panasonic’s powerful Android deployment, support and control tools. The device is equipped to support all the applications a mobile team needs with Qualcomm Octa Core processor with a 4GB of RAM memory and 64GB of Flash storage.
“We are really pleased to launch this next generation fully rugged tactical device for our Defence and Public Safety customers. Offering long-term supply and support, with a rich ecosystem of accessories, we believe we are the perfect partner for our customers who can’t afford for devices to fail in operation,” said Peter Thomas, Vertical Strategy Manager, Public Sector Europe at Panasonic Mobile Solutions Business.
12 Sep 22. British Army Carries Out successful Swarming Drone Capability.
A breakthrough in technology and innovation for the British Army took place on Salisbury Plain recently, where a demonstration of multiple Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) took place.
Funded by Army Headquarters, the nano-Unmanned Aerial Systems (nUAS) project completed a live multiple drone demonstration also known as swarming drones, pushing technological boundaries.
Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Dawe, Commanding Officer, Infantry Trials and Development Unit (ITDU) explains:
“We are working in collaboration with the Future Capabilities Group (FCG), part of the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) construct. The stand-out feature of this event is that you are seeing a military operator control more than one drone at the same time from one single unit. This is adding scale and adding complexity with each drone able to carry out a separate task.”
He added:
“This is a real amplifier, adding capacity, force protection, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The intent going forward is to add a precision strike capability; this will not only assist in our targeting but also in our strike capability, therefore making us more lethal at range which will protect our very valuable forces and people.”
The event was also ground-breaking in terms of the regulatory environment too, as it was the first time the Military Aviation Authority has issued a categorisation of this type for a swarm to be operated by one operator, a huge achievement for the Army and hopefully paving the way for systems like this to come into service.
Two different UAS systems were used; the first was the Atlas, where one operator controls four drones on a tablet via individual manual mission taskings. The second system was the Elbit, where one operator tasks six drones, creating autonomous missions. This means the operator can task up to six drones in a fleet on the same mission or various other missions to complete different tasks.
The focus was on two showcase ideas; the first consisted of multiple drones providing a 24-hour perimeter defensive posture, with surveillance provided by multiple UAS in and around a specific location.
The second scenario worked on artificial intelligence communicating with the system to plan UAS missions, so that they can provide overwatch and inform the user of any points of interest and following where necessary.
Dominic Ferrett, Lead UAS Engineer (DE&S) (FCG): “This is a significant achievement for the FCG and the Army. We have now proved the concept that one person can fly six drones thus creating a reduction in operator burden. In the future we want one operator to control six, twelve, thirty, forty or more drones as part of a more integrated swarm. As we move further with future Army projects we look to human-machine teaming, which will start to bring in ground elements as well as air elements as a combined system.”
These demonstrations gave the UAS community the opportunity to share working knowledge and experiences. It will help to continue the work to develop UK Defence’s UAS capabilities across the Tri-Service.
Flight Lieutenant David Morrison, Surveillance Target and Acquisition (STA) ITDU: “Drones are at the forefront of technology right now and this is a real stepping stone in terms of capability. We’ve seen military operators flying these systems, not the manufacturers, and everything you see has been put together by the military operators and all flown by ourselves. This is the first steps to get soldiers using this kit and equipment.”
Lance Corporal Kai Webb, ITDU, STA operates the swarms:
“I never knew that drones were a thing in the Army before I came here. Using this controller and multiple drones provides me with great visibility in the area around me. This type of technology will be a massive help when rolled out to units in the future, assisting with reconnaissance and the security of specific areas and bases too.”
“To me personally, I like the fact that you don’t have to walk up a massive hill to see what is happening on the other side. You can just send in the drone to get eyes on which offers less risk to the soldier on the ground.” (Source: UAS VISION)
12 Sep 22. Fischer Panda UK Demonstrates Strong Military Presence at DVD 2022. Exhibiting on stand C4 604, Fischer Panda UK will showcase auxiliary power solutions and equipment to the Defence industry on 21 – 22 September, UTAC Millbrook, Bedfordshire
Auxiliary mobile power solutions provider Fischer Panda UK is highlighting its presence in the Defence industry at DVD2022 this month. Attending for the 17th year, the company specialising in mobile power solutions for military vehicles and auxiliary equipment, will inform visitors through sharing its knowledge and expertise and by showcasing its diverse products paralleled with world-class service and aftercare.
Dorset based for over three decades, Fischer Panda UK will display a full range including low energy and low noise generators, power electronics, fuel cleaning units and portable water purification back-packs, most of which is certified under the NATO codification system (NCS), ensuring that products and equipment have met appropriate standards to be regularly supplied to the organisation.
