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28 Mar 24. UK looking for electro-magnetic counter-drone tech for troops. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has published a tender notice for the procurement of Counter-Uncrewed Air Systems (C-uAS), with a specific focus on “Electro-Magnetic DETECT and/or DEFEAT (EMDaD) capabilities and associated equipment”.
This initiative, led by the ‘Dismounted Close Combat (DCC) Team’, is aimed at enhancing the defensive capabilities of the Dismounted Close Combat Soldier through the introduction of advanced military electronic systems designed to counter drone threats.
The tender outlines a Framework Agreement contract expected to extend over a “seven-year period”, with an estimated value of up to “£38.75 million, excluding VAT”. This contract is poised to include multiple products from a variety of suppliers.
Published on 27 March 2024, the tender specifies a project delivery timeline from “31 July 2024 to 31 July 2031″, with a submission deadline for interested parties set at “17:00 on 15 May 2024″.
The tender document states that “an e-auction will not be utilised for this procurement, and potential suppliers’ personal situations may influence their eligibility”. After the award of the Framework Agreement, the MOD plans to “obtain technical data on proposed products, which will then be subject to rigorous trials and assessments either by the authority itself or a designated third party”.
Furthermore, the MOD intends to award a service contract to a single UK-based supplier for the trial and assessment of all equipment procured under the framework. This contract, pursued separately, is aimed at consolidating the evaluation process, ensuring a thorough assessment of the equipment’s efficacy.
The tender also highlights that the “cyber risk level associated with this project has been assessed as Very Low”, ensuring potential suppliers are aware of the security expectations and requirements.
Interested suppliers are urged to “register their interest and obtain full details of the procurement exercise” via the MOD’s e-Tendering system, underlining the MOD’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity in its procurement processes.
(Source: UKDJ)
28 Mar 24. New Estonian night vision devices to help against “significantly” larger enemy.
Estonia has ordered thousands of Argus FS MK2 night vision devices. (Photo: Estonian Centre for Defence Investments)
Argus is a family of Mil-Spec I2 multipurpose monocular systems that can be operated handheld or head-, helmet- or weapon-mounted.
The Estonian Defence Forces has begun to receive Theon Sensors’ Argus (Fail Safe) FS MK2 night vision devices in an effort to provide a tactical advantage against what is described as “an enemy [which] significantly outnumbers” Estonian forces.
The Argus systems, manufactured by the Greek company which was selected from among 16 bidders, were delivered to the forces by the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI).
Lt Col Riho Juurik, head of the logistics department at the headquarters of Estonian Defence Forces, said: “Considering our enemy is known to significantly outnumber us, we must seek our advantage in other areas, such as superior training, higher situational awareness, and, of course, a technological edge.”
The system was described in a statement announcing the start of deliveries as “a significant progression in conducting operations under limited lighting”.
“Its reduced weight and improved night vision capabilities are qualities our national defenders will certainly welcome.” the statement continued.
The devices will equip approximately 10,000 soldiers.
Shephard Defence Insight noted there were two versions available: Argus LW (Light Weight) and Argus FS (Fail Safe with 100% shut off mechanism). The systems have have 4+2° of adjustment and both versions are offered with or without manual gain control.
Head and helmet mounts support ambidextrous operation and feature a quick-release dovetail mechanism, collimated LoS, randomly bridged to dual binocular configuration and optional long-range laser illuminator.
(Source: Shephard)
29 Mar 24. USN Delivers 1st P-8A Poseidon Aircraft for Increment 3 Block 2 Modifications. The U.S. Navy delivered the first P-8A Poseidon aircraft to be modified with Increment 3 Block 2 capabilities to Boeing on March 27, enabling the fleet to be outfitted with the full anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities outlined in the P-8A program’s evolutionary acquisition strategy.
The P-8A is the Department of Defense’s only long-range full-spectrum ASW, cue-to-kill platform, with substantial armed ASuW and networked ISR capabilities. Increment 3 Block 2 provides a significant upgrade to the P-8A airframe and avionics systems, and includes new airframe racks, radomes, antennas, sensors, and wiring. The modification incorporates a new combat systems suite with an improved computer processing and higher security architecture capability, a wide band satellite communication system, an ASW signals intelligence capability, a track management system, and additional communications and acoustics systems to enhance search, detection and targeting capabilities.
