Page 15 – Defense Daily

Navy Exploring Drone Navigation Tech And Autonomy In SatNav-Denied Environment

The Navy is looking into options that would allow uncrewed vessels to continue to travel even if satellite navigation systems are denied in the environment, according to a recent notice.

According to a Request for Information (RFI) published on Oct. 25, The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) is looking into the kinds of capabilities available for enhanced navigation on uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) and uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) “when Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data is degraded or unavailable and where an a priori map (bathymetric, topographic, etc.) is not known.”

The Overlord Unmanned Surface Vessel (OUSV) Mariner and Ranger maneuver in the Pacific Ocean during Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2 on Sep. 16, 2023. (Photo: U.S. Navy by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jesse Monford)

The Navy is interested in sensing modes like acoustic, electro-optic, and magnetic that can be deployed on uncrewed vessels ranging form man-portable to large diameter vehicles.

The RFI also said that feature extraction and general perception processing approaches should be considered in the technologies on offer.

The Navy said solutions “can augment inertial navigation systems to limit accumulation of position error (drift) or provide standalone localization via loop closure methods.”

These measures should be able to converge within the timeframe relevant for real-time operation, but without requiring an operator in the loop.

Concurrently, NSWC PCD issued another RFI looking into other technology to work on the same type of concerns.

The second notice is seeking information on embedded autonomy capabilities that would allow autonomous underwater vehicles and surface vehicles (AUVs and ASVs) to react in real time to sensor observations without requiring an operator in the loop.

The Navy notice said it wants embedded autonomy capabilities able to perform “dynamic, reactive missions based on real time sensor observations.”

The RFI listed technologies of interest like obstacle avoidance and navigating around exclusion zones created by onboard sensors; ability to dynamically track and follow targets just by using sensor input; dynamic route planning to change routes and objectives based in observations using onboard sensors like obstacles; real-time adjustment of task prioritization based on factors like in-situ created tasks, distance to objective, and time or energy cost of competing a task; monitoring AUV and sensor health; and optimizing AUV/ASV path based on current and future mission objectives.

The Navy said it invites both small and large businesses to respond to the RFIs and responses to both are due by Nov. 26.

These capabilities could prove important in pushing autonomous naval capabilities forward to more widely deploy on the timeline Navy leadership wants.

In Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Navigation Plan, autonomy and unmanned naval systems are key part of her Project 33 effort to get significantly more assets to the field within three years.(Defense Daily, Sept. 18).

Under the plan, the CNO wants to integrate proven autonomous and uncrewed systems “for routine use by the commanders who will employ them.”

She also said the Navy aims to integrate mature capabilities into all of the deploying aircraft carrier and Expeditionary Strike Group certifications.

Leidos Swings To Profit In Third Quarter; Restarting Glide Munition Production

Leidos [LDOS] on Tuesday reported strong third quarter financial results led by its health and defense segments and the company raised its guidance for 2024 and set expectations for further growth in 2025 and beyond.

Net income swung to $362 million, $2.68 earnings per share (EPS), versus a loss of $396 million ($2.91 EPS) a year ago when the company suffered $699 million in charges, mostly related to impairments in its security detection business (Defense Daily, Oct. 31, 2023). Adjusted earnings, which exclude certain costs and charges, were $2.93 EPS in the quarter, beating consensus estimates by 92 cents.

Sales were up 7 percent to $4.2 billion versus $3.9 billion a year ago.

At the operating level, the Defense Systems segment generated a more than 11-fold increase in operating income on program execution and double-digit sales growth. The Health and Civil segment, the company’s largest, also enjoyed double-digit sales and operating income gains while the Commercial and International segment posted a 5 percent increase in sales and swung to a profit due to a lack of charges that hit the security detection business a year ago. The National Security and Digital segment also boasted a double-digit increase in operating income, despite a slight sales gain, on improved program efficiencies.

Segment operating margin was 12.3 percent versus negative margin a year ago, and adjusted operating margin was a record 14.2 percent, up from 11.5 percent a year ago.

Leidos tallied a strong $8.1 billion in orders in the quarter, nearly two times sales, with the Defense Systems segment accounting for $1.7 billion, more than three times the segment’s sales. Successful testing of the company’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability-Enduring Shield for the Army has program on track to transition to low-rate production in 2025 and full-rate production in 2026, Tom Bell, Leidos CEO, said on the company’s earnings call.

Bell also touted the restart of production of a small glide munition program for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and upcoming advanced flight-testing of a small cruise missile system for SOCOM that are helping to lay the foundation for further growth in the Defense Systems business.

In an email response to questions, Leidos said the GBU-69/B Small Glide Munition (SGM) became operational in 2017 through work with SOCOM.

The company said the 60-pound class munition is integrated into a Common Launch Tube that is compatible with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Battle Management System and can hit static and high-speed moving targets. It also said the modular SGM design allows different seekers, warheads, and other subsystems, and “offers point detonate and height-of-bust fuzing modes with variable delays to maximize terminal effects.”

The SGM features an enhanced Block I configuration that includes a Collins two-way datalink and a new BAE Systems GPS receiver and an upgraded central processing unit.

Leidos said flight tests are slated for this year to demonstrate vision-based navigation and an alternative navigation source from BAE for scenarios where GPS is not available.

Chris Cage, Leidos chief financial officer, said the company is still awaiting clarity on customer demand for hypersonics, which the company is “ready to scale.” Expect the “growth momentum to continue” in the defense segment, and “the best years for that business are still ahead of it.”

Leidos raised its sales and earnings guidance for 2024 based on results so far this year. Sales are not expected to be between $16.4 billion and $16.5 billion versus prior expectations of $16.1 billion to $16.4 billion. Adjusted earnings are projected in the $9.80 to $10 EPS range, up from prior guidance of $8.60 to $9 EPS. Adjusting operating margin is expected to approach 13 percent versus the previous outlook of about 12 percent.

In March 2025, Leidos will out line its North Star growth strategy, which has been honed over the past year under the direction of Bell, who became the company’s chief executive in May 2023. He said the company’s strong balance sheet give its “optionality” as it puts more capital toward the new strategy.

A core growth engine of the new strategy is the Health and Civil segment, which is demonstrating operating strength across the portfolio, he said.

Cage called 2025 a pivot year for Leidos, with current expectations of low single digit revenue growth. The mid-point of the 2024 sales guidance is 6 percent growth, which the company expects to return to or exceed longer term, he said.

The reason for the muted outlook in 2025 is a challenging comparison to current growth in the Health and Civil segment, combined with the potential for an extended continuing resolution that limits federal spending at the outset of fiscal year 2025, Cage said.

Leidos is committed to “retaining margins near current levels and robustly and sustainably growing diluted EPS over time,” he said.

Free cash flow in the third quarter was strong at $633 million. Backlog stood at $40.6 billion, up 7 percent from $38 billion a year ago.

Sikorsky Awarded $1.24 Billion For UH-60M Black Hawk Deliveries To FMS Customers

The Army has awarded Sikorsky [LMT] a $1.24 billion contract modification covering UH-60M Black Hawks for foreign military sale (FMS) cases with Austria, Brazil, Greece, Sweden and Thailand.

Work on the deal, announced by the Pentagon on Monday evening, is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

A Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

The Army and Sikorsky in June 2022 signed what was expected to be the final multi-year UH-60M Black Hawk contract, awarding the company a five-year deal worth $2.3 billion for delivery of 120 H-60M helicopters (Defense Daily, June 27 2022).

With options, the Army noted the 10th multi-year deal for Black Hawks could potentially be worth $4.4 billion and cover more than 250 helicopters, to include aircraft for FMS customers.

Brig. Gen. David Phillips, program executive officer for aviation, said in September the Army plans to add production of 17 additional Black Hawk helicopters to its current multi-year contract with Sikorsky (Defense Daily, Sept. 4).

When the Army announced its major aviation restructure in early February, which included canceling development of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, it detailed plans to award another multi-year contract for UH-60M Black Hawks with the newly freed-up resources.

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told lawmakers in April the service plans to move “immediately” into the next UH-60 Black Hawk multi-year contract upon the conclusion of the current procurement deal with Sikorsky in FY ‘27, adding it will be a five-year contract covering 24 helicopters per year (Defense Daily, April 10).

HDT Details Hunter WOLF Platform For Army’s S-MET Inc. II Prototyping Effort

HDT Global on Monday confirmed it will provide its 6×6 Hunter WOLF unmanned ground vehicle for the Army’s Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) Increment II prototyping effort.

