Release from Draper

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 10, 2023

In field tests, Draper demonstrates advances to its mobile military platform that include an autonomy framework, a sensor-driven mapping algorithm and sensors to detect the presence of chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear (CBRN) elements. 

Battlefields entered a new era with the introduction of small unmanned aerial vehicles, or sUAVs. Commonly called drones, sUAVs enable soldiers to gain an aerial view of the battlefield and improve their situational awareness of the battlespace. 

Designed for low-altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions that depend on rapid deployment and agile maneuverability, sUAVs are being pushed to add more technology while also being asked to fly farther, smarter and better. 

It’s a situation that’s challenging the developer community, according to Won Kim, a program manager at Draper. His team is unveiling a new set of capabilities for sUAVs that represents an advance in the platform from remotely operated vehicles to those capable of fully autonomous operations. 

One new capability is to equip sUAVs so that they can fly ahead of a military unit to scout a location and sense the presence of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) elements. Hazard detection using an sUAV can reduce the kinds of risks soldiers might encounter by scouting a location using handheld or vehicle-mounted sensors. 

“Customers are asking, can an sUAV sniff out these CBRN hazards in place of humans? How smart does an sUAV need to be to search, map and locate these CBRN hazard without a remote operator? When an sUAV encounters a building or obstacle, can it fly in and around it safely? These are just some of the questions our team is exploring,” Kim said. 

Kim’s team set to work on these challenges in a program funded by the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) called CSIRP, which stands for CBRN Sensor Integration on Robotics Platform. The team investigated the customer needs through field observations, noting requirements such as sensor efficiency and resolution, flight speed, height, duration, autonomous operation, sensor-driven mapping, networked command and enhanced situational awareness through shared interactive digital maps. 

Soldiers operating in urban environments, for instance, need an sUAV that can navigate in and around buildings and obstacles, such as trees or vehicles even when GPS signals are degraded or completely unavailable. Soldiers also need sUAVs to remotely search, detect, map and locate dangerous CBRN hazards. Soldiers dispersed across an area also want a way to share information that is secure, networked and mapped to the environment. 

The new capabilities Draper developed for CSIRP take advantage of multiple environmental inputs, along with a sensor fusion algorithm that can synthesize data from instruments including GPS, LiDAR, inertial measurement units, magnetometers and cameras. All that fused information is designed to achieve robust and autonomous operation through the use of new algorithms developed for CSIRP that make the sUAV capable of obstacle detection and avoidance. 

Under CSIRP, Draper integrated the sUAV with a mobile computing app, running on a handheld device, called the Tactical Assault Kit (TAK), which gives soldiers a map-based common operating picture on a shared network and provides enhanced situational awareness for command and control. Draper has developed software for every version TAK and the CBRN sensor plugin since it was first developed by the Department of Defense. 

In a series of field tests, Draper engineers set the sUAV on a path of several miles, over and around obstacles, navigating autonomously until it detected a simulated CBRN hazard and conducted a sweep of a field one square kilometer in size to map elements of interest. The information was gathered onboard the UAV and shared with the TAK operator and users in the network, including headquarters. 

“Mobile military technologies, like sUAVs, can be force multipliers and force protectors at the same time,” Kim said. “Anytime you can deploy technology like an sUAV to detect suspected CBRN hazards remotely and operate independently without exposing a soldier unnecessarily to harm is an advance in warfighter systems, and that’s important to us at Draper.” 

“Draper designed the autonomy framework and sensor-driven mapping algorithm to be an extensible, modular and resilient mobility platform that is vehicle and processing system agnostic,” said Julius Rose, associate director for Sensors and Delivery at Draper. “As new capabilities and vehicles are developed, autonomous systems should be readily adaptable to support numerous mission types across domains, be that air, ground or sea. Development needs to be efficient, reusable and agile to keep up with the pace of the needs of soldiers and personnel in the field.” 

Draper’s work on the CSIRP program builds on its legacy in autonomous systems, algorithms and positioning, navigation and timing. Advances made through the program will be applied to other air systems, as well as ground, marine and underwater systems. In addition to working with autonomous systems, Draper has assisted U.S. government agencies with projects including cybersecurity, technology protection and miniature cryptography for high stress environments. 

Release from Leidos

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Facility will insource production of key security products and bring new jobs to the region  

(RESTON, Va.) July 6, 2023 – Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE^® 500 science and technology leader, today announced plans to establish a new security systems manufacturing facility in North Charleston, South Carolina. This will be the company’s third security systems manufacturing location in the U.S., expanding its presence and support to customers. Leidos will invest $31.7 million in the new facility, creating up to 170 new jobs in the region over time. 

