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  May 9, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Other Defence

  DARPA: Training AI to Win a Dogfight

  Artificial intelligence has defeated chess grandmasters, Go champions, professional poker players, and, now, world-class human experts in the online strategy games Dota 2 and StarCraft II. No AI currently exists, however, that can outduel a human strapped into a fighter jet in a high-speed, high-G dogfight. As modern warfare evolves to incorporate more human-machine teaming, DARPA seeks to automate air-to-air combat, enabling reaction times at machine speeds and freeing pilots to concentrate on the larger air battle. Turning aerial dogfighting over to AI is less about dogfighting, which should be rare in the future, and more about giving pilots the confidence that AI and automation can handle a high-end fight. As soon as new human fighter pilots learn to take-off, navigate, and land, they are taught aerial combat maneuvers. Contrary to popular belief, new fighter pilots learn to dogfight because it represents a crucible where pilot performance and trust can be refined. To accelerate the transformation of pilots from aircraft operators to mission battle commanders — who can entrust dynamic air combat tasks to unmanned, semi-autonomous airborne assets from the cockpit — the AI must first prove it can handle the basics. To pursue this vision, DARPA created the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program. ACE aims to increase warfighter trust in autonomous combat technology by using human-machine collaborative dogfighting as its initial challenge scenario. DARPA will hold a Proposers Day for interested researchers on May 17, 2019, in Arlington, Virginia. “Being able to trust autonomy is critical as we move toward a future of warfare involving manned platforms fighting alongside unmanned systems,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Javorsek (Ph.D.), ACE program manager in DARPA's Strategic Technology Office (STO). “We envision a future in which AI handles the split-second maneuvering during within-visual-range dogfights, keeping pilots safer and more effective as they orchestrate large numbers of unmanned systems into a web of overwhelming combat effects.” ACE is one of several STO programs designed to enable DARPA's “mosaic warfare” vision. Mosaic warfare shifts warfighting concepts away from a primary emphasis on highly capable manned systems — with their high costs and lengthy development timelines — to a mix of manned and less-expensive unmanned systems that can be rapidly developed, fielded, and upgraded with the latest technology to address changing threats. Linking together manned aircraft with significantly cheaper unmanned systems creates a “mosaic” where the individual “pieces” can easily be recomposed to create different effects or quickly replaced if destroyed, resulting in a more resilient warfighting capability. The ACE program will train AI in the rules of aerial dogfighting similar to how new fighter pilots are taught, starting with basic fighter maneuvers in simple, one-on-one scenarios. While highly nonlinear in behavior, dogfights have a clearly defined objective, measureable outcome, and the inherent physical limitations of aircraft dynamics, making them a good test case for advanced tactical automation. Like human pilot combat training, the AI performance expansion will be closely monitored by fighter instructor pilots in the autonomous aircraft, which will help co-evolve tactics with the technology. These subject matter experts will play a key role throughout the program. “Only after human pilots are confident that the AI algorithms are trustworthy in handling bounded, transparent and predictable behaviors will the aerial engagement scenarios increase in difficulty and realism,” Javorsek said. “Following virtual testing, we plan to demonstrate the dogfighting algorithms on sub-scale aircraft leading ultimately to live, full-scale manned-unmanned team dogfighting with operationally representative aircraft.” DARPA seeks a broad spectrum of potential proposers for each area of study, including small companies and academics with little previous experience with the Defense Department. To that end, before Phase 1 of the program begins, DARPA will sponsor a stand-alone, limited-scope effort focused on the first technical area: automating individual tactical behavior for one-on-one dogfights. Called the “AlphaDogfight Trials,” this initial solicitation will be issued by AFWERX, an Air Force innovation catalyst with the mission of finding novel solutions to Air Force challenges at startup speed. The AFWERX trials will pit AI dogfighting algorithms against each other in a tournament-style competition. “Through the AFWERX trials, we intend to tap the top algorithm developers in the air combat simulation and gaming communities,” Javorsek said. “We want them to help lay the foundational AI elements for dogfights, on which we can build as the program progresses.” AFWERX will announce the trials in the near future on its website: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/. For ACE Proposers Day registration details, please visit: https://go.usa.gov/xmnMn https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2019-05-08

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  August 20, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

  Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - August 19, 2019

  ARMY Norfolk Dredging Co., Chesapeake, Virginia, was awarded a $133,162,809 firm-fixed-price contract for Savannah inner harbor dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Savannah, Georgia, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 6, 2021. Fiscal 2019 civil construction; operations and maintenance civil; and river and harbor contributed funds in the amount of $133,162,809 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-19-C-5004). Norfolk Dredging Co., Chesapeake, Virginia, was awarded a $124,460,600 firm-fixed-price contract for Charleston harbor dredging. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed in Charleston, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of July 5, 2022. Fiscal 2019 civil construction funds in the amount of $124,460,600 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston, South Carolina, is the contracting activity (W912HP-19-C-0003). WHH Nisqually-Garco JV 2,* Olympia, Washington, was awarded a $22,252,000 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a hot refueling system at Gray Army Airfield at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 22, 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction funds in the amount of $22,252,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, Washington, is the contracting activity (W912DW-19-C-0017). L3 Technologies Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, was awarded a $7,868,630 firm-fixed-price contract for the production of Dual Output Battery Eliminator retrofits and Ku Band Directional Antennas On the Move upgrades. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2021. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $7,868,630 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-19-F-0636). AIR FORCE Radiance Technologies Inc., Huntsville, Alabama,* has been awarded a $99,997,251 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for distributed, automated and intelligent hardware and software security. The scope of this effort is the design, development, integration and delivery of an adaptable set of models and tools, which can be used to provide next-generation detailed, comprehensive and automated cyber vulnerability assessment capabilities, which can also be tailored towards multiple application spaces and Department of Defense missions. This set of models and tools will provide optimized system configurations and countermeasure placement in order to perform vulnerability assessments on complex, distributed systems, which include Internet of Things components in an automated fashion. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 19, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and two offers were received. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York, is the contracting activity (FA8750-19-C-1508). Flatter Inc., Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Washington, District of Columbia, has been awarded a $39,559,613 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Air Force Senior Leadership Development Program (AFSLDP). This contract provides for the full range of technical, functional and managerial expertise to further support the continual development, enhancement, sustainment and facilitation of the AFSLDP by providing analysis, subject matter expertise, guidance and support to the Force Development and Senior Leadership trainings as well as systems. Work will be performed in the National Capital Region and the estimated completion date is Aug. 16, 2024. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and six offers were received. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $136,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The contracting directorate is Air Force, District of Washington, Acquisitions, and the contracting activity is Joint Base Andrews, Maryland (FA701419DA003). BAE Systems, Nashua, New Hampshire, has been awarded a $19,197,676 cost-plus-fixed-fee for sustainment services associated with the AN/ALQ-239 Digital Electronics Warfare Systems (DEWS) and AN/AAR-57A(V) Common Missile Warning System (CMWS) hardware/software. This contract provides for the repair and return indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity in support of DEWS/CMWS line replaceable units and line replaceable modules for the Foreign Military Sales customer. Work will be performed at Nashua, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 13, 2022. This contract involves foreign military sales to the Royal Saudi Air Force. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $9,054,261 are being obligated at the time of the award via order FA8523-19-F-0056. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8523-19-D-0001). CORRECTION: The Aug. 8, 2019, announcement that BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, was awarded a $369,000,000 ceiling increase modification (P00013) to contract FA2521-16-D-0010 for serviceable components and subsystems for instrumentation tracking systems is incorrect. The correct award amount was $90,500,000. All other information in the announcement is correct. NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $32,111,547 for modification P00005 to delivery order N00019-19-F-2512 under previously issued against basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This award procures modification kits and special tooling for modification and retrofit of delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, non-Department of Defense (DoD) participants and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in June 2025. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy); non-DoD partners; and FMS funds in the amount of $32,111,547 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($16,510,522; 51%); Marine Corps ($7,693,130; 24%); Navy ($275,849; 1%); non-DoD participants ($4,698,676; 15%); and FMS customers ($2,933,370; 9%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Detyens Shipyards Inc., North Charleston, South Carolina, is awarded a $21,316,067 firm-fixed-price contract for a 75-calendar day shipyard availability for the regular overhaul and dry-docking of USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2). The contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $21,942,075. Work will be performed in North Charleston, South Carolina, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 20, 2019. Working capital funds (Navy) in the amount of $21,942,075 will be obligated in fiscal 2020. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with two offers received. The Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N32205-19-C-6006). Reyes Construction Inc., Pomona, California, is awarded $20,368,000 for firm-fixed-price task order N62473-19-F-4995 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-18-D-5862) for the design-bid-build construction of missile magazines at Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach. The work to be performed provides for new magazines that are needed to provide adequate storage for vertical launch missile systems, missile variants and for assembled missile storage. The contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, materials and equipment to perform all work described in the request for proposal. The task order also contains five unexercised options, which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative task order value to $20,479,300. Work will be performed in Seal Beach, California, and is expected to be completed by April 2021. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $20,368,000 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One proposal was received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. The Lockheed Martin Corp., Rotary and Mission Systems, Mitchel Field, New York, is awarded $13,350,351 for cost-plus-incentive-fee modification P00008 for new scope under previously awarded contract N-00030-19-C-0045 to provide U.S. Trident II (D5) Strategic Weapon System efforts for the navigation subsystem. Work will be performed in Mitchel Field, New York, with an expected completion date of Dec. 31, 2022. Fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,350,351 are being obligated on this award. Funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a sole-source acquisition pursuant to 10 U.S. Code 2304(c)(1). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $12,031,145 for modification P00001 to delivery order 5503 under previously issued against basic ordering agreement (N00019-14-G-0020). This award procures modification kits for modification and retrofit of delivered F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force and Marine Corps. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in December 2021. Fiscal 2019 aircraft procurement (Air Force and Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $12,031,145 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This modification combines purchases for the Air Force ($6,927,023; 58%); and the Marine Corps ($5,104,122; 42%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Unified Business Technologies Inc.,* Troy, Michigan, is awarded $7,379,877 for firm-fixed-price task order N40085-19-F-3500 under a previously awarded SeaPort Next Generation contract for engineering and program management for capital improvement requirements with various design and construction periods at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina; and Marine Base Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina. The work to be performed provides for various construction engineering disciplines and administrative support services to assist in completing various capital improvement projects. The task order also contains four unexercised options, which, if exercised, would increase cumulative task order value to $37,651,276. Work will be performed in Jacksonville, North Carolina (67%); and Havelock, North Carolina (33%), and is expected to be completed by August 2024. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $7,379,877 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Three proposals were received for this task order. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00178-19-D-8762). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Bremen-Bowdon Investments Co., Bowdon, Georgia, has been awarded a maximum $7,966,345 modification (P00008) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-17-D-1085) with four one-year option periods for men's blue trousers. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. Location of performance is Georgia, with an Aug. 23, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/1938044/source/GovDelivery/

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  May 18, 2023 | International, C4ISR

  Space Force may seek new bidders for future deep-space radars

  The service wants to see if any companies besides Northrop Grumman can meet its schedule for future phases of the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability.