Back to news

June 1, 2021 | Local, C4ISR, Security

No title found

No title found

On the same subject

  • Military attrition has hit its highest level in 15 years, warns briefing prepared for generals

    October 31, 2022 | Local, Other Defence

    Military attrition has hit its highest level in 15 years, warns briefing prepared for generals

    The briefing acknowledged the military is facing a “workforce crisis”.

  • Think The F-35 Is Impressive? Then 6th Generation Fighters Will Blow Your Mind

    December 17, 2019 | Local, Aerospace

    Think The F-35 Is Impressive? Then 6th Generation Fighters Will Blow Your Mind

    by Kris Osborn (Washington, D.C.) Drone fighter jets, hypersonic attack planes, artificial intelligence, lasers, electronic warfare and sensors woven into the fuselage of an aircraft - are all areas of current technological exploration for the Air Force as it begins early prototyping for a new, 6th-Generation fighter jet to emerge in the 2030s and 2040s. While the initiative, called Next Generation Air Dominance(NGAD), has been largely conceptual for years, Air Force officials say current “prototyping” and “demonstrations” are informing which technologies the service will invest in for the future. “We have completed an analysis of alternatives and our acquisition team is working on the requirements. We are pretty deep into experimenting with hardware and software technologies that will help us control and exploit air power into the future,” Gen. James Holmes, Commander, Air Combat Command, told reporters at the Association of the Air Force Air, Space and Cyber Conference. Part of the progress with the program, according to Air Force Acquisition Executive William Roper, is due to new methods of digital engineering. “I have spent six months with our industry leaders and NGAD team looking at examples of applied digital engineering. I'm impressed with what they have done,” Roper. Digital engineering, as Roper explains it, brings what could be called a two-fold advantage. It enables weapons developers to assess technologies, material configurations and aircraft models without needing to build all of them -- all while paradoxically enabling builders to “bend metal” and start building prototypes earlier than would otherwise be possible. “The reward is more than the risk,” Roper said, speaking of the need to “try something different” and pursue newer acquisition methods which at times results in prototyping earlier in the process than the traditional process typically involves. The Air Force Research Laboratory has been working with the acquisition community on digital engineering techniques, often explored through modeling and simulation, for many years. “Digital engineering is another exciting area and we see the opportunity to accelerate the pace of moving things from the bench level of science and technology into a system, integrating concepts into an operational campaign model,” Tim Sakulich, Executive Lead for Implementing the Air Force S&T Strategy and Air Force Research Laboratory Lead for Materials and Manufacturing, told Warrior in an interview. Current work on a futuristic 6th-gen fighter - to come after and fly alongside upgraded F-35s -- includes development of stealthy drone fighters, hypersonic flight, lasers, new precision weaponry and advanced AI able organize targeting data in milliseconds. While all of these things are of course key parts of the equation, the Air Force Penetrating Counter Air/NGAD program is equally focused on information exchange itself as a defining element of future war. Such an approach, looking beyond isolated systems and weapons themselves, envisions expansive “networked” combat with war platforms operating as “nodes” in a larger warfare system of weapons and sensors working together in real time. “This approach is one that views military operations in terms of wholistic elements of an information-shooter-effector complex. That will require a lot more going into the design of the next generation of combat aircraft than how fast and far it can fly - or what the numbers of weapons it can carry,” Ret. Lt. Gen. David Deptula, former planner of the US air attacks in Operation Desert Storm and current Dean of the The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies , told Warrior Maven in an interview. The NGAD program, which traces its history to the Air Force's “Air Superiority 2030 Flight Plan,” envisions the possibility of a “family of capabilities.” Holmes explained that this study began by examining more than 650 different ideas for 6th-Gen combat, which were then narrowed down to merely a few. Directed by the Air Force Chief of Staff, service weapons developers who worked on the study have been working in Enterprise Capability Collaboration (ECCT) teams designed to pursue next-generation air superiority. “We are moving into a future where aircraft need to be looked at as not just elements of their own, but as a system of information nodes - sensor - shooter - effectors. It is about creating an entire system of systems that is self-forming and self-healing with a greater degree of awareness than an adversary can achieve, and a much greater degree of survivability,” Deputla said. Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works and Boeing's Phantom Works are all among a handful of industry developers already working on prototype 6th Gen planes and advanced technologies - intended to align with key elements of the Air Force vision. The Air Force itself, while not yet decided upon a particular platform or fixed set of new technologies, is moving quickly beyond the conceptual realm into the active exploration of weapons, sensors, technologies and networks. “There are maybe two to three companies that can build high-performance tactical aircraft,” Roper said. Next-generation stealth technology is also of course a large focus of the technical equation. Newer radar absorbing coating materials, improved IR suppressants or thermal signature management, evolved radar-eluding configurations and acoustic reduction technologies offer a window into current areas of developmental focus. A 2013 Essay by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Science and Technology Committee discusses the evolution of advanced heat reduction technologies built into the “skin” of an aircraft. “To become low-observable in multiple spectrums, advanced skins manage a plane's heat distribution to foil radar, infrared, and thermal detection systems. These skins do this by distorting or eliminating heat distribution to restructure its thermal shape. They may also be able to heat up or cool down all parts of an aircraft's surface to perfectly match the surrounding atmosphere, making it virtually undetectable,” the report, titled “The Future of Combat Aircraft: Toward a 6th Generation Aircraft,” writes. The Air Force B-21 Raider, a new stealth bomber expected to emerge in the mid 2020s, is said by developers to incorporate a new generation of stealth - but very few details are available. Engine development is yet another area of major leap-ahead technological focus, according to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly report. Emerging “Variable Cycle Engines” introduce a third air stream into an engine, which can be controlled by the pilot, the essay explains. The new engines reportedly massively increase an aircraft's reach, fuel efficiency and speed. “By opening or closing the third air stream, the pilot can adjust the fuel intake of the jet engine and optimize its performance,” the report states.​ Fighter-jet launched laser weapons, expected to be operational by the mid 2020s, are of course part of the planning for 6th-Generation fighters. Targeting and sensor technology, coupled with advanced guidance systems, are progressing so quickly that ships, fighter jets and land assets can no longer rely upon an existing threat envelope. Simply put, all US military systems will increasingly become more vulnerable as enemies acquire more drones, high-speed fighter jets and longer-range precision weaponry - all enabled by AI-fortified long-range sensors and targeting technology. This includes the emergence of advanced enemy fighter jets, ships, ballistic missiles and weapons such as land-based anti-ship missiles, all further necessitating the need for information and combat awareness in warfare. The pace of advancement in computer processing speeds, miniaturization and AI also promise to bring new things to air combat. Algorithms able to instantly gather, compile and organize ISR data and perform real-time analytics will bring faster targeting and attack systems to fighters. AI-enabled real time analytics will, for instance, bring an ability to compare new sensor information against vast databases of relevant data in milliseconds. Information dominance, therefore, could among other things enable a fighter jet to both launch attacks and also function as an aerial ISR node. Operating as part of a dispersed, yet interwoven combat sensor network, a fighter could transmit combat relevant data to air assets, ground-based weapons, command and control centers, Navy ships and satellites. If a ship, ground or air commander has occasion to see or learn of an incoming attack at greater distance, he or she is obviously much better positioned to defend it. Perhaps, for instance, a medium-range ballistic missile attack is airborne, approaching land based artillery formations or a Carrier Strike Group - what might a Commander do? Should the attack be met with a ground-based interceptor, jammed with electronic warfare technology, hit with a laser or thrown off course in some other way? What if a fighter jet, configured to function as an aerial node in a larger interwoven combat network, were able to detect the approaching attack earlier in its trajectory? From beyond the horizon? Perhaps the jet might itself be positioned to attack, intercept or dismantle the approaching missile - or at least provide early warning to the weapons intended target. In this case, more “time” simply means more options to inform a commander's decision cycle. Referring to this emerging tactical complex as a “combat cloud,” Deptula posited that, for instance, an aircraft such as an F-35 could cue or alert an Aegis Navy Cruiser about an incoming attack, therefore offering ship-based radar, fire control and interceptor weapons a vastly improved envelope with which to take out an attack. Thus, an interconnected web of attack, targeting and information nodes can better sustain operations should one node be destroyed, and “sensor-to-shooter” time can be massively accelerated. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/think-f-35-impressive-then-6th-generation-fighters-will-blow-your-mind-105587