“This facility brings more manufacturing back into the U.S. and expands Leidos’ global security capabilities for the aviation and critical infrastructure markets,” said Jim Moos, Leidos Civil Group president. “We’re thrilled to expand into the North Charleston area and look forward to making a positive impact in the community.” 

The new facility will produce security systems for Leidos’ Security Enterprise Solutions (SES) operation. SES offers a comprehensive suite of fully automated and integrated products for aviation, shipping ports, border crossings and critical infrastructure customers. These systems provide threat detection by screening baggage, cargo and people at checkpoints around the world.  

“Leidos’ $31.7 million investment in their new facility here in the Lowcountry will lead to significant job growth and economic development,” said Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC-1). “We congratulate them on their expanding operation and thank them for putting their faith in South Carolina.” 

Located in Ladson Industrial Park, the new 150,000-square-foot facility will enable Leidos to onshore more manufacturing increasing the company’s critical capacity to support their growing customer base. The new plant will optimize manufacturing efficiency, quality and safety through application of best-in-class manufacturing processes. The facility is currently under construction and is expected to be fully operational by the first half of 2024. 

It’s no secret that the Department of Defense has faced many challenges in the recruiting environment over the past couple of years. When it comes down to it, these challenges cannot be taken on by the recruiters of their respective branches alone. Recruiting commands rely on word-of-mouth and engagements from outside organizations to help facilitate information between the military branches and prospective recruits. One of the primary organizations that helps assist the sea-services with meeting their recruiting mission is the Navy League.

The Navy League Council of Minn. has been a staunch supporter of the local area Naval and Coast Guard commands that include: NTAG Northern Plains, Naval Reserve Center, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota ROTC, Maritime Safety Unit Duluth, Coast Guard Cutter Spar, three Sea Cadet Units, and three Junior ROTC units.  The Council has engaged in many events including command picnics, an annual Navy Ball, air shows, Navy Weeks, award ceremonies at adopted units, community parades, networking events, with the primary focus to provide education and awareness to the surrounding communities about the importance of the Navy on a world-wide and national security scale.

“The Minnesota Navy League Council is a tremendous asset for us at NTAG Northern Plains,” said Cmdr. Jonny “DOZER” Kane, executive officer of NTAG Northern Plains. “They are able to amplify our reach into the community, and not just from a recruiting standpoint, but as an advocate of the U.S. Navy and their impact on a global scale.”

On the average day, recruiters in the NTAG Northern Plains area of responsibility are actively seeking to spread Navy awareness and seek new accessions across seven states that include Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and parts of Wisconsin and Illinois. From the beginning of this fiscal year, they have enlisted 360 Future Sailors, processed 90 officer candidate submissions with 41 selected, and had 52 NROTC applications submitted with 32 selected, which is 12% higher than the national average. (Statistics provided by NTAG Northern Plains.)

“The Minnesota Navy League engages with state and local representatives and centers of influence to promote Navy programs and opportunities,” said Joe Fraser, President of the Minnesota Navy League Council. “One of the programs that we are particularly fond of promoting is the scholarship opportunities available through the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps.”

One of the major scholarships available through the NROTC program is the Immediate Scholarship Reservation (ISR) scholarship, which is valued at approximately $200,000.

NTAG Northern Plains was approved to award four scholarships this year. Raina Elisabeth Roemhildt, graduate of St. Peter High School, will attend University of Washington this fall. She will pursue a major in mechanical engineering and wants to be a surface warfare officer like her retired father. Emmanuel Tallaferno Edwards, graduate of Eden Prairie High School, will attend Harvard University in the fall. He plans to major in economics and wants to enter the surface warfare officer community. Two additional students were awarded ISR scholarships, one from Valley High School (West Des Moines, Iowa) to attended University of Michigan and one from Saint Thomas Academy to attend University of Minnesota, but declined the scholarship offers to attend the U.S. Naval Academy and West Point respectively.

“The NROTC Scholarship Program provides an avenue for students to attend college full time, gain invaluable leadership experience and ultimately pave the way for the future of the U.S. Navy,” said Chief Navy Counselor Lenora Sprague, NROTC scholarship program coordinator assigned to NTAG Northern Plains. “Our student applicants are both exceptional and humble, a testament to the quality education and strong work ethic of which the Midwest is known for.”

It is through teamwork between recruiters and organizations like the Navy League that the Navy is able to achieve recruitment goals. 

“For any student that is remotely interested in applying, I highly recommend taking the leap and logging onto our website today, as fiscal year 2024 applications are open to apply for,” added Sprague.

