Joshua Brost

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officially designated the hybrid-electric uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) developed under its Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) program as the XRQ-73, the agency announced in a statement. The SHEPARD program, an "X-prime" initiative, incorporates series hybrid electric architecture and various technologies from the earlier AFRL/IARPA Great Horned Owl project. This approach is designed to mitigate system-level integration risks and accelerate the maturation of long-endurance aircraft designs suitable for rapid field deployment, the agency says. https://lnkd.in/eMfngjEY

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Mission Space Acquisition Corp. is the latest special-purpose acquisition company to file for an initial public offering, with the SPAC filing paperwork for a $100 million IPO on Wednesday. Mission Space Acquisition MISNU, , which is newly incorporated in the Cayman Islands, intends to focus on companies engaged in the U.S. aerospace and defense sectors, although it could acquire a business in any industry, according to its S-1 filing. The Cape Canaveral-based blank-check company is looking to raise $100 million by offering 10,000,000 units. Each unit has an offering price of $10 and consists of one share of Class A ordinary shares and one-half of one redeemable warrant, according to the S-1. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A ordinary shares at $11.50 per share.

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Terrific to see that Anduril will be developing such a key technology. SM6 is a foundational capability for future Australian Air and Missile Defence.

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Vannevar Labs is aiming for $1 billion in revenue by 2030. 💰 They are one of the fastest-to-profitability defense tech stratups... ever. 🚀 And their founders, Brett Granberg and Nini Hamrick, are two of the most candid, caring, and driven in the industry. This week's #CrossingTheValley is an absolute masterclass in what separates innovation theater from mission-impact. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts, and read on for some top takeaways 👇 1. Peers are the real support network of a business school… not (necessarily) the professors. Outside of the Hacking for Defense ecosystem, Brett got an icy reception from professors when he spoke about dropping out of Stanford. One went so far as to say, “if you drop out, I’m not going to help you.” 2. You can fundraise with problems and users… you don't (necessarily) need product. The world was different in 2018… but the Vannevar team didn't have a prototype. They had a deep background and extensive network of end users because they chose to solve a problem that they had experienced personally their previous lives. This made it easy for them to pick up the phone and get together with users who understood the problem deeply. 3. The best "first" deal is the first (real) deal you can get. “Whatever you can get, the fastest you can possibly get it, is what you should go after.” But crucially (and this will stand out from the typical deftech startup), they deprioritized SBIR, innovation money, and anything that sounded like innovation money or research funds. If it wasn't real money, it wasn't an important enough problem. 4. "Selling" in defense isn’t about sales… it’s about solving a problem with a customer who lacks existing capability. Many of the areas the team focused on were new to the government; they didn’t have to focus on competitors, and they didn’t have to obsess over a business model - they had to figure out what it would take to make the problem go away, and then deliver. Check out the full case writeup on Frontdoordefense . substack . com for the complete list of lessons and some 🌶 quotes!

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An opportunity to shape future of UAS worldwide

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Don’t make your deployed personnel use their hands to launch and catch your #UAS every 5-8 hours. Use #FLARES for #ScanEagle and #Integrator. Keeps people safe, and allows your aircraft to fly further, for longer with less cycles. #ExperienceMatters #EnduranceIsEverything #NoHandsNearFans #VTOL #SafetyFirstMissionAlways #ExpeditionaryRedefined https://lnkd.in/gyg2eRiK

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This is not how you win #WW3. The US has become the high-cost producer of everything defense-related. The F-35 is not a new new thing. It is just the best expression of an old thing. At multiples of the cost. The new new thing is a drone. An F-35 is a very expensive drone with a pilot riding in it instead of controlling it from the ground. The only reason to put a human in a drone is to prevent jamming of the control of the drone. Is the juice worth the squeeze? It is $7mm per year just to keep an F-35 operational. That's a lot of drones. The problem to be solved is not how to get humans to ride more expensive jet fighters. The problem to be solved is how to prevent jamming of drones. #defenseinnovation Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) European Defense Investor Network Heather Jo Richman United States Department of DefenseUnited States Air Force #drones Creighton Holt Timothy D. Otten Graham Scarbro Defense News Defense One Drones https://lnkd.in/gjEK4HtB