The company has said previously that the hybrid-electric Hunter WOLF was purpose-built for the S-MET program, with the platform now competing against

American Rheinmetall Vehicles to inform the second-generation, upgraded version of the capability.

HDT’s Hunter WOLF. Photo: HDT Global.

“We are thrilled our Hunter WOLF was selected for the S-MET Increment II award,” Kevin McSweeney, HDT Global President and CEO, said in a statement. “HDT’s industry leadership in the development of innovative robotic solutions is more than 12 years in the making and the Hunter WOLF proves our commitment to solving complex challenges faced by our warfighters on the modern battlefield. The Hunter WOLF is a mature TRL-9 solution that provides reliable, state-of-the-art technology, reducing the weight burden on warfighters while delivering multi-mission capability and flexibility for commanders and their formations.”

The Army in late September announced it had selected American Rheinmetall Vehicles and HDT to each deliver eight prototypes for the S-MET Inc. II effort, with plans to potentially award a production contract in late fiscal year 2027 that may cover more than 2,000 systems (Defense Daily, Sept. 25).

HDT on Monday said its Other Transaction Agreement for the S-MET Inc. II prototyping program is worth $11.55 million.

General Dynamics Land Systems [GD], which has been building the current version of S-MET since 2020, confirmed in early March it submitted a bid for the Inc. II competition but was not selected for the new prototyping effort (Defense Daily, March 5).

In 2017, HDT participated in an S-MET technology demonstration with the Hunter WOLF to help inform the Army’s search for the original version of the platform (Defense Daily, Oct. 31 2019).

For S-MET Inc. II, the Army said it aims to “double the payload capacity,” while also getting after capability for higher exportable power to enable drones and communications equipment, further reducing the audio signature, supporting dismounted wireless mesh communication networks, increased reliability and further the platform’s modularity with open architecture designs for easier upgrades.

“Characterized by its stealth, ruggedness, ease of operation and maintenance, the Hunter WOLF boasts a robust steel frame, electric motors, and a hybrid electric drive for power, durability, stealth, efficient power export and superior mobility. The system meets the demands of the most challenging mission profiles, and it’s engineered to perform consistently in extreme terrain, weather, and climates,” HDT said on Monday. “The Hunter WOLF’s performance capabilities align perfectly with the Army’s operational needs, and with a proven track record and a strong competitive position, HDT is well prepared to excel in the next phase of the competition.”

Army officials told reporters recently a focus for S-MET Inc. II will be to “drive commonality” that allows for integration of multi-mission payloads, with an aim to grow beyond the platform’s current equipment carrying role to include weapons and equipment packages that enable “movement to contact” and “suppression and overwatch” missions (Defense Daily, Oct. 25).

“In many ways, the Hunter WOLF is a robotic Swiss Army knife as it is built to accommodate numerous modular mission packages,” McSweeney said in a statement.

Rheinmetall earlier this month confirmed it is working with Textron Systems [TXT] and its Howe & Howe subsidiary on the S-MET Inc. II effort, where it will leverage the control architecture Textron developed for the ground robot platforms that have undergone testing as part of the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) efforts (Defense Daily, Oct. 7).

“Leveraging the control architecture developed for Textron Systems’ RCV solutions, the team’s S-MET vehicle provides a commonality that enables operators to utilize a common interface for both the RCV and S-MET programs,” Rheinmetall said at the time. “This approach reduces the overall training burden and maximizes investments made.”

U.S. OKs $2 Billion In Potential Weapons Sales To Taiwan, Includes NASAMS Defense Systems

The State Department has approved nearly $2 billion in potential weapons deals with Taiwan, to include the sale of several National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS).

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on October 25 of both Foreign Military Sale cases, which includes a $1.16 billion case for three NASAMS advanced air defense systems and an $828 million for AN/TPS-77 and AN/TPS-78 long-range radar systems.

NASAMS Live Fire Exercise
Photo: RTX

“After [three-plus] years of modest sustainment and munitions sales, these two FMS cases represent a significant broadening of the Biden Administration’s approach to the defense of Taiwan. This should allow for greater consideration of all the military threats posed to Taiwan, not just those involving a kinetic attack,” Rupert Hammond-Chambers, president of the US-Taiwan Business Council, said in a statement on Monday.

The new FMS cases are the latest examples of the U.S.’ moves to bolster Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities as it faces growing military pressure from China.

