Sponsored by Echodyne
www.echodyne.com
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
01 Aug 24. BlueHalo, the company transforming the future of global defense with actively deployed and operationally proven Counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (C-UAS) solutions, announced today the successful completion of critical milestones in the development of its agile and disruptive new Next-Generation C-UAS Missile (NGCM): Freedom Eagle (FE-1). In June, BlueHalo announced its selection as one of two vendors chosen to continue development of the Next-Generation C-UAS Missile (NGCM) by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center (CCDC AvMC) Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium® (AMTC). The company has since completed multiple rounds of testing for the FE-1, including the successful firing of its dual-thrust, solid rocket motor. Fueled by strategic early investments from the company, this milestone demonstrates the FE-1’s technological maturity and readiness while significantly reducing the technical and scheduling risks typically associated with rapid development programs.
“On battlefields around the globe, drones are proving to be one of the most rapidly evolving threats to national security, demanding the accelerated development of innovative technologies for continued all-domain dominance,” said Jonathan Moneymaker, BlueHalo Chief Executive Officer. “Our forward-thinking investments and collaborative efforts have positioned BlueHalo as a trusted and viable alternative missile provider, ready to outpace these emerging threats with superior technology while expanding the solid rocket motor industrial base and creating a more robust national security supply chain.”
FE-1 goes beyond current capabilities to increase lethality and range against Group 3 UAS and other larger air threats while seamlessly integrating with existing infrastructure and Command and Control (C2) systems. It offers a low-cost effector with superior maneuverability to defeat an array of Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) threats. FE-1 joins BlueHalo’s suite of innovative, effective C-UAS solutions for national defense customers. This includes the company’s LOCUST Directed Energy Laser Weapon System, which has been successfully delivered and operationally deployed to identify, track, and engage a wide variety of targets with its hard-kill High Energy Laser.
“FE-1 doesn’t just meet today’s challenges; it evolves with them,” said Jimmy Jenkins, President, BlueHalo Armed Forces Portfolio, and former air defender in the U.S. Army. “We’ve already reached the point in FE-1’s development where we are firing rocket motors because we identified the need early and have the capability, know-how, and agility to develop and deliver a technically superior solution to the frontlines quickly. We’re proud to work with AMTC and PEO Missile and Space to rapidly bring this critical capability to the warfighter.”
“With FE-1, we’re providing warfighters with increased range, reduced time-to-target, and rapid launch capabilities,” said James Batt, BlueHalo Chief Growth Officer. “With the addition of this kinetic offering to our proven C2, Directed Energy, and RF-based C-UAS solutions, BlueHalo is proud to deliver ironclad, industry-leading end-to-end layered air and missile defense.” (Source: PR Newswire)
01 Aug 24. Temporary GM400a installed at Netherlands radar site.
The Nieuw Milligen radar station in the Netherlands has been installed with a new, temporary Ground Master 400 Alpha (GM400α) radar from Thales, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 1 August.
The GM400α is a temporary replacement of the 52-year-old Medium Power Radar (MPR) stationed at Nieuw Milligen until the new radar station in Herwijnen is installed with the long-range SMART-L Multi-Mission/Fixed (MM/F) system from Thales.
Once operational, Herwijnen will monitor the southern regions of the Netherlands, while the radar station in Wier, which is already fitted with the SMART-L MM/F, covers the northern regions.
SMART-L MM/F is a land variant of the naval SMART-L 3D active electronically scanned array (AESA) multibeam air and surface surveillance and target designation radar. Two MM/F systems – integrated with a ballistic missile defence (BMD) capability and a space object surveillance mode – were procured by the MoD to improve the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s (RNLAF’s) ability to detect new threats such as low-flying unmanned systems and ballistic missiles.
GM400α is an S-band radar featuring five times more processing power than previous versions with an extended 515 km range, enabled by an upgraded radar processor and ‘advanced’ detection algorithms. The system is designed to be mobile, with a deployment time of 30 minutes, supported via a foldable antenna, the company said. By integrating Doppler waveforms, the radar has the ability to detect objects of interest at a very low altitude, such as tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), Yves Descourvieres, the head of product management at Thales, told Janes (Source: Janes)
01 Aug 24. Advanced C-UAS Technology to be Displayed at TIDE 2024.
Skylark Labs is set to showcase its ARIES C-UAS system at TIDE 2024, designed to detect, classify, and respond to emerging threats in real-
Skylark Labs will demonstrate advanced counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) technology at the Technology Innovation Discovery Event (TIDE) 2024, having been selected by the Office of Innovation and Modernization.
Skylark Labs will display its ARIES (Aerial Reconnaissance & Elimination System) and other proprietary technologies at TIDE 2024, taking place on August 28 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
The company’s systems are designed to detect, classify, and respond to emerging threats in real-time, providing critical support for defense and intelligence operations.
Skylark’s solutions integrate seamlessly with existing systems, improving operational efficiency while reducing costs. This approach eliminates the need for frequent manual updates, and increases overall mission success rates and warfighter safety.
Sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), TIDE 2024 is a key platform for discovering emerging technologies with the ability to enhance strategic and operational capabilities.
Skylark Labs’ AI technology is designed to address a gap in modern defense operations by providing real-time adaptive intelligence in changing threat environments.
The company’s self-learning AI adapts to new threats across multiple domains without requiring manual updates, enhancing situational awareness and accelerating decision-making for warfighters.
Previously, Skylark Labs demonstrated the ARIES system to key Department of Defense stakeholders, showcasing its ability to detect and track drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The successful demonstration showcased ARIES’ potential to enhance counter-UAS operations, providing critical real-time intelligence for rapid decision-making.
Dr. Amarjot Singh, CEO of Skylark Labs, commented; “We’re honored to showcase our advancements at TIDE 2024. Our adaptive AI represents a leap forward in autonomous threat detection and response, offering unprecedented capabilities for defense applications.
“Our adaptive AI technology surpasses traditional static systems by continuously learning at the edge. This capability is crucial for maintaining situational awareness and enabling rapid, informed decisions in dynamic environments.” (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
01 Aug 24. Cuashub.com said today that JCO Reports Successful Counter Drone-Swarm Demonstration.
The U.S. Army reported a successful counter drone-swarm demonstration at the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Systems Office’s (JCO) fifth C-sUAS demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) from June 3-28, 2024. During the event, testers launched over 40 UAS targets converging on a defended area in each session. These tests enabled the JCO to evaluate the command-and-control capabilities of nine C-sUAS systems, observing how each system sensed and identified various types of UAS threats.
“It was a very successful demonstration in informing U.S. [forces] and our allies what capabilities exist out there for this very challenging profile,” said Col. Michael Parent, JCO Acquisition Division chief.
“You don’t want to obviously engage the target multiple times,” Parent added. “You’ve got so many [UAS] coming at you, you have to be able to differentiate and have the most promising threat first.”
