The AUKUS Alliance’s Post

This press release from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (#GAASI) announces a significant #contractaward and project in the field of unmanned aerial systems (#UAS) and #autonomous air combat training. Here are the key points: Contract Award: GA-ASI has been awarded a $98 million contract for Project Red 5. Project Purpose: Red 5 aims to prototype advanced autonomous air-to-air capability for adversary or "red air" training profiles. Project Scope:   - GA-ASI will operate two company-owned MQ-20 Avenger Unmanned Aircraft Systems.   - They will provide mission autonomy software integrating advanced sensors, data links, and mission systems.   - The project will #prototype full profile autonomous air-to-air missions. #Training Benefits: This will enable current fourth and fifth generation "Blue Force" fighters to train against robust, autonomous "red air" surrogate platforms. Complementary Work: This project complements GA-ASI's ongoing work on Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (#UCAV) initiatives, including:   - Autonomy and mission system tests on MQ-20 Avengers   - Work on the XQ-67A for the Air Force Research Laboratory   - Prototype production and testing for the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (#CCA) program This project represents a significant step in the development of autonomous air combat systems and training capabilities, potentially transforming how air forces prepare for future conflicts.

The future is now. More unmanned aircraft prototypes or Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) are showing that the requirement for squadrons and wings of prohitively expensive and extremely complex manned aircraft is questionable. DARPA, USN, USAF, US Marines, Australian AF drone programs are validating the viability and utility of unmanned platforms. Clearly, manned aircraft should “quarterback” and lead waves of “loyal wingmen” on certain missions. In fact, this was the original concept for the operational employment of the F-35. In the future, AI guided, autonomous drones or CCAs will be employed more and more especially in high threat - high risk combat scenarios. Why risk a pilot or crew on an extremely high risk mission if a drone can accomplish the task? As more UAVs or UMVs are used in combat or service support roles like aerial refueling, Medevac, logistics movement, battlefield surveillance, etc, the need for more manned aircraft will diminish. With decreasing budgets, the military must wisely invest in future weapon acquisitions. #CCA #usaf #B1 #B2 #B21 #F35 #DoD #CBO #Acquisition #ACAT #GAO #Pentagon #UAV #Drone #UMV#usn #usmc #aviation

The proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is transforming conflicts, both ashore and afloat. https://lnkd.in/eADCExdD

Crisis has always been a catalyst for innovation, particularly in the military context. Decades ago, radar technology, medical advancements, and communication tools found their initial applications in a #military context. These technologies evolved rapidly due to the unique demands and quick innovation cycles on the battlefield. I believe autonomous systems will follow a similar trajectory. The fast-paced, regulation-light environment of military applications allows for rapid development and new use cases. This is evident in #Ukraine, where unmanned aerial vehicles are revolutionizing real-time decision-making across all leadership levels. This military-driven innovation will inevitably impact the civilian market. If other autonomous solutions like #AAM (e.g., drone-based package delivery or personal transport) can scale in military contexts, they can potentially transform civilian applications as well. At Quantum-Systems, we are at the forefront of this revolution, producing world-class products (#Twister, #Vector, #Reliant) for Aerial Intelligence. Real-time decision-making will no longer rely on outdated low resolution data. The potential for innovation is immense, and we are excited to be part of this transformative journey. The future is unmanned. Credit: Zhen Ming Ng

#DisruptiveTech 🔴 Weighing up the benefits? The UK Ministry of Defence - MOD’s - (Rotary Wing Uncrewed Air Systems) RWUAS Capability Concept Demonstrator (CCD) Phase 2 contract built on the research and development activity which began under the Tactical Maritime Unmanned Air System (TMUAS) CCD programme between 2013 and 2015. Under Phase 2 further research, development, analysis and experimentation took place, which related to Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) air-vehicle technologies and platform operations, within future operating environments, fleet mixes and the overall defence aviation capability structure. Further to learnings and technology developed through the first two phases of the RWUAS programme, Leonardo is now creating a 2-3t demonstration aircraft that will have modularity at its core. As part of Phase 3a of the RWUAS CCD Phase 3 Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP), awarded in July 2022 by the UK MOD Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Future Capability Group (FCG), Leonardo is racing ahead with advanced research into an Uncrewed Vertical Take-Off and Landing (UVTOL) Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) with the TDP anticipated to fly next year. Referred to as ‘Proteus’, the TDP will inform the Royal Navy’s Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) vision for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Airborne Early Warning (AEW) support. #rotaryuav #uav #uas #uncrewedhelicopter #drone #navy #asw #aew Campaign Catapult, Pravo Consulting