“Increment 3 Block 2 brings the capability that the P-8A was made for. These modifications will allow aircrews to search, locate and track the most advanced submarines in the world, enabling the fleet to pace the threat with the required capability and capacity to win the fight,” said Capt. Erik Thomas, program manager for the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft program office, PMA-290. “This delivery demonstrates the PMA-290 team’s outstanding work ethic, professionalism and dedication to the fleet.”
Increment 3 Block 2 related modifications will begin at Boeing’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul hangar at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida. The first fleet aircraft modification is expected to be complete in January 2025.
“P-8A Increment 3 is the next step in the spiral evolution of Poseidon. By design, and through the efforts of NAVAIR and industry teaming, Increment 3 Block 2 represents the baseline configuration the Navy needs to address tomorrow’s high-end threat,” said Rear Adm. Adam Kijek, Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group/Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Pacific.
In response to evolving threats around the world, future P-8A modifications will be implemented via a sequence of rapid capability insertion efforts that build upon this new Increment 3 Block 2 baseline.
As of March 2024, U.S. Navy fleet squadrons have taken delivery of 119 P-8A aircraft. P-8A active duty and reserve squadron transition training is complete for all 14 fleet squadrons and one fleet replacement squadron. In addition, the P-8A fleet has flown for more than 503,783 flight hours and recorded more than 440,558 landings.
PMA-290 manages the acquisition, development, support and delivery of the U.S. Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance. (Source: ASD Network)
27 Mar 24. Aselsan’s AESA radar makes maiden flight. Aselsan revealed on 16 March that its domestically developed active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar made its maiden flight onboard a Turkish Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft.
The test was performed on 15 February aboard a test aircraft that also featured a mission computer developed by Aselsan.
The radar was designed with gallium nitride (GaN)-based chip technology, and has capabilities such as automatic target recognition, multiple target tracking, terrain mapping, distance measurement, automatic altitude determination, under-cloud surveillance with synthetic aperture radar, automatic target classification with artificial intelligence-supported algorithms, wideband radar spectrum monitoring, directional electronic jamming, and more effective guidance for air-launched munitions. Technical specifications of the radar were not disclosed.
Aselsan general manager Ahmet Akyol announced that the radar will operate in manned platforms F-16 Özgür, Hürjet, Kaan, as well as the Akıncı, Kızılelma, and Anka-3 unmanned platforms.
For more information on Turkey’s domestically developed AESA radar, please seeTurkish Air Force receives modernised F-16 aircraft.
(Source: Janes)
28 Mar 24. Hensoldt developing new Bushbaby 200 surveillance system. Fresh after launching its Bushbaby 100 electro-optical surveillance system at the World Defence Show in Saudi Arabia last month, Hensoldt South Africa is finishing development of its new Bushbaby 200.
The Bushbaby series has designed to be cost effective and modular, able to accept a range of day and thermal cameras as well as a laser rangefinder. Hensoldt is looking at adding a laser designation capability in the future.
The original Bushbaby was launched in 2020 as a land-based long-range imaging system for persistent surveillance, allowing the operator to identify and track intrusions, smugglers, terrorists, drones or any other conventional or asymmetric threat.
During the World Defence Show in February, Hensoldt South Africa launched the Bushbaby 100, with medium-range multi-sensor surveillance capabilities for a wide range of defence, security and civil applications.
The Bushbaby 100 is a compact, rugged and medium-range multi-sensor system for stabilised surveillance and target geo-location, according to Hensoldt. It was designed to be lightweight, versatile, able to be used from man-portable tripod setups to mobile deployments and static installations. Low price is a key selling point.
Designed for agile day and night observation applications, the Bushbaby 100 system offers a field-swappable sensor-module for various applications. In standard configuration it provides a clear video feed from a 4K electro-optical (EO) sensor along with a compact medium wavelength infrared (MWIR) MWIR sensor and optional laser rangefinder. A gyrostabilised 2-axis system keeps the Bushbaby 100 steady.
The latest Bushbaby 200 is a long-range version and features a Kenis thermal imager-based electro-optical system borrowed from the Argos aerial gimbal range.
Hensoldt Optronics’ Leon Potgieter told defenceWeb the Bushbaby 200 is ideal for long range land surveillance, such as of borders or coastlines. The system is able to geolocate objects and record object date and imagery.
