Browse Topic: Weapons systems
Deliberate RF jamming of drones has become one of the most common battlefield tactics in Ukraine. But what is jamming, how does it work and how can it be countered by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the field? Radio frequency (RF) jamming of drones involves deliberate interference with the radio signals used for communication between drones and their operators.
The aerospace and defense industries demand the highest levels of reliability, durability, and performance from their electronic systems. Central to achieving these standards are laminate materials, which form the backbone of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and flexible circuits used in a multitude of applications, from avionics to missile guidance systems. Building these systems, which are typically implemented in environments that experience both temperature extremes and wide variations of temperature over time, requires robust materials that can stand up to punishing environmental conditions. Laminates and films for circuit boards and flexible circuits are a vital component of this protective material profile.
The final frontier in digital transformation is the analog edge, where apertures and actuators meet the mission. Buried behind layers of firmware and analog mitigation, open architecture has a new frontier to conquer, and the opportunity starts at the component level, where digital transformation and the miniaturization enabled by Moore's Law is having its biggest impact. Miniature, modular, and intelligent gateways can be embedded into analog components to replace and re-imagine old firmware and analog mitigation circuitry. These new, embedded gateways promise to bring open architecture deeper into the tactical edge and realize a new level of agility throughout the lifecycle of a system, from design through sustainment of hybrid digital and analog systems.
Anduril Industries Orange County, CA Contact@anduril.com
Northrop Grumman San Diego, CA jacqueline.rainey@ngc.com
Delivered by Team Hersa, a joint Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S) and Defense, Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) enterprise, the Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) can detect, track and engage a range of threats across land, air and sea. The system uses radio waves to disrupt or damage critical electronic components inside enemy platforms, such as drones, causing them to stop in their tracks or fall out of the sky. As such, it offers a solution for the protection and defense of critical assets and bases. Capable of downing dangerous drone swarms with instant effect, at only 10p per shot, the RFDEW is a highly capable and cost-effective alternative to traditional missile-based air defense systems. It will be able to effect targets up to 1 km away, with further development in extending the range ongoing. Its high level of automation also means the system can be operated by a single person.
Every time a soldier pulls the trigger on a 7.62 rifle or pulls the wire of a 155 Howitzer, a complex chain reaction ensues over the next millisecond that we refer to as the ignition event. The ignition event involves a highly dynamic interaction with heat and mass transfer between multiple reacting chemicals across a varied spatial domain to achieve rapid and uniform burning of the entire granular propellant bed. After the ignition event, standard interior ballistics apply: Propellant is burnt, pressure increases and the projectile accelerates down the barrel until leaving the muzzle. To date, the details and controlling mechanisms of the ignition event and propagation into granular propellant beds have not been well understood or characterized. Weapon designers often simplify the ignition and combustion process by assuming it behaves in a quasi-static manner, and therefore the thermodynamic state across the entire combustion chamber at any point in time is modeled by single, uniform
Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S) Bristol, UK 0117-913-0893
Lockheed Martin Orlando, FL 407-284-9248
Severe problem of aerodynamic heating and drag force are inherent with any hypersonic space vehicle like space shuttle, missiles etc. For proper design of vehicle, the drag force measurement become very crucial. Ground based test facilities are employed for these estimates along with any suitable force balance as well as sensors. There are many sensors (Accelerometer, Strain gauge and Piezofilm) reported in the literature that is used for evaluating the actual aerodynamic forces over test model in high speed flow. As per previous study, the piezofilm also become an alternative sensor over the strain gauges due to its simple instrumentation. For current investigation, the piezofilm and strain gauge sensors have mounted on same stress force balance to evaluate the response time as well as accuracy of predicted force at the same instant. However, these force balance need to be calibrated for inverse prediction of the force from recorded responses. A reliable multi point calibration
In 2023, Parry Labs was awarded two tasks under the Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium's (AMTC) Other Transactions Agreement to lead a multi-vendor team to collaboratively define the Army's Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) requirements for computing and software operating environments for all future Army Aviation procurements. This relatively new approach for the Army and industry drove collaboration and allowed U.S. Government (USG) to make key modularity and openness decisions relative to Aviation Mission Computing Environment (AMCE). This unique opportunity provided a platform for industry to openly inform requirements at a much more granular level than previously possible, providing assurances that such detailed requirements wouldn't be an overreach or constrain innovation and disrupt industry business models. Solicited to the entire AMTC, which represents the vast majority of the aviation industrial base, the AMTC and USG team selected the most qualified vendors to
