AFRL

GA-ASI Makes First Flight of XQ-67A OBSS

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 29, 2024

SAN DIEGO, CA, Mar 1, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) for the first time on Feb. 28, 2024.

Key Points: 
  • SAN DIEGO, CA, Mar 1, 2024 - (ACN Newswire) - General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) for the first time on Feb. 28, 2024.
  • OBSS is an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) program and GA-ASI was selected in 2021 to design, build and fly the new aircraft.
  • With flight of the AFRL-funded XQ-67A, GA-ASI has validated the "genus/species" concept first developed with AFRL as part of the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) program focused on building several aircraft variants from a common core chassis.
  • Flight demonstration of this system is a major first step toward showing the ability to produce affordable combat mass."

Mattermost Completes Contract with U.S. Air Force 618th Air Operations Center to Deliver Real Time, Mission Critical Communications

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Developed for the 618th Air Operations Center (AOC) of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command, the four new features address C2 challenges with response time to mission-critical requests for information.

Key Points: 
  • Developed for the 618th Air Operations Center (AOC) of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command, the four new features address C2 challenges with response time to mission-critical requests for information.
  • Air Force operators of any kind using Mattermost can leverage the features developed under this AFWERX Phase II to enhance mission intelligence shareability in real-time.
  • Message Acknowledgement - Improves situational awareness and synchronization on mission intelligence through enhanced visibility of message receipt across the chain of command.
  • User Group Management - Drives alignment across groups of rotating personnel during a mission, including operators and aircrews at the tactical edge.

IonQ Achieves Critical First Step Towards Developing Future Quantum Networks

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 22, 2024

This major step towards quantum networking and photonic interconnects will play an integral part in helping IonQ deliver significantly higher computational power in next-generation systems.

Key Points: 
  • This major step towards quantum networking and photonic interconnects will play an integral part in helping IonQ deliver significantly higher computational power in next-generation systems.
  • “We are proud to share this first major step towards connecting quantum systems and developing IonQ’s first networked quantum computer,” said Pat Tang, Vice President, Research & Development at IonQ.
  • The work represents a crucial first step towards developing photonic interconnect protocols for quantum computing applications running across multiple quantum processing units (QPUs).
  • In contrast, quantum networks entangle cores to form a single, more powerful quantum computer capable of running complex algorithms.

Viasat Wins Contract from Northrop Grumman on U.S. Air Force's Commercial Space Internet Experiments

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 29, 2024

CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, has been awarded a contract from Northrop Grumman to support the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) initiative, called the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) Call 003 program – better known by its nickname 'Global Lightning.'

Key Points: 
  • Northrop Grumman was awarded a four-year contract to test how defense contractors and commercial satcom providers could integrate space internet services into existing military systems.
  • As part of its contract with Northrop Grumman, Viasat will provide its ViaSat-3 Satellite Communications Network to enable military users to easily access high-bandwidth satellite internet connectivity from existing USAF aircraft or ground vehicles.
  • Under the deal, Viasat will integrate its ViaSat-3 modem into Northrop Grumman's open systems processors and antenna solutions to conduct experiments demonstrating its use on multiple platforms.
  • "Global Lightning is about delivering flexibility and agility for military users," said Victor Farah, Head of Viasat Government Systems.

U.S. Air Force Awards Soaak Technologies' Second Contract to Enhance Airmen Performance with Innovative Sound Technology

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Soaak Technologies is developing advanced mobile and web applications, tailored for the DAF's unique operational needs.

Key Points: 
  • Soaak Technologies is developing advanced mobile and web applications, tailored for the DAF's unique operational needs.
  • These applications are created to improve mission readiness and cognitive resilience using Soaak's proprietary sound frequency technology , addressing the crucial requirement of maintaining peak mental and physical states in demanding environments.
  • By integrating Soaak's proprietary technology, this project is set to advance health tech innovation and the operational efficacy of service members.
  • Our proprietary technology represents a groundbreaking passive and pharmacology-free method to enhance warfighter performance, resilience, and overall well-being," said Aaron Fournier, President of Soaak Digital.

Hughes Selected to Provide Modems and Multi-Orbit Auto-PACE Solution in Support of SES Space & Defense's US Air Force DEUCSI Program

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024

GERMANTOWN, Md., Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), an EchoStar company (Nasdaq: SATS), today announced that SES Space & Defense, a wholly owned subsidiary of SES, awarded Hughes a contract to provide a flexible, software-defined, multi-orbit, auto-PACE solution and associated modems in support of SES Space & Defense's and the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program. The Hughes solution will enable resilient broadband connectivity using both Ku- and Ka-band Geostationary (GEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations for various Comms on the Pause (COTP) and Comms on the Move (COTM) test scenarios.