The Bushbaby 200 was displayed for the first time at a military attaché demonstration day held by SVI Engineering at its Pretoria East facilities on 13 March. Fitted to a temporary tripod, the Bushbaby 200 was displayed alongside Hensoldt South Africa’s Bushbaby 100, which was fitted to an SVI Max 3 armoured vehicle.
Both sensors can be added to vehicles or fixed observations sites. The Bushbaby 100 is man portable at 10 kg but the Bushbaby 200 is more ideal mounted for stability at long range and 38 kg weight.
The Bushbaby is non-ITAR, like the majority of Hensoldt South Africa’s products. The system’s modular design allows easy customisation and upgrades with additional sensors, with envisioned integration with radar, AI, RF and signals intelligence.
It complements the company’s other surveillance capabilities, including radar and electro-optical sensors. Hensoldt South Africa’s combined radar and electro-optical surveillance system is, for example, protecting nearly two thousand rhinos in the world’s largest rhino conservancy.
One of Hensoldt’s key portfolio areas is border security solutions, with Hensoldt South Africa having the vision to be the main turnkey solution provider for border authorities. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
28 Mar 24. Elbit Demonstrates its ReDrone C-UAS Systems in Eastern Israel. Israeli defense company Elbit Systems recently unveiled the formidable capabilities of its ReDrone Modular, Multi-Mission, Multi-Sensor Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Solution. This cutting-edge system is designed to detect, identify, track, and neutralize drone threats effectively.
The demonstration, held in Eastern Israel, showcased the system’s prowess against various types of drones, including multi-rotor and fixed-wing UAVs. The ReDrone boasts a multi-layered defense mechanism, incorporating both soft-kill measures such as Jamming/Take-over and hard-kill measures like projectiles and missiles. This comprehensive approach ensures robust protection against UAS threats in diverse environments.
Officials from Elbit Systems highlighted the system’s versatility, emphasizing its ability to be deployed in mobile, portable, transportable, vehicular, or fixed configurations. This adaptability allows for seamless integration into a wide range of settings, including airports, ports, prisons, government facilities, borders, and military bases.
A key feature of the ReDrone is its SIGINT Passive RF Detection and DF subsystem, which utilizes fast wideband SDR receivers and DF antenna arrays to detect drones within an impressive range of up to 8 km with 360° coverage. This capability enables the system to identify and classify detected drones based on their transmission protocols, including popular ones like DJI Lightbridge and DJI OcuSync.
Elbit Systems has developed a proprietary Smart Machine algorithm that can identify unknown drone RF transmissions, enhancing the system’s effectiveness against evolving threats. The system’s RF Jamming subsystem employs a combination of wideband SDR units and high-power amplifiers to neutralize communication between the drone and its operator, as well as its navigation system (GNSS). This capability disrupts hostile drones’ ability to carry out their missions effectively.
The ReDrone’s radar, operating in the X-Band (9-10 GHz), utilizes advanced Software Defined AESA technology equipped with Artificial Intelligence capabilities. This radar system can detect, identify, and track thousands of objects simultaneously, including agile, compact targets, with real-time performance. (Source: UAS VISION/Military Leak)
27 Mar 24. photonixFAB Consortium now open for first prototyping.
New customer engagement portal enables early technology access
Pushing ahead with the European Union (EU) funded photonixFAB initiative, the consortium partners have taken the first step on the path to industrialize the European silicon photonics value chain by providing early access to R&D and small-scale manufacturing through technology partners.
Announced in mid-2023, photonixFAB aims to elevate Europe’s global standing in silicon photonics by championing its exceptional value chain. The initiative draws together the continent’s most innovative enterprises within the photonics sector (each supplying their own specific proficiencies), along with highly respected research establishments.
The customer engagement portal will be pivotal in facilitating early engagement with clients as photonixFAB progresses – enabling initial technology evaluations and consultations to be conducted. It will provide users with a consolidated access point, so that they can explore the breadth of possibilities available. Consequently, early product development may begin while the various technologies/services encompassed by photonixFAB are being transferred to an industrial environment over the course of 2024 to 2026.
Those using the intuitive web-based platform will learn about the different capabilities offered by the respective members of the photonixFAB consortium. After deciding on which technologies/services are needed, they will then be directed to the relevant partners, so that dialogue with them can be initiated. As a result, work can commence sooner on developing the concept and creating prototypes, as well as moving to small volume fabrication.