The demonstration presented a wide array of threats that swarmed the C-sUAS systems in mass and waves, showcasing both kinetic and non-kinetic defeat solutions. Experiments tested capabilities that included guided rockets, kinetic interceptor drones, electro-optical/infrared cameras, radio frequency scanners, and radio frequency jammers.
Small UASs pose significant threats to military operations, as demonstrated in Ukraine and parts of Israel, by transporting ammunition for targeted attacks and gathering reconnaissance. To address this, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper designated the Army as the executive agent for C-sUAS defense in 2019.
The JCO plans to start prototyping specific C-sUAS proposals in 2025 based on combatant commanders’ needs and will hold the next demonstration in fiscal year 2025. The current systems showed improved speed and threat recognition compared to previous demonstrations. This event was the first demonstration in nearly 12 months.
As the JCO is still evaluating the test results, Parent refrained from commenting on the effectiveness of each vendor’s systems or specific performance data. Among the eight vendors, the JCO selected two proposals from Maryland-based ELTA North America: vehicle-mounted and platoon transport solutions.
According to Parent, the testing results will be compiled and sent to U.S. combatant commands and vendors. Additionally, the JCO will collaborate with joint partners to identify priority focus areas for UAS systems.
https://cuashub.com/en/content/jco-reports-successful-counter-drone-swarm-demonstration/?utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_FUulG0g-e793pl2lUh8NCHhJJDsXv6iI9Lt8YG3jw9KnS-mm7ZPI0BRZl3GqHEB_23XCnYYtrIJ-uu9cA12VV4VLaA1xy-KS_04RPrgArpIV4dd4&_hsmi=318308429&utm_content=318308429&utm_source=hs_email(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
01 Aug 24. DroneShield Limited (ASX:DRO) (“DroneShield” or “the Company”) has released the latest update to their full range of Radio Frequency (RF) sensors including the RfPatrol Mk2, RfOne Mk2 and all DroneSentry-X models.
This update significantly expands the pool of drones that RFAI can identify, including several additions requested by customers who collaborated with DroneShield to provide real-world recordings of previously unseen models.
New features include:
- Advanced Scanning: Users can customise each device’s scanning pattern to include any combination of AI-powered RF scanning, Wi-Fi scanning, and other emission detection.
- Directional Hardware Upgrade: Existing Directional Antenna Units for the RfPatrol Mk2 now have greater sensitivity and performance in showing a user drone location.
- Directional Filtering: RF Filters have been enhanced on the DroneSentry-X Mk2 to adapt system capabilities to nuances in operational environments.
- Expanded API: The extensive API has been expanded for all DroneShield systems. All major features are controllable remotely, including signal filters and detection band activation.
- Code Downloads: Client developers can now download protocol buffer code packages from the Access Portal to streamline the integration of DroneShield hardware into third-party systems.
Angus Bean, DroneShield Chief Technology Officer, commented, “Our focus on delivering world-class counterdrone technology is highlighted by collaboration with our valued customers. We provide the latest integration tools they need, and work closely with them to gain insights to the cutting-edge threats they experience.”
31 Jul 24. Cuashub.com said today that SkySafe, a leader in drone detection and airspace security, today announced it has been awarded a significant contract from Amentum, a leader in global engineering, project management and solutions integration, acting on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s (DoD IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC) vehicle. These DoD IAC MAC task orders (TOs) are awarded by the U.S. Air Force’s 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron to develop and create new knowledge to enhance the DTIC repository and the R&D and S&T community.
SkySafe will deploy its state-of-the-art, cloud-based drone detection system along a portion of the U.S. Southern border to further help curb the flow of illicit goods into the United States. SkySafe’s proven technology and support infrastructure were selected from a competitive process. The project will be implemented in phases.
“Amentum is committed to solving our customer’s most difficult challenges through innovation and industry collaboration” said Kris Meyer, Amentum Counter-Uncrewed Systems Portfolio Manager. “We are proud to work on this important counter-UAS initiative with SkySafe.”
SkySafe’s comprehensive Software as a Service (SaaS) solution offers unparalleled capabilities in detecting, tracking, and identifying a wide range of drones. The system seamlessly integrates hardware and software components and will provide CBP agents with real-time alerts for comprehensive situational awareness.
SkySafe is proud to contribute to the ongoing efforts to secure our nation’s borders and looks forward to continued collaboration with Amentum, DHS S&T, and CBP to address the ever-evolving landscape of airspace security challenges.
“We are honored to partner with Amentum and the Department of Homeland Security in this critical effort to protect our borders,” said Grant Jordan, CEO of SkySafe. “Our advanced technology, honed over years of real-world deployments, is uniquely suited to address CBP’s evolving challenges. We are confident that our solution will significantly enhance border security and help safeguard our communities.”
(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
31 Jul 24. Cuashub.com said today that Sentrycs to Protect Ports in Latin America. Sentrycs, a technology leader of Adaptive Protocol Analytics-based counter-UAS solutions, announces it has been selected by a major maritime logistics and shipping company to protect ports in Latin America from drug cartels smuggling narcotics into shipping containers.
Exploiting the port facility’s previous focus on traditional perimeter security, criminals were utilizing small drones with and without GPS to perform surveillance flights and monitor the presence of security guards. In the absence of guards, they breached the fences, opened containers, and stashed contraband. If guards were present, they resorted to bribery or violence. The risks of such security lapses were clear: loss of key customers up to entering a blacklisted suppliers’ list in destination countries.
Two further limitations were crucial in selecting Sentrycs over jamming-based anti-drone systems: the logistics company used their own drones for monitoring purposes, and Sentrycs’ allows differentiation even between identical drones, mitigating only unauthorized ones. Additionally, Sentrycs ensured uninterrupted operations in the semi-urban port environment, where internal communication systems relied on WiFi.
“During Sentrycs’ site inspection, the system detected 127 unique unauthorized drones in 5 days. The fact that our solution could locate the operators’ last known locations was a game-changer both for our customer and for the local law enforcement authorities,” said Yoav Zaltzman, CEO of Sentrycs.
(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
30 Jul 24. Game-Changing Customisation in New C2 Software for Security & C-UAS. VSD-C2 is a groundbreaking command and control (C2) display application that has just been released by Cambridge Pixel, a leading UK-based software engineering company renowned for their expertise in radar and sensor/effector processing. VSD-C2 sets a new standard for customisation, offering unparalleled flexibility and capability in the C2 software market.
In response to the escalating demand for advanced security and defence solutions, particularly in the rapidly evolving counter-drone sector, developers and integrators are under increasing pressure to deliver sophisticated, cost-effective solutions swiftly. Traditional command and control display applications often force a compromise between fully bespoke software, which is time-consuming and costly to develop, and COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) software, which is often not flexible enough to meet project requirements.