Key Points: 
  • GERMANTOWN, Md., Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), an EchoStar company (Nasdaq: SATS), today announced that SES Space & Defense, a wholly owned subsidiary of SES, awarded Hughes a contract to provide a flexible, software-defined, multi-orbit, auto-PACE solution and associated modems in support of SES Space & Defense's and the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program.
  • SES Space & Defense, which focuses exclusively on delivering satellite network solutions for governments, will integrate a LEO solution into the Hughes auto-PACE offering, adding further to the resilient nature of the ultimate program deliverable.
  • Hughes appreciates the opportunity to continue working with SES Space & Defense and others on this program as the need for multi-orbit communications accelerates."
  • With more than 50 years of experience in satellite communications, Hughes continues to advance the technologies and capabilities available to commercial and government customers.

IonQ Opens Doors to First Dedicated Quantum Computing Manufacturing Facility in the U.S.

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in the quantum computing industry, today announced the opening of the United States’ first quantum computing manufacturing facility, located in Bothell, Washington, a suburb of Seattle.

Key Points: 
  • IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in the quantum computing industry, today announced the opening of the United States’ first quantum computing manufacturing facility, located in Bothell, Washington, a suburb of Seattle.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240215594253/en/
    IonQ Opens Doors to First Dedicated Quantum Computing Manufacturing Facility in the U.S. (Photo: Business Wire)
    The facility will be IonQ’s second quantum data center providing cloud access to IonQ customers, and the primary production engineering location in the U.S.
  • “The Seattle facility represents a tangible realization of IonQ’s commitment to commercializing quantum and getting quantum computers into the hands of customers,” said IonQ CEO Peter Chapman.
  • To learn more about how you can get started on an IonQ system today, please contact us directly at: https://ionq.com/get-ready .

Beacon AI Signs Contract with United States Air Force to Provide AI Solutions

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, Feb. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- (AFRL) – Beacon AI, a leading artificial intelligence start-up specializing in flight safety and efficiency, was awarded a $1.25M Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract with the United States Air Force AFWERX program.

Key Points: 
  • WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, Feb. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- (AFRL) – Beacon AI, a leading artificial intelligence start-up specializing in flight safety and efficiency, was awarded a $1.25M Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract with the United States Air Force AFWERX program.
  • During contract execution, Beacon AI will advance development and enhance their AI copilot assistant system which augments existing flight crews by bringing modern autonomy to the flight deck.
  • AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), works to accelerate the adoption of emerging technology and forge partnerships with innovative startups like Beacon AI.
  • "Our commitment is to accelerate the most agile and capable autonomy technologies, developed by companies like Beacon AI, to the Air Force."

Reliable Robotics Awarded Military Airworthiness Approval for a Commercial Autonomous Flight System

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Reliable Robotics , a leader in autonomous aircraft systems, today announced that it has received military airworthiness approval to begin flight testing and operational missions of its remotely piloted Cessna 208 Caravan for the U.S. Air Force.

Key Points: 
  • Reliable Robotics , a leader in autonomous aircraft systems, today announced that it has received military airworthiness approval to begin flight testing and operational missions of its remotely piloted Cessna 208 Caravan for the U.S. Air Force.
  • This approval signifies a deeper level of engagement with the Department of Defense (DoD) by enabling Reliable to demonstrate dual-use automated flight capabilities for military use cases, including cargo missions.
  • In order to meet these requirements, Reliable completed a comprehensive safety analysis, maintenance and operational evaluations and testing of the automated flight technologies.
  • In 2023, Reliable demonstrated automated flight for distinguished military personnel as part of the Golden Phoenix exercise at Travis Air Force base.

America Makes Selects Elementum 3D to Lead "Proliferation of AM Aluminum Alloy Material Datasets" Team

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 29, 2024

ERIE, Colo., Jan. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Elementum 3D, a leading developer and supplier of metal additive manufacturing (AM) advanced materials, print parameters, and services, is pleased to announce America Makes selected its proposal, aimed at qualifying its commercially available, high-strength A7050-RAM2 aluminum additive manufacturing feedstock, for funding under the "Proliferation of AM Materials Datasets" project call.

Key Points: 
  • Dr. Jacob Nuechterlein, Elementum 3D president and founder, emphasized the impact of America Makes' commitment to advancing AM material datasets, stating, "America Makes' push to advance AM material datasets is monumental for the manufacturing industry.
  • Results of this America Makes program will be available to America Makes members as well as the U.S. Government.
  • We look forward to working alongside Elementum 3D and America Makes to reverse this paradigm.
  • We are grateful to America Makes and Elementum 3D for the opportunity to support this important project."