Examples of the capabilities that customers can initiate will include prototyping in relation to SiN via LIGENTEC and SOI through imec, as well as for InP chiplets by working with SMART Photonics. There will also be the packaging expertise that PHIX Photonics Assembly offers for both SiN and SOI processes, plus early technology access for InP micro-transfer printing on SiN/SOI supplied directly by X-FAB and supported by SMART. PDKs based on Luceda’s EDA tool are available through the technology partners.
According to Youssouf Guerfi, Project Coordinator for photonixFAB (X-FAB): ”Substantial progress is already being witnessed on photonixFAB, with valuable contributions being made by all of the consortium members. The customer engagement portal is an important milestone in our ongoing journey with this initiative. Using the portal, customers will be able to find the correct partners and start carrying out the preliminary stages of their photonic projects, to be ready to benefit from full-scale production in the future.”
”We are seeing a great deal of interest in the European-based silicon photonics value chain that photonixFAB represents. This launch signifies that we are now open for business and projects can get underway, so no time is wasted. It means that we can accelerate engagement activity and customers can get ahead of the game,” adds Joni Mellin, Business Line Manager for Photonics at X-FAB.
Visit the photonixFAB customer engagement portal here: https://www.photonixfab.eu/technologies-services
26 Mar 24. Kopin Partners with BlueHalo for the Development of New Advanced Simulated Binoculars & Monoscope Products. Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN) a leading provider of application-specific optical solutions and high-performance micro-displays for defense, enterprise, consumer, and medical products, today announced it has been awarded a contract from BlueHalo LLC (BlueHalo) for the design, development, and production of advanced simulated binoculars and monoscope products for use in their Advanced Stinger Trainer (AST) system. Both products will significantly increase performance over those currently available in similar systems and add to Kopin’s well-established line of Training & Simulation products.
BlueHalo’s next-generation AST – a fully immersive Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) – provides Stinger teams with operational and tactical training in various virtual environments against multiple air threats. Kopin’s products, which are driven by a computer image generator, will incorporate a positional/directional tracking sensor to provide a realistic simulation of the equivalent fielded products. They utilize Kopin’s high-performance high-resolution color organic light emitting diode (OLED) display to provide near eye-limiting resolution and will be coupled with Kopin’s custom viewing optics to provide outstanding visual performance.
This initial contract award provides for development and fielding in the first of what is expected to be upgrades of multiple training installations, supporting numerous armed forces over the next several years. BlueHalo has developed Stinger training facilities for the U.S. Army Air Defense School at Fort Sill, OK; the North Dakota Army National Guard in Grand Forks; and the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, CA and Cherry Point, NC. In December, the BlueHalo team was awarded a $30 m contract from the Netherlands Ministry of Defense Materiel and IT Command to develop and deliver an AST system at Lieutenant General Best Barracks in Vredepeel, Netherlands.
“Military training systems are experiencing a significant increase in demand as many of the world’s armed forces react to current world events, providing their personnel the opportunity to develop required operational skills through realistic virtual training while limiting costly and logistically complex live fire testing,” stated Bill Maffucci, the Kopin’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy. “These new simulated binoculars incorporate the very latest in Kopin’s display technology to facilitate highly realistic training for U.S. and NATO forces. We are pleased that Kopin is expanding our customer base with new partners like BlueHalo who has trusted Kopin with developing and producing these critical systems.”
About Kopin
Kopin Corporation is a leading developer and provider of innovative display and optical technologies sold as critical components and subassemblies for defense, industrial and consumer products. Kopin’s technology portfolio includes ultra-small Active-Matrix Liquid Crystal displays (AMLCD), Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) displays and Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays, a variety of optics, and low-power ASICs. For more information, please visit Kopin’s website at www.kopin.com.
About Blue Halo
BlueHalo is purpose-built to provide industry-leading capabilities in the domains of Space, C-UAS and Autonomous Systems, Cyber, and AI/ML. BlueHalo focuses on inspired engineering to develop, transition, and field next-generation capabilities to solve the most complex challenges of our customers’ critical missions and reestablish our national security posture in the near-peer contested arena. Learn more at www.bluehalo.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
26 Mar 24. US Army’s new all-domain sensing team to wrangle sensor architecture. The U.S. Army’s new team designed to allow the service to see deeply into a battlespace will initially work toward creating an architecture of sensors as well as processing and disseminating the enormous amount of data collected from those sensors, according to Army Futures Command leader Gen. James Rainey.
