Industry News

Avionics

EW testing progresses on F-15 EPAWSS upgrade - News

April 17, 2020

Lisa Daigle - Assistant Managing Editor, Military Embedded Systems Boeing

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. The U.S. Air Force's F-15E Eagle aircraft fleet is currently undergoing critical electronic warfare (EW) testing at the Benefield Anechoic Facility (BAF) on Edwards Air Force Base in southern California.

A.I.

AI assistant examined to aid in simplifying applications for USAF - News

April 16, 2020

Lisa Daigle - Assistant Managing Editor, Military Embedded Systems

LOS ANGELES. Engineering firm MSBAI has received an AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 contract to examine integrating its GURU artficial intelligence (AI) technology to U.S. Air Force applications.

Avionics

Avionics in U-2 aircraft to get refresh under USAF, Lockheed Martin contract - News

April 16, 2020

Lisa Daigle - Assistant Managing Editor, Military Embedded Systems Lockheed Martin

PALMDALE, Calif. Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has obtained at contract award valued at $50 million from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to evolve the U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance aircraft to support future battlespace needs.

Avionics

F-15 Qatar advanced jet completes avionics and flight test - News

April 15, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems Boeing

QATAR. Boeing completed the first flight of the F-15QA fighter, designed to be the most advanced version of the jet ever manufactured. Developed for the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), the jet demonstrated its next-generation capabilities during its 90-minute mission. The flight took off and landed from Lambert International Airport in St. Louis.

Cyber

Quantum computing to improve defense capabilities - News

April 15, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems

LOS ANGELES, Calif. Q-CTRL, a startup that applies the principles of control engineering to accelerate the development of quantum technology, announced a strategic investment by In-Q-Tel (IQT), the not-for-profit strategic investor that identifies innovative technology solutions, to support the national security communities of the United States and its allies.

Cyber

deviceONE developed by AFRL to protect COVID-19 operations - News

April 14, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

ROME, N.Y. – The SecureView Program Office based out of the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Information Directorate is working directly with other government programs to provide remote operators with secure access to classified networks through a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) technology, an approved Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) hardware stack and SecureView-enabled laptops.

Comms

Blue Force Tracking System to be supported by Comtech - News

April 14, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems Comtech Telecommunications

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. Comtech Telecommunications Corp. announced that during its third quarter of fiscal year 2020, its Mission-Critical Technologies group, which is part of Comtech’s Government Solutions segment, was awarded $6.2 million of initial funding for Option Period Three and $0.3 million of incremental funding for Option Period Two of contract GS03Q17DSC0002 with the U.S. Army.

A.I.

AI processing technology order won by Mercury Systems - News

April 10, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems Mercury Systems

ANDOVER, Mass. Mercury Systems, Inc., secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense company, announced it received a $4.7 million order from a leading defense prime contractor to provide artificial intelligence (AI) processing technology for integration into an advanced airborne electro-optic system.

Comms

Tactical, handheld SDRs delivered to Finnish forces - News

April 10, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems

FINLAND. Volume deliveries for Bittium Tough software defined radio (SDR) Handheld radios have begun. The product deliveries are based on a Purchase Agreement signed in December 2018 according to which Bittium will supply the Finnish Defence Forces with Tough SDR Handheld and Vehicular radios and their accessories.

Radar/EW

ASTARTE to enable effective, real-time airspace operations - News

April 09, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

WASHINGTON. DARPA announced its Air Space Total Awareness for Rapid Tactical Execution (ASTARTE) program, which is being conducted in partnership with the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. The program’s goal is to enable efficient and effective airspace operations and de-confliction in a highly congested future battlespace.

Comms

Wickr selected as secure comms platform for AFVentures - News

April 09, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems

NEW YORK, N.Y. Wickr, Inc., secure collaboration platform, announced the company was awarded a strategic financing contract from the U.S. Air Force's (USAF) AFVentures Strategic Financing (STRATFI) program. According to the company, Air Force personnel will be able to securely communicate anywhere in the world, without the risk of being breached or hacked.

Unmanned

Commercial UAS units to hit 2.91 million by 2023 - News

April 08, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems Frost & Sullivan

SANTA CLARA, Calif. Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis, Global Commercial UAS Market Outlook, 2020, finds that the industry is transitioning from a nascent to a growth stage. With the surge in demand for commercial drones by the professional segment, unit shipment is estimated to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5%, reaching 2.91 million units by 2023 from 2.44 million units in 2019.

Unmanned

Puma 3 AE contract to support SUAS program - News

April 08, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems AeroVironment, Inc.

MONROVIA, Calif. AeroVironment, Inc, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) company, announced its receipt of a $10.6 million firm-fixed-price contract award for Puma 3 AE systems and spares on Feb. 18, 2020 for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) Program. Delivery is anticipated by April 2020.

Comms

BAT-GBS-85 terminal now MIL-STD-810G certified - News

April 08, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems General Dynamics Mission Systems PathFinder Digital

SANFORD, Fla. PathFinder Digital won a contract in May 2019 by prime contractor General Dynamics Mission Systems for the delivery of MVSAT terminals for the Global Broadcast Service (GBS) program. The receive-only terminal, BAT- GBS-85, has completed Army Strategic Command (ARSTRAT) Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) testing and is now certified for operation on the WGS network.

Comms

Multi-domain comms system to support U.S. Air Force - News

April 08, 2020

Emma Helfrich - Technology Editor, Military Embedded Systems Persistent Systems

NEW YORK, N.Y. Persistent Systems, LLC, developer of the Wave Relay Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET), announced that the U.S. Air Force awarded it a $25 million contract for the Wave Relay Tactical Assault Kit (WaRTAK) program. The refresh is expected to take four years.