The development of hypersonic missiles represents the most significant advancement of defense weaponry since the 1960s. However, they also pose unique challenges for both design and technology. The term “hypersonic” refers to any speed faster than five times the speed of sound, or above Mach 5. Modern hypersonic missile systems require extensive communications interconnects within a highly confined space. This space requirement creates a demand for solutions combining small form factor with reduced weight and rugged construction to withstand high vibration and impact conditions from deployment to target. Currently there are two types of hypersonic weapons. Hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs), also known as boost-glide vehicles, typically launch from ballistic missiles and are released at a specific altitude, speed, and with the flight path tailored to a target without being powered. Hypersonic cruise missiles (HCMs) are powered all the way to their targets, flying at lower altitudes than
L3Harris Technologies Melbourne, FL 585-465-3592
This report reviews human factors research on the supervision of multiple unmanned vehicles (UVs) as it affects human integration with Air-Launched Effects (ALE). U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Analysis Center, Fort Novosel, Alabama Air-Launched Effects (ALEs) are a concept for operating small, inexpensive, attritable, and highly autonomous unmanned aerial systems that can be tube launched from aircraft. Launch from ground vehicles is planned as well, although Ground-Launched Effects are not yet a requirement. ALEs are envisioned to provide “reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition (RSTA), and lethality with an advanced team of manned and unmanned aircraft as part of an ecosystem including Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) and ALE.” A primary purpose of ALEs is to extend “tactical and operational reach and lethality of manned assets, allowing them to remain outside of the range of enemy sensors and weapon systems while delivering kinetic and
In the ever-evolving landscape of electronic warfare (EW), the imperative for technological prowess has never been more pronounced. At the vanguard of this evolution stands a technological marvel-high-performance software defined radios (SDRs). This article provides on an in-depth exploration of the transformative potential embedded in SDRs, focusing on their remarkable attributes of very high bandwidths, wide tuning ranges, and high channel counts. From the foundational principles of SDRs to their nuanced applications in modern warfare, this narrative endeavors to unravel the complexities and possibilities presented by these cutting-edge systems.
Raytheon Arlington, VA 202-384-2474
Air-Launched Effects (ALEs) are a concept for operating small, inexpensive, attritable, and highly autonomous unmanned aerial systems that can be tube launched from aircraft. Launch from ground vehicles is planned as well, although Ground-Launched Effects are not yet a requirement. ALEs are envisioned to provide “reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition (RSTA), and lethality with an advanced team of manned and unmanned aircraft as part of an ecosystem including Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) and ALE.” A primary purpose of ALEs is to extend “tactical and operational reach and lethality of manned assets, allowing them to remain outside of the range of enemy sensors and weapon systems while delivering kinetic and non-kinetic, lethal and non-lethal mission effects against multiple threats, as well as, providing battle damage assessment data.”
Modern armed forces require advanced signal transmission systems for mission success. Military operations, including those utilizing aircraft and warships, are reliant on receiving and transmitting high-speed data at RF and millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies. In today's battlefield, high-speed cables must perform to specification under any condition, which in turn necessitates innovative test solutions that can conduct accurate and repeatable measurements. Mission success, aircraft survivability, and troop safety depend on critical defense systems. Signals intelligence (SIGINT), electronic warfare (EW), Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR), and other systems must reliably provide global situational awareness. System interference can be caused by multiple factors - intentional and unintentional. Advancing EW technologies have led to an increase in nefarious acts by adversaries with the goal of intentionally creating
More than five years ago, then-U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Michael Griffin, announced the department's future Defense Digital Engineering Strategy. That long-term strategy, still ongoing, aims to “formalize the development, integration, and use of models to inform enterprise and program decision making,” and provide “an enduring, authoritative source of truth” for improved innovation and culture-wide collaboration in making weapons systems and parts. Within U.S. and Allied defense departments, there is increasing awareness that additive manufacturing (AM, aka 3D printing) as a means for achieving digitalized, on-demand, production agility, has a significant role to play in realizing these strategic goals. AM is already providing faster and more flexible part turnaround and cost reduction of some low- and even mid-volume military parts. In compliance with Department of Defense (DoD) objectives, AM is a model-based, integrated, and enterprise-ready
This standard only defines interconnect, electrical and logical (functional) requirements for the interface between a Micro Munition and the Host. The physical and mechanical interface between the Micro Munition and Host is undefined. Individual programs will define the relevant requirements for physical and mechanical interfaces in the Interface Control Document (ICD) or system specifications. It is acknowledged that this does not guarantee full interoperability of Interface for Micro Munitions (IMM) interfaces until further standardization is achieved.
