April 27, 2021 | International, Aerospace
US State Department clears Australia to buy MQ-9B drones
The deal would allow Australia to buy up to 12 MQ-9B SkyGuardians.
July 8, 2019 | International, Other Defence
Pentagon Looks into Virtual Reality to Prepare Troops for Nuclear War
The Defense Department is considering investing in virtual reality platforms to prepare troops to face nuclear threats.
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency on Tuesday began seeking information on virtual reality training systems that would allow troops to rehearse different scenarios involving “radiological threats.”
The agency, which focuses on countering weapons of mass destruction, could one day use the tech to train troops to intercept radiological weapons on the battlefield, respond to radioactive contamination and even prepare for full-fledged nuclear war, officials wrote in the solicitation.
While virtual and augmented platforms wouldn't entirely replace the agency's current training regimen, they would expose troops to more training exercises than they could ever experience in the real world. Physical training is expensive and time-consuming, but through virtual reality, troops could run through more exercises more frequently and at a lower cost.
Under the solicitation, officials are looking for industry to outline their own virtual reality platforms, the hardware required to use them and how environments can be modified to accommodate new exercises.
Officials plan to use the information collected under the solicitation to inform potential future acquisitions. Responses are due Aug. 12.
This wouldn't be the first time the Pentagon turned to virtual platforms to train troops for real-world scenarios.
Last year, Microsoft won a $480 million contract with the Army to adapt its HoloLens augmented reality headsets for use in military training and combat operations. The headsets would be outfitted with artificial intelligence and machine-learning capabilities, and provide troops with “increased lethality, mobility, and situational awareness.”
In February, Microsoft employees wrote a letter to executives demanding the company pull out of the contract, saying they “refuse to create technology for warfare and oppression.” The company opted to stand by its partnership with the Pentagon.
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May 4, 2021 | International, Aerospace
India approved for further P-8 MMAs
The US government has approved the sale to India of further Boeing P-8I Neptune maritime multimission aircraft (MMA). Subject to Congressional approval for its latest request, the Indian Navy will field 18 P-8I Neptune MMAs under its current...
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November 27, 2019 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR
Boeing, NATO to announce $1B contract for AWACS upgrades
ByChristen McCurdy Nov. 26 (UPI) -- NATO and Boeing will formally announce details of a $1 billion contract Wednesday for upgrades to Airborne Warning and Control System planes, the alliance said Tuesday. The Wednesday contract will be signed in a formal ceremony at Melsbroek Airport in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Sir Michael Arthur, President of Boeing International in attendance. Stoltenberg confirmed to reporters last week that NATO was on the verge of inking a deal to modernize the AWACS fleet. He did not say what upgrades were needed. "I can confirm that we will sign a contract upgrading, modernizing the AWACS fleet," Stoltenberg said last week ahead of a meeting of NATO ministers of foreign affairs. "This reflects the importance of modernizing our capabilities, including our common capabilities, as the AWACS fleet is." NATO operates 14 AWACS planes, which detect enemy missiles and aircraft in NATO airspace, were introduced in 1982. The alliance intends to keep them in service until 2035. The alliance has used them to patrol the Mediterranean Sea and in missions against the Islamic State. NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu also tweeted last week that the upgrades, in addition to receipt of the first of five Global Hawk surveillance drones in Sicily, "reflects how NATO is investing in high-tech capabilities." While NATO is expected to replace the E-3 fleet after 2035, Stoltenberg did not indicate how that could happen aside from referencing the incoming Global Hawks as part of a modernization. https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2019/11/26/Boeing-NATO-to-announce-1B-contract-for-AWACS-upgrades