US Space Force increases efforts to plug training capabilities gaps
The service has been seeking simulation and emulation solutions capable of reproducing multiple in-orbit threats.
DRS Technologies has received a three-year contract to supply a modular family of computers and display systems to the US Army. The Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, announced on 3 September, has a potential total value of $455 million.
The contract will see DRS deliver the Mounted Family of Computing Systems (MFoCS) for installation on ground vehicles and weapons platforms to provide modular computing capabilities across the services.
The equipment includes dismountable tablets, platform-computing servers, docking stations, interconnecting cables, installation kits, and three sizes of ruggedised sunlight-readable touch-screen display units for more than 40 types of ground vehicles and weapons platforms. According to DRS, the systems will add capability while reducing the overall size, weight, power and cost of the systems currently installed on US military ground vehicles and platforms.
William Lynn, CEO, DRS Technologies, said: ‘This technology will provide our warfighters with a strategic advantage on the battlefield and builds on the DRS heritage of supplying cutting-edge network computing systems for the US military.’
Mike Sarrica, president, DRS Network and Imaging Systems, added: ‘US warfighters deserve reliable systems and the latest in networking technologies to successfully conduct global operations in all types of environments.’
The three-year contract, executed by the army and available for the marine corps and other services to acquire systems through it as well, includes options for two one-year extensions.
Three levels of computing and display capability in three hardware configurations will be fielded to meet joint force and army requirements. The MFoCS family is fully interoperable with already fielded legacy systems; and will meet key Warfighter Information Network-Tactical requirements, integrate the fielded FBCB2 system and the current Joint Battle Command Platform.
The service has been seeking simulation and emulation solutions capable of reproducing multiple in-orbit threats.
The service has been conducting several acquisition and upgrading efforts involving artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve communication, data analysis and ISR systems.
The Syracuse 4B communications satellite, developed by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, was launched last year, bolstering secure military satellite communications for the French Armed Forces. Thales has now been selected to provide terminals for vehicles.
The growing importance of space in modern warfare, advancements in satellite technology, and increasing threats from rivals like China and Russia were among the topics of a Eurosatory 2024 panel on military space operations.
AN/ARC-232A is a Starfire radio that provides VHF/UHF communications to airborne platforms and the transceiver is software-programmable, allowing for multiple waveform support as well as optional national electronic counter counter-measure (ECCM) capability.
During the 18-month period of the contract, Lockheed Martin will apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques to create surrogate models of aircraft, sensors, electronic warfare and weapons within dynamic and operationally representative environments.