If interested in applying please visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/NSTC/NROTC/ for more information.

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ARLINGTON, Va. — The government of Canada has requested the sale of up to 16 Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and support equipment under the Foreign Military Sales program at an estimated cost of $5.9 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a June 27 release.  

“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale,” the DSCA said, noting that the agency had delivered the certification to Congress.  

Once finalized, the sale would make Canada the seventh nation to procure the P-8A, the others being the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Norway, New Zealand, South Korea, and Germany. India procured a modified version, the P-8I.   

In addition to the aircraft, the proposed procurement includes mission systems and “aircraft spares; spare engines; support equipment; operational support systems; training; training devices; maintenance trainer/classrooms; engineering technical assistance (ETA); logistics technical assistance (LTA); Country Liaison Officer (CLO) support; Contractor Engineering Technical Services (CETS); Contractor Logistics Support (CLS); repair and return; transportation; aircraft ferry; other associated training and support; and other related elements of logistics and program support,” the DSCA said. 

The major sensor and defensive systems included in the proposal are:  

• APY-10 Radar 
• AAQ-2 Acoustic System  
• ALQ-240 Electronic Support Measures 
• MX-20HD Electro-Optical/Infrared system 
• ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser Systems 
• NexGen Missile Warning Sensors 
• AAQ-24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures System 

The Canadian Air Force currently flies the Lockheed CP-140 Aurora — a version of the P-3 Orion — first delivered in the 1980s. 

Release from General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

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SAN DIEGO – 30 June 2023 – General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced today that it has been awarded a contract from General Dynamics Applied Physical Sciences to perform propulsion system design, to provide modeling, technical evaluation, and analysis supporting the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Advanced Propulsor, Experimental (APEX) program. The APEX program is intended to develop and demonstrate a new generation of propulsion technology designs to power submarines and other undersea vehicles.   

“We are excited to leverage our expertise in system design, modeling, and analysis, along with our extensive manufacturing experience to support the APEX program objectives. We look forward to working with General Dynamics to develop and explore propulsion concepts focusing on efficiency, signature, mechanical design and limits, and operational considerations” said Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. 

Phase 1 of the APEX program will last 24 months. General Dynamics Applied Physical Sciences is the prime contractor. GA-EMS will perform propulsion system design, engineering and analysis in its Boston, MA facility, and any required manufacturing and testing in its Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Tupelo, MS.   

Release from SENEDIA

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SENEDIA Releases Economic Impact Report   

Details the Economic Strength and Growth in the Region  

MIDDLETOWN, RI – SENEDIA, the alliance for Defense tech, talent, and innovation, today released a new report that highlights the importance of the New England Defense Cluster to U.S. economic growth. The term “Defense Cluster” encompasses all defense-related activities including both the private Defense Industry (defense contractors) and the Military Defense Infrastructure, which includes civilian employees working for the Department of Defense (DoD), active-duty military personnel (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force), and U.S. Coast Guard and National Guard personnel.  

In addition to state-level impacts for all six New England states, the report provides a comprehensive look at the New England region’s impact. In 2022, the cluster accounted for $119.1 billion in economic output, representing 9.2 percent of the region’s GDP. It also accounted for 407,523 jobs, generating more than $40 billion in income for households.  

“The Defense Cluster is an engine of innovation nationwide, and especially here in New England, where billions of dollars in economic activity are generated and hundreds of thousands of military and civilian employees have high-wage, high-tech, high-demand careers,” said Molly Donohue Magee, SENEDIA executive director. “A robust Defense Cluster is essential to national security and this report demonstrates that it is equally critical for our economy.”   

New England’s Defense contracts are growing at a faster rate than the national average, making it a major contributor to the U.S. defense industry and regional economy. The cluster significantly impacts job creation, income, and output across every New England state, and has a strong multiplier effect and economic linkages with other sectors in the region.  

“From small, advanced manufacturing businesses and start-up tech companies to major defense contractors and military installations, the Defense Cluster represents tremendous opportunities for the workforce and for our economy,” said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI). “Across New England, we are developing new technologies and capabilities, modernizing our military, building next-gen submarines, and driving broader economic growth today and for the future.”  

High-level findings from the report are summarized on the SENEDIA website, with a full version and state-level highlights available for download.  

“Today’s report provides a timely, comprehensive look at the power and potential of the Defense Cluster and we look forward to seeing how policymakers, employers, and military leaders can make use of this important information,” said Magee.  

To learn more and to download the report, visit the SENEDIA website.

