UK Defence News Round–up: Week 39
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Amiosec, Roke Manor, and Autonomous Devices Win AUKUS
Four UK organizations have been awarded a share of £2 million in the inaugural AUKUS Pillar 2 Electronic Warfare (EW) Innovation Challenge. This initiative, part of the AUKUS alliance between Australia, the UK, and the US, aims to accelerate the development of advanced defence capabilities.
The selected companies, identified by the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), will focus on creating innovative solutions in electromagnetic targeting and protection. The challenge sought low-cost, disposable, high-volume, and highly autonomous electromagnetic technologies capable of detecting enemy actions and providing protective measures.
The successful UK organizations are:
- Amiosec Ltd
- Autonomous Devices Ltd
- Roke Manor Research Ltd
- University of Liverpool
This trilateral EW Challenge was conducted through three separate competitions held by DASA in the UK, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) in Australia, and the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) in the US. The EW competition marks the first of several AUKUS Innovation Challenges, establishing a framework for future collaborations in advanced defence technology among the three countries.
Winners were announced during the AUKUS Defence Ministers’ Meeting on September 26 in London by UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, and US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III. The ministers highlighted the significance of this collaboration for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region and enhancing joint defence capabilities to ensure national and regional stability.
The challenge called for proposals to develop electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) technology solutions, aiming to provide AUKUS nations with a strategic edge in targeting while protecting against adversarial electromagnetic capabilities. As the EMS environment grows increasingly congested and contested, the need for innovative, cost-effective solutions has never been more critical.
Adarga and Defence Support Boost Military Analysis
Adarga has secured a contract with Defence Support, a division of the UK’s Strategic Command, aimed at bolstering threat analysis related to UK military operations. By implementing Adarga’s Vantage software, Defence Support seeks to improve its analytical capabilities in a rapidly evolving information landscape.
The Vantage platform offers unique features, including advanced search and discovery tools powered by generative AI, enabling analysts and decision-makers to produce enriched intelligence outputs and streamline workflows. Charlie Maconochie, Adarga’s Senior Vice President for the Public Sector, emphasized the importance of efficiency and productivity in defence operations, stating, “Human-machine teaming is a fundamental driver of this.”
Defence Support reports significant time savings thanks to Vantage, which allows teams to scale their research efforts and concentrate on higher-level analysis. The software’s ability to automatically curate, contextualize, and connect large volumes of data from over 75 languages has notably improved the quality of insights available to users. This capability not only expands their knowledge base but also brings diverse perspectives on various issues.
The platform's Question and Answer (Q&A) function has been highlighted as a key asset. It enables users to quickly generate natural language answers to complex queries and interact with specific outputs and reports generated within the system. Powered by a carefully calibrated large language model, this feature includes robust guardrails to ensure safe and confident usage, complete with citations to source documents.
Maconochie remarked, “Our software provides a powerful means to uncover insights that may otherwise have been missed. By integrating both proprietary and publicly available data in one secure location, we are proud to support Defence Support in producing well-informed and nuanced analyses for strategic, evidence-based decision-making.”
This partnership is expected to enhance the UK's military capabilities by providing analysts with better tools to assess and respond to global threats effectively.
Nova Systems Joins WholeShip for Drone Hub
Nova Systems has announced a new partnership with WholeShip, formalized through a Teaming Agreement aimed at advancing Ship Aircraft Integration and Digital Test and Evaluation at the National Drone Hub. This collaboration was unveiled at the DroneX Trade Show and Conference at the Excel Centre in London.
The National Drone Hub, operated by WholeShip in conjunction with the Royal Navy, serves as a Test & Evaluation (T&E) facility for drones, boasting access to over 5,500 km² of dedicated airspace. This unique environment allows for comprehensive testing, including Visual and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, and focuses on integrating drones with ship systems.
Gareth Dyer, Managing Director of Nova Systems International, emphasized the significance of the partnership: “The combined capabilities of Nova Systems and WholeShip, particularly our digital engineering toolsets, will greatly accelerate the development of UAS (Uncrewed Air Systems) and their safe operating envelopes. This is truly a game-changer for the UAS Ship Air Integration T&E process.”
Dan Stembridge, CEO of WholeShip, added, “The success of the National Drone Hub is built on strong partnerships with industry leaders and innovative SMEs. These collaborations not only enhance our capabilities but also foster a vibrant ecosystem where innovation can thrive.”
Nova Systems specializes in bespoke solutions for special mission aircraft, offering design, certification, and deployment of advanced mission system integration and modification solutions. A key asset in their toolkit is the Ship Air Digital Integration Equipment (SADIE), which facilitates the certification of drones for ship-air integration, enabling seamless operations from vessels in motion.
This partnership marks a significant step forward in the development of drone technology and its applications in maritime environments, positioning the National Drone Hub as a leader in the evolving landscape of uncrewed aviation systems.
Exosens Invests £1M in Leicester Space Park
Exosens has made a significant investment of £1 million (approximately €1.2 million) to enhance space research and innovation at Leicester’s Space Park. This investment comes as part of a longstanding collaboration between Exosens and the University of Leicester, which has spanned over 25 years. More recently, the partnership has focused on projects at Space Park Leicester, a hub for scientific advancement and technology in space exploration.
The funding will contribute to the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Optics Design and Manufacturing at Space Park Leicester. This initiative will bolster the METEOR space program, which unites over 100 researchers and industry professionals dedicated to tackling challenges in Earth observation and the evolving space sector.
Dr. Adrian Martindale, Head of Space Projects and Instrumentation at Space Park Leicester, emphasized the importance of Exosens' support: “Photonics technology is crucial for certain scientific instruments, playing a role in numerous space missions across the Solar System. With Exosens’ backing, we aim to enhance product quality and technology performance, propelling us into the next generation of projects.”
Chris Tisse, Chief Technology Officer at Exosens, expressed pride in supporting cutting-edge research: “This investment underscores our commitment to advancing the technology behind groundbreaking space missions. By collaborating with the talented team at the University of Leicester, we strive to push the boundaries of space exploration and its applications on Earth.”
Leicester academics have worked closely with Photonics to develop advanced detector systems, including a new X-ray optic essential for the Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS) instrument, which is currently enroute to Mercury as part of the European Space Agency’s BepiColombo mission.
This investment by Exosens not only reinforces Leicester’s position as a leader in space research but also highlights the collaborative efforts driving innovation in the sector.
That's a wrap folks, enjoy the weather.