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.
Raytheon will provide the new Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) for the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class under a $27.9 million contract announced on 23 May.
The contract was awarded following a study and product assessment phase during which Raytheon demonstrated the solution's features and capabilities met all of the US Navy's design and performance requirements. The VDS is designed to be an anti-submarine warfare asset that will be deployed from LCS to locate and track enemy submarines.
Identical for both LCS variants, the design of this sonar system features reduced weight to minimise ship impact, increased manoeuvrability and provides the opportunity for increased payload.
Under the terms of the contract, Raytheon is set to advance its design to a full pre-production test article, which is expected to be complete in late 2018. The contract also includes options for production, which, if exercised, could bring total contract value to over $300 million.
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.