The larger FMS case would be Taiwan’s first purchase of the RTX [RTX] and Kongsberg’s jointly-developed NASAMS air defense system, which brings together the Sentinel radar and RTX’s Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) with Kongsberg’s Fire Distribution Center.

“The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats by contributing to the recipient’s abilities to defend its airspace, provide regional security and increase interoperability with the United States through its NASAMS program,” the DSCA said in a statement.

The FMS case would specifically include three Sentinel Radars, 123 extended range AMRAAMs, two AMRAAM-C8 guidance sections, four Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems, and the fire distribution centers, according to the State Department.

“The NASAMS batteries will be integrated into an island-wide air defense architecture that also includes Patriot-III and Taiwan’s indigenous Tien Kung system. The AMRAMM-ERs provide extended coverage, and have the added benefit of already being used by Taiwan’s burgeoning F-16 fleet. The sale of NASAMS, and the size of Taiwan’s modern F-16 fleet, place added focus on the Taiwan Air Force to further procure deep magazines of AMRAMM-ERs and AIM-9Xs to ensure that the NASAMS and fighters have the supplies needed for a potential conflict.” Hammond-Chamber said.

The U.S. has provided Ukraine with several NASAMS systems and associated munitions deliveries to support its fight against Russia’s ongoing invasion (Defense Daily, July 29).

For the potential $828 million FMS case, the State Department noted the U.S. Air Force will procure Lockheed Martin’s [LMT] AN/TPS-77 and Northrop Grumman’s [NOC] AN/TPS-78 radars for Taiwan along with spare and repair parts, transportation support and training.

“The proposed sale will improve the recipient’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing multi-mission ground-based radar solutions for medium to long range air surveillance,” DSCA said.

The State Department noted that both FMS cases are “consistent with U.S. law and policy as expressed in” the Taiwan Relations Act.

The newly announced weapons deals follow President Biden’s recent authorization of a $567 million security assistance package for Taiwan with weapons to be pulled from current Pentagon inventories using the Presidential Drawdown Authority (Defense Daily, Oct. 3).

Specifics on the capabilities to be included in the new Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package have not yet been disclosed.

The State Department on Monday also announced it has approved a potential $450 million FMS case with Switzerland for equipment to sustain its RTX-built Patriot air defense systems.

The deal covers sustainment support for Switzerland’s five Patriot fire units and interceptor inventory to include test station equipment, foreign liaison officer support, engineering services, modification and upgrade kits, classified missile processing, spare and repair parts and U.S. government and contractor technical, engineering and logistics services, according to the State Department.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly European nation that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress within Europe,” the DSCA said in a statement.

Senators Push OMB To Assess New Sub Funding Idea, Knock Navy On Hill Comms

A bipartisan group of senators expressed cautious optimism at a scheme to shift submarine funding to improve current production rates but also knocked the Navy for insufficient communication with Congress on submarine funding issues in two recent letters.

On Oct. 25 seven senators sent a letter to Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), requesting the office pay “particular attention” to submarine program funding as Congress considers funding levels and options for the fiscal year 2025 budget.

The lawmakers said they see the Shipbuilder Accountability and Workforce Support (SAWS) agreement between the Navy, Pentagon leadership and industry as a “a promising approach to ensure our submarine industrial base rises to the occasion, accelerates submarine production, and fully meets the critical and building demand on U.S. shipyards.”

The signatories included Senate Armed Services Seapower subcommittee Chairman Tim Kaine (D- Va.), Chris Murphy (D- Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

The senators said there is more than $2.3 billion invested in the submarine industrial base between 2018 to 2023 and supplemental funding from earlier this year added another $3 billion, they want to make sure shipyards are still fully supported.

“While these historic investments have been key for strengthening the supplier base, we must also ensure U.S. shipyards are fully supported and able to make the overdue investments necessary to increase productivity, get on schedule, and meet demand for submarines over the short- and long-term,” they wrote.

The SAWS acquisition change proposal looks to have the Navy take some money obligated for submarines not yet under construction and shift it to increase current ship production rates, especially by raising shipyard worker wages to attract more talent, address rising costs, improve program reliability and schedule, and move forward infrastructure investments.

The senators requested OMB give SAWS “all due consideration” while ensuring it includes accountability and leverage to make sure government investments in submarine production “go as far as possible in getting these critical programs on track.”

A similar letter sent by the same senators the same day to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro repeated the optimism about SAWS by urged more proactive communication with the legislative branch.

