Adib Enayati’s Post

#USV #USNavy #NorthropGrumman #ProjectScion #Martac "SAN DIEGO — Northrop Grumman said it will participate in two events to demonstrate autonomy and electronic warfare payloads the company is developing for unmanned surface vessels under its Project Scion initiative. In testing on the East Coast in December, a Martac-supplied and Northrop-outfitted T38 ship autonomously identified, chased and surveilled a target moving through the Chesapeake Bay. Now, company officials told C4ISRNET, energy has shifted to getting Project Scion products ready for action at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International’s Xponential 2024 in California in April as well as the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division’s Silent Swarm in Michigan in July. The former is focused on collaborative autonomy and applications beyond national security, the latter on electromagnetic warfare and digital deception. “We’ve been working since December, the two months since we demoed, on taking those next steps,” Dennis Grignon, a business development manager at Northrop, said in an interview. “We did this on a single platform, but we could scale our package down to a very small USV, so we could repeat this.” The experimentation and investment at the Virginia-based company come amid surging U.S. Navy and Coast Guard interest in uncrewed technologies. Former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday sought a hybrid fleet, with one update to his so-called Navigation Plan pitching 373 manned ships collaborating with 150 uncrewed vessels. The Coast Guard similarly published an unmanned road map last year. It described a force augmented by robotic aids, ready to counter unlawful activity and domestic threats. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense in August launched the Replicator initiative, meant to field thousands of uncrewed systems in 18-24 months to overcome the perceived mass of China. Project Scion pools technologies from other domains, such as aerial drones, ground robotics and smart buoys, to produce payloads that can turn platforms into “true combat-and-surveillance systems for our customers,” according to Grignon. Northrop, which is exhibiting its tech at the West naval conference this week in San Diego, builds the Fire Scout autonomous helicopter, the Triton unmanned aerial system and more. “The flexibility with our payload allows it to be programmed for multiple missions,” he said. “It’s part of a bigger-picture need for doing more with fewer resources, and that’s the gap we’re trying to fill here.” Manpower, knowhow and other resources will be strained in the future fights U.S. defense leaders are girding for. A war with China in the Indo-Pacific would put serious pressure on Navy vessels, the sailors aboard and their logistics chains. Robo-ships could act as eyes, ears, supply shuttles and even firepower where they would otherwise be lacking. ..."

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions (LMs) above the battlefields of Ukraine are just some of the airborne threats that have changed the battlespace forever. However, the airburst/proximity effects and latest ‘programmable’ capabilities of certain medium-calibre munitions are providing an effective counter. https://lnkd.in/eUKptwtN

We developed and are delivering key weaponry within the trade of warfare and modern conflict, our TM created an offset advantage within the user force, Rouge 1-R1 provides a Soldier and the formation a packable ,simple and intuitive system and interface that delivers a new tool that will enhance the development of new tactics, techniques and proceedures across DOD. The character of war is irreversibly changing… are you ready?

The Task Group 59.1 is all set to take on the capabilities of the TF 59’s unmanned systems and, thereby, charter new ground with unmanned and manned teaming concepts, Echeverria declared. They are the pioneers of the future of the country’s Navy, and they could not be more honoured to spearhead the team. In recent months, Task Force 59 has carried out a series of unmanned exercises to advance lethality at sea. The exercises used live munitions fired from a T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessel for striking a training target. The munitions hit each time. Corridan mentioned that these achievements need the next tactical move to be handled efficiently. Corridan explained that the talent pool attracted to operating unmanned systems is exceptional, and the operator’s trust and experience with robots are preparing the next generation of sailors who can use the advanced hybrid fleet. The unique team, 59.1, identified to head the endeavour, will lead the way for the whole Navy in the mixed fleet. He is excited to experience what is there ahead for these pioneers. Established in 2021 (September), Task Force 59 is the Navy’s first-ever unmanned and AI-based Task Force. It has undergone testing and upgrading, evolved and operated with over 23 unmanned systems. The TF 59 flawlessly integrates unmanned systems and AI with maritime operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help maintain naval security and regional stability in the Middle East.

Exciting times for defense innovation! The U.S. Army is gearing up to unleash cutting-edge ISR drone swarms at Fort Huachuca during Vanguard 2024, September 8-21. Autonomous, medium-sized unmanned aerial systems will revolutionize threat detection. How I see it: This isn't just an exercise; it's a strategic leap. The Army's ISR Task Force, led by Andrew Evans, is turning Vanguard into a risk-reduction event, amplifying intelligence capabilities without kinetic engagement. At Vanguard, innovation takes flight. Evans hints at thrilling developments—sensor-laden launched effects, autonomy, swarming, and seamless ISR integration. Imagine the convergence of sensors harmonizing across the battlefield for unparalleled situational awareness. #USArmy #UAVTechnology #ISRCapabilities #UnmannedSystems #AutonomousAircraft #ElectronicWarfare #ArtificialIntelligence #ModernizationStrategy #DefenseTechnology #JointWarfighting #SwarmingTechnology #ISRTaskForce

