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.
Elbit Systems Ltd. announced today that its subsidiary Elisra Electronic Systems Ltd, was awarded a contract valued at approximately euro 5 million to supply hundreds of units of its AN/PRC-684 Personal Locator Beacon (formerly SPLB) to the French MoD, equipping the French Air Force, Army, Navy and DGA (Direction generale de l'armement ). The project will be performed within 24 months.
The French company INEO Defense is the project's prime contractor.
The contract award followed a tender in which Elisra competed with several world-renowned manufacturers of Search and Rescue (SAR) beacons.
The AN/PRC-684 is one of the few PLBSs in the market to offer voice functions. The AN/PRC-684 has an integral voice transceiver featuring multichannel VHF/UHF capabilities, an advanced over-the-horizon Cospas-Sarsat Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) intended for non-combat SAR missions, when training or flying over friendly territory. Carried in the aircrew's emergency vest, the system is designed to provide a variety of modes of activation using an internal G-switch that automatically activates the beacon upon aircrew bailout, while a lanyard-actuated switch provides for additional mechanical and manual activation options.
Source: Elbit Systems
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.