BAE Systems continues ACK work
The DARPA vision for its Adapting Cross-Domain Kill-Webs programme. (Photo: DARPA)
DARPA awards Phase 2 contract for BAE to develop software under the Adapting Cross-Domain Kill-Webs programme.
DARPA has picked BAE Systems for further development of its Multi-domain Adaptive Request Service (MARS) software to ‘enable semi-autonomous, multi-domain mission planning’, the company announced on 31 August.
The $6.5 million Phase 2 contract, awarded under the Adapting Cross-Domain Kill-Webs (ACK) programme, follows a successful Phase 1 demonstration.
In Phase 1, the FAST Labs R&D division in BAE Systems worked with Carnegie Mellon University and Uncharted Software to create MARS. The Phase 1 demonstration highlighted how this software updates plans in real time during a live exercise, by ingesting information feeds to track the state of planned tasks and then generating options to adapt the plan to insert new tasks.
Under Phase 2, BAE Systems will scale up MARS capabilities designed to help operators make informed decisions by automatically identifying available assets across domains, and then rapidly assessing the costs and benefits of using those assets when adapting mission tasks.
ACK will culminate in a full-scale demonstration in an operationally realistic setting.
More from Defence Notes
-
![US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness]()
US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness
The US Congress has raised concerns about how inflation rates and cuts in main acquisition programmes could affect the US military.
-
![Can the US overcome Russian and Chinese nuclear capabilities?]()
Can the US overcome Russian and Chinese nuclear capabilities?
Washington’s ageing inventory and the pace Moscow and Beijing have been modernising their capabilities put in check the US Nuclear deterrence.
-
![US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap]()
US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap
The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.
-
![NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls]()
NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls
In 2023, defence spending increased by an unprecedented 11% across European NATO countries and Canada. Since 2014, the group has spent an additional US$600 billion on defence.
-
![US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025]()
US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025
The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.
-
![Haiti crisis forces Caribbean militaries to prepare for intervention]()
Haiti crisis forces Caribbean militaries to prepare for intervention
As gangs gain control of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s Caribbean neighbours have been preparing to intervene in the failed state, with the US and other partners waiting in the wings with equipment and financial support.
