October 7, 2020 | International, Naval, C4ISR, Security
BOSTON — Sea Machines Robotics, a Boston-based developer of autonomous command and control systems for surface vessels, has been awarded a multi-year Other Transaction agreement by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)'s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the company announced in an Oct. 5 release.
The primary purpose of the agreement is to initiate a prototype that will enable commercial ocean-service barges as autonomous Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) units for an Amphibious Maritime Projection Platform (AMPP).
Under this OT agreement, Sea Machines will engineer, build and demonstrate ready-to-deploy system kits that enable autonomous, self-propelled operation of opportunistically available barges to land and replenish military aircraft. The kits will include Sea Machines' SM300 autonomous-command and control systems, barge propulsion, sensing, positioning, communications and refueling equipment, as well as items required for global deployment. Each modular kit will meet U.S. Navy criteria and will be in compliance with classifications and regulations from the DoD's aviation bodies.
The contract includes a concept demonstration phase, with an option for following phases to deploy SM300 Operational Kits. The live concept demonstration is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020, in Washington state, for which Sea Machines has teamed with FOSS Maritime, a leading maritime transportation and logistics provider based in Seattle. FOSS will provide naval architecture, support engineering and operations management to outfit a remotely commanded deck barge to land helicopters and host a scaled fueling station for aircraft, surface vessels and shore replenishment. Using the SM300, shoreside operators will have remote situational awareness and will be able to demonstrate the capabilities of remote command and control of the vessel, her operating systems and flight deck.
Sea Machines is the prime contractor for the multi-year contract and is working closely alongside FOSS Maritime and other significant industry leaders, including Huntington Ingalls, America's largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services, based in Newport News, Virginia, and Bell Flight, a producer of commercial and military, vertical-lift aircraft, based in Fort Worth, Texas, to ensure a successful demonstration.
“The AMPP autonomous replenishment systems will solve critical logistics challenges of expeditionary missions. We are pleased to enable this innovative capability, which will increase the effectiveness and flexibility for the U.S. military,” said Sea Machines' Phil Bourque, director, sales. “With Sea Machines systems already working off the waters of four continents, this project is well suited for us and one that we look forward to delivering on for the U.S. government.”
“Foss is excited about this new opportunity with Sea Machines.This contract has led to discussions with Sea Machines in a number of other areas where their expertise can help Foss, including bringing more technology to our tug fleet. What they are doing in automation is very interesting and that technology could help our mariners and our vessels safety,” said FOSS's Will Roberts, chief operating officer.
DIU's work is part of the DoD's Resilient Expeditionary Agile Littoral Logistics (REALL) Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) project. Funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense Research & Engineering, the JCTD Program addresses Combatant Command and Joint warfighting gaps through prototyping and demonstration of innovative and game-changing technologies.
The following offices are involved with defining performance requirements and developing capabilities for REALL: U.S. Central Command, U.S. Transportation Command, U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Army Engineer Research and Development Center, and the Naval Aviation Warfare Center – Lakehurst.
https://seapowermagazine.org/dod-taps-sea-machines-for-autonomous-vtol-replenishment-vessels/
December 11, 2023 | International, Aerospace
Boeing Co has embarked on deeper-than-expected cuts in its strategy ranks, halving the number of planners working within key divisions as it refocuses energies on tackling industrial pressures, people familiar with the matter said.
October 18, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
Par Nicolas Barotte La crise couve depuis longtemps entre le Pastonia et le Dragonia. Dans la région que les deux pays se disputent, les tensions intercommunautaires se sont aggravées, exploitées par un groupe terroriste aux volontés séparatistes. Face au risque de conflit, le conseil des Nations unies est parvenu à signer une résolution. Une force franco-britannique va être déployée sur place... Au large de l'Écosse, entre le loch Ewe et le loch Linnhe, l'exercice «Griffin Strike» peut commencer. Il s'achève ce vendredi. Le calendrier ne manque pas d'ironie. Tandis qu'à Bruxelles, un accord a été signé pour permettre le divorce entre le Royaume-Uni et l'Union européenne, la Marine française et la Royal Navy ont mis en scène pendant deux semaines la profondeur de leur coopération. https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/a-l-heure-du-brexit-la-cooperation-militaire-franco-britannique-continue-20191017
May 6, 2022 | International, Land
DÉFENSE BAE Systems conforté dans ses prévisions de croissance Le groupe de Défense britannique BAE Systems s'est dit jeudi confiant pour ses perspectives de croissance, alors que les pays augmentent leurs dépenses militaires avec le regain des tensions sur la planète, de l'Ukraine au Pacifique. « Notre diversité géographique nous place en position de force, alors que de nombreux pays dans lesquels nous opérons ont annoncé ou envisagent l'augmentation de leurs dépenses » de défense, dans un « environnement de menaces élevées et évolutives sur plusieurs fronts », a indiqué le groupe dans un communiqué. BAE Systems précise que ses ventes du 1er trimestre ont été conformes à ses attentes. Le groupe maintient donc sa prévision d'une hausse de 2 à 4% pour l'année. En 2021, son chiffre d'affaires avait progressé de 5%, à 21,3 Md£, et son bénéfice net avait gagné un tiers, à 1,76 Md£. Le Figaro du 6 mai