Also on display will be the NATO codified Parker Platoon Reverse Osmosis System H20-PR0, capable of providing fresh water from any water source including seawater with the ability to process 25 gallons per hour. The high-capacity water system allows for the production of fresh-water in the most extreme conditions, while taking minimal time to set-up and uses NATO electrical connections.
“DVD provides us with a key platform to share developments and knowledge about equipment important to the industry,” said Barry Fower, Fischer Panda UK’s Managing Director.
He added: “We have experienced a marked increase in interest from various military divisions including The Royal Marines and The British Army, particularly in relation to our water desalination systems, with some important contracts in the pipeline. We are looking forward to meeting visitors to develop ideas and to generate an even greater understanding of requirements within the industry.”
Fischer Panda UK boasts a substantial client list including Pioneer Drilling, ExonMobil, ProSafe, Hercules Offshore, Maersk and many more and it is respected around the world as a supplier and installer of generators, integrated mobile power solutions, hybrid electric propulsion systems and air-conditioning systems for the marine, vehicle and military markets.
For more information about Fischer Panda UK’s range of products, visit www.fischerpanda.co.uk.
19 Aug 22. Systematic launches new features for SitaWare suite. New features bolster in-app video capabilities, as well as improvements in situational awareness and intelligence sharing. Systematic is pleased to announce the latest updates to its SitaWare suite of products, with major new features in SitaWare Frontline and SitaWare Edge allowing users to maximise their situational awareness and share even more intelligence with other operators.
SitaWare Frontline and SitaWare Edge users are now able to watch live video feeds from UAVs within the application; and are able to take snapshots from feeds for sharing through chat attachments. Position information for objects of interest is also automatically added to the image metadata, along with the display of the viewshed information. This allows for the smooth creation of intelligence products and improvements to situational awareness and the recognised intelligence picture. Furthermore, SitaWare Frontline users can record video streams for later replaying in the app or sharing to other users.
“The ability to manage, process, watch, and share video from the SitaWare Frontline and SitaWare Edge platforms is an absolute game-changer in the modern battlespace,” Hans Jørgen Bohlbro, Vice President, Product Management, Defence, said. “In an age where more devices have the ability to transmit video to improve situational awareness to troops on the ground, the ability to distribute precious video intelligence across a wider range of customers helps to support smarter decision-making and support greater understanding of the operational environment.”
Intelligence boost to Headquarters
As part of the update process, SitaWare Headquarters has also received new capabilities, helping to deliver intelligence-led capabilities to users, as well as to its underlying network base.
AI-assisted kinematic track correlation allows for the joint common operating picture to be efficiently compiled when using radars and electronic warfare sensors, using prediction models to remove duplicate tracks, as well as anticipating future moves based on historic track information.
Dead-reckoning and furthest-on-circle tools also help to evaluate the likely position of lost tracks, and further help support the use of open-source intelligence tools such as ADS-B and AIS. These new capabilities allow for more intelligent decision-making, as well as ensuring a comprehensive joint common operating picture that is shared across the land, sea, and air domains. Integration with Systematic’s new intelligence platform, SitaWare Insight, also allows seamless gathering, fusion, dissemination, and analysis of data from internal and third-party open sources.
Communications upgrades
The backbone for SitaWare Headquarters, SitaWare Headquarters Communications (SHC), has also received new capabilities through the upgrades. These include improvements to the synchronisation algorithm to allow for reductions in bandwidth overheads to maintain connections, while retaining high levels of redundancy and optimising network efficiency. This has also helped with scalability improvements, which allow for more nodes in a SHC-based network before the system has to breakup into multiple networks. This also allows for more data to be shared across an SHC network before users experience latency and CPU-load interference.
“Scalability is a key differentiator in the SitaWare suite’s offering. We have the ability to scale upwards and downwards as the user or operation requires and do so with a very small a hardware footprint. These latest improvements to SHC will continue to allow users of our SitaWare Headquarters product to operate confidently in complex network and operational environments,” Bohlbro said.
07 Sep 22. Scientists harness quantum tech to detect enemy submarines.
Equipment developed by Defence Science Technology Laboratory will measure changes in earth’s gravity. British military research scientists are testing new gadgets that would allow them to detect enemy submarines using quantum technology, which measures distortions of the Earth’s gravitational field.
Experts at the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL) are experimenting with quantum clocks, using new tech they say might be able to replace traditional timekeeping and navigational instruments.
One example shown to the Telegraph is a strontium optical lattice clock, which measures the passage of time by counting the vibration of atoms.
Quantum scientist Dr Matt Himsworth of DSTL explained that these types of clocks are so sensitive that merely raising or lowering their height above the earth has a measurable effect on them.
