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.
Leonardo and Diamond Aircraft Industries are offering a new version of the twin-engine DA62 aircraft customised for maritime surveillance missions.
The DA62 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (DA62-MSA) will be outfitted with a full ISR suite based on Leonardo’s Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance (ATOS) mission system.
The companies are aiming to fill a market gap with the new solution for cost-effective, short/medium-range land and maritime surveillance platforms in regions such as South America, Africa and the Asia Pacific.
The DA62-MSA’s baseline sensor fit will include a Leonardo Gabbiano Ultra-Light TS radar, which comes with an suite of modes including optimised maritime patrol capabilities, such as high sea state detection, high resolution ground mapping via synthetic aperture radar modes, ground moving target indication and weather avoidance modes.
The aircraft will also be fitted with a high definition EO/IR turret which will be fully integrated into the operator’s touch-screen ATOS display in order to follow and manage the surveillance missions.
Additional sensor options will include Leonardo’s SAGE electronic support measures system and Spider communications intelligence system. SAGE provides tactical threat awareness and strategic intelligence gathering in the radio-frequency environment, while Spider can detect, intercept, identify and geo-locate communications of interest.
The DA62-MSA has a take-off weight of 2,300kg, endurance of up to eight hours and can carry up to four crew.
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.