Nouvelles

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Drone Racing League (DRL) today announced an innovation competition, challenging teams to develop artificial intelligence (AI) technology that will enable an autonomous drone to race a pilot-operated drone – and win. Participating teams will compete in a series of challenges for their share of over $2 million in prizes. Lockheed Martin Chief Technology Officer Keoki Jackson announced the challenge at TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco, kicking off a multi-year partnership with DRL, the global professional circuit for drone racing. The AlphaPilot Innovation Challenge will enlist university students, technologists, coders and drone enthusiasts to push the boundaries of AI, machine learning (ML) and fully autonomous flight. "At Lockheed Martin, we are working to pioneer state-of-the-art, AI-enabled technologies that can help solve some of the world's most complex challenges – from fighting wildfires and saving lives during natural disasters to exploring the farthest reaches of deep space," said Jackson. "Now, we are inviting the next generation of AI innovators to join us with our AlphaPilot Innovation Challenge. Competitors will have an opportunity to define the future of autonomy and AI and help our world leverage these promising technologies to build a brighter future." The AlphaPilot challenge aims to accelerate the development and testing of fully autonomous drone technologies. AlphaPilot participants will design an artificial intelligence/machine learning framework, powered by the NVIDIA Jetson platform for AI at the edge, capable of flying a drone – without any pre-programming or human intervention – through challenging multi-dimensional race courses in DRL's new Artificial Intelligence Robotic Racing (AIRR) Circuit. "Since 2016, DRL has been the proving ground for the world's most talented human pilots, showcasing their abilities to race remotely piloted drones at high speeds. This challenge changes the game," said DRL CEO and Founder Nicholas Horbaczewski. "How close is AI performance to the world's best human piloting? We're excited to find out next year when AlphaPilot drones compete in adrenaline-packed, futuristic drone races on complex courses in the AIRR Circuit. Our collaboration with Lockheed Martin will both accelerate AI innovation and redefine the sport of the future." The Lockheed Martin AlphaPilot Innovation Challenge will open for entries in November. Selected participants are eligible for over $2 million in cash prizes, including an extra $250,000 award for the first team that outperforms a professional DRL human-piloted drone. Undergraduate and graduate students, drone enthusiasts, coders and other technologists interested in learning more and applying to participate can visit lockheedmartin.com/alphapilot. Lockheed Martin is funding the AlphaPilot Innovation Challenge through savings from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The corporation is also using savings from tax reform to increase its investments in research and development and capital expenditures, employee training and educational opportunities, investment in technology startups, and STEM education programs. About Lockheed Martin Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. This year, the company received three Edison awards for groundbreaking innovations in autonomy, satellite technology and directed energy. About Drone Racing League DRL is the professional drone racing circuit for elite FPV pilots around the world. A technology, sports and media company, DRL combines world-class media and proprietary technology to create thrilling 3D drone racing content with mass appeal. Founded by Nicholas Horbaczewski in 2015, DRL is a privately held company headquartered in NYC. For more information on DRL, visit www.drl.io SOURCE Lockheed Martin https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2018-09-05-Lockheed-Martin-and-Drone-Racing-League-Launch-Groundbreaking-AI-Innovation-Challenge

Researchers from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and Bell Helicopter met in June 2018 to focus on the development of micro unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The project surrounds what Bell describes as miniature, lightweight reconnaissance vehicles that soldiers can carry onto the battlefield and deploy in a confined space. The collaboration began after Bell representatives travelled to Adelphi, Maryland, to attend an open campus event at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in November 2016. After a year and a half of information sharing, the two parties signed a five-year cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) in March 2018. “We're trying to get data on the fundamental level, to build up a knowledge base of vehicles, because their expertise is in designing the vehicles, whereas our expertise is the fundamentals of them,” said Dr. John Hrynuk, a mechanical engineer in ARL's Vehicle Technology Directorate (VTD). “We want new technology; they want new vehicles. Together, we want to enhance technologies for the soldiers – that's what makes it the absolute perfect collaboration.” Bell engineers Dakota Easley and Levi Hefner recently visited ARL to perform experiments on micro UAS using the facility's wind tunnel. Bell explains the visit was prompted by vehicle control challenges its researchers had observed in early flight testing. With the help of ARL scientists and equipment, according to Bell, the engineers were able to isolate their earlier challenges and improve the performance of the aerial vehicle. “The wind tunnel here at ARL has been beneficial in providing data that explains why certain things are happening on the control side. Now we're able to better analyze our tests to enhance the performance of our vehicles,” Hefner said. “This collaboration is great because we're heading into a new design space with these small vehicles.” https://www.wingsmagazine.com/news/bell-micro-uas-15855

Le 4 septembre 2018 – Ottawa – Défense nationale/Forces armées canadiennes Du 10 au 21 septembre 2018, des scientifiques canadiens de la défense et des membres des Forces armées canadiennes effectueront une série d'expériences de recherche en technologie dans la ville de Montréal aux côtés de pays partenaires, soit l'Australie, les États-Unis, la Nouvelle-Zélande et le Royaume-Uni. Les activités de recherche comprendront la mise à l'essai et l'évaluation de nouvelles technologies dans divers environnements et paysages urbains. L'expérience en environnement urbain contesté (EUC 18) se déroulera dans les environs du Manège militaire Côte-des-Neiges, autour de belvédère Kondiaronk, le long de la rue de la Montagne et près du Silo no 5 dans le secteur du Vieux-Port. La plupart des activités se dérouleront au cours de la journée, et quelques périodes d'essai auront lieu pendant la nuit. Tout le personnel militaire participant à l'expérience EUC 18 ne sera pas armé. Cette expérience est réalisée dans le but d'appuyer l'avancement de la recherche sur la meilleure façon de mener des opérations militaires dans des environnements urbains. Des mesures sont prises afin de minimiser les inconvénients pour les personnes se trouvant dans le secteur. Le public est toutefois avisé que certaines zones peuvent être inaccessibles pendant la durée de l'expérience EUC 18. Les questions concernant les sujets locaux, comme les perturbations de la circulation, les fermetures de routes, etc., doivent être adressées à la ville de Montréal. Les questions du public concernant l'expérience peuvent être adressées à l'organisation responsable des sciences et de la technologie du ministère de la Défense nationale, Recherche et développement pour la défense Canada, par courriel à CUE18_EUC18@forces.gc.ca. Les questions des médias peuvent être adressées au Bureau de relations avec les médias du ministère de la Défense nationale par courriel à mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca.

2018-08-30 WILLIAM KUCINSKI Officials will soon award a 350-unit contract to one of three competing aircraft teams. According to officials, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) will select a new trainer aircraft by September 30 – before the end of the 2018 fiscal year. The aircraft will be one of the three remaining next-gen trainer candidates from the USAF's ongoing T-X competition, either the clean-sheet T-X from Boeing and Saab, the T-50A from Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (KAI), or the T-100 from Leonardo DRS. The USAF will replace its aging fleet of Northrop T-38 Talon supersonic jet trainers with 350 new aircraft from the T-X competition, spending approximately $16 billion to acquire and maintain the new trainers over the course of their service life – one of the largest USAF contracts in recent times. The seasoned T-38 has been in use since 1961, training nearly 50,000 pilots who would later fly aircraft like the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, McDonell Douglass F-15 Eagle, and Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. However, as the USAF transitions employs more and more cutting-edge technologies, a next-gen trainer is needed to better facilitate fifth-gen fighter aircraft pilot training for the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lighting II. The winning T-X aircraft will serve as a platform to acclimate pilots to aircraft with extreme agility, full-sensor fusion, integrated avionics, supercruise, and consolidated and integrated battlespace management technologies. Industry analysts currently favor the Lockheed/KAI T-50A – based on KAI's T-50 trainer used by South Korea's Republic of Korea Air Force and co-developed by Lockheed Martin, manufacturer of the F-22 and F-35; and the Boeing/Saab T-X – which, as a completely new design – benefited from additional development time due to the T-X competition's repeatedly protracted award announcement. While speculation has floated that the T-X award announcement would occur during the Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber (ASC) Conference from Sept. 17-19, those close to the program hinted at a decision coming through the following week of Sept. 24. https://www.sae.org/news/2018/08/t-x-competition-to-end-in-september-with-selection-of-new-usaf-trainer-aircraft

Le Gican a procédé à une réorganisation de ses services. Pour le Groupement des industries de la construction et des activités navales, il s'agit de "correspondre plus efficacement aux exigences du secteur" dans le contexte d'une "consolidation du Comité stratégique de filière des industries de la mer". L'objectif est de "se concentrer, en plus de la logique métier liée à la construction et à la réparation navale civile et de défense, sur la R&D, l'internationalisation et l'export, la transformation numérique des entreprises et l'attractivité des métiers, mais les exigences du secteur naval ne peuvent négliger le lien fort aux adhérents et aux territoires, et la nécessaire promotion du secteur par une communication et des relations publiques repensées". L'organigramme du Groupement se concentrera désormais autour de six délégations réparties dans trois pôles de compétences : Vie de l'organisation (relations avec les adhérents, relations publiques...), Métiers du naval (chantiers, activités civiles, équipementiers, énergies marines, défense et sécurité) et Industrie (R&D, numérique, internationalisation, export). Ce remaniement a entraîné la nomination de trois personnes. Jean-Marie Dumon s'est vu confier le poste de délégué à la défense et la sécurité, placé dans le Pôle métiers. Cet officier de marine et ingénieur a exercé des responsabilités variées pendant plus de trente ans dans la Marine nationale, dont deux commandements à la mer. Il a également travaillé auprès de hautes autorités du ministère des Armées, en particulier sur la stratégie de réformes. Arnaud Martins Da Torre a été nommé délégué à l'internationalisation des entreprises et à l'export (Pôle industrie). Il a été durant trois ans chercheur spécialiste des conflits et des questions de défense à l'Iris (Institut des relations internationales et stratégiques). Depuis 2001, il travaillait pour Eurotradia International, cabinet de conseil et d'accompagnement à l'export et à l'international. Enfin, Jacques Orjubin a hérité le poste de délégué à la communication et aux relations publiques (Pôle vie). Il a notamment travaillé au cabinet du secrétaire d'État aux Transports, à la Mer et à la Pêche, d'abord à la communication puis en tant que chargé de mission pour le dossier taxis/VTC/LOTI, avant de rejoindre le secrétariat général du Groupe SNCF pour travailler sur des questions de diplomatie économique. https://www.lantenne.com/Le-Gican-se-tourne-vers-l-international-et-le-numerique_a44101.html

Northrop Grumman has revealed the details of a production-ready new radar called Vanguard that the company's Electronic Systems division quietly launched about five years ago with the ambitious goal of reinventing the active, electronically scanned array (AESA), the company confirms exclusively to Aviation Week. Northrop designed the Vanguard architecture to support a shift away from developing highly tailored AESA systems optimized for only one application to a modular approach that ... http://aviationweek.com/defense/modular-northrop-grumman-vanguard-surveillance-radar-details-unveiled

LONDON—The German defense ministry says it has begun a radical restructuring of the country's armed forces to better prepare it for modernization and an uptick in defense ... Full article: http://aviationweek.com/awindefense/germany-radically-overhauling-military

Neha Dasgupta NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) will build wings for its F-16 combat plane in India with its local partner, Tata Advanced Systems Limited, an executive at the U.S. company said on Tuesday. Lockheed is bidding for a contract - estimated at more than $15 billion - to supply the Indian air force with 114 combat planes, which must be all manufactured locally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship Make in India program. However, Vivek Lall, vice president of strategy and business development at Lockheed, said the proposed Indian production of the F-16 wings would not be contingent upon the company winning the order for the planes. “Producing F-16 wings in India will strengthen Lockheed Martin' strategic partnership with Tata and support Make in India,” the company said in a statement. Modi has been pushing for local manufacturing that will provide jobs and also end the military's dependence on imports. Lockheed's announcement came just days ahead of top level talks between the United States and India aimed at expanding defense ties. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will meet with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Boeing (BA.N) has pitched its F/A-18 Super Hornet for the Indian contract as well as Sweden's Saab with its Gripen fighter. France's Dassault (AVMD.PA) Systemes SE's Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Russian aircraft are also in the fray. Lall said Lockheed had offered to make India its sole F-16 production facility that would supply the Indian military but also other countries. “If India buys the F-16 then it becomes the center of manufacturing for the global market,” he said. Lall said the company planned to begin production of the F-16 wings in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad from 2020. He said these were being produced at a facility in Israel and would not impact any jobs in the United States. The Israeli center will continue to be involved in other production, he said. “All F-16 wings globally are to be built in the Hyderabad facility,” he said. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-usa-lockheedmartin/lockheed-to-make-wings-for-f-16-jet-in-india-with-partner-tata-idUSKCN1LK17T

By: Todd South Marines have dazzling laser lights to wave off unwanted intruders at checkpoints and close-range police-style Tasers for crowd control. But what about when a Marine needs to reach out and shock someone? A new notice posted on the Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research website shows that the Marines are looking for a Taser round that can be fired from conventional weapons such as 9 mm pistols, 12-gauge shotguns or even 40 mm grenade launchers, first reported by The National Interest. This request for Small Arms Long-Range Human Electro-Muscular Incapacitation Munition, or HEMI, is one of a range of nonlethal weapons sought and being fielded by all the services. The Army announced in June it would acquire a paintball-type gun that fires a round that releases a “debilitating cloud” of irritant, much like hot sauce. Earlier this year at a Pentagon showcase, the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program displayed concepts and prototypes of weapons, specifically lasers, that would do everything from heat a person's skin from a distance to create a plasma ball at any location that can “talk” to a target to ward it away from a restricted area. Full article: https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2018/09/04/marines-want-electroshock-rounds-to-fire-from-standard-weapons