“They’re so sensitive now that they can measure tiny fluctuations in gravity.” Minute changes in gravity caused by a large object passing underneath the clock would be enough to alter its readings, he said.
Naval expert Chris Parry, a former commander of the navy’s Amphibious Task Group, said the quantum clock technology could be used to detect enemy submarines in a similar way to current methods, which rely on picking up magnetic fields.
He said: “It would act in a similar way to a magnetic anomaly detector – which enables detection through anomalies in the Earth’s magnetic field.”
DSTL’s quantum research, carried out as part of the National Quantum Programme, aims to take laboratory-grade scientific equipment and turn it into practical gear for use by industry and the armed forces alike.
Other items being examined by the DSTL quantum lab at the organisation’s Porton Down headquarters include quantum accelerometers, which Dr Himsworth said can be used to replace current GPS-based navigation technology.
Quantum clock-based sensors are not quite ready for sending to sea, as DSTL principal scientist Dr Susannah Jones explained.
She said: “If you are trying to detect gravity, that’s a fundamental force.
“You have to shield [the sensor] from all of the other forces to a high degree of accuracy.”
Current tech can only achieve that accuracy under lab conditions – and requires a laboratory-sized setup instead of something small and portable.
DSTL said it has contributed to funding 70 quantum-focused PhDs at universities across the UK as part of the national drive to find new military and commercial uses for quantum technology.
Earlier this year quantum scientists from the University of Birmingham scored a world first after using a quantum gravity gradiometer to detect a hidden underground tunnel. The occasion marked the first time a quantum gradiometer had successfully been trialled outside a laboratory.
(Source: Daily Telegraph)
07 Sep 22. British Army and DE&S ERCoE experts test Ghost robotic dog.
The trials also includes the evaluation of the Boston Dynamics ‘SPOT’ robotic dog. The British Army’s 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment soldiers are testing the Ghost Robotics-developed V60 Quadruped robotic dog’s capabilities. The capability demonstrations are being carried out by the soldiers, in partnership with experts from Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Future Capability Group’s (FCG) Expeditionary Robotics Centre of Expertise (ERCoE).
Testing involves putting the advanced robotic system through its paces in various use-case areas for the British Army’s frontline commands.
FCG Expeditionary Robotics Centre of Expertise lead engineer Dave Swan said: “In the modern battlespace, robotics are becoming increasingly important in allowing soldiers to operate faster, for longer.
“The Ghost V60 quadruped offers increased situational awareness for soldiers on the ground. It has the potential to act as the eyes and ears for military personnel on the frontlines, increasing accuracy in identifying and acquiring targets.
“This offers many potential use cases for the British Army, from delivering mission-critical supplies, scoping out hazardous areas, or performing combat tasks that are deemed too dangerous for humans. Ultimately, the Ghost V60 quadruped is designed to reduce the risk-to-life and the burden on military personnel.”
The Ghost V60 quadruped is designed to navigate complex urban and natural terrains at a maximum speed of 3m/s and can carry a payload of up to 10kg.
The non-autonomous, agile, and durable all-weather ground drone can be deployed via parachute, helicopter, and air landing. It is operated using a control pad. Featuring cameras on the front, rear, and sides to provide 360° views, it can be fitted with Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) imaging systems.
The Boston Dynamics robotic dog, dubbed ‘SPOT’, is also being tested by the FCG, along with quadruped. (Source: army-technology.com)
06 Sep 22. Groundbreaking wind measuring and modelling project proves a critical enabler for safe drone operations.
- As part of the UK-Government funded UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight programme, UK SMEs Flare Bright and Zenotech publish the results of a groundbreaking wind measurement project at the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) annual meeting.
- Demonstrating that wind models can be validated by real-world wind measuring up to heights of 70 metres shows a way of creating accurate and validated wind maps in urban environments, which will be a critical enabler for future drone operations.
- The world-first project will continue into a third phase after being selected for a share of £73 m in further UK Government funding.
UK SMEs Flare Bright and Zenotech have produced groundbreaking wind measurement results which will be presented today [6 September 2022] at the prestigious 33rd Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) in Stockholm. ICAS is the premier stage to bring together a global array of topics and participants as the only true international forum that covers the world of aeronautics.
Wind modelling of urban, airport and industrial sites is a crucial element in the new landscape of UAV operation and data systems. Accurate validation of highly localised wind models are critical to their adoption, as are the wind measurement tools necessary to validate such models. UK SMEs Flare Bright and Zenotech are publishing a comparison between Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model results, static anemometer data and live flight trials of the SnapShot wind measurement nano-glider close to large buildings at Cardiff International Airport. The results indicate striking correlation between the CFD results and the experimental flight test data, demonstrating a route to accurate validation of localised flow models to aid future UAV operation, as the airport buildings mirror the type of environments in urban areas. This will also be invaluable to other areas where only sparse wind data is available, such as landing on ships and platforms, and for new Vertiports for air taxis.
