Lavelle Hatcher Jr’s Post

As this insightful article suggests, strategic war planners will continue to struggle to predict future battle spaces as new technologies advance more quickly than the military's ability to field them. Is the issue an inability to foresee and accept the future, or is it the reality of what it takes to implement these changes? While unmanned systems may represent a potential future, that future is not yet here. It is more prudent to improve our existing capabilities rather than dismiss them because they may not align with a perceived future vision. https://lnkd.in/gt7yEfCW

In the wake of Ovzon's successful demonstration of its integrated satellite communications solution with Swedish FMV - Försvarets materielverk, FW MAG could discuss with Per Norén, CEO of Ovzon, the role of satellite communications in enabling unmanned vehicle operations across various environments. https://lnkd.in/eAhSd5SJ

While the first of these projects will inevitably involve the Space Force, the matter of coordinating drones is of intense interest to the Air Force, which is developing Collaborative Combat Aircraft that can team with manned platforms. #AirForce #USAF #Airman #SpaceForce #Guardian

Airbus and Helsing to collaborate on artificial intelligence for the teaming of manned and unmanned military aircraft Airbus Defence and Space and Helsing, Europe’s leading defence AI and software company, signed a framework cooperation agreement at the ILA aerospace trade show in Berlin. According to the agreement, the companies will work together on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies which will be used in a future Wingman system. This unmanned fighter-type aircraft will operate with current combat jets and receive its tasks from a pilot in a command aircraft such as the Eurofighter. Airbus is also presenting its Wingman concept for the first time at the ILA. As a response to increasing operational requirements by the German Air Force, the Wingman is intended to augment the capabilities of manned combat aircraft with uncrewed platforms that can carry weapons and other effectors. "The current conflicts on Europe's borders show how important air superiority is," said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO at Airbus Defence and Space. "Manned-Unmanned Teaming will play a central role in achieving air superiority: With an unmanned Wingman at their side, fighter pilots can operate outside the danger zone. They give the orders and always have the decision-making authority. Supported by AI, the wingman then takes over the dangerous tasks, including target reconnaissance and destruction or electronic jamming and deception of enemy air defense systems." “Whilst we will always have a human in the loop, we must realize that the most dangerous parts of an unmanned mission will see a high degree of autonomy and thus require AI”, said Gundbert Scherf, Co-CEO at Helsing. “From the processing of data from sensors over the optimization of sub-systems to closing the loop on system-level: software-defined capabilities and AI will be a critical component of the Wingman system for the German Air Force.” Under the AI agreement, Airbus will provide its expertise in the interaction of unmanned and manned military aircraft, so-called Manned-Unmanned Teaming, and as prime contractor of major European defense programs such as the Eurofighter or the A400M military transporter. Helsing will contribute its AI stack of relevant software-defined mission capabilities, including the fusion of various sensors and algorithms for electronic warfare. #Wingman #TeamAirbus #DefenceMatters #Eurofighter #Technology #Innovation

Honeywell recently unveiled a new counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) at the Air & Space Forces Association conference. This system integrates radar, AI-based detectors, kinetic interceptors, and directed energy to detect, track, and neutralize drone swarms. It is designed for both mobile and stationary platforms to defend high-value military targets. The U.S. Air Force plans to test this system in early 2025 to counter multiple, fast-moving drone threats. This reflects the growing need for advanced drone defense technologies in modern warfare.

