Defense Innovation Unit project makes supercomputers more accessible

On the same subject

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  December 2, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval

  E-2D Hawkeye : venir moderniser les moyens de la Marine Nationale

  La DGA a annoncé une commande de trois avions de guet aérien embarqué E-2D Hawkeye à destination de la Marine Nationale. Ils viendront embarquer sur le PANG. Foreign Military Sale. Le Ministère des Armées a rapporté le 20 novembre que la Marine serait prochainement dotée d'avions de guet aérien embarqué E-2D Hawkeye, en remplacement des E-2C actuellement en service. Ce contrat, qui prend la forme d'une FMS, a été formalisé le 4 novembre entre les armées françaises et le gouvernement américain. Prévu depuis plusieurs années, cette commande était inscrite au sein de la LPM 2019-2025 et fait suite à une longue réflexion menée par la Marine nationale, accompagnée par la DGA. Les premières livraisons sont attendues dès 2028. Le retrait du service des E-2C sera corrélé à l'arrivée des E-2D. Moderniser la flotte. Les E-2D Hawkeye, de Northrop Grumman, viendront moderniser la flotte d'aéronefs de la Marine nationale et permettront de remplacer les E-2C Kawkeye, actuellement en service. De par les développements technologiques apportés par ce nouvel appareil, le MinArm parle de « saut de génération ». « Son radar à antenne active, son cockpit et ses liaisons de données sont notamment améliorées et il peut également être ravitaillé en vol », souligne ainsi le Ministère des Armées. Les E-2D seront dotés du radar AN/APY-9 à antenne électronique active, une technologie permettant d'accroître les capacités de détection de l'appareil. Par ailleurs, afin de procéder à une évaluation de la situation maritime, les E-2D emporteront un calculateur, directement développé en France par le SIAé. Enfin, la Marine nationale nous précise que « le système de communication est entièrement modernisé, ainsi que le système de pilotage avec glass-cockpit ». Porte-avions. Tout comme les E-2C qu'ils viendront remplacer, les E-2D Hawkeye seront opérés par la flottille 4F, depuis la base aéronautique navale de Lann-Bihoué. Et tout comme leurs prédécesseurs ils pourront être embarqués sur le porte-avions Charles de Gaulle ainsi que sur le PANG (porte-avions de nouvelle génération). Les travaux d'intégration ont débuté dans ce sens. « Leurs caractéristiques sont d'ores et déjà prises en compte dans la conception du futur porte-avions français. Ils seront donc nativement compatibles », nous explique la Marine, interrogée à ce sujet. MCO. Outre l'acquisition des trois E-2D Hawkeye, la FMS passée avec le gouvernement américain et Northrop Grumman comprend un volet soutien. L'industriel américain sera ainsi en charge de la maintenance des appareils sur les deux premières années. Par la suite, la DMAé prendra le relai et notifiera un nouveau contrat de soutien. Le SIAé s'occupera alors de la cellule et des équipements depuis Cuers et des moteurs depuis Bordeaux. Le montant total du contrat s'élève à 1,850 Md€. Il inclut ainsi « l'acquisition des trois E-2D Francisés, un système d'entraînement et un système de soutien, ainsi que le soutien sur deux années », nous détaille la Marine. https://www.air-cosmos.com/article/e-2d-hawkeye-venir-moderniser-les-moyens-de-la-marine-nationale-23924

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  August 21, 2019 | International, C4ISR

  4 big problems the intelligence community faces moving to a new data system

  By: Nathan Strout The Defense Intelligence Agency wants to move quickly in developing the Machine-assisted Analytic Rapid-repository System, but the massive project, which will transform how the intelligence community uses data, faces some hard problems. The Defense Intelligence Agency is responsible for informing war fighters and policy makers on the military capabilities of foreign nations. Currently, the agency relies on the Modernized Integrated Database to house foundational military intelligence, but the 20-year old database wasn't built for the 21st century data landscape. The DIA wants to replace MIDB with MARS, a comprehensive, adaptable, scalable and rigorous data environment. With more data that is better labeled and organized, MARS will allow analysts to use applications to sort and process that data to make connections they couldn't otherwise. Last year, the DIA issued a broad agency announcement to solicit industry feedback from MARS. They've spent the year going over that information and are now preparing to actually build it. “2019 was about learning,” said Terry Busch, chief of DIA's integrated analysis and methodologies division. “This was the year of prepping to get started. In 2020 we get started ... We're going to move from designing to building very very quickly." Irving Townsend, also of the DIA, added that the agency was working to make some components of MARS available to the United States' closest allies in 2020 so leaders in those countries can begin looking at how they can use that data. In summer 2020, the MARS application programming interface will be released to the public, Busch said. But even as the DIA gears up to begin building MARS, the agency has four big problems left to solve. Resolving data inconsistency Perhaps the most pressing problem with creating a unified resource such as MARS is ensuring that the data fed into the system has been labeled and handled in a uniform way. That's easier said than done. According to Busch, there are 1,300 different data standards in the Department of Defense. “I work a lot with (the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) and DIA because we have a very similar path for our data,” said Busch. “The NGA has done some wonderful work with some of their data standardization and modeling (...) because NGA's been in the data making business for a long time.” Making the data collected by the various agencies and services interoperable is essential for the MARS enterprise. Data storage The amount of data collected by the intelligence community that MARS needs to encompass is staggering. Hosting images and videos, like those collected by the National Reconnaissance Office, for instance, takes up a lot of space. Because of this, MARS will not actually host all of the data itself. Instead, MARS will refer to intelligence hosted by other agencies. Instead, MARS needs to be able to index that intelligence. Theoretically, users will be able to click a link to access that data hosted on other servers. The DIA will have to figure out how this solution for MARS to operate effectively. The black box problem In developing a massive dataset of intelligence, the DIA wants all intelligence to be explainable, meaning that analysts need to be able to see how the intelligence was arrived at. In other words, can analysts and systems show their work? “It's really, really important to understand that we're not going to accept a black box,” said Townsend. “Our analysts are not going to accept that.” This is a problem for intelligence agencies and contractors who don't want to reveal their methods or proprietary information. Townsend noted that companies are going to have to figure out how to explain their intelligence without giving away that information. Legacy systems Another problem with moving to MARS? Many legacy systems will not be able to move to the MARS framework. While MARS will incorporate all of the MIDB data, some legacy systems will not be able to use the new system and will instead remain reliant on MIDB. “The transition is difficult. Many of our war fighters are impinged by legacy technology,” said Busch. “There is not turning MIDB off. Not for the foreseeable future.” Busch noted that while Congress may not like funding both programs simultaneously, it is necessary until those legacy systems can be replaced or upgraded. The DIA will discuss these problems at a MARS industry day Sept. 10, where they are expected to explain what the agency wants from industry. https://www.c4isrnet.com/intel-geoint/2019/08/19/4-big-problems-the-intelligence-community-faces-moving-to-a-new-data-system/

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  January 30, 2024 | International, Aerospace

  Taiwan air force shows off its sub hunting, early warning prowess