This recommended practice covers the requirements and qualification tests for two types of flexible all-metal hose assemblies intended for hydraulic use on missile and rocket applications at rated pressures of 4000 psi. Type I -65° to +650 °F service temperature range Type II -65° to +1000 °F service temperature range
During her recent remarks at the National Defense Industrial Association's (NDIA) Emerging Technologies for Defense conference, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks outlined the agency's new “Replicator” initiative. Under the new Replicator initiative, over the next 18 to 24 months, the Defense Department will deploy thousands of low cost autonomous systems across multiple domains. DoD officials are limiting the amount of information they will release around technology or platform specifics for Replicator. Hicks did confirm however that Replicator has been established to counter the rapid buildup of the People's Republic of China's (PRC) armed forces, weapons and new technologies.
A new spatial calibration procedure has been introduced for infrared optical systems developed for cases where camera systems are required to be focused at distances beyond 100 meters. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ All commercially available camera systems have lenses (and internal geometries) that cannot perfectly refract light waves and refocus them onto a two-dimensional (2D) image sensor. This means that all digital images contain elements of distortion and thus are not a true representation of the real world. Expensive high-fidelity lenses may have little measurable distortion, but if sufficient distortion is present, it will adversely affect photogrammetric measurements made from the images produced by these systems. This is true regardless of the type of camera system, whether it be a daylight camera, infrared (IR) camera, or camera sensitive to another part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The most common examples of large
ABSTRACT This paper discusses the design and implementation of an interactive mixed reality cockpit that enhances Soldier-vehicle interaction by providing a 360-degree situational awareness system. The cockpit uses indirect vision, where cameras outside the vehicle provide a video feed of the surroundings to the cockpit. The cockpit also includes a virtual information dashboard that displays real-time information about the vehicle, mission, and crew status. The visualization of the dashboard is based on past research in information visualization, allowing Soldiers to quickly assess their operational state. The paper presents the results of a usability study on the effectiveness of the mixed reality cockpit, which compared the Vitreous interface, a Soldier-centered mixed reality head-mounted display, with two other interface and display technologies. The study found that the Vitreous UI resulted in better driving performance and better subjective evaluation of the ability to actively
ABSTRACT Lay error is a primary source of error in fire control, which is defined as “the gunner’s inability to lay the sight crosshairs exactly on the center of the target.” To evaluate the potential implementation of computer vision and artificial intelligence algorithms for improving gunners’ performance or enabling autonomous targeting, it is crucial for the US Army to establish a benchmark of human performance as a reference point. In this study, we present preliminary results of a human subject study conducted to establish such a baseline. Using the Unreal Engine [1], we developed a photorealistic simulation environment with various targets. Fifteen individuals meeting the military applicant criteria in terms of age were assigned the task of aligning crosshairs on targets at multiple ranges and under different motion conditions. Each participant fired at 240 targets, resulting in a total of 3600 shots fired. We collected and analyzed data including lay error and time to fire. The
ABSTRACT In order to expedite the development of robotic target carriers which can be used to enhance military training, the modification of technology developed for passenger vehicle Automated Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) can be performed. This field uses robotic platforms to carry targets into the path of a moving vehicle for testing ADAS systems. Platforms which are built on the basis of customization can be modified to be resistant to small arms fire while carrying a mixture of hostile and friendly pseudo-soldiers during area-clearing and coordinated attack simulations. By starting with the technology already developed to perform path following and target carrying operations, the military can further develop training programs and equipment with a small amount of time and investment. Citation: M. Bartholomew, D. Andreatta, P. Muthaiah, N. Helber, G. Heydinger, S. Zagorski, “Bringing Robotic Platforms from Vehicle Testing to Warrior Training,” In Proceedings of the Ground Vehicle
United States adversaries are advancing unmanned systems (UxS) at an exponential rate. New advancements in lightweight intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) targeting sensors, size, weight, and power (SWAP) computational payloads, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), have generated an advanced threat to U.S forces. The recent conflict in Ukraine illustrates the usage of lethal, weaponized UxS at scale in both conventional and irregular warfare and demonstrates the need for robotic systems capable of autonomous precision targeting and kinetic defeat. [1] The Wolf Pack project aims at developing modular weapons payloads (MWP) for quadruped unmanned ground vehicles (Q-UGV). The MWP system would integrate precision targeting sensors, networked lethality software, narrow AI/ML precision trackers, and advanced fire control with weapon systems such as rifles (M4), anti-armor (AT-4) and tube lunched systems (40mm loitering munition). The MWP system would run on
Resupply missions are critical logistical parts of modern warfare. Supply vehicles carrying fuel and ammunition are high-value targets meaning that the route chosen to approach such a mission is sensitive to risk and a critical time of delivery. We address the problem of a supply vehicle that needs to find a secure path to link up with a mobile frontline unit that has a fixed known itinerary. This paper presents a resupply path planning algorithm, the Adaptive Intercepting Path Planning (AIPP) algorithm, that balances risk and travel time to find the most suitable rendezvous point among several. The algorithm generates the least risky route that meets the rendezvous deadline.