VSD-C2 from Cambridge Pixel revolutionises this landscape by providing a hybrid solution that combines the best of both worlds. This enhanced version of the popular Video Security Display allows for extensive customisation, enabling branding, layout, and functionality to be fully tailored. Features include a diverse selection of display windows, accommodating both 2D and 3D sensor feeds, live video, fused PPI radar, and innovative options such as a 3D view and a panorama display. Customised, multi-step workflows can be implemented with inbuilt support for a variety of off-the-shelf effector technologies, including hailing devices, dazzlers and inhibitors/jammers. The software also supports real-time overlaid symbology, as well as background maps or charts. Additionally, VSD-C2 is designed to support multi-screen operator displays, enhancing operational efficiency.
Integration is seamless with VSD-C2, thanks to its support for Open Standards and compatibility with a wide and growing range of sensors and effectors. The software is also fully integratable with Cambridge Pixel’s suite of modular solutions, enabling the addition of radar interfacing, target tracking, track fusion and distribution, camera slew-to-cue, multi-sensor recording, and more—offering a comprehensive C2 system tailored to specific operational requirements.
David Johnson, Founder and Managing Director of Cambridge Pixel, commented on this significant development: “VSD-C2 addresses the critical challenge faced by many security and defence integrators today—how to deliver a highly customised command and control display solution that is both cost-effective and timely. We are thrilled to introduce this innovative product and invite interested parties to explore how VSD-C2 can transform their operations.”
Cambridge Pixel’s VSD-C2 stands as a testament to their commitment to innovation and excellence in the security and defence industry.
26 Jul 24. USA “can learn from Ukraine’s low-cost drone detectors” – US air defence chief. The commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Gainey said Ukraine’s use of acoustic sensors as counter-drone solutions could be replicated by US forces as a “low-cost defeat system”.
“Just because it’s low cost and some of our stuff is higher cost, we should be able to find ways to work together and augment some of our capabilities with some of that lower cost capability,” Gainey said during a discussion at the Hudson Institute on July 24. He praised Ukraine’s ability to innovate low cost technologies. “Their use of acoustic sensors proliferated across their country to the point now where they’re almost positively identifying drones at distance. The way they’ve employed this acoustic sensor and as the cat and mouse game of flying drones higher, lower, or fast or slower, they’ve been able to innovate and adapt to have a pretty good capability from the detection standpoint and a low cost defeat.”
Gainey added that one of the key lessons the US could learn from Ukraine is “the ability to be able to disperse our capability and be able to respond to several different threats simultaneously”.
Gainey also spoke about the US intention to develop defence systems for drone swarms. “Again, the investment we’re putting into high-powered microwave to be able to address a large number at one time is a relatively low cost per shot capability. We already have four high-powered microwave prototypes.” In a call to industry he added “Hey, we need help in this area. Come bring your best technology, best ways you can get after it and let’s go for it.” He said that depending on demonstration results, the Department of Defense could “fund it and get it out rapidly and then start learning in the field on making it better as opposed to just waiting and taking a long time”.
Addressing platform and system modernisation within the US Army, Gainey spoke of the integrated battle command system, or IBCS, which is a fire control C-II system that “has the ability to integrate traditional Patriot components, the radar, the launchers, but also integrate the counter cruise missile capability launchers with the Sentinel radar, and eventually even the counter UAS capability where the operator has the ability from his EOC to be able to leverage the sense fire control data from that element and then assign that target to the appropriate effector, and employ that in a 360-degree manner”. Gainey said it is essential that the Department of Defense develops in that way “based on what we’re seeing”.
Prior to the Hudson discussion, Gainey discussed the command’s initiatives to lead a proof-of-concept demonstration for using C-UAS in the homeland to help U.S. Northern Command determine how to move forward with C-UAS capabilities across the continental United States.
Speaking at a Coffee Series event hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army on July 23, Gainey said: “Warfare is changing drones and all the capabilities that they may need. We do our own internal science and technology work so we’re able to do the gap analysis across the space and missile defence portfolio through our Center of Excellence. Then our Center of Excellence is able to walk down and document to our technical centre from a science and technology perspective. They can go out and work closely with industry and see what’s out there to help get after some of the challenges that we have moving forward. We’re having to leverage more capability for a mission set with our modernization. We’re building based off knowing that there’s a 360-degree threat.”
For more information: US Army Space and Missile Defense Command
The Hudson Institute (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
29 Jul 24. London Defence R&D introduces long-range C-UAS technology. London Defence R&D has introduced its LD-600 RF effector, a long-range counter-drone system.
Capable of operating up to 10 kilometres, the LD-600 RF is equipped with directional and omnidirectional antennas, and is designed for continuous operation. It is equipped with a C2 control panel and the system’s IP67 protection rating offers resistance to harsh environmental conditions.
For more information: London Defence, https://londondrd.uk/about-us/ (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
26 Jul 24. D-Fend receives additional confirmation from FAA for EnforceAir 2 C-UAS. July 26, 2024 Kylie Bielby Counter-UAS systems and policies. D-Fend solutions has received additional confirmation from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for EnforceAir2, the company’s counter-drone technology, following completion of a series of evaluations related to airport operational continuity.
In communications with D-Fend Solutions, the FAA commented that it had “evaluated EnforceAir2’s ability to detect, track, and identify potential risks posed by errant or hostile unmanned aircraft systems, and ensured the system does not adversely impact or interfere with safe airport operations, navigation, air traffic services, or the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System”. The evaluation was conducted as part of Section 383(a) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which requires the FAA to develop a plan for certifying, permitting, authorising, or allowing drone detection and mitigation systems in the National Airspace System.
In 2023, D-Fend was selected for participation in the FAA’s Airport UAS Detection and Mitigation Research programme at Atlantic City International Airport (KACY) and Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR). The programme aims to enable the agency to work with other federal departments to ensure that systems are being developed, tested, or deployed to detect and mitigate potential risks posed by errant or hostile drone operations. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
24 Jul 24. Paris Olympic sites ‘intercepting six drones per day.’ French security forces guarding sites set to be used in the Paris Olympics, which gets underway later this week, are intercepting an average of six drones per day, France24 quotes Prime Minister Gabriel Attal as saying.
Attal reminded the public and visiting tourists that there is a ban on flying drones, and that unauthorised drones will be intercepted and their operators arrested. In addition, airspace in a 150-kilometre radius around Paris will be completely closed on Friday evening during the opening ceremony.
France24 said there had been several incidents around the Olympic village on July 21, and, according to a member of Attal’s team, the communications chief of the Brazilian delegation was apprehended for operating a drone.
The French government has reportedly invested EUR350 m in counter drone systems designed to jam or mitigate with laser technology.