The All-Domain Sensing Cross-Functional Team will grow out of the Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing/Space CFT, taking its current staff and director, Michael Monteleone, and expanding the mission to focus on broad deep-sensing capabilities.
The APNT/Space CFT has “solved the very hard problem and that is transitioning to [program managers] and [program executive offices] now, so that created some headspace,” Rainey said March 26 at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Global Force Symposium.
Monteleone and four to five newly created billets will be added in Washington, D.C., because “that is kind of the center of gravity of all-domain sensing,” Rainey said. However, the majority of the team will remain in Huntsville, Alabama, where APNT/Space CFT was based.
The All-Domain Sensing CFT is expected to reach initial operational capability within six months, Rainey added.
While many details aren’t yet finalized, Rainey said the team will “work on the sensing architecture inside the Army and inside the joint force.”
“We have found ourselves in a situation where we actually don’t have a sensing problem, we have a ‘doing something’ with all the sensing that is happening problem across the joint force,” he explained.
Another area of focus includes processing and disseminating data coming off of a large proliferation of different sensors in order to rapidly make sense of the battlefield, which in turn helps leaders quickly make operational decisions, Rainey said.
“The Army cannot continue to build human analysts to keep up with the amount of data. We have to bring [artificial intelligence] and machine learning to bear,” he added. “Not to replace humans, but how do we take a thousand pictures that might be a tank and get it down to 10 or 100 that then our humans can discern?”
Rainey noted that industry can help.
Deep sensing will also improve reconnaissance and surveillance as well as long-range fires targeting.
Platforms could also include things like high-altitude, fixed-wing, solar-powered platforms, other unmanned aircraft or crewed spy planes with more capable sensors. The Army is experimenting with all of these capabilities.
The service is currently reviewing capabilities like high-altitude balloons to determine where they might reside within formations and how units might use them at places like the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. For example, the Army is experimenting with high-altitude balloons at the service’s major experimentation capstone event Project Convergence this month.
The Army will continue to review and evolve cross-functional teams as it continues to modernize and take programs from development into fielded systems.
Army Futures Command, which was established more than five years ago to tackle the service’s toughest modernization challenges, set up cross-functional teams to focus on different capabilities the service needs to fight in a multidomain environment against high-end threats and advanced adversaries.
The original teams focused on long-range precision fires; next-generation combat vehicles; future vertical lift; the network; positioning, navigation and timing; air and missile defense; soldier lethality; and the Synthetic Training Environment. The idea was to convene a whole range of Army officials, from training and doctrine writers to sustainment experts to acquisition officers to system operators, to ensure the success of a program. (Source: Defence Connect)
25 Mar 24. US Army seeks industry white papers to support robotic C-UAS platform capability. The U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) has issued a Request for White Papers (RFWP) to support the Army Futures Command (AFC) team to find and prototype integrated solutions for robotics in order to develop and manage a human-machine integrated formation (H-MIF) architecture that will guide emerging Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) capabilities.
“This team will utilize demonstrations, prototyping, testing and evaluations of existing and new technologies using soldier touch points that will enable valuable warfighter feedback with the systems to enable lessons learned and drive system improvements. The team will address current robotic safety limitations that do not support an operational leave behind capability. They will fully characterize and address any issues associated with the network and command and control (C2) aspects of robotic systems, their payloads, and H-MIF interaction requirements.
“They will define priorities and consistent requirements paths for robotic payloads; align operational use cases with the maturation roadmap of enabling technology and the robotic behaviors; and promote rapid procurement of the latest industry RAS and enabler investments to fill critical technology gaps.”
“The RCCTO invites interested entities to provide comments, inputs, and technical write ups for products/solutions that could meet or exceed these objectives for a Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS) solution/capability that will be integrated into robotic platforms as part of the overarching H-MIF deliverable. “
Deadline for response is April 12, 2024. For more information: https://sam.gov/opp/fe2e3740dd224458b9afe95dc3fdc358/view
(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
26 Mar 24. USAF’s TU-2S Dragon Lady 1078 soars again. The U-2 aircraft has been resurrected at Beale Air Force Base following repairs.
TU-2S Dragon Lady 1078, affectionately known as the “Silver Dragon,” emerged from a nearly three-year maintenance hiatus, soaring again above the skies of Beale Air Force Base.