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This book represents the culmination of my work over the last 44 years in the aerospace and defense industry, first as an engineer and then as a senior leader in major sector companies and a series of startups, and later as a strategy consultant and advisor to other sector companies. While my work spanned many roles, a major part of my career was devoted to supporting capture teams charged with winning new contracts as well as program management teams responsible for excellence in execution. Many of those engagements and some of the most resounding victories I was a part of were on client assignments I worked on with my two coauthors, Drs. Lynn Phillips and Stan Sloane. Much has changed over time and the rapidly evolving new-game landscape of the 21st century has only served to turbocharge and accelerate the pace of change. One area in particular is that we have entered an era where increasingly risk averse customers want to contract for risk reduction and/or technology maturation contracts before embarking upon an Engineering, Manufacturing and Development contract. This trend levels the playing field for capture teams to win contracts based on their technical offerings and places far more emphasis on program execution excellence, a prime element contributing to Program Success for the company and Mission Success for the customer community. True technical discriminators like Lockheed’s lift-fan in helping to win the Joint Strike Fighter program can and do exist, but they are fewer and farther between. But what hasn’t diminished is the recognition by key stakeholders that programs get behind in their schedule or over on their budget, not from the core technology, but from a program not adequately defining the risks in technology development, cost and schedule. The press bears witness to this fact on an ongoing basis, citing a seemingly never ending litany of programs that are overbudget, behind schedule and fail in delivering the needed capabilities to warfighters in a time frame that keeps pace with the nation’s adversaries. In this sense, program executional excellence has the potential to be the only true proposal discriminator and it must be “designed” with the same energy and innovativeness as devoted to the technical solutions; it must become a best practice. Program excellence in execution is one of the cornerstones of winning in the ‘new-game’ landscape we describe in this book. It reviews best and emerging next practices in this dynamic field that can benefit both capture and program management teams alike. For the press release: https://lnkd.in/gBwqAGs7

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“Will the US rotorcraft industry be able to hire back these highly sought-after engineers when the next FVL program heats up?” Great question! Maybe it’s time airframers/OEMs to learn from the #EV #VTOL segment and seriously consider using intelligent metal replacement technologies such as AirGo Design short fiber thermoplastic composite #SFTC technology, offering up to 70% weight savings by replacing traditional metallic and composite components at a fraction of the cost. #FLRAA #VTOL #Metalreplacement #Compositereplacement #AirGoDesign

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🚀🛰️ "Arctic Connection: Satellites Set to Launch Early" 🛰️🚀 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gPRdMJUx 1️⃣ 🛡️ "Secure Skies Ahead" 🛡️ Northrop Grumman's ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 satellites, built on the GEOStar-3 platform, are ready to revolutionize Arctic communication. Hosting the U.S. military’s EPS-R payload, these satellites mark the first operational U.S. military payload on a commercial vehicle operated by an international partner. 2️⃣ 🌐 "Broadband Breakthrough" 🌐 Launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base in July, these satellites promise constant broadband coverage over the North Pole. This crucial step addresses the underserved high-latitude areas, ensuring robust internet connectivity where it’s needed most. 3️⃣ 🌍 "Global Collaboration in Orbit" 🌍 The ASBM satellites host payloads from multiple entities, including the Norwegian Armed Forces and Viasat. This international effort showcases a unique partnership to enhance secure communications and monitoring capabilities in the challenging Arctic environment. Polar orbits, global impacts—these satellites are cooler than ever! #ArcticBroadband #SatelliteLaunch #NorthropGrumman #SpaceX #SpaceInnovation #GlobalConnectivity #MilitaryTech #Viasat @NorthropGrumman @SpaceX

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So may possibilities for the Sentry with the OKSI target/alert system: The Sentry is an AI-enabled remote weapon system, which can “autonomously scan, detect, classify, track, and report any threat,” such as enemy combatants, vehicles, or drones. From there, the user takes control and must turn off a physical and digital safety integrated into the system before engaging the target, ensuring there is a human in the loop aspect and that the Sentry does not fire on its own. Onyx said that the system was designed to be a multi-functional “force multiplier” that provides “an additional set of eyes and weapon on target when you need it most.” OKSI + Onyx Industries

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Extremely proud of our Army EOIRS team! NEWS: Successful CSP TLA (Target Location Accuracy) v3 Engineering Test Flight!   Raytheon and our USG partners completed the initial Common Sensor Payload (CSP) TLA engineering test flight at Dugway Proving Grounds on May 9, 2024. The CSP TLA’s enhanced technology will include a target location accuracy capability that will deliver precise, near-real time data to commanders – bolstering survivability and reducing the sensor-to-shooter process from minutes to seconds for Coordinate Seeking Weapons (CSWs).   Successful Test Flight Objectives: ·        Initial Target Location Accuracy Data Verification ·        Gray Eagle Regression Test Checks ·        Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Targeting Camera Evaluation ·        Laser Spot Characterization Data with Updated Laser Range Designator (LRD) Evaluation   Production systems are expected to begin delivery in June 2025. More from the US Army- PEO IEW&S announcement here - https://lnkd.in/gG7AF6KT   Image Credit: GA-ASI (Source)