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace selected a radar test setup from Rohde & Schwarz based on the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator for multi-channel phase-coherent radar signal generation. Kongsberg is Norway's premier supplier of defense and aerospace-related technologies. The joint strike missile (JSM) is a fifth generation long range precision strike missile. Using advanced sensors, the JSM can locate targets based on their electronic signature. Qualification of the JSM is under way with the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF). Kongsberg's JSM must operate autonomously in highly contested environments. To increase mission success, the missile has a passive RF sensor that can locate and identify radio frequency emitters. To test and verify this RF direction finding capability in a laboratory, Kongsberg required a multi-channel phase coherent vector signal generator that could be linked to existing test environments.
Northrop Grumman San Diego, CA 858-245-7929
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace selected a radar test setup from Rohde & Schwarz based on the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator for multi-channel phase-coherent radar signal generation. Kongsberg is Norway’s premier supplier of defense and aerospace-related technologies. The joint strike missile (JSM) is a fifth generation long range precision strike missile. Using advanced sensors, the JSM can locate targets based on their electronic signature. Qualification of the JSM is under way with the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF).
Bullet impact (BI) is a standard test used to assess ordnance during insensitive munitions (IM) testing, for hazard classification, and for safety evaluations. IM evaluation and scoring features a series of tests designed to quantify the response of a munition to a variety of thermal and impact threats that are possible throughout its lifecycle, such as a fuel fire and impact from fragments and shaped charge jets. The BI test is designed to simulate a small arms attack.
A bullet impact (BI) test for evaluating the response of energetically loaded items has been established at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center (AC) Explosive Development Facility. Army Combat Capabilities Command, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ Bullet impact (BI) is a standard test used to assess ordnance during insensitive munitions (IM) testing, for hazard classification, and for safety evaluations. IM evaluation and scoring features a series of tests designed to quantify the response of a munition to a variety of thermal and impact threats that are possible throughout its lifecycle, such as a fuel fire and impact from fragments and shaped charge jets. The BI test is designed to simulate a small arms attack. This test is described in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standards Allied Ordnance Publication (AOP)-39, “Policy for Introduction and Assessment of Insensitive Munitions (IM),” and AOP-4241, “Bullet Impact Munition Test Procedures,” and the
RF cable assemblies might appear to be a minor component in system design, but they can make all the difference between success and failure, especially in mission-critical industries such as defense and space. The RF interconnect is the vital bridge between many critical systems, including payload, communications, signal transport, and processing. This article will primarily focus on hypersonic missile systems and satellites to illustrate these concepts, as they jointly highlight the importance of RF cable assembly design in extreme environments.
As the Department of Defense (DoD) prepares the military for the evolving needs of the 21st century battlefield, its focus is on emerging technologies that enable all domain operations, from cyber to the electromagnetic spectrum. In parallel, the DoD continues to pay close attention to the fundamental supply-chain building blocks of future weapons systems ranging from open standards and smaller form factors to cost controls and supply chain strengthening.
The U.S. Air Force has completed the functional configuration audit (FCA) of the latest variant of Raytheon Technologies' Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The AMRAAM AIM-120D-3 is on-track toward fielding by both the Air Force and Navy this year.
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