The lawmakers underscored Congress was only notified of the SAWS idea at the start of September.

“The Navy’s hesitance to both notify Congress earlier and take a definitive stance is concerning. Rebuilding the submarine industrial base demands decisive leadership and steady communication between the Navy, Congress, and the Executive Branch. We therefore urge more consistent communication with Congress and with OMB so that all parties clearly understand the Navy’s position on SAWS and overall plans to get our nation’s submarine production on track,” the senators wrote.

They also said it is “especially distressing” to see the Navy is projecting a $17 billion shortfall in the next six years in just the Virginia-class attack submarine (SSN) program alone.

One of the U.S. Navy’s newest attack submarine, the future USS Idaho (SSN 799), launched from General Dynamics Electric Boat’s shipyard into the Thames River, Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo: U.S. Navy)

During a closed classified hearing last month, chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) strongly criticized Navy leadership over the overruns and delays in notifying Congress (Defense Daily, Sept. 20).

In his written opening statement, Calvert noted Congress was only told about the attack submarine cost overruns two weeks prior.

At the time, Calvert argued the Navy and shipbuilders must have known about the shortfall for at least 18 months, when discussions on SAWS began.

The senators wrote Del Toro with similar concerns and asked for “prompt responses” to several questions on the shortfall and SAWS.

These include when was the Navy first aware of the deficient in submarine funding? How long did the Navy delay in updating Congress on overruns? How will the Navy commit to improve timely communication? And how was the SAWS agreement negotiated with industry, with the lawmakers asking for the timeframe for negotiation and reception by stakeholders with presentation to the Office of the Secretary of Defense and OMB?

They also asked what advantages the Navy sees in SAWS related to increasing shipyard worker pay, improving retention and productivity and getting programs on schedule and cost? What concerns or risks does the Navy see in SAWS? And what the Navy plan is to address the $17 billion shortfall without SAWS?

Navy leadership consistently marks the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) as their highest acquisition requirement and argue they must build one SSBN and two SSNs per year by 2028 to meet defense requirements. The Navy and industrial base currently sit at producing about 1.4 SSNs per year.

The service also aims to increase the rate even further to 2.33 SSNs by 2032 to make up for the three to five Virginia-class submarines the Navy plans to sell to Australia under the AUKUS agreement.

Honeywell Partners with Near Earth Autonomy In Autonomous Rotorcraft Competitions

Avionics supplier Honeywell [HON] on Monday announced the start of an investment and collaboration agreement with autonomy provider Near Earth Autonomy

to bid on for autonomous rotorcraft.

Honeywell said the initial example of this agreement is their teaming with Leonardo Helicopters as a competitor in the Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) prototype program.

In July, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) selected Near Earth to lead this ALC team to offer advanced autonomy on the Leonardo AW139 helicopter. At the time, the company said this 20 month-long initiative aims to demonstrate solutions able to transport various kinds of cargo and for casualty evacuation in a contested environment in both crewed and uncrewed configurations.

NAVAIR’s prototype program specifically seeks to demonstrate rapid deployment of cargo up to 3,000 pounds over a 200 nautical mile radius, with the Marine Corps looking for aircraft to be operational by 2030. The prototype program uses an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA).

Earlier this year, the Marine Corps first selected the unmanned version of Airbus’ UH-72 Lakota helicopter as a competitor in ALC. At the time, Airbus said with a contract agreement for Middle Tier Acquisition rapid prototyping with an OTA, the goal is to transition the prototype to fielding within five years. (Defense Daily, May 14).

The AW139 Near Earth-led ALC team is dividing the work into having Leonardo implement a fast-loading, security and unloading system for Joint Modular Intermodal Containers (JMIC) on its AW139; Honeywell currently provides the helicopter’s autopilot and will augment it for autonomous take-off and landing; and Near Earth will demonstrate a full integrated logistics system with onboard autonomy to guide the aircraft and modify flight trajectory to avoid hazards.

Near Earth will also demonstrate mission autonomy so “lightly trained” personnel can request, dispatch, monitor and retask supply deliveries.

“The ALC program is focused on achieving assured autonomy on an unprecedented scale. We are excited to partner with Honeywell, a leader in avionics and flight control, to create a comprehensive system for aerial logistics that can rapidly be put into commonplace use,” Sanjiv Singh, CEO of Near Earth, said in a statement.