The US Department of Defense's Pentagon IRA, based in Silicon Valley, is looking for small unmanned surface vehicles that can autonomously transit through contested waters and intercept noncooperative vessels. In addition, they are seeking proposals to use deep learning to accelerate the detection, identification, and tracking of UAV swarms. These initiatives are part of the Pentagon's strategy to leverage private sector technology for military purposes. The goal is to create production-ready, inexpensive, and expeditionary vehicles that can operate in blue-water ocean environments with diverse and resilient manufacturing supply chains. Additionally, the Pentagon is looking for a fusion methodology that can detect, identify, and track UAV swarms with a high probability of detection and a low probability of false alarm. The technology being sought aims to improve the detection and tracking of drone swarms, particularly in response to potential threats from the Chinese military. #Semiconductors #Taiwan https://lnkd.in/gc55JXX4

Today in Autonomy: US-China USV Faceoff In a rapidly unfolding maritime tech race, China and the U.S. are vying to dominate the high seas with unmanned surface vehicles. The U.S. Navy has developed advanced, data-sharing USV capability via multivessel autonomous coordination with both manned and unmanned assets. Meanwhile, China, touting its "dynamic cooperative confrontation" tech, claims its USVs can swarm, intercept, and tackle targets in perfect sync. Though China’s ocean drones are impressive,they're not yet on par with the U.S.'s more sophisticated vessels. #USV #UNMANNED #UNCREWED #CHINA #USNAVY #NAVY https://lnkd.in/gMJh7mWF

AFWERX Prime partner Piasecki Aircraft Corporation successfully conducted the first flight of its innovative proof of concept tilt-duct Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System Demonstration Vehicle (ARES-DV), marking a significant leap forward in vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology. The flight event, which consisted of two tethered hover flights, is the first step in a program to demonstrate the potential of ARES to revolutionize autonomous airborne casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), cargo resupply, and provide other multi-mission capabilities in support of small distributed combat units. This flight represents a commencement milestone in Piasecki's experimental flight test program sponsored by the United States Air Force and US Army under a $37 million Strategic Funding Initiative (STRATFI). Read more: https://ow.ly/Fnju50TvoLH . . . #AFWERX #Prime #AgilityPrime #VTOL #STRATFI #autonomousflight #futureofflight #innovation #technology

Good recap on "Replicator" vs. China in Interesting Engineering. I see this program developing along two parallel pathways: Affordable Mass and Affordable Intelligent Mass. Both serve equally important missions. To use an analogy from my old life as a hockey player, we will need both finesse players and those willing to go in the corners and drop the gloves. We saw AeroVironment win the first tranche with their "switchblade." "Potential drones include Shield AI V-BAT drones, with major defense contractors like Northrop Grumman developing their own kinds. It is unclear if the delivered drones comprise any or all of these." https://lnkd.in/g6sesWWD

FIRST LOOK: South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai is charting a course to the future with a new prototype combining autonomous navigation and AI. It has unveiled the 'Tenebris' at the AI Expo for National Competitiveness tradeshow in Washington DC with its new partner Palantir, a US-based leader in AI, according to The Maritime Executive. Tenebris - taken from the Latin for 'darkness' - is designed for covert reconnaissance missions near enemy lines. It could also be used for mine searching and removal as well as other combat tasks. The prototype design is for a vessel 17 meters (approximately 56 feet) in length with a displacement of 14 tons and a high-performance hull. HD Hyundai and Palantir unveiled the prototype to target the growing unmanned surface vessel (USV) market - estimated by Allied Market Research at $1bn in 2022, rising to $2.7bn by 2032 - and aim to have the vessel ready by 2026. #maritime #AI #autonomousnavigation #marine #defence