On July 23, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a notice to remind drone pilots of restrictions associated with the Olympics. “With the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris and a large number of different sports being played at venues across this part of France, EASA would like to remind you that it is important that you don’t fly your drone near any major public event,” the notice read. It was accompanied by links to guidance on French airspace restrictions and data on the risks of flying a drone at public events. (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
29 Jul 24. Intersoft Electronics and TSS Solutions team up to develop C-UAS technologies. Intersoft Electronics Inc and TSS Solutions will combine forces to develop and deliver Air Surveillance Radar (ASR) Service Life Extension Programmes (SLEP), as well as counter-uncrewed aerial systems technologies to the United States military.
The scalable radar systems covered by the new agreement integrate Intersoft’s ASR-M®, a modular approach to airport surveillance radar that embeds advanced technologies to enhance radar performance. The core of ASR-M a signal processor which features patented technologies that have been developed to address current and emerging challenges, such as wind farm mitigation, anomalous propagation, and 5G interference.
For more information: TSS Solutions, Intersoft Electronics, https://www.tsssolutions.com/, https://intersoft-electronics.com/
27 Jul 24. JCO seeks C-sUAS capabilities for contested electromagnetic environments. The Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) Office (JCO) is seeking information from industry to inform its next demonstration, in or around March 2025. Industry’s responses to the Request for Information will enable the JCO to refine the requirements of the demonstration and better understand availability of technology to target proper dates to execute the demonstration.
The JCO is interested to understand industry’s C-sUAS capabilities that can operate in a contested electromagnetic environment. The JCO intends to focus the FY25 Demonstration 6 within two topic areas:
- Group 3 short range defeat: Systems used to detect, track, identify, and defeat (DTID) Group 3 UAS within 2km slant range from the C-sUAS platform. The JCO is specifically interested in small arms munitions at or below 40mm and kinetic interceptor effectors.
- Groups 1 and 2 dismounted DTID: Systems used by dismounted forces to detect, track, identify, and/or defeat Group 1-2 UAS. This includes handheld weapons, personal weapon affixable systems such as enhanced optics and warfighter wearable systems.
The C-sUAS capabilities that meet the description above must be able to successfully operate in a contested electromagnetic environment within the frequency ranges of 30 MHz – 20,000 MHz. Ultimately, the sensor systems must effectively operate while being actively interfered with or targeted by adversary jamming systems or experiencing other electromagnetic interference. The sensor systems must then accurately cue effector systems that are impacted by the contested electromagnetic environment. Finally, the effector systems then must effectively defeat, deny, or degrade threat UAS within this contested environment.
The RFI notes that methods to enable system resiliency and successful operation within a contested electromagnetic environment may include but are not limited to the following: incorporating low probability of detect, low probability of intercept, adaptive beamforming, frequency hop, and other means to manoeuvre across the EMS.
The C-sUAS platforms must have the ability to understand they are being impacted within the EMS and autonomously manoeuvre elsewhere within the EMS or enact other resiliency measures to enable functionality, continued operation, and successful mission performance.
Written responses from small and large companies are invited by August 6, 2024.
For more information: JCO contract opportunity on SAM.gov (Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)
29 Jul 24. Cuashub.com said today that USAF Seeking Counter-UAS Tech for Fall 2024 Demonstration.
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) seek vendor information about new Counter-UAS tech for a Fall 2024 demonstration hosted by NORAD and USNORTHCOM. Candidate systems should be capable of detecting, tracking, identifying, and/or defeating Group 1 and Group 2 small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) as defined in Joint Publication 3-30, Joint Air Operations, dated July 25, 2019, and revised on September 17, 2021.
NORAD and USNORTHCOM are conducting a field capability experiment, FALCON PEAK 2025 (FP25), to discover new technologies, enhance collaboration, and provide developers with immediate feedback to accelerate the maturation of innovative capabilities with DoD-wide applicability that enable operations within the homeland. This C-sUAS experiment will focus on systems capable of detecting, tracking, identifying, and/or defeating sUAS threats in a military installation scenario in accordance with continental United States statutes, directives, policies, and strategies. The capabilities and characteristics of selected systems will be showcased during FP25. The results will inform decision-makers of emerging solutions that may enhance or enable operations.
Interested vendors are invited to submit white papers addressing the following points, detailed in the RFI attachment:
Need and Problem Statement: Explain why the technology is necessary and the specific problem it addresses.
Innovation and Advancements: Describe what is new or advanced in your approach and why it will achieve FP25 goals.
Technology Maturity: Outline your technology’s current maturity and what is needed to advance it to the next level (e.g., R&D funding, procurement).
Performance and Details: Provide anticipated performance metrics and relevant details about your technology.
The information gathered through this RFI may inform future government decisions regarding C-sUAS technologies. Respondents may be considered for further engagement, including a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). However, submitting a response to this RFI does not guarantee selection for a CRADA or any other form of contract or agreement.
Original Published Date: Jul 22, 2024, 05:06 pm MDT
Original Response Date: Aug 04, 2024, 05:00 pm MDT
Please visit Sources Sought for Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) Technologies on sam.gov for additional information.
https://cuashub.com/en/content/usaf-seeking-counter-uas-tech-for-fall-2024-demonstration/?utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-87Eylb5ENElIR2x7A5bqznQxlGnIVah4yfFl3yjfy9z4FQ5Rnl_eadT2HRjGEl-s_WniFxVDJTbipwUnUWs7HlvpVZ_XI2sjK5CEk97-LHLmu1-VQ&_hsmi=317729178&utm_content=317729178&utm_source=hs_email(Source: C-UAS Hub)
29 Jul 24. Cuashub.com said today that DoS Issues Second Request for Digital Drone Forensics Tools. The United States Embassy in Mexico has issued a second Request for Quotation (RFQ) for tools to support digital drone forensics investigations. The U.S. Department of State’s (DoS) Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) aims to assist Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) by providing the necessary equipment and software following training conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Grupo de Respuesta a Emergencias will utilize the forensics tools.
Mexican cartels are infamous for using drones for various illicit activities, including weaponizing them, conducting surveillance on rival cartels, military, law enforcement, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and transporting drugs across the U.S.-Mexican border.
Original Published Date: Jul 22, 2024, 09:09 am CST
Original Date Offers Due: Aug 05, 2024, 04:00 pm CST
For more information, please visit Counter UAV UAS – V2 on sam.gov.
https://cuashub.com/en/content/dos-issues-second-request-for-digital-drone-forensics-tools/?utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-93UHmY-F-qU374Lc2ZAwyfzGT9sWFEEsDUBzdTqXGswa7wAdru3_hyzXBaKpQLJEupNuZPcLgtTrknTFVgVvlSjcqAkcFEBic8hsAl1Of15lb5bTA&_hsmi=317729178&utm_content=317729178&utm_source=hs_email (Source: C-UAS Hub)
29 Jul 24. Cuashub.com said today that U.S. Air Force Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems RFI. The United States Air Force (USAF) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to enhance its understanding of market capabilities and identify qualified vendors for Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) services. These services include integration, development, purchasing, fielding, training, and sustaining C-sUAS systems capable of detecting, tracking, identifying, and defeating sUAS globally. Responses to this RFI will inform the USAF’s acquisition strategy and identify businesses capable of providing effective C-sUAS support.