Honeywell underscored the larger collaboration with Near Earth will allow them to jointly explore more opportunities for rotorcraft and unmanned aerial systems beyond the ALC Marine Corps initiative.

“Uncrewed aircraft are a vital means of keeping service men and women out of harm’s way in contested environments. But they must also be advanced enough to reliably and efficiently perform their missions, even in GPS-denied environments. Together with Near Earth, we’re seeking to advance the reliability and functionality of autonomous technology and build products that support autonomous operations globally,” Matt Milas, president for defense and space at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, said in a statement.

Milas also noted they plan to focus on retrofitting existing platforms so that they will “be able to deliver rapid, scalable solutions.”

Honeywell said the agreement will support the company’s “portfolio alignment” to three megatrends, the future of aviation, automation, and energy transition.

This is the second autonomous partnership Honeywell unveiled this month. It recently announced a partnership with autonomous military aircraft software developer Merlin to focus on fixed-wing military aircraft (Defense Daily, Oct. 17).

Special Aerospace Services Adds Missile And Hypersonic Weapons Company To Portfolio

Special Aerospace Services (SAS) on Monday said it has acquired Concordia Technologies, which has expertise in hypersonic weapons and missile defense modeling and simulation, a deal that adds to its existing capabilities in defense and space technology.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“The future of our defense strategy lies in the continued funding and development of advanced technologies such as hypersonics, which will play a pivotal role in ensuring our nation’s security in the coming decades,” Heather Bulk, CEO of SAS, said in a statement.

SAS is a Huntsville, Ala.-based platform company created by the private equity firm Godspeed Capital

that provides engineering services, design and manufacturing, and other support to the Defense Department, NASA, and the commercial space sector.

“We are thrilled that the sophisticated team at Concordia Technologies has chosen to partner with SAS to help support them in this next phase of their growth trajectory,” Nat Fogg, partner at Godspeed Capital, said in a statement.

Concordia also has capabilities in test and sensor design and evaluation.

The acquisition of Huntsville-based Concordia is the third overall, and third this year, by SAS. Previously, it acquired Willbrook Solutions, also based in Huntsville, has about 75 employees with expertise in ground and space-based missile defense, offensive and defensive missile systems analysis, modeling and simulation, and data analysis. Willbrook’s customers include the Missile Defense Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, NASA, the DoD, and commercial space vendors.

SAS in May acquired California-based Quintron Systems, which provides voice-over-internet protocol communications technology in support of space launch operations. Quintron’s customers include NASA and defense and commercial clients.

Concordia’s senior executives will remain with the company. The merger and acquisition advisory firm Generational Equity advised Concordia on the deal.

DIU Awards Astra Up To $44 Million Development Of New Launch System

Astra last week said it has received a potential $44 million contract from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to further develop and scale production capabilities of a new launch system and launch vehicle to achieve the prototype objective of launching Rocket 4.

DIU, in a separate release, said Astra’s work under the Novel Responsive Space Delivery (NRSD) project will allow point-to-point cargo delivery to, through and from space for the Defense Department.

“We week to equip the Joint Force with new, resilient supply lines, especially in contested environments,” Maj. Nate Gupp, project manager in DIU’s space portfolio, said in a statement.

Under the contract, California-based Astra will continue developing its Launch System2, which includes the fourth version of its rocket, Rocket 4, the mobile launcher, the rocket manufacturing factory, and the software for automated launch operations. The company said the funding will demonstrate automated laser welding capabilities for Rocket 4, advance concepts for Launch System 2’s ground infrastructure, and industrialize its production facilities.

Launch System 2 is optimized for tactically responsive space missions and is optimized for low cost-per-launch orbital missions, Astra said.

Astra plans to design and manufacture its rockets at scale at its campus in Alameda, Calif., which includes 250,000 square feet of manufacturing and testing facilities.

First flight test of the rocket is expected before the end of 2025.

“This is a major vote of confidence in Astra and the continued development of Rocket 4 and our next gen launch system,” Dr. Adam London, co-founder and chief technology officer of Astra, said in a statement. “We are honored to partner with the DIU as we bring Rocket 4 to market with a renewed focus on reliability and scale.”

Astra conducted its first commercial launch to low Earth orbit in 2021, and delivered 22 satellites to orbit in March 2022.

