21 octobre 2018 | International, C4ISR
Par Nathalie Guibert
De nombreuses applications de l'IA deviennent possibles gr'ce aux gigantesques quantités de données accumulées par les armées modernes, analyse la journaliste du « Monde » Nathalie Guibert.
Analyse. Pour les armées modernes, « l'intelligence artificielle (IA) se présente comme la voie principale de la supériorité tactique » et elle est devenue « un enjeu de défense prioritaire pour les puissances militaires du XXIe siècle ». Dans une étude que publie l'Institut français des relations internationales (IFRI) sur cette nouvelle révolution, un ancien pilote de l'armée de l'air, Jean-Christophe Noël, évoque un « humanisme militaire » menacé. Il n'est pas certain, selon lui, que les robots pourront toujours, en accord avec le « modèle de l'équipier fidèle », rester « étroitement associé(s) à un homme en charge d'un système d'armes comme un avion de chasse, un blindé ou un navire ».
Les applications militaires de l'IA deviennent accessibles et semblent sans limites. Elles sont rendues possibles par les gigantesques quantités de données (images, sons, etc.) désormais accumulées – un Rafale produit plusieurs téraoctets de données par heure de vol, et chacun des trois satellites d'observation français successeurs d'Helios 2 permettra de produire, à partir de 2019, cent fois plus d'informations que l'ensemble de ceux utilisés aujourd'hui par les armées. De plus, les algorithmes acquièrent la capacité nouvelle d'apprendre seuls selon les situations qu'ils rencontrent. Préparation au combat par la simulation, renseignement, ciblage, optimisation du soldat... La course a démarré.
« Hyperwar »
Le département de la défense américain a lancé près de 600 projets intégrant l'IA, un domaine où il vient d'annoncer 2 milliards de dollars (1,7 milliard d'euros) d'investissement dans les cinq prochaines années. « Une IA surnommée ALPHA, qui fit ses classes en affrontant des programmes informatiques de combats aériens de l'Air Force Research Lab, a systématiquement triomphé d'un pilote de chasse chevronné en octobre 2015 »,rappelle l'expert de l'IFRI.
Article complet: https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2018/10/16/les-defis-militaires-de-l-intelligence-artificielle_5369924_3232.html
22 mars 2021 | International, C4ISR
Amid worries about potential tampering with chips from overseas, the project seeks to convert more microchips into higher-performing designs with more security features.
13 décembre 2019 | International, Naval
November 12, 2019 - The General Directorate for Armament and Material (DGAM) and the naval shipyard Navantia have selected Thales technologies for the Spanish Navy's five new multi-mission frigates. The vessels' anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability, based on two world-class sonars, the CAPTAS 4 Compact and the BlueMaster, and the BlueScan digital acoustic system, will be integrated through Navantia Combat Management System SCOMBA F110 and will enable the service to conduct maritime surveillance, search and protection missions in any theatre of operations. To protect their maritime territory and security interests around the world, States need to counter all types of threats in any environment or theatre of operations. Naval forces need reliable, high-performance systems to assert national sovereignty and accomplish their ASW missions with optimum effect. The choice of Thales technologies, which have been extensively proven in service with navies around the world, provides the highest levels of protection available today. BlueScan is a collaborative ASW solution that processes significantly higher volumes of sonar data from various different platforms to provide the operator with a complete overview of the acoustic situation in real time. The solution leverages Big Data analytics and artificial intelligence technologies to bring naval forces a tactical advantage. Under this contract, key underwater acoustics technology will be transferred to Spanish industry, in particular for the supply of the TUUM-6 digital underwater communication system and acoustic arrays. “After two years of talks with the Spanish Navy and Navantia about this contract to equip five F110 frigates, we welcome Spain's decision to join other NATO countries (the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Norway) and Australia in placing their trust in Thales for their anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. To help their naval forces conduct their missions in today's heightened underwater threat environment, Thales has invested for many years in Australia, France and the United Kingdom to develop a unique set of digital sonar data processing and analytics technologies. Given the complexity of the underwater environment and the level of sophistication of the adversary, digitalisation and data fusion techniques are the only effective way to counter undersea threats in the 21st century. With our Spanish partners, and with Navantia in particular, we are very pleased to have the opportunity to strengthen our cooperation on this programme, in which local industry will play a significant role in producing, integrating and maintaining the systems alongside the Spanish Navy." Alexis Morel, Vice President, Underwater Systems, Thales • Thales sonars and acoustic systems will provide the Spanish Navy's five F110 frigates with a latest-generation anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability. • The key components of the integrated suite are the BlueMaster (UMS 4110) and CAPTAS 4 Compact sonars, the TUUM-6 underwater communication system, and the BlueScan digital acoustic system already in service with other European navies. • Spanish industry partners will supply some of the high-tech equipment under a decisive transfer of technology programme put in place by Thales. View source version on Thales: https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/group/press-release/thales-integrated-sonar-suite-selected-spanish-navys-new-multi-mission-frigates
25 juillet 2019 | International, Autre défense
By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON – Newly installed U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper says he is happy with the two-year budget deal's recommendation for the Pentagon, despite it being $12 billion less than what the White House requested for fiscal 2020. Speaking to press just hours after taking office, Esper also said he is focused on filling empty spots at the Pentagon as quickly as possible to “make sure we have that civilian control of the military” firmly in place. The Trump administration's request for defense in FY20 was $750 billion, a number Democrats in Congress tried to reduce to $733 billion. The nearly $1.4 trillion spending plan announced Monday — which would prevent a government shutdown this fall and do away with the final two years of budget caps known as sequestration — includes about $738 billion in military funding for FY20. That's a 3 percent increase from current-year levels, which seems fine with the man now running America's military. “$738 [billion] is a good number. We also have two years. We expect to see two years' worth of numbers. To the degree we have predictability, to the degree we can avoid [continuing resolutions], those things allow us to plan and make more efficient use of our dollars,” Esper said. “So I'm good with those dollars. No complaints.” Esper is the first confirmed defense secretary since Jim Mattis resigned at the end of last year. But a number of spots — including 14 of 59 political spots, and four of the top six roles in the department — are still filled by acting individuals, something Esper highlighted as an issue he's hoping to quickly address. “My perspective was from a service secretary and I think it's always challenging — people in acting jobs, when you don't feel the full confidence in the role, sometimes folks tend to maybe not behave as confidently because you're unsure and you also don't want to bind the person-who-may-actually-be-confirmed's hands,” he said, adding he does not think the open spots impacted operations. “We need to get staffed up quickly,” he said. “We have to get stable leadership.” One of those empty spots is Army secretary, now vacant with Esper's promotion. Ryan McCarthy, the service undersecretary, has been nominated to fill the full role. Asked about advice for his successor, Esper joked that he hopes McCarthy won't “break anything,” before saying he expects McCarthy's nomination to arrive at the Senate in a “matter of days.” “His paperwork is at the White House, and everybody we put forth needs to be thoroughly vetted. So I think he should soon be coming out of the process,” Esper said. “The question is if it will be soon enough for the Senate Armed Services Committee to do its due diligence in a timely matter.” The secretary has also asked for new guidance to be issued to the field to inform service members on the “very important role of media and press” in society. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2019/07/24/newly-installed-secdef-the-budget-deal-provides-a-good-number-for-defense/