The USAF’s C-sUAS mission focuses on defending critical assets from various threats, including personnel, bases, flight lines, storage areas, and equipment in transit. Given the widespread use of UAS technologies for recreational and military purposes, the USAF is responsible for safeguarding these assets from diverse threats.
These threats are classified into Groups 1-3 UAS, which vary significantly in capability. The characteristics for Group 1-3 UAS are as follows:
Size: Less than 1,320 lbs
Speed: Less than 250 knots
Operating Altitude: Below Flight Line 180 or below 3,500 ft AGL
The threats posed by these UAS range from commercial or hobbyist drones to military-grade systems, creating a constantly evolving challenge. The operators and their intentions can also vary widely, from commercial hobbyists interested in DoD activities to malicious actors aiming to harm personnel, gather intelligence, or destroy military assets.
The USAF is tasked with protecting a broad spectrum of assets from a wide and ever-evolving threat landscape.
Original Published Date: Jul 24, 2024, 01:11 pm EDT
Original Response Date: Aug 23, 2024, 10:00 am EDT
Please visit Request for Information U.S. Air Force Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems on sam.gov for more information.
https://cuashub.com/en/content/u-s-air-force-counter-small-unmanned-aircraft-systems-rfi/?utm_campaign=C-UAS%20Hub%20General&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_DFIyUAsvOOmJc4KLfTASYfEs_4xdW23ii-GNFeN-BcFNj5LQthC_NUzjKOhjYlPzDXs6t_hcvxP9yWy1m8gA3rB1-3SSssBGRAPeJTmTo-umpAww&_hsmi=317729178&utm_content=317729178&utm_source=hs_email (Source: C-UAS Hub)
29 Jul 24. France to Deploy High-Tech Helma-P Laser Counter-Drone System to Secure Paris Olympics.
The Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games will see the deployment of advanced anti-drone systems, including the Helma-P laser system developed by the Compagnie industrielle des lasers (CILAS). This technology will be integrated into the specially designed aerial security apparatus for the event.
The PARADE system (Programme de protection déployAble modulaiRe Anti-DronEs), developed by Thales and CS Group, has overcome initial challenges during the Coubertin 1 and 2 trials. After critical revisions required by the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and the Senate Foreign Affairs and Armed Forces Committee, the system appears ready for action.
Helma-P, a key component of the PARADE system, is a directed energy weapon designed to neutralize small and micro-sized drones within seconds, through dazzling or physical destruction. A prototype of this system was successfully tested on the Forbin air defense frigate and was recently presented by the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, at the Villacoublay air base.
General Arnaud Bourguignon, in charge of aerial security for the Games, emphasized the importance of this technology in facing potential threats of terrorism, protest, or individuals attempting to film events with their drones.
“We are preparing to face all threats,”
he stated, adding that the apparatus will represent 20,000 hours of surveillance during the Games.
In practice, the Helma-P system, mounted on a Sherpa Light vehicle, can detect, track, and neutralize drones up to a distance of 1,000 meters. Its effectiveness is estimated at 100%, although it is weather-dependent.
Furthermore, the deployed systems, including Helma-P, will be interconnected via the SAP (Shared Aerial Situation) software, developed by the National Office for Aerospace Studies and Research (ONERA) and Thales. This software allows for the synthesis of data from various sensors for optimized management of security operations in real time.
The Helma-P system stands out as a high-performance neutralization solution for aerial threats such as UAVs. Designed to operate effectively in both operational theaters and urban environments, this counter-air measure system can detect, identify, follow, and neutralize agile targets with extreme precision. This technology offers a decisive operational advantage to the forces equipped with it.
The extended range of Helma-P allows for effective operations over distances ranging from one to several kilometers. The system offers a progressive effect, capable of transitioning from optical jamming to neutralization or even total destruction of the target, thus providing significant tactical flexibility. Additionally, Helma-P is particularly economical in terms of logistics, requiring no ammunition and incurring zero firing costs, making it ideal for prolonged field use.
In terms of discretion, Helma-P is both invisible and silent, allowing operators to conduct missions without alerting the adversary or disturbing the surrounding environment. The surgical precision of laser impact point control on the target also ensures precise and controlled neutralization, minimizing collateral damage.
Helma-P is also capable of targeting a variety of threats, including drones of all sizes, robots used in military or security operations, and enemy radar systems, compromising their surveillance and defense capabilities. It can also remotely disable improvised explosive devices (IEDs), thereby reducing the risk to demining teams, and offers defense against long-range projectile attacks such as rockets, artillery, and mortars.
Thus, Helma-P represents an essential component of modern defense strategies, combining cutting-edge technology and advanced operational capabilities to effectively protect against a wide range of threats.
(Source: UAS VISION/Army Recognition)
26 Jul 24. Indonesian Air Force deploys Leonardo RAT 31DL/M long-range radar. Indonesia has started operating Leonardo’s RAT 31DL/M tactical long-range radar to strengthen surveillance.
The Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced in mid-July that the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara: TNI-AU) is operating a RAT 31DL/M, jointly produced by Leonardo and the Bandung-based state-owned defence electronics firm, PT Len Industri.
The RAT 31DL/M radar is currently operated by the TNI-AU’s 221st Radar Unit based in Ngliyep, Malang, located in East Java, the MoD said.
RAT 31DL/M with a maximum range of 400 km can detect a variety of incoming airborne threats including ballistic missiles, the MoD added.
The MoD said the radar is also equipped with a device to resist electronic countermeasures (ECM).
Leonardo announced in January 2020 that it signed a contract with PT Len to provide a RAT 31DL/M radar to the TNI-AU to enhance the service’s air-defence capabilities. Under the contract, PT Len would supply local components, provide infrastructure support, and conduct maintenance operations for the radar.
According to Janes C4ISR and Mission Systems: Land , RAT 31DL/M is an L-band, distributed, solid-state, transportable, 3D radar that has a weight of about 30,000 kg. The radar’s antenna has a width of 4.5 m, a height of 6.5 m, and includes 42 rows of transmit/receive modules with 52 radiators per row. RAT 31DL/M can detect airborne threats up to an altitude of 30,500 m.
RAT 31DL/M is also operated by the air forces of Austria, Germany, and Italy. (Source: Janes)
26 Jul 24. USMC is Looking For ‘Buckshot-Like’ Ammo to Counter Explosive Drones. The Marine Corps is on the hunt for innovative counter-drone technologies to protect its ground troops from the growing threat of small unmanned aerial systems (UAS). According to a recent announcement from Marine Corps Systems Command, the service is seeking electronic warfare attachments, specialized ammunition with “buckshot-like” capabilities, and advanced optics for the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. This equipment is intended to enhance the ability of dismounted Marine squads to detect and neutralize drones.
