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.
Rheinmetall and Rohde & Schwarz have signed an agreement to form a joint venture (JV) company to bid for the German military’s mobile tactical communications (MoTaKo) and mobile tactical information network (MoTIV) procurement programmes.
The establishment of the JV is still pending anti-trust approval. Under the agreement, Rheinmetall will hold a 74.9% share in the new company, with the remaining 25.1% held by Rohde & Schwarz.
The JV will draw on the expertise and solutions of additional partners to put forward the proposals.
MoTaKo and MoTIV are the German Army’s principal modernisation projects for ground operations, with communication systems and thousands of vehicles earmarked for retrofitting. The scope of applications extends from tactical operation centres down to the individual infantryman on the ground.
Under the JV, Rheinmetall will be responsible for the command systems, the cross-functional operator interface and the complete vehicle integration process. Rohde & Schwarz will oversee the complete architecture, including IT and cybersecurity, as well as the IP-based system solution for robust, military voice and data transmission, including incorporation of components and solutions from other contractors.
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.