  • Innovator Update | Mise à jour pour innovateurs

    May 26, 2022 | Local, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR

    Innovator Update | Mise à jour pour innovateurs

    (le français suit) Competitive Projects closing soon, CDIS Sandbox highlights, CANSEC 2022, Terra Sense Test Drive, and Robotics Contest Competitive Projects new challenges: Call for Proposals is closing soon! The Call for Proposals for the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) Program's four new challenges under its Competitive Projects element is closing soon. Don't miss the opportunity to apply to: Under the sea: real-time detection of marine mammals during sonar operations The needle in the haystack: Space-Based Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (SB-ISR) imagery for decision making Sub-zero Infrastructure, Security, and Sensors: Safekeeping assets in the arctic Do you copy? Establishing and maintaining broadband connectivity in remote and hostile areas For technical support with SAP Ariba for those submitting proposals, please contact the CanadaBuys Service Desk agents. Participants shine at the Corrosion Detection in Ships Sandbox! The nine participants selected to travel to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for the Corrosion Detection in Ships (CDIS) Sandbox, demonstrated their innovative solutions at the Center for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship (COVE) facility from April 25 to May 20, 2022. Each participant had up to five days to test their solutions in real time alongside Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces experts and potential users. The goal of this Sandbox was to demonstrate how we can better detect and assess corrosion behind surface coatings onboard Royal Canadian Navy platforms in order to reduce operational impact and improve the effectiveness of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Check out Defence Research and Development Canada's (DRDC) Twitter and LinkedIn accounts for highlights of each week, and stay tuned for results coming soon! CANSEC 2022 On June 1 and 2, 2022, Canada's largest defence trade show, CANSEC, will return for its 24th year, at the EY Centre in Ottawa. CANSEC showcases leading-edge technology, products, and services for land-based, naval, aerospace, and joint forces military units. From key prime contractors to supply chain representatives, CANSEC draws experts from all parts of the industry! Come visit IDEaS at the Government of Canada pavilion during the event! Eric Fournier, Director General of IDEaS, will be in attendance and providing a presentation of the program in the afternoon of June 1st. Attendees must register before the event to attend and visit the booths. Register now to secure your spot. Registration is free for Department of National Defence (DND) employees and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. Full Motion Video Update: a $10.5 M contract has been awarded! The IDEaS program is thrilled to announce that TerraSense Analytics Ltd's What is in that full motion video? solution is advancing to a Test Drive. Their Multimodal Input Surveillance & Tracking (MIST) technology is the 3rd project from our Competitive Projects 1st Call for Proposal to be “test-driven” by DND/CAF. The MIST solution is an integrated hardware and software AI solution that detects, tracks, and identifies multiple objects, person and events of interested across multiple sensors. The solution will be tested at a variety of existing Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) related projects, exercises, and opportunities to determine operationalization and improve existing and provide new capabilities, while reducing the burden on operational resources within DND/CAF. Coming soon: The Robot Round-up Contest! The IDEaS program will soon be launching a new challenge in the robotics domain. Robot Round-up: Advanced robotics platforms and solutions. The contest will be asking innovators to demonstrate to DND/CAF how their advancements in areas such as mobility, manipulation, advanced modeling, Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning, can be leveraged to help CAF members accomplish high risk tasks. The challenge is expected to launch in June 2022. Stay tuned! The IDEaS Team Fermeture imminente de l'appel de propositions pour Projets compétitifs, faits saillants de l'environnement protégé de la détection de la corrosion à bord des navires, CANSEC 2022, Banc d'essai pour Terra Sense, et Concours sur la robotique Nouveaux défis pour Projets compétitifs : l'appel