Following a flightline accident in April 2021, which rendered the aircraft immobile with wing damage, 1078 underwent extensive repairs.
Unlike the usual procedure of transferring aircraft to US Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, for Program Depot-level Maintenance (PDM), the decision was made to conduct the restoration entirely at Beale. This led to a collaborative effort between a small team of Lockheed Martin technicians and personnel from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Detachment 4.
According to GlobalData’s intelligence on the US defence market, the US Air Force has 26 U-2S electronic warfare aircraft in its fleet. The US Air Force started acquiring the aircraft from Lockheed Martin in 1957.
For the first time since 2014, the U-2’s silver hue entered the skies before undergoing its customary black paint job. Lt. Col. Joshua, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron student flight commander, highlighted the significance of 1078’s restoration, emphasising its role in enhancing aircraft availability for U-2 pilots, particularly in light of recent retirements and losses within the fleet.
The restoration process included a series of tests, from taxi tests to high-altitude pressure suit flights, ensuring the aircraft’s readiness for service. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
26 Mar 24. Cuashub.com said today that Robotican and Elsight Partner on BVLOS Counter-UAS Mission. Robotican, a prominent autonomous robotics and drone innovator, and Elsight Ltd, a renowned leader in uncrewed system connectivity solutions, have joined forces to enhance connectivity in Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (Counter-UAS) military and defense operations.
Military and defense entities worldwide have incorporated Counter-UAS technologies into their arsenals to detect and thwart adversarial drones. A standout example is Robotican’s Goshawk, a fully autonomous drone proficient in executing interception missions by intercepting adversary drones mid-flight (Surgical Discreet C-UAS mitigation). Its autonomous capabilities encompass in-flight target detection, precise tracking, secure locking, target pursuit, and capture.
Elsight’s Halo, a platform providing robust and secure connectivity through multi-link bonded communications, enhances the Goshawk’s flight performance. This platform creates a bonded tunnel utilizing links from LTE, 5G, SatCom, and RF channels, ensuring continuous uptime and connection between the drone (UAV or UAS) and the ground control station.
“Even in regions with minimal signal coverage, Elsight’s Halo can provide a quick and consistent connection between the Goshawk aircraft and its control station,” said Robotican’s CEO Hagai Balashi. “Elsight’s Halo system delivers the most solid LTE link that Robotican had ever experienced, in addition to high-quality data streaming. The Halo performed seamless handover of the aircraft control from one pilot to another, thereby reducing the risk of C2 failure significantly.
“Elsight is proud to partner with Robotican in its dedication to maintain safe skies with its Goshawk system, an exceptional example of hostile drone interception capabilities,” said Yoav Amitai, Elsight’s CEO. “By working together, we have significantly accelerated the ‘detect, react, and eliminate’ process by enhanced situational awareness.”
https://cuashub.com/content/robotican-and-elsight-partner-on-bvlos-counter-uas-mission/?_hsmi=299790971&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–swqXYqC57bLORRtOjyQa78yhIapcmfDTtm8cZ3QMrpuvwvV5UvdhkPwZVpbB_k7jzeoe_1f399AXYAKvvFMkTvOq6tn4UyPtnpn_wA8jbp7ntOaY#utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&utm_content=299790971&utm_source=hs_email (Source: C-UAS Hub)
25 Mar 24. Teledyne FLIR Awarded by Northrop Grumman for Supplier Excellence.
“Teledyne FLIR has helped to advance national security solutions and achieve mission success,” said Matt Bromberg, Corporate Vice President, Global Operations Northrop Grumman. “Northrop Grumman’s supplier partners connect and protect the warfighter, defining what is possible in the battlespace because of our shared commitment to the highest industry standards across the defense industrial base.”
Recognized for Resilience Excellence, Teledyne FLIR was instrumental in aiding Northrop Grumman with manufacturing and distribution goals as the industry works to support Department of Defense customers and other commercial entities.
“To be recognized by Northrop Grumman, one of the world’s premier aerospace and defense technology companies, is a tremendous honor,” said Dan Walker, Vice President, Teledyne FLIR. “Teledyne FLIR is dedicated to meeting the production-scale delivery needs of our customers with the highest performance standards, and to receive the Northrop Grumman Resilience Excellence Award is a testament to the teamwork and perseverance Teledyne FLIR employees give every day.”