The Marine Corps’ focus is on equipping every squad, from logistics units to reconnaissance teams, with the necessary tools to counter drone threats. This move is part of a broader effort to ensure that all units can conduct self-defense against Groups 1 and 2 drones, which weigh up to 55 pounds. The initiative was detailed in a request for information (RFI) posted on July 15, inviting industry developers to submit white papers outlining potential solutions for drone detection and neutralization.
Capt. Taylor Barefoot, the Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Capabilities Integration officer at the Marine Corps’ Capabilities Development Directorate, emphasized the need for a “rudimentary, essential, self-defense capability” for every Marine unit. The Corps aims to find squad-portable tools capable of identifying drones within a half-mile and weapons effective against drones up to 55 pounds. The budget for this equipment is expected to be similar to that of the gear used for jamming improvised explosive devices in previous conflicts.
In the search for solutions, the Corps is exploring a range of technologies, including firearms with smart optics designed to shoot down drones and low-end anti-air missiles like the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). The APKWS, less expensive than larger missile systems, presents a cost-effective option for countering adversary drones. Additionally, the Corps is interested in multi-layered sensor networks combining acoustic, visual, and electronic sensors to identify drones before they pose a significant threat.
The September competition, aimed at identifying effective counter-drone technologies, is expected to draw several companies with AI-enabled cameras. These trials will help determine which systems can be integrated into the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, potentially in the Pacific region, within the next 12 months. Industry submissions are due by August 2, with selected candidates invited to a live-fire demonstration at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California.
Currently, the Marines utilize the Light Marine Air-Defense Integrated System (L-MADIS) and other vehicle-based systems to counter drone threats. However, these solutions are not practical for smaller, dismounted units. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
26 Jul 24. France deploys new SéSé helicopter defense system for Paris 2024 Olympics. During the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Système d’écoute du Signalement électronique (SéSé), translated as the Electronic Reporting Listening System, will be used to ensure the safety of the French Gendarmerie’s helicopters against drones. Designed by the French Armaments Procurement Agency (DGA), this system will be deployed on ten helicopters to provide aerial surveillance during the event. During the Coubertin exercise, the SéSé demonstrated its capability to detect and prevent drone collisions by identifying their electronic signals to enhance the safety of aerial operations during the Games.
The SéSé system demonstrated its effectiveness was demonstrated during the Coubertin LAD II exercise, where it was tested on a gendarmerie EC135 helicopter. (Picture source: Gendarmerie Nationale)
The Système d’écoute du Signalement électronique (SéSé), translated as the Electronic Reporting Listening System, is a collision-avoidance system developed by the French Armaments Procurement Agency (DGA) to improve the safety of helicopter operations due to the increasing presence of civilian drones. Between 2017 and 2021, the number of drones in France increased significantly from 400,000 to 2.5 m, raising the risk of airspace collisions, particularly for low-flying helicopters. This growth prompted stricter regulations, including a mandate for all civilian drones over 250 grams to broadcast their position and a unique identification number via WiFi, serving as a virtual license plate detectable by authorities.
Conceived by engineers at the DGA’s Innovation flight test lab, SéSé is designed to detect electronic signals emitted by drones, providing real-time location data to helicopter pilots. The system is cost-effective, using commercially available electronic components to maintain low production costs. It is simple to operate and can be quickly deployed across multiple helicopters, improving situational awareness and reducing the risk of mid-air collisions by alerting pilots to nearby drones.
The development of SéSé followed an incremental approach, beginning with a prototype in 2020 and advancing through ground tests to successful flight trials in 2022. Its effectiveness was demonstrated during the Coubertin LAD II exercise, where it was tested on a gendarmerie EC135 helicopter. (Source: Google/https://www.armyrecognition.com/)
11 Jun 24. MEGA Military Equipment Guide App – IDDEA Using AI Image Detection. The Belgian Company IDDEA (International Digital Defense Equipment Agency) launched MEGA-Army, an advanced Military Equipment Guide App that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to provide rapid, accurate identification of military equipment via pictures taken by mobile devices, tablets, and integrated systems.
Discover MEGA-Army APP at Eurosatory 2024, IDDEA Booth Hall 5A Stand K396-32
Introducing MEGA Army: Revolutionizing Intelligence with Cutting-Edge AI Military Equipment Recognition and Identification! (Picture source: IDDEA)
What is MEGA-Army?
MEGA-Army is a state-of-the-art application designed to recognize and identify military equipment in real time using AI-powered image recognition. This tool is engineered to support a wide range of defense operations, providing invaluable assistance to military personnel, analysts, and strategists by offering:
Instant Identification: Simply capture an image of the equipment using a mobile device or tablet, and MEGA-Army will quickly identify it, providing detailed information about its specifications, capabilities, and usage.
Comprehensive Database: Our app is backed by an extensive, continuously updated database of over 1,200 different military equipment types from around the world, including Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), tanks, engineer vehicles, unmanned systems, air defense systems, missiles, command posts, artillery systems, electronic warfare systems, and radars. We also provide regular daily updates with new equipment and hybrid combat vehicles deployed on modern battlefields, ensuring you have access to the latest and most accurate information.
Seamless Integration: MEGA-Army can be integrated into various platforms, including air and land drones, combat management systems, turrets, and more, making it a versatile tool for modern warfare. This integration enhances operational efficiency and provides real-time support in diverse defense contexts.
With MEGA-Army, IDDEA brings the future of military equipment identification to your fingertips, ensuring you stay ahead in the rapidly evolving defense landscape. (Source: Google/https://www.armyrecognition.com/)
29 Jul 24. HADES heating up: Integration contracts for Army’s new spy plane coming by year’s end.
Andrew Evans, director of the Army ISR Task Force, told Breaking Defense the initial packages include “a Moving Target Indication capability, we’ll have high end signal intelligence capability, and we’ll have a number of other capabilities that come with HADES as a baseline configuration.”
A key Army official is confident the service’s manned ISR HADES platform will award contracts for sensor integration before the end of the year, with the plane expected to be operational 12-18 months after.
Speaking to Breaking Defense during last week’s Farnborough Airshow, Andrew Evans, director of the Army ISR Task Force, said that the decision about which company will be putting their sensors onto the Bombardier Global 6500 airframe already selected by the service will come by “the end of the calendar year, certainly. We will look to accelerate that, and we think that partnership will be very powerful for us moving forward.”
Evans declined to say which companies or capabilities are in the running at this point, but did say the initial packages include “a Moving Target Indication capability, we’ll have high-end signal intelligence capability, and we’ll have a number of other capabilities that come with HADES as a baseline configuration.”
See how we Define the Possible.
The Army official emphasized the benefit of adding hardpoints to the wing of the aircraft, which should allow the Army to put mission-specific capabilities onto the airplane without needing to switch out the baseline configuration — and could involve defensive capabilities. “We’re looking at that with great interest as well, right? Protecting something like this becomes very important,” he noted.
