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.
The USAF Warfare Center and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) announced plans to build a 5G cellular network prototype at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
The network will only be available to those taking part in the testing process. It will include relocatable cell towers which can be assemble and disassembled in under 1h. This will enable the users to access the private network whilst on the move.
Joseph Evans, DoD technical director for 5G, said: ‘The Defense Department recognises 5G technology is vital to maintaining America’s military and economic advantages… We expect to start construction on the network at Nellis in July and have it fully operational in January of next year.’
This testing period will start in January 2021 but will continue as part of three 12-month phases. Similarly prototyping and experiments have been announced for Hill AFB, Utah; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia; and Naval Base San Diego, California.
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.