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Is the proliferation of drones confusing customers? Industry experts have predicted that within the Defense & Military market alone that drone platforms will go from several hundred types to over 10,000 platforms satisfying diverse needs and following the “miniaturization” curve over the next 5-7 years. That is a strong statement for the drone Industry, although it also reinforces how difficult it will be for customers to distinguish and differentiate drone-related products and services. The key is continuing to look for those drone providers that focus on solving problems and designing their drone solutions to fit critical, applications requirements. EuroLink grew-up in the Technology field – with decades of experience learning and meeting the demands of mission-critical, program needs. This experience has been translated into EuroLink’s Beluga™ family of mini-drones – which was designed from the user perspective first, leveraged and applied lessons learned from the Aeronautical Industry and uniquely applied a Bio-inspired approach to support its design and breakthrough blade/propeller technology resulting in the “Silent Drone.” Here is a published article from Unmanned Systems Technology (UST) highlighting Beluga’s application for ISR target applications: https://lnkd.in/dZsgwNVQ Intriguing and supported by a challenging Roadmap to continue extending Beluga’s™ capabilities and providing advanced UAV, UGV and UUS products. Time to take a look at an emerging, Drone Leader that approaches things differently than the rest of the pack? Contact Andrea Lapiana at: andrea.lapiana@eurolinksystems.com or Ed Hennessy at: ehennessy@pmg-results.com about your challenges and we will get you moving forward. #Aerospace #Defense #Innovation #Technology #UncrewedVehicles #sUAS #Drones #C4ISR #SituationalAwareness #PublicSafety #LawEnforcement #MedicalTransport #InfrastructureInspection

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Thanks, as always, Theresa Hitchens for the insightful reporting. I get the skepticism. I get the concern that the industry might not be there. These are just of few things that are still unknown in this nascent, and game changing capability. What I don't understand is why not make these satellites capable of refueling? Whether you do or don't refuel them is a question that can be answered as the technology matures. Why not at least study what it would take to pivot now vs. waiting a decade or more and spending $10+B on an architecture that is, from a maneuver warfare standpoint, no better than what we have today. Instead of waiting for the answer, why don't we drive to the answer?

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Autonomous operations of the UAM eVTOLs has always been the goal for most of the operators/OEMs. Wisk designs it's vehicle from the outset to be uncrewed. Now Joby's partnership integrates the long standing expertise of Xwing into it's camp. This shows that Joby will not simply enter the market and sit on it's position. The article also correctly points out that the DoD customers will be very interested in uncrewed systems that could transport personnel across the battlespace, thereby reducing the need to train more pilots in the future. Joby looks to be continuing their dominance and lead in the UAM market. As this will most likely be the last to provide scaled operations, it is good that they continue to open near term markets like the DoD while looking at long term cost of operations reductions with autonomy. Smart move! #aam #joby #singleseatconsulting

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Let's face it, #CMMC is going to become a MAJOR pain for 400,000+ Defense Industrial Base companies in the next few months. Many have put their head in the sand hoping it would go away. It looks like it won't. If you want to save a bunch of time (and a bunch of money), take a look at our new "CMMC In a Box" product. It helps you generate your various 25+ policies and procedures (like Disaster Recover, Incident Response, CONOPS, Data Spill etc.), your NIST 800-171 control implementation details, and much more. Dozens of companies have used it in beta and it is now open for all Ask Sage customers. VIDEO: https://lnkd.in/eZvFyki8 Ask Sage account: https://chat.asksage.ai - use coupon code GAMECHANGER for a free month! In a Box: https://box.asksage.ai (same account as Ask Sage) Note: you got to laugh at the image generated by DALL-E v3 for this post, but I kept it as is as it's kind of hilarious. #CMMC #GenerativeAI #AskSage

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GA-ASI recognizes the value of Shift5's full data capture and analysis that provides anomaly detection useful for cybersecurity and condition-based maintenance. For any platform, but particularly unmanned systems like Reaper, the ability to detect GPS spoofing is also a great capability. Shift5 (Shift5.io) is on the move.

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VISTA is a key enabler for the ACE program, allowing Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) performers to try out new behaviors and capabilities "on the fly"... literally while flying crazy fast. The press has picked up the story of autonomous AI vs human dog fights, but it is so much more than that. The program is also showing the DoD a faster way to push capabilities out to the warfighter. By providing a fast way to try things out and get feedback from the warfighter, there is potential to accelerate the acquisition process from years to months... to minutes and seconds. If you think I'm exaggerating the impact, consider that PhysicsAI, EpiSci, and #ShieldAI loaded new behaviors into a jet while it was flying and then tested those behaviors in a dog fight against a human-controlled fighter F-16. Imagine if new AI derived capabilities could be uploaded using an "app-store" model? Sound far fetched? In Ukraine, warfighters are iterating on an hour by hour basis to adapt to changing situations and enemy tactics. To support seamless adaptation we need to invest in an underlying framework that supports interoperability and over the air updates. Dan "Animal" Javorsek, PhD Chris Gentile, Bo Ryu, Anna Skinner,

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