• Digital Battlespace

  Parallax takes a view on cognitive systems engineering

  9th May 2022

  USAF picks Parallax Advanced Research to create software prototypes that improve analytic reasoning and insight from ‘complex and uncertain data in a variety of operational domains’.

• Digital Battlespace

  PAR to integrate software for RF technology in C4I programmes

  19th April 2022

  PAR Government Systems will research and develop RF communications-related technologies to support C4I programmes for the USAF.

• Training

  USAF issues Bandit design contract for UAV-based red air training

  15th March 2022

  As part of the Bandit programme, Blue Force Technologies will mature a high-performance UAV design for adversary air training with US pilots.

• Land Warfare

  THOR evolves into Mjölnir to hammer drones

  1st March 2022

  Leidos is working on a new prototype C-UAS solution called Mjölnir, which harnesses a high-power microwave weapon to defeat drones.

• Digital Battlespace

  DoD to investigate further use of 5G

  6th April 2022

  In its FY2023 budget request, the DoD called for $250 million to be allocated for 5G projects with the goal to deepen the use of this technology in military applications. Providing low-latency and higher speeds communications are among the goals for the US armed forces.

• Air Warfare

  AAC to develop hybrid-electric sUAS

  10th February 2022

  US-based SME Advanced Aircraft Company will develop the portable HMAR hybrid fuel-electric sUAS for tactical ISR missions.

• Digital Battlespace

  HawkEye 360 to provide RF analytics for AFRL

  14th January 2022

  AFRL programme focuses on developing and transitioning space capabilities for more effective and affordable missions.

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF awards contract extensions for advanced RF signal processing

  28th December 2021

  Work under the Extreme Radio Frequency Bandwidths programme aims to deliver the USAF an asymmetric advantage in A2/AD environments.

• Digital Battlespace

  DoD starts 5G dynamic spectrum sharing experiments

  3rd December 2021

  The DoD is evaluating the technical feasibility, methodologies and utility of spectrum sharing and coexistence with diverse 5G networks in a band of vital importance to commercial industry. Awards for this effort to 12 suppliers totalled $173 million.

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF taps industry for space situational awareness satellite bus

  24th November 2021

  USAF aims to use small satellite bus beyond equatorial geosynchronous orbit.

• Defence Notes

  Eglin R&D base to expand with new facility

  12th November 2021

  A new munitions R&D facility will be built by May 2023 at Eglin AFB.

• Digital Battlespace

  Utah space lab gains R&D work on space-based sensors

  12th November 2021

  Two deals with a combined value of $1.31 billion cover R&D on advanced space and nuclear prototypes plus space-based sensors for missile defence.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  General Atomics climbs aboard OBSS

  29th October 2021

  GA-ASI joins Kratos in R&D effort for the Off-Board Sensing Station programme.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USAF picks Kratos for new MUM-T programme

  27th October 2021

  Off-Board Sensing Solution programme for USAF blends sensor extension for crewed aircraft with an attritable offensive weapons capability.

• Defence Notes

  Curtain rises on ACT-IV

  31st August 2021

  DARPA, USAF and Northrop Grumman hope digital AESA will enhance operational flexibility.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Bandit (US)

  Programme Background Goal As stated by Alyson Turri, the AFRL Bandit programme manager, the goal is to "develop an unmanned platform that looks like a fifth-generation ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Skyborg [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Intention Skyborg is one of three USAF Vanguard programs outlined in the Air Force Science and Technology 2030 initiative. The program intends ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Subsystems: software

  SWARM

  CHI Systems worked with Lockheed Martin on a programme for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to build software models that imitate human behaviour, and ...

• Air: helicopter radar, Air: UAS radar

  RAIDER

  The Real-time Active Imaging in 3D at Extended Range (RAIDER) multi-sensor system is an extended-range version of the Polarimetric Imaging Laser Radar (PILAR). RAIDER includes ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Havoc

  Havoc is a MALE modular payload UAS designed for customers with varying missions and payload requirements. Features include tool-less assembly, rolling take-off and landing and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  XQ-58 Valkyrie

  The XQ-58 Valkyrie is a high-altitude, long-endurance, runway-independent, high-subsonic 'Loyal Wingman' UAS developed jointly by Kratos and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to be used in ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Demogorgon

  In late October 2021, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded Kratos Unnamed Systems Division an initial $17.68 million 12-month cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop an Off-Board Sensing ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ULTRA

  The Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA) is a fixed-wing drone from DZYNE Technologies.  It is described as a long-endurance, GPS-harded intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platform with full ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Gambit (Series)

  The Gambit Series are five UAV variants based around the Gambit Core, a common system containing the platform's hardware: landing gear, baseline avionics, chassis, and other essential functions. ...

• Air Force Test Center

  The Air Force Test Center at Edwards AFB, California, is Air Force Materiel Command's centre of excellence for research, development, test and evaluation of aerospace ...