To learn more about Teledyne FLIR’s infrared technology for critical defense, industrial, and commercial missions, visit www.flir.com/oem.
19 Mar 24. USAF seeks commercial satcom for KC-135 fleet. The US Air Force (USAF) is seeking commercial satellite communications (satcom) options for its fleet of KC-135 aerial refuellers, with plans to allow these aircraft global, real-time access to the Pentagon’s classified and unclassified networks. USAF officials issued an initial list of strategic requirements to industry for the KC-135 Commercial Satellite Communication Access to Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router (NIPR) and Secure Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) Networks (CANS) programme on 12 March. While programme officials at Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) are keeping details of the new CANS requirements under wraps, service leaders plan to hold an inaugural industry day for defence, satcom, and information technology companies looking to participate in the CANS programme, according to a 12 March solicitation. The impetus for the CANS programme is to drive NIPR and SIPR connectivity to the wing and squadron level within AFMC, to “increase aircraft situational awareness communication, improve mission planning, … [and] to send flight or mission changes” to the onboard command-and-control (C2) node in near real-time, the 12 March solicitation stated. (Source: Janes)
22 Mar 24. VITEC Debuts at Milipol Asia-Pacific with TOUGH Video Solutions. VITEC, a market-leading provider of IPTV, will showcase how its latest streaming technologies deliver superior video quality at exceptionally low bitrates at Milipol Asia-Pacific, Booth 1615 (3-5 April 2024, Sands Expo, Singapore). As a leader in the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) technology community, VITEC will demonstrate its military grade TOUGH portable HEVC & H.264 streaming encoders as well as the EZ TV ISR™ content management solution, designed for government and military applications.
“The APAC region has a fast-moving defense and security landscape, and we’re thrilled to showcase our innovative video solutions at Milipol Asia-Pacific for the first time,” says Jamie Hind, Regional Director APAC, VITEC. “VITEC has enjoyed ongoing success in defense, security and government projects in the region, and we are committed to expanding our presence to further serve the market. We look forward to demonstrating why we are best placed to deliver video streaming solutions with our class-leading encoding, decoding and content management offerings designed to withstand harsh environments and extreme conditions.”
VITEC’s TOUGH range of encoders – comprising MGW Diamond TOUGH, MGW PICO+ Tough, MGW PICO TOUGH and MGW Nano TOUGH – are low power and ultra-compact rugged appliances to capture and stream low bandwidth, low latency Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) video generated by manned and unmanned land, sea or air vehicles in extreme conditions. VITEC’s flexible and scalable range extends from pocket-sized encoders to high-efficiency multi-channel HEVC encoders to cater to many situations and deliver HEVC HD and 4K resolution with HDR support at low bandwidth consumption.
Also on show is EZ TV ISR™, allowing users to process, archive, index, manage and share tactical video and metadata content. Its secure and reliable architecture – which meets Information Assurance and Cyber-Security requirements – enables government and military entities to quickly exploit and process live and recorded video assets and improve collaborative workflows. EZ TV ISR™ can be rapidly deployed in the field or in a secure, hosted site to serve as the central interface for managing live and recorded contents.
22 Mar 24. Group Captain Gary Darby Announced As Keynote Speaker at Counter UAS Technology Europe 2024. Group Captain Gary Darby, Head of the UK MOD’s Joint C-UAS Office, has been unveiled as the keynote speaker for the upcoming Counter UAS Technology Europe Conference set to take place on 16-17 April 2024 in London. The Counter UAS Technology Europe Conference is the premier event dedicated to exploring the latest advancements in C-UAS programmes and solutions across the UK and allied nations. Group Captain Gary Darby’s keynote address is anticipated to provide valuable insights into the UK Ministry of Defence’s preparations for the ever-evolving UAS threat landscape – emphasising their commitment, leadership, and transformative influence on the industry. During an interview with SAE Media Group, Group Captain Gary Darby expressed, “I’ve been to several SAE Media Group’s C-UAS Conferences over the past 2 years and developed a brilliant network of industry, academic and military colleagues, most of whom I now consider friends. It is these relationships on the personal level that will be key moving forward as we fight the C-UAS battle. Quite honestly, I couldn’t have done that, established my network, without this conference.” The UK MoD signed a £56 m contract to enhance Ukraine’s air defence capabilities through counter-UAS measures last year. This highlighted these solutions as a top priority for leading militaries to ensure the safety and security of personnel and equipment in modern conflicts.
Attendees will also receive exclusive insights from Nataliia Kushnerska, Chief Operating Officer of Ukraine’s Brave1, on how they are leveraging tech clusters to rapidly establish a C-UAS advantage at a time of conflict.
Designed to safeguard critical national infrastructure domestically and protect deployed personnel overseas, this event serves as a catalyst for progress in the C-UAS sector.
Limited tickets remain, secure your ticket today.
Counter UAS Technology Europe 2024 is proudly sponsored by…
- Lead Sponsor: Aaronia
- Gold Sponsors: Advanced Protections Systems, BlueHalo, Echodyne, Northrop Grumman, Roke, Sentrycs, and Weibel Scientific
- Sponsors and Exhibitors: Anduril, D-Fend Solutions, DRS RADA, Edgesource Corporation, Hensoldt, L3Harris Technologies, Leonardo, MSI Defence Systems Ltd, OSL Technology, QinetiQ, Robin Radar Systems, and TUALCOM. (Source: ASD Network)
22 Mar 24. US testing Stryker-mounted lasers in Iraq amid Middle East drone boom. The U.S. military is tinkering with high-energy lasers in Iraq as part of a broader effort to refine directed-energy weapons and more effectively counter drones, according to the leader of Central Command. The Army earlier this year sent several laser weapons mounted to Stryker combat vehicles to the Middle East. It was unclear at the time exactly where the prototypes were stationed, but the move was in advancement of the service’s short-range air defense goals.
Gen. Michael Kurilla, the CENTCOM boss, on March 21 told Congress he has “three 50-kilowatt lasers that are Stryker-based” inside Iraq “right now.” Experiments are underway, he added, to identify their best application. He did not disclose preliminary results. A request made to the command for additional information was not immediately answered.
High-energy lasers and related high-power microwave weapons are capable of downing incoming threats in unorthodox ways and at a fraction of the cost of traditional munitions. Lasers can fire at the speed of light and burn holes through material, but are susceptible to weather conditions and particles in the air, such as sand. Microwaves can fry electronics en masse, but their efficacy is stunted at greater distances.
Both are considered critical elements of layered defense, or having multiple countermeasures ready to thwart different threats in different situations.
“Directed energy is not the panacea,” Kurilla said at the House Armed Services Committee hearing. “What I tell all the services: Give me systems, we will experiment with them, and we will tell you if it works in a real, live environment.”
The Army is increasingly concerned with overhead threats, including unmanned aerial vehicles that can spy on troops, augment targeting and deliver explosives. A drone attack in late January killed three Americans at Tower 22 in Jordan, near the Syrian border.
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, a Colorado Republican, urged Kurilla during the committee hearing to take advantage of directed energy wherever he can. At least 31 directed-energy initiatives are underway across the military, according to a National Defense Industrial Association study.
“I know it’s not perfected yet, but it has great capabilities against drones and things like that currently,” Lamborn said. “I’d hate to see a repeat of Tower 22, for instance.”
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
25 Mar 24. AIM Defence engaged to deliver deployable directed energy for ADF. The Australian Defence Force has contracted Melbourne-based laser developer AIM Defence to produce a deployable directed energy system for use against drones. The $4.9m contract represents the first time the ADF has acquired a directed energy prototype for ongoing field-based counter-drone trials and evaluation. The Fractl:2 DE system is powerful enough to burn through steel and precise enough to track and shoot down a drone travelling at 100km/h a kilometre or more away, according to AIM Defence.
Portable and battery powered, Fractl:2 can shoot down over 50 drones per charge and can be plugged into a wall socket for continuous operation. It has the added advantage of near-zero usage cost as light-based energy replaces ammunition.
“Countering drones and other autonomous weapons systems has emerged as one of the most critically needed capabilities for militaries worldwide,” according to AIM Defence co-founder Jessica Glenn.
“For the past four years, AIM Defence has been working with Australia’s defence innovation ecosystem to build a cost-effective, high-precision and deployable directed energy system.
“Fractl:2 is the culmination of that effort.”
The Fractl:2 relies on the company’s enhanced eye safety tactical directed energy laser which limits the blinding risk associated with typical one-micron systems – making it vastly safer in the field than comparable high-power laser systems. (Source: Defence Connect)
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