Meet the next-generation in loitering munition systems ... the new Rogue 1™. Rogue 1 is a rapidly deployed, optionally-lethal vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) that enables warfighters to conduct precision-strikes against moving or stationary armored targets, soft-skinned vehicles, and dismounted threats. An advanced fuzing system on Rogue 1 features a first-of-its-kind mechanical interrupt allowing the aircraft to be safely RECOVERED and REUSED when targets are disengaged or missions are aborted. Modular, mission-specific payload options let tactical teams choose warheads for different enemy target types beyond line of sight. “The new Rogue 1 gives warfighters the versatility and lethality demanded by the modern battlespace,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, EVP at Teledyne FLIR Defense. “With its unique ability to be recovered and reused when targeting conditions change, this innovative platform also offers military forces greater economy and flexibility." “Customers have been awe-struck by Rogue 1’s performance, and we’re confident it will deliver a meaningful edge to troops on the frontlines.” Read the press release to learn more and see video of Rogue 1's amazing capabilities ... https://lnkd.in/gStFxvAQ #AnyThreatAnywhere #UAS #loiteringmunitions #drones #SOFWeek

Anduril Industries' Anvil-M, a new munitions variant of its autonomous ‘Anvil’ interceptor drone, is able to effectively intercept and defeat threats from Group 1 and Group 2 unmanned aircraft systems. Read more >> https://hubs.la/Q024Q1VJ0 Anvil is a ground launched, low-collateral rotary wing interceptor designed to autonomously intercept potential drone threats and provide visual feedback of threats for positive identification by a human operator. With its integrated ‘Launch Box,’ Anvil can be located anywhere on a base to provide 24/7 remote launch at targets cued by Lattice, Anduril’s AI-powered software platform. This autonomous user interface and command-and-control (C2) platform ingests aircraft tracks from various sensors, allowing human operators to engage with an appropriate effector, providing an end-to-end counter-UAS capability. Learn more: https://hubs.la/Q024Q1VJ0 #defense #defensetechnology #cuas #counteruas #military #uav #drones #dronethreats

Drone developer Shield AI has completed an autonomous swarming demonstration of three V-BAT vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial systems for the US military. The activity serves as the final milestone in the maturation of an autonomy project led by AFWERX in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Sensors Directorate. “Intelligent, affordable mass that can see everything on the battlefield, execute the mission even when GPS and comms are denied or degraded, and put all our adversaries’ military assets at risk at all times is the holy grail of deterrence,” Shield AI President Brandon Tseng said. “This milestone brings us closer to achieving that reality.” 👉 Full story: https://lnkd.in/e3beURgy #drones #uas #artificialintelligence #ai #innovation #military #technology #defense #defence #defenseindustry #defenceindustry

Indrajaal’s command-and-control (C2) system leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to co-ordinate with military systems, supporting faster decision-making on the battlefield. Indrajaal manages a network of subsystems to detect and counter low radar cross-section (RCS) aerial threats including medium-altitude and high-altitude long-endurance (MALE and HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), loitering munitions, UAV swarms, as well as guided munitions with a range of 40–60kms. The AI algorithms will enable communication between the systems Indrajaal will deploy to counter aerial threats. Such systems could be jammers, directed-energy weapons (DEWs) such as lasers, net launchers, conventional weapons such as light machine guns and medium machine guns, and expendable UAVs. Several versions of the C2 system have been delivered to the Indian military, and have been used to support the development of a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) named Indrajaal. #defenceindustry #defence #antidrone #makeinindia #defenseinnovation #defensetechnology #defensetech #autonomoussystems

https://lnkd.in/dX67dsk8 UK-based company QinetiQ unveiled its concept for a new disposable, cheap and effective unmanned aerial system (UAS) called the “Jackdaw,” which is reportedly designed for “swarming and collaborative autonomous operations including crewed-uncrewed teaming.” QinetiQ explains that the drone will fulfill multiple missions including surveillance, electronic warfare, airborne decoy, and threat representation. According to Interesting Engineering, Jackdaw will help the UK military minimize operational risks and boost combat power by quickly deploying numerous UAS in situations that currently rely on a limited number of expensive, manned aerial platforms. Mick Andrae from Robotics and Autonomous Systems at QinetiQ explains: “The ‘Jackdaw’ concept leverages QinetiQ’s expertise in very low-cost high-performance aerial targets… and is enhanced with autonomous mission management and human-machine teaming capabilities.” Interestingly, “Jackdaw” is described as a low-cost, “disposable” drone that allows commanders to sacrifice assets if necessary. Developed in collaboration with the likes of BAE Systems and Inzpire, drones like “Jackdaw” should operate seamlessly and coherently, making deployment more agile and easier to manage from a central operations center. According to Interesting Engineering, QinetiQ is currently developing the Jackdaw concept for four main use cases: ISR – reconnaissance and intelligence gathering to support Commanders’ situational awareness Electronic Warfare – utilization of the electromagnetic spectrum to counter adversaries Active and passive decoy – representing higher value or crewed systems to protect lives and vital assets Complex threat representation – providing operators with swarming threats and sophisticated threat payloads to ensure they are trained and operationally ready for the highly complex threat environment of the near future. Furthermore, the “Jackdaw” platform will be able to support 30 kg of internal payload, can achieve over three hours of flight, reach speeds of 740 kph and altitudes of 9,144 meters. The platform has been designed, manufactured, and tested in the UK QinetiQ claims it can be modified for other nations’ armed forces. #technews #security #aircraft #uav #military #weapons #unmannedsystems #uk #geopolitics