Release from Fairbanks Morse Defense

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BELOIT, Wis. – May 18, 2023 – Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), an Arcline Investment Management portfolio company, celebrated the grand opening of its newest Training and Service Center Campus in Chesapeake, Va. located at 733 Curtis Saunders Court on May 17th. The state-of-the-art, 45,000-square-foot facility is positioned to offer fully integrated service and technology solutions to the largest concentration of Navy, Military Sealift Command, and Coast Guard fleets in the US.  

Local dignitaries joined FMD CEO George Whittier and other company executives for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, facility tour, and other activities to commemorate the occasion. Dignitaries included Brenda Roberts of Congresswoman Jen Kiggins’s office (Virginia Second District); US Navy Vice Admiral Bill Houston, Commander of the Submarine Forces; Eric Matthies, incoming OPC Program Manager for the US Coast Guard; Jordan Watkins of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership; Ben White with the Chesapeake Economic Development Department; and multiple City of Chesapeake Councilmembers.  

“Fairbanks Morse Defense has made it clear that they are going ‘all-in’ by making a significant investment in this training and service center in Chesapeake,” said Steven Wright, Director of Chesapeake Economic Development. “We’re ready to welcome and support the FMD service team and the numerous technicians who will benefit from advanced training on critical equipment and look forward to supporting FMD’s future growth in our community.”  

The Training and Service Center campus will bring approximately 50 new jobs to Chesapeake. It will also serve as a hub for training current and future engineers that will contribute to the mission success of American maritime defense operations. 

FMD’s Chesapeake Training and Service Center includes the following: 

• 13,000 square feet of training center shop space, including four fully dressed workstations featuring four different FMD engines for students to pull apart and reassemble, in addition to dedicated training available on all FMD products 

• 20,000 square feet of service center space, providing local and responsive full-service capabilities that include equipment overhauls and repairs as well as unit exchange solutions for rapid turnaround.   
• 6,000 square feet for training center offices, classrooms, break rooms, and conference space. 
• 6,000 square feet for service center offices, a tech library, a service center classroom, and break rooms. 

The site can also be significantly expanded, allowing FMD and its family of brands to utilize additional space over time.  

“Fairbanks Morse Defense continues to lean into the US Defense market by locating this training and service facility where Navy, Military Sealift Command, and Coast Guard forces can effectively access its capabilities and participate in hands-on development activities working shoulder to shoulder with their FMD industry partners,” said George Whittier, FMD CEO. “We hope this facility will help fill the pipeline for the defense industrial base with a diverse and enthusiastic group of service technicians who possess the skills to perform jobs that are in demand today, as well as jobs that we’ll need in the future.” 

Release from BAE Systems 

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NORFOLK, Va. — Feb. 7, 2023 — For the second year in a row, BAE Systems, Inc.’s Ship Repair business has been recognized by Signal Mutual as a top company for safety. The prestigious Signal Mutual Industry Safety Leadership award was presented to BAE Systems, one of only five companies to receive it, during the industry group’s annual conference in Salt Lake City this week.  

In presenting the award, Signal Mutual noted that, in 2022, BAE Systems had a noteworthy safety culture because of the leadership’s clear visibility and engagement of with employees. Signal Mutual also noted that BAE Systems’ focus on safety in its shipyards resulted in a low frequency rate of claims compared to industry standards, no excessive loss cases, and no fatalities for more than two years.  

“Shipyards can be hazardous. However, our leaders’ commitment to empowering all employees to declare a ‘Stop Work’ when they see something out of order is critical to ensuring that our teammates complete their work and return home safely every day,” said Paul Smith, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Ship Repair. “This award instills pride within us as industry leaders, and it inspires us to continue protecting each other and setting high standards for those who work alongside us.” 

BAE Systems employs nearly 3,000 people across three shipyards in California, Florida, and Virginia who work alongside thousands of U.S. Navy personnel, commercial vessel owners, subcontractors and vendors who are also based at the sites.  

“Everyone in the team is empowered and trusted to be a safety, health, and environmental leader,” said Noushin Sprossel, Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) director for BAE Systems Ship Repair. ”Our tremendous progress towards achieving SHE excellence and recognition for our performance reflects our commitment to make the safety and health of our workforce a priority.” 

Signal Mutual is an organization that provides workers’ compensation services to about 300 high-performing organizations in the maritime industry, including nearly 100 shipyard companies.

TROIA, Portugal — NATO, the Portuguese Navy, industry and other stakeholders recently conducted back-to-back exercises designed to integrate unmanned capabilities into naval operations and assist the alliance and its member states in maintaining an operational edge.