de propositions se termine bientôt ! L'appel de propositions pour les quatre nouveaux défis du programme Innovation pour la défense, l'excellence et la sécurité (IDEeS) dans le cadre de son volet Projets compétitifs se termine bientôt. Ne manquez pas l'occasion de soumettre vos propositions pour : Sous l'océan : détection en temps réel des mammifères marins pendant les opérations sonar L'aiguille dans la botte de foin : L'imagerie de renseignement, de surveillance et de reconnaissance basée sur l'espace (SB-ISR) pour la prise de décision Infrastructure, sécurité et détection sous zéro : sécurisation des installations dans l'Arctique Vous recevez ? Établissement et maintien de la connectivité à large bande dans les zones éloignées et hostiles Pour un support technique avec SAP Ariba pour ceux qui soumettent des propositions, veuillez contacter les agents du Centre de service d'AchatsCanada. Les participants brillent durant l'environnement protégé de la détection de la corrosion à bord des navires ! Les neuf participants sélectionnés pour se rendre à Dartmouth, en Nouvelle-Écosse, pour l'environnement protégé de la détection de la corrosion à bord des navires (CDIS), ont présenté leurs solutions innovantes au Centre for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship (COVE) du 25 avril au 20 mai 2022. Chaque participant avait jusqu'à cinq jours pour tester ses solutions en temps réel aux côtés d'experts et d'utilisateurs potentiels du ministère de la Défense nationale/des Forces armées canadiennes. L'objectif de cet environnement protégé était de démontrer comment nous pouvons mieux détecter et évaluer la corrosion derrière les revêtements de surface à bord des plates-formes de la Marine royale canadienne afin de réduire l'impact opérationnel et d'améliorer l'efficacité de la maintenance planifiée et non planifiée. Consultez les comptes Twitter et LinkedIn de Recherche et développement pour la défense Canada (RDDC) pour les faits saillants de chaque semaine, et restez à l'écoute pour les résultats à venir ! CANSEC 2022 Les 1er et 2 juin 2022, le plus grand salon professionnel de la défense au Canada, CANSEC, reviendra pour sa 24e année au Centre EY à Ottawa. CANSEC présente des technologies, des produits et des services de pointe pour les unités militaires terrestres, navales, aérospatiales et interarmées. Des maîtres d'œuvre clés aux représentants de la chaîne d'approvisionnement, CANSEC attire des experts de tous les secteurs de l'industrie ! Venez visiter IDEeS au pavillon du gouvernement du Canada pendant l'événement! Éric Fournier, directeur général d'IDEeS, sera présent et fera une présentation du programme dans l'après-midi du 1er juin. Les participants doivent s'inscrire avant l'événement pour assister et visiter les kiosques. Inscrivez-vous maintenant pour garantir votre place. L'inscription est gratuite pour les employés du ministère de la Défense nationale (MDN) et les membres des Forces armées canadiennes (FAC). Mise à jour de - Que contient un vidéo plein écran: un contrat de 10,5 millions de $ a été attribué ! Le programme IDEeS est ravi d'annoncer que la solution de TerraSense Analytics de Que contient un vidéo plein écran? progresse vers un banc d'essai. Leur technologie de surveillance et de suivi des entrées multimodales (MIST) est le 3e projet de notre 1er appel de propositions de projets compétitifs à être «testé» par le MDN / les FAC. La solution MIST est une solution d'IA matérielle et logicielle intégrée qui détecte, suit et identifie plusieurs objets, personnes et événements d'intérêt à travers plusieurs capteurs. La solution sera testée dans le cadre de divers projets, exercices et opportunités liés au renseignement, à la surveillance et à la reconnaissance (ISR) existants afin de déterminer l'opérationnalisation et d'améliorer les capacités existantes et de fournir de nouvelles capacités, tout en réduisant le fardeau sur les ressources opérationnelles au sein du MDN et des FAC. Prochainement : le Concours de foules robots ! Le programme IDEeS lancera prochainement un nouveau défi dans le domaine de la robotique. Foules robots : Plates-formes et solutions de commande robotique avancées. Le concours demandera aux innovateurs de démontrer au MDN/FAC comment leurs progrès dans des domaines tels que la mobilité, la manipulation, la modélisation de pointe, l'intelligence artificielle ou l'apprentissage automatique peuvent être mis à profit pour aider les membres des FAC à accomplir des t'ches à haut risque. Le défi devrait être lancé en juin 2022. Restez à l'écoute ! L'Équipe IDEeS

All news