While he declined to go into specific capabilities being considered for the hardpoints, he raised the possibility of using what the Army terms “launched effects” off of hardpoints. Asked if those hardpoints could be used for a strike capability, Evans said that would be unlikely and “a little bit of a hard line for us.”
Evans also threw praise towards Bombardier, noting that the Army is on track to acquire its second Global 6500 airframe before the end of the year. The decision to go with the Global 6500 was made, Evans said, in part because the plane has room to grow in the future as the sensors for HADES evolve and grow.
“We are fully confident in where the OEM [original equipment manufacturer], in this case, Bombardier defense, is going with the jet. We’re happy about the design. We think we’ve got a good plan [going] forward there,” he said. “What I like to tell people is, the way that HADES will be configured today will likely not be the way it’s configured in five years, 10 years or 15 years.”
Manned Vs Unmanned
The fact the Army is pursuing a manned ISR platform in 2024 has raised eyebrows in some communities, especially given the emphasis the US Air Force has put in recent years on moving away from manned ISR in favor of unmanned or space-based assets.
Evans was quick to note he gets that question a lot, but deflected any thoughts that manned ISR is an antiquated concept. Space assets are very expensive, he noted, and unmanned systems have their own limits.
“If you think about an unmanned system and its value, it is communicating to something via satellite link, or maybe a direct link to a ground system. And in the world of high probability of RF [radio frequency] interference,” he said. “We’re seeing that play out in Ukraine, unmanned systems are very susceptible to that jam. So in fact, what we’re seeing happen in Europe today is oftentimes manned systems can provide support that unmanned systems cannot provide because they’re not as susceptible to the jam that’s occurring.”
“So we have to balance all of those things — endurance trade offs, payload trade offs — with link dependencies. And so we determined inside the Army that we need a mix of assets, right? We can’t be all manned. We cannot be all unmanned. We need the value and benefit of both systems,” he said.
Asked how HADES will work with other services, Evans said that the program has to be certified by the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as fitting into the Pentagon’s CJADC2 concept before it could move forward.
“I think, by and large, most folks in the DoD feel that HADES is a risk mitigator for all other investments that are being made,” he said. “So if you think about us as a service going to a to a lot of on-orbit capabilities, there still is a gap that occurs when you do that, whether it’s a technology gap — but it’s a capacity gap, and so HADES helps fill some of those gaps.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
30 Jul 24. Cuashub.com said today that Silentium Defence Delivers Sensors for the JABMS AIR6500.
Silentium Defence Pty Ltd, manufacturers of passive radar technology, have delivered the first tranche of sensor systems for Australia’s Joint Air Battle Management System, AIR6500.
The Joint Air Battle Management System project aims to establish the foundation for the Australian Defence Force’s future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability by delivering a command and control system to enable coordinated and synchronized air and missile defense operations. This capability will significantly enhance the Air Force’s current Air Defence System and will be implemented in two tranches.
Tranche 1 involves acquiring four Active Electronically Scanned Array radars to replace the existing Tactical Air Defence Radar System. These new radars, procured from Canberra-based CEA Technologies, will offer improved detection of aircraft and missile threats at greater ranges and with enhanced accuracy, providing more time for warning, decision-making, and response. The first radar is expected to be delivered in 2024.
Tranche 2 will complete the delivery of the Joint Air and Battle Management System, enhancing situational awareness and protection of Australian Defence Force assets against increasingly advanced air and missile threats. It will also improve interoperability with Australia’s Coalition partners. In August 2023, the Government announced Lockheed Martin Australia as the strategic partner for delivering this system.
The Silentium Defence MAVERICK passive radar systems, delivered to Lockheed Martin Australia, offer a new 3D capability that enables instantaneous, wide-field-of-view surveillance. These systems also support target tracking with higher fidelity and greater accuracy, facilitating cross-cueing of complementary sensors and effectors.
The MAVERICK Fortress-3D passive radar introduces a new dimension in covert sensing with its 3D surveillance capabilities for the battlefield. This compact, cabin-based system can function independently as a stand-alone asset or be integrated into a broader network to contribute to a common operating picture.
Designed and developed in Australia, the MAVERICK Fortress-3D features a low electromagnetic signature, making it challenging to geolocate and target. It is an ideal expeditionary surveillance solution for monitoring land, sea, and air targets.
(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
25 Jul 24. DOD event challenges industry to down largest drone swarms to date. The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and the Threat Systems Management Office operate a swarm of 40 drones to test capability in 2019. The office in charge of countering drones upped the ante this summer, pitting industry teams against swarms of 50 drones at a time. (Army)
The joint office established to find solutions to countering air drone systems sought to challenge industry with large barrages of drone attacks during a demonstration in the Arizona desert last month.
“Although I can’t discuss at this time, the actual results of the demo, what I can say is the selected vendors did show increased maturity and awareness of the threat environment that U.S. allies are facing,” Col. Michael Parent, chief of the Joint Counter-small unmanned aircraft systems Office’s acquisition and resources division, told reporters in a recent briefing. “It was a very successful demonstration informing the U.S. and our allies what capabilities exist out there in a very challenging profile.”
The proliferation of drones on the battlefield is rising. For example, Ukraine is losing 10,000 per month while defending itself from Russian invaders, according to the Royal United Services Institute think tank. Flooding the battlefield with a large number of drones, especially those able to fly in a coordinated fashion, is a threat the U.S. military is still trying to address.
The joint office, also known as JCO, and the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, or RCCTO, chose eight industry teams and evaluated nine systems during a capability evaluation at Yuma Proving Ground over the month of June.
Whittled down from nearly 60 proposals, the eight companies chosen to bring systems were Clear Align; Trakka USA Defense; Ideas, Commitment, Results (ICR), Inc.; ELTA North America; Teledyne FLIR; Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC); Advanced Technology Systems Corporation (ATSC) and Anduril Industries.
Both non-kinetic and kinetic solutions were evaluated along with multi-mission radars, electro-optical/infrared cameras, radio frequency scanners and jammers, guided rockets, interceptor drones and small arms weapon systems, according to Parent.
The demonstration “was the most challenging demonstration to date at this point,” Parent said, with up to 50 air drone targets at a time, operated by a third party, coming from all directions and converging on a defended area. Drones in the swarms included rotary and fixed-wing aircraft — fast moving jets and slow-moving propeller-driven frames — and ranged from Group 1 drones weighing less than 20 pounds to Group 3 drones weighing less than 1,300 pounds.
Test scenarios were not shared with industry teams before the demonstration.
“The challenge of the profiles really meant that no one characteristic, no one capability, whether kinetic or non-kinetic, in itself could really defeat this kind of a profile,” Parent said. “So what we saw was that you really do need a full system-of-systems approach, a layered approach.”
