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.
Northrop Grumman will act as design agent for the US Navy’s AN/SPQ-9B surface search and fire control radar, the company announced on 25 July.
The company will provide support to existing and future systems, troubleshoot issues, perform redesign efforts as parts go obsolete and add new capabilities to the baseline system. This will provide the navy with uninterrupted technical assistance in their system installations, upgrades and follow-on production efforts.
This follow-on engineering services contract will continue to support the installed base of 50 AN/SPQ-9B radar systems on ships and at six land sites, as well as future systems as they are delivered to the fleet.
Todd Leavitt, vice president, maritime systems, Northrop Grumman, said: ‘By leveraging our expertise and partnership with the US Navy, we have developed radar systems that increasingly support complex missions. We are committed to maximising the design and engineering of this technology and enhancing capability that will extend to the navy’s next generation radars.’
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.