The award is the third by DIU under the NRSD project. Previous awards were made to Stoke Space to prototype a commercial point-to-point cargo delivery solution to, through and from space for DoD, and to

The Spaceport Company to conduct a prototype launch from a sea-based vessel to test autonomous features of the mobile platform and demonstrate expanded equatorial launch capacity. The prototype launch lifted off in late August.

AUKUS Partners Test Pillar II Autonomous Systems In Australian Exercise

The U.S., Australia and U.K. partners recently completed a three-week-long experimentation exercise with AUKUS Pillar II autonomous capabilities, Autonomous Warrior 24, the Navy said Thursday.

The Autonomous Warrior 24 exercise took place in Jervis Bay, Australia as part of the Maritime Big Play (MBP) initiative, a trilateral collaborative effort to improve maritime awareness for all three countries using networked autonomy, decision advantage and enhanced strike, according to the U.S. Navy.

While Pillar I of AUKUS focuses on nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) cooperation to help Australia field SSNs in the 2030s, Pillar II encompasses several unrelated military technology cooperation efforts.

The MBP series specifically is a set of integrated trilateral experiments and exercises “that are enhancing capability development, improving interoperability, and increasing the sophistication and scale of autonomous systems in the maritime domain,” the Navy said in a statement.

Australia led this event, which included technologies like software-defined acoustic modems, multi-model autonomous underwater and surface vessels, and low-cost attritable unmanned surface vehicles.

The Navy statement noted other technologies were a low-cost gondola, to support operations in the paper stratosphere “with minimum manpower or logistics requirements” as well as T-200 high-altitude balloons to provide resilient communications from the stratosphere in otherwise denied environments.

The Australian Defense Ministry said this involved 30 capabilities, including the Australian long-range loitering strike glider OWL-B; the uncrewed surface vessel Bluebottle; the extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle Ghost Shark; and the large uncrewed underwater vehicle Speartooth.

Japan participated as an observer and two senior defense officials told reporters during a Wednesday briefing call that the partners plan for Japan to more fully participate in future iterations of this exercise.

“Among our four nations, there was clarity that we look forward to expanding and deepening our cooperation going forward…the planning for the next exercise is underway. So, the full details of what their participation will be in the future hasn’t yet been determined, but I think that they will move from being an observer to being a participant in the activity,” one senior defense official said in the briefing.

They added this means Japan could provide their systems in platforms, participate in the command and control architecture or other ways.

“Certainly, Japan has a deep industrial base in autonomy and robotic systems. So, we’re looking forward to, again, as part of the planning for the next two cycles,” the other senior defense official added.

Madeline Mortelmans, performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans and Capabilities, on Oct. 24 confirmed while Japan was an observer this year “we look forward to deepening their participation in the coming years. All of this together underpins a more strategic approach to ensure that AUKUS and like-minded partners can operate new autonomous uncrewed systems more effectively as a coalition force from the start.”

Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, said in a separate statement that “by investing in novel and innovative capabilities directly aligned to AUKUS mission priorities, as well as making future advancements in emerging technologies like AI and Quantum, we support a more stable region — one where all nations are empowered to make their own sovereign decisions free from coercion — a world that centers on hope for the opportunity and prosperity of the future,” she continued.

Autonomous Warrior 24 also tested the Multi-Domain Uncrewed Secure Integrated Communications (MUSIC) software-defined network architecture. The operators used the MUSIC to enable communications and coordination across various unmanned systems and operational environments.

Notably, the event also used the U.S. Navy Common Control System (CCS), built on open architecture to provide hardware and software that can work across several uncrewed vehicle systems.

“This effort supports future work to create an AUKUS-wide Common Control System, fusing best elements of the three countries’ existing systems,” the Navy said.

CCS uses a common framework, user interface and components to be integrated on a variety of platforms. The Navy plans to use CCS to support the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned tanker and MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft.

The Navy argued that through these exercises, the allies are testing and refining their ability to “jointly operate uncrewed maritime systems, share and process maritime data from all three nations, and provide real-time maritime domain awareness to support decision-making.”

Shyu added that the Autonomous Warrior/Maritime Big Play event is an opportunity for the three partners to work together, to “ultimately improve operational efficiency and allow us to work more cohesively against common threats.”

She argued this kind of collaborative method will help create economies of scale that will ultimately help them reduce acquisition, maintenance and training costs.