The demonstration is the fifth of its kind. The Pentagon created the joint office in late 2019 and selected the Army to lead the organization. It is entirely focused on bringing counter-small drone capability into the force. The office’s first demonstration took place in the spring of 2021 and the second took place in the fall, followed by another in the spring of 2022, and then another in the summer of 2023.
In the first demonstration, the office looked at low-collateral interceptors to counter small drones; in the second demonstration, it examined cheap, ground-launched and hand-held capabilities; and in the third, it evaluated high-power microwaves as well as the concept known as counter-UAS as a service.
To address the challenging threat of one-way attack drones prominently seen in Ukraine over the past year, the office most recently tackled how to defeat them in a June demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.
As the demonstrations have evolved, Parent said he is seeing industry come with increasingly mature approaches.
“The vendors being selected in the demonstrations are having a better understanding of the threat that they must defeat, their command and control is better and you have a better understanding of what is required to operate in the environment,” Parent said. “We are seeing a much better capability from the vendors in actual solutions themselves as well.”
The solutions all showed better tracking, identification and defeat capabilities, he added.
Now the JCO is in the process of analyzing the data from the demonstration in order to inform individual vendors on performance and progress, according to Parent.
The JCO may determine more investment is required for a solution and could either choose to fund that effort or encourage industry teams to continue their own internal investment to reduce system risk, Parent said.
The services or combatant commanders could also choose to embark on a prototyping effort for a particular solution like the U.S. Army did, for example, with its Epirus-developed Leonidas High Power Microwave counter-drone solution, Parent noted.
Some solutions could be chosen for immediate acquisition, he added, because a solution showed enough maturity to address current or future threats.
The JCO is planning another demonstration between the second and third quarter of fiscal 2025. Additional details on the demonstration will be released within the fourth quarter of FY24. (Source: Defense News)
30 Jul 24. Cuashub.com said today that Skylark Labs to Showcase ARIES C-UAS Tech at TIDE 2024. The Office of Innovation and Modernization has selected Skylark Labs for the Technology Innovation Discovery Event (TIDE) 2024. This event will be held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia. At TIDE 2024, Skylark Labs will showcase its ARIES counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) technology. Sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), TIDE 2024 is a premier platform for discovering emerging technologies that deliver impactful enhancements to strategic and operational capabilities. Skylark Labs’ participation underscores its commitment to advancing national security through technological innovation.
Skylark Labs’ cutting-edge AI technology addresses a crucial capability gap in modern defense operations: the need for real-time adaptive intelligence in rapidly evolving threat environments. The self-learning AI continuously evolves at the edge, adapting to new threats across multiple domains without manual updates. This technology significantly enhances situational awareness and accelerates warfighters’ decision-making.
At TIDE 2024, Skylark Labs will demonstrate its ARIES (Aerial Reconnaissance & Elimination System) and other proprietary technologies. These systems are designed to detect, classify, and respond to emerging threats in real-time, supporting defense and intelligence operations.
Skylark’s solutions integrate with existing systems, enhancing operational efficiency while reducing costs. This approach eliminates the need for frequent manual updates, increasing mission success rates and warfighter safety.
Previously, Skylark Labs showcased the ARIES system to key Department of Defense stakeholders, demonstrating its unique ability to detect and track drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The successful demonstration highlighted ARIES’ potential to significantly improve counter-UAS operations, providing critical real-time intelligence for rapid decision-making.
(Source: https://cuashub.com/)
29 Jul 24. No plans for more E-7s as UK AEW capability gap becomes a chasm. The UK has had no dedicated crewed, fixed-wing airborne early warning aircraft since the retirement of the E-3D Sentry fleet in 2021.
The UK’s new Labour government that came to power in July 2024 in a dramatic election win, has said that it has no plans to increase the number of vital E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft currently being built for the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Amid rumblings of a shortfall in the UK government’s finances, the prospects for defence, which was already faced with a funding blackhole according to the National Audit Office, could well make for grim reading once the recently announced Strategic Defence Review findings are revealed in 2025.
With the UK government stating on 25 July that there were “no current plans” to order further E-7 Wedgetail aircraft for the RAF, the best-case scenario for the programme appears to be maintaining the acquisition for three aircraft, which is at best the bare minimum required to maintain national taskings.
At worst, three RAF E-7 AEW&C aircraft will not be enough.
Under a 2019 deal, the then UK Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson, stated that five E-7s would be acquired in a multi-bn-dollar deal. This order was subsequently reduced to just three airframes as a cost-saving measure, a significant reduction in AEW coverage from the RAF’s previous fleet of seven E-3D AWACS.
The final operational sortie of the RAF E-3D fleet took place in 2021, which, with the planned arrival of the first E-7 not taking place until 2025, will mean at minimum a four-year airborne early warning gap in the UK’s defence.
In reality, with flight and systems testing to be performed following delivery, it will likely take at least another six months before initial operating capability can be achieved, with a UK AEW capability gap extending well into its fifth year.
According to figures released in December 2022 the three E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft due to enter service with the UK RAF would cost £630m ($810.7m) each, despite savings resulting from reducing the planned buy down from an initial five platforms.
In reworking the planned acquisition, the UK MoD shaved £265m off the expected programme cost for the three aircraft to £1.89bn, down from £2.155bn originally. The original business case foresaw a spend of just short of $2bn for the entire five-strong fleet.
E-7 Wedgetail: programme progress
STS Aviation Group is converting the three secondhand Boeing 737NG aircraft into the E-7 Wedgetail configuration at its Birmingham site in the UK, with the first of the Northrop Grumman Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) surveillance radar having been installed on the lead platform.
As was revealed in 2021, the first two airframes of the E-7 programme, which is based on the 737 Next Generation airliner, were initially operated by commercial airlines based in China and Hong Kong before being acquired by US manufacturer Boeing via a broker.
Earlier this year, the former UK Conservative government stated that the first E-7 aircraft would not arrive in the UK until autumn 2025. The first E-7 Wedgetail was previously expected to be delivered to the UK MoD in 2024, following completion of its flight test programme and initial certification activity.
Bizarrely, the UK will acquire the fourth and fifth MESA radars from Northrop Grumman despite them having no aircraft on which to mount the sensors, it was revealed by Airforce Technology in mid-2023.
(Source: airforce-technology.com)
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Echodyne is a U.S. designer and manufacturer of advanced commercial radar solutions for defense and national security applications. The company’s proprietary metamaterials electronically scanned array (MESA®) architecture, a rare breakthrough in advanced radar engineering, leverages a physics-design approach to adapt conventional materials and deliver unexpected and beneficial behavior. The result is a solid-state, low-SWaP unit coupled with advanced software capabilities that delivers superior radar performance and unparalleled data integrity, radically improving system performance and enhancing safety for people and machines. With leading positions in counter-UAS, force protection, base security, and portable ISR, Defense Agencies and Suppliers rely on Echodyne radar for extraordinary accuracy and consistent, reliable operation.
For more information, please visit: Echodyne.com.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————