Babcock looks to test swarm technology in military environment
SwarmCore was designed to reduce operator workload. (Photo: Babcock)
SwarmCore, a technology designed to control swarming or individual uncrewed systems, offers protection in an environment where cyber threats can be present.
Babcock International Group has demonstrated to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) swarming control technology it developed with quantum-safe encryption company Arqit.
The demonstration of SwarmCore technology, an advanced software system made up of multiple networks, took place in early December at the MoD’s BattleLab site in Dorset and the project was supported by supported by the UK’s national innovation agency, Innovate UK.
SwarmCore, which is ready to be tested in the military environment, can be operated either fully autonomously or by remote human control at a safe distance from the battlefield.
According to Babcock, one of the key benefits of SwarmCore and its integration with Arqit’s Symmetric Key Agreement Platform, is its ability to receive and transmit data in a safe and secure way in a decentralised manner.
According to Babcock chief engineering and technology officer Brad Yelland, combining autonomous systems with advanced software can help deal with potential cyber threats and therefore is important in the modern defence landscape.
‘Disruptive technologies such as AI, machine learning and quantum - are playing an increasingly important role in the changing defence landscape and the rise in cyber threats,’ Yelland said.
‘Developing technologies like this gives operators more control in today’s complex defence environment, increased performance and security along with the ability for their teams to perform tasks remotely with solutions that are quicker and more cost effective to implement.’
More from Land Warfare
-
![BAE Systems receives $656 million contract for more Bradley vehicles]()
BAE Systems receives $656 million contract for more Bradley vehicles
BAE Systems has been contracted to install modifications on older versions of the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) creating the M2A4 and M7A4 and keeping the platform in service until 2050.
-
![Italy signs $784 million deal for tactical and logistic trucks]()
Italy signs $784 million deal for tactical and logistic trucks
The contract is for the supply of a variety of military logistic platforms equipped with tactical cabins and based on the new range of IDV SMR6 trucks (Standard Military Range), which includes 4×4, 8×8 and 10x10 variants.
-
![Poland declares capability for Wisła medium-range air defence system]()
Poland declares capability for Wisła medium-range air defence system
Poland has been investing heavily in new defence equipment, including billions-of-dollars in air defence systems such as Narew and Wisła to provide multi-tier coverage, as well as in C2 systems such as IBCS.
-
![US sanctions fail to rattle India as it looks to Russian long-range radar]()
US sanctions fail to rattle India as it looks to Russian long-range radar
India has been navigating a strategic balancing act in its defence modernisation efforts as it considers deals with Russia and the US.
-
![Land Warfare Preview 2025: Questions remain in a time of change]()
Land Warfare Preview 2025: Questions remain in a time of change
The land war in Ukraine has dominated the posture, spending and actions of Russia and NATO countries for two years. With a new US Government committed to ending the conflict early in 2025, there are implications on all three of those fronts.
-
![Rheinmetall contracted by Ukraine to deliver Marder IFVs and propellant charge modules]()
Rheinmetall contracted by Ukraine to deliver Marder IFVs and propellant charge modules
The German manufacturer signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ukraine to expand their strategic cooperation which will include post-war rebuilding.