The SnapShot nanodrone developed by Flare Bright accurately measures wind vectors at exceptionally high update rates and high fidelity. SnapShot can reach areas where anemometers cannot and is significantly cheaper and provides more accurate data than LIDAR. This complements and validates Zenotech’s CFD-models and its AIRSIGHT service – an integrated online service delivering large airspace model datasets on-demand.
Live flight trials using SnapShot at Cardiff Airport were used to validate the aerodynamic data service, including the detection and quantification of detailed aerodynamic features such as vortices in addition to other features like airflow around the buildings, using the SnapShot flight controller as a mobile anemometer.
The world-first results come off the back of SafeZone, an 18-month Future Flight Challenge project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Following its success in phase two the project has received a third round of funding to enable the delivery of a new live data service to provide real-time information about aerodynamic hazards in urbanised environments.
01 Sep 22. Nidec Signs Joint Venture Agreement with Norwegian Semi-Solid Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturer FREYR Battery.
The joint venture agreement includes development, manufacturing and sale of integrated, low carbon ESS solutions to industrial and utility grade customers, contributing to the promotion of renewable energy and the realization of a decarbonized society.
On the 30th of August in Kyoto (Japan) Nidec Corporation (“Nidec”), the world’s largest small precision motor manufacturer in the automotive, the industrial, and the appliance sectors, signed a joint venture agreement with FREYR Battery Norway AS (“FREYR”), a Norwegian company with innovative semi-solid lithium-ion battery manufacturing technology in terms of quality and manufacturing process, exclusively using clean renewable hydroelectric power locally available.
The joint venture company’s shareholders will be Nidec 66.7% and FREYR 33.3%, while the headquarters will be based in Oslo, Norway.
Nidec’s Battery Energy Storage Solutions (“BESS”) provide services to the grid that enable accelerated adoption of renewable power generation which contributes to the realization of a carbon-zero society. FREYR will manufacture eco-friendly semi-solid lithium-ion batteries using 100% renewable energy through a dedicated Power Purchase Agreement with Statkraft (Europe’s largest renewable energy producer) based on 100% hydroelectric power. The partnership with FREYR will ensure a stable procurement of competitive and clean semi-solid lithium-ion batteries for Nidec’s BESS solutions. This will help to reduce CO2 emissions significantly throughout the entire process from the battery manufacturing process to the use of our BESS solution by customers..
As a result of the joint venture, Nidec will develop, manufacture and sell highly competitive and low CO2 Battery modules and Battery pack solutions for industrial and utility grade battery energy storage systems applications.
As part of the agreement, FREYR will supply 38 GWh of cells to the joint venture company from 2025 to 2030 with an option to upsize the volumes to 50 GWh in the period and potential additional volumes beyond 2030.
The objective of the alliance is to jointly create a global leading provider of utility scale battery energy storage products drawing on FREYR’s innovative, low-carbon battery technology and Nidec’s leading position in utility scale energy storage systems.
“Through this strategic alliance, we will provide innovative storage battery and power management technologies to the world, thereby contributing to the promotion of renewable energy and the realization of a decarbonized society. Moreover, by concluding this joint venture agreement, Nidec will strengthen strategic partnership with FREYR and aim to further expand the BESS solution business in the future.” – said Laurent Demortier, President Nidec, Energy & Infrastructure Division.
The BESS market, which offers more effective usage of renewable energy sources, is becoming increasingly important in the efforts toward realizing a decarbonized society. Nidec is one of the leading technology solution providers in the global BESS market with 1.3 GW of BESS installed at 121 energy storage projects in 21 countries globally including Europe, South America, and Africa. In March 2022, Nidec got an order of 129.8 MW BESS in Scotland, UK. Nidec expects strong growth for its BESS business and plans to increase its presence in EMEA and expand into North America and China.
FREYR is currently building its first Gigafactory in Norway, which is planned to start production from 2024 and reach a nameplate capacity of 29 GWh. FREYR is targeting more than 200 GWh installed annual production by 2030. FREYR’s semi-solid lithium-ion battery offers unique safety features compared to conventional lithium-ion battery, and is highly durable, attracting attention from various companies as next-generation batteries. The government of Norway has positioned FREYR as an essential company for its national battery strategy.
Nidec has set the medium-term strategic goal, Vision 2025, and targets carbon neutrality by 2040. In particular, Nidec will contribute to decarbonization by using its products and reduce CO2 emissions from business activities. This agreement will contribute to both. Nidec will continue to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society through proactive investment in environmental measures.
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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 here or 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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