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.
General Dynamics UK will design and develop the UK's next-generation tactical communication and information system as the initial phase of the MORPHEUS programme. The company announced a £330 million contract for the work from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 6 April.
The system will evolve the Bowman tactical communication (BCIP 5.6) capability into an open, modular system using a new architectural approach the company calls 'Evolve to Open' (EvO).
The resulting system will be used to plan, deploy, manage and monitor communications and information for the British Army, connecting deployed tactical forces to their commanders.
In addition to allowing users to integrate new radios, applications and other system components faster and with greater ease to tackle emerging threats and enhance interoperability with allies, it will give improved access to powerful operational IT and simplify the user experience.
Brigadier Richard Spencer, head of the MoD's battlefield and tactical communications and information system delivery team said: 'The Transition Partner contract is just the first of many procurement projects to deliver the MORPHEUS EvO baseline over the next few years. This first contract opens the door for numerous industry opportunities to contribute to the next generation of battlefield communications.'
The EvO contract is the first to be awarded for the MORPHEUS programme, which will give UK armed forces across all three services modernised command and control networks using the latest technology.
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.