The Portuguese Navy-hosted REP(MUS) exercise — the navy’s Recognized Environmental Picture (REP) activity, amalgamated since 2019 with NATO’s Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS) initiative — took place across September’s first three weeks. REP(MUS) merged into Dynamic Messenger, NATO Maritime Command’s inaugural maritime unmanned systems exercise, which took place in September’s final week. Both exercises occurred off Troia in southern Portugal.

The exercises aimed to drive forward NATO and member state integration of maritime unmanned systems into operational experimentation.

“These [exercises] are an accelerant to making sure we think ahead to stay ahead,” Vice Adm. Keith Blount, a UK Royal Navy officer and commander of Maritime Command, told a press briefing at Striking and Support Forces NATO headquarters in Lisbon.

“We’re setting commanders at sea real challenges in trying to adjust from a traditional command-and-control way of delivering warfighting capability to one that is very much at the technological edge, using equipment many of these commanders have probably not seen and operated with before,” Blount added. “That drives tactics, training, procedures, the education of officers … [and] the doctrine we follow.”

Regarding Dynamic Messenger, Blount said, “This has been quite a journey in the development and construction of this exercise, going back more than two years …. We build naturally on the success of REP(MUS), a well-established exercise, and now take it on to the next step — the integration of the capability into our [activities] at sea.”

For the journey’s next steps, Blount said, “One of the very first things that’s going to happen is we’re going to start planning next year’s Dynamic Messenger, building on the lessons from this year. We’re doing a lot of other work as well, to try and make operational experimentation more of a norm outside of exercises so we can have it as a free good to being out in the maritime commons, doing this without any detriment to the capability we are delivering day by day.”

Alongside MARCOM, Supreme Allied Command Transformation was the second NATO strategic-level headquarters involved in delivering Dynamic Messenger.

“SACT has particular roles around innovation and experimentation within the alliance, so Dynamic Messenger provides an excellent opportunity for us to pursue both those areas,” Royal Navy officer Vice Adm. Guy Robinson, SACT’s chief of staff, told the briefing. “Working closely with [MARCOM], we can come together hopefully to get some really useful insights from which we can both develop capability within the alliance and help allies shape their own capability investments.

“We’re always trying to look ahead and ensure we maintain that competitive edge, and to embrace those new technologies when the time is right for the alliance,” Robinson said. “Exercises like this can help showcase opportunities for allies to see where they may want to invest in the future.

“The real advantage of an exercise like [Dynamic Messenger] is that … by bringing Admiral Blount’s operational commanders into the picture, we then understand the real, practical application of these new technologies,” Robinson said. Unmanned systems “may work well in an isolated environment. [However], when you put them with commanders who have to deploy them, recover them, and see whether they are now more effective and more efficient, that’s when you get the real insight. That’s when you get the data you need to really see how they can change the battlespace.”

SOUTH CHINA SEA — Maritime forces from Canada, Japan and the United States concluded exercises in the South China Sea Oct. 1, demonstrating a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, said Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron 15 Public Affairs. 

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) led the exercise in support of their Indo-Pacific deployment, 

The exercises included JMSDF’s JS Izumo (DDH 183) and JS Takanami (DD 110). The multi-lateral training for the three maritime forces served to strengthen skills in maritime operations, anti-submarine warfare operations, air warfare operations, live-fire missile events, and advanced maneuvering scenarios. 

“Through increased practical exercise, together we improved tactical capabilities and interoperability between the JMSDF, the U.S. Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy, and we promoted cooperative relationship of Japan-U.S.-Canadian naval forces in order to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Rear Adm. Hirata Toshiyuki, commanding officer of Escort Flotilla 4. 

Representing the U.S. Navy was Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and fleet replenishment-oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204). 

“Participating in multinational operations over the last month provided a fantastic opportunity to work with our friends and allies in the South China Sea,” said Cmdr. Joseph McGettigan, commanding officer of USS Higgins. “The seamless interoperability between all ships demonstrates the strength of our alliances and goes a long way to promote a free and open Indo-pacific. Thank you to the JMSDF for leading a well-run and professional operation!” 

Canada was represented by HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338) and HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331). 

“It has been a pleasure to sail with our partners and allies over the past month,” said Cmdr. Kevin Whiteside, HMCS Vancouver commanding officer. “Working together, we were able to leverage each other’s experience and familiarity operating in the area and build upon it for follow-on deployments. Supporting each other’s separate, yet similar, deployments to the Indo-Pacific demonstrates our common goal of supporting peace, security and prosperity in the region.” 

Higgins is assigned to Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th fleet’s principal surface force.