"Unmanned systems provide the ability to project fires and effects dynamically, at any time, from multiple axes, and with mass. Some capabilities are difficult for adversaries to detect or counterattack. Project 33’s vision to provide more munitions on more platforms in more places, and its focus on counter-C5ISR is key to making the Navy—and the joint force—more lethal and survivable. For example, as Vice Admiral Rob Goucher, Commander, Submarine Forces, recently wrote in these pages, “UUVs [unmanned undersea vehicles] will allow the submarine to conduct multiple operations at the same time, such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), acoustic collection, and bottom surveys. A UUV can get into areas too shallow, too deep, or too risky for a submarine—shifting risk from the submarine and crew to a robot.” As another example, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific’s Offensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics program is testing and fielding capabilities that focus on autonomous swarming tactics using small but massed attritable UxSs in key geographic areas. In addition, continued attention to autonomous systems under the Army’s Project Convergence, incorporated into exercises such as Balikatan with the Philippines, allows the joint force to rehearse and refine capabilities dynamically and continually. Sea denial and sea control are both core Project 33 goals. In the Indo-Pacific theater, the joint force is exploring ways to use geography to canalize and restrict adversary movement. Traditional and new capabilities being developed will make key areas a wasteland for adversaries with malign intentions. Artificial intelligence (AI)—as yet a largely unfulfilled promise in emerging technology—will be key to enable UxSs. There are roles for AI to play in every aspect of sea denial and sea control, from ISR to fires, command-and-control, and sustainment. The military must continue to provide clear requirements, use cases, and concepts of operation to push industry." - ADM Paparo

Great Article on the Future of Maritime Autonomy: Autonomous Surface Vessels: A Game-Changer for DoD Missions, the defense landscape is undergoing a profound shift, driven by the rapid advancement of Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs) and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). These aren't mere technological novelties; they represent a strategic imperative for modernizing defense capabilities across the board. A New Era of Defense Operations: By 2030, ASVs and USVs will be integral to a wide array of DoD missions. Imagine: Enhanced ISR: Autonomous vessels conducting persistent surveillance, expanding our intelligence gathering capabilities across vast maritime domains. Force Multiplication: ASVs augmenting existing fleets, freeing up manned assets for more complex tasks and reducing risk to personnel. Logistics & Resupply: Autonomous systems streamlining supply chains, ensuring critical resources reach our forces efficiently and reliably. Anti-Submarine Warfare: USVs equipped with advanced sensors and payloads, contributing to a layered defense against underwater threats. Leading the Charge: The U.S. Navy is at the forefront of this transformation. Initiatives like the Strategic Capabilities Office's Ghost Fleet Overlord program and DARPA's NOMARS project are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with autonomous maritime systems. This commitment to innovation is essential for maintaining a technological edge in an increasingly complex security environment. Let's Connect: I'm passionate about the transformative potential of autonomous systems for the DoD. If you're interested in discussing this topic further, or exploring how your organization can leverage these technologies, feel free to reach out. https://lnkd.in/etvSUrbc #AutonomousVessels #USVs #DefenseInnovation #NavalAutonomy #MaritimeSecurity #FutureOfDefense #DoD #MaritimeInnovation #DefenseTech #MilitaryTechnology #UnmannedSystems #TechInDefense #ModernWarfare

Industry partners Lockheed Martin and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems have teamed up with the US Navy to conduct the first live-control flight of an uncrewed system by the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station (UMCS). #defence #UAS #LockheedMartin #GeneralAtomics #USNavy #NavyLeaders Read more here: 🔗

Airbus Defence and Space and Helsing, Europe’s leading defence AI and software company, signed a framework cooperation agreement at the ILA aerospace trade show in Berlin. According to the agreement, the companies will work together on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies which will be used in a future Wingman system. This unmanned fighter-type aircraft will operate with current combat jets and receive its tasks from a pilot in a command aircraft such as the Eurofighter. Airbus is also presenting its Wingman concept for the first time at the ILA. As a response to increasing operational requirements by the German Air Force, the Wingman is intended to augment the capabilities of manned combat aircraft with uncrewed platforms that can carry weapons and other effectors. "The current conflicts on Europe's borders show how important air superiority is," said Michael Schoellhorn, CEO at Airbus Defence and Space. "Manned-Unmanned Teaming will play a central role in achieving air superiority: With an unmanned Wingman at their side, fighter pilots can operate outside the danger zone. They give the orders and always have the decision-making authority. Supported by #AI, the wingman then takes over the dangerous tasks, including target reconnaissance and destruction or electronic jamming and deception of enemy air defense systems."

Another important effort by DoD to better collaborate with industry to rapidly develop, deliver and deploy counter-swarm technology—with Epirus HPM leading the pack. "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." More ↘ https://bit.ly/3WnclQW