Pittsburgh Robotics Network’s Post

MQ-4 + P8 = enhanced maritime security. Partnering crewed and uncrewed surveillance systems to improve maritime situational awareness and security has been front of mind since the earliest days of the U.S. Navy's Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program. From every metric I've seen, it just makes sense to pair the P8 Poseidon and the MQ-4 Triton. The P8 focuses on the ASW mission (among other missions) while the MQ-8 performs the broad area surveillance mission (with its flight hour, cost, range, endurance and sensing strengths) and cues the P8 (and other multi-domain assets) to areas of interest. (note: The BAMS program led to the selection of the Northrop Grumman MQ-4 Triton). #NAVAIR #NORTHROPGRUMMAN #RAAF

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) awarded Airbus U.S. Space & Defense a Phase I Other Transactional Authority Agreement, through Naval Aviation Systems Consortium, in support of the United States Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Connector. The award is part of a Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping Program which aims to provide the USMC with prototypes to demonstrate the aircrafts capabilities to the warfighter through a series of operationally experiments. The Airbus U.S. UH-72 Unmanned Logistics Connector, a variant of the proven Lakota platform, is intended to provide logistical support during expeditionary operations within contested environments. The unmanned autonomous helicopter is the low risk, affordable solution for the contested logistics problem. Performance is a cornerstone of the UH-72 Unmanned Logistics Connector’s design. Capable of carrying critical cargo—including Joint Modular Intermodal Containers (JMICs) and Naval Strike Missile (NSM) containers—the UH-72 ULC excels in transporting key supplies over long distances at high speeds. With a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 8,378 pounds and a cruise speed of 135 knots, it ensures rapid and efficient delivery of essential materials. The ULC’s operational altitude reaches up to 20,000 feet, and its range extends beyond 350 nautical miles, making it an ideal asset for sustained operations in diverse and challenging environments. These specifications underscore its ability to meet the rigorous demands of expeditionary missions, where reliability and speed are paramount. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gmhTAqd9

The US Navy is set to deploy a groundbreaking drone technology that can be launched through a torpedo tube. This innovative capability allows submarines to deploy drones for surveillance, scouting, and other missions without the need for additional equipment or divers. The drone, named Yellow Moray, is based on the REMUS 600 platform and can navigate underwater depths of up to 600 meters. It has a rated endurance of approximately 24 hours and can support high-power-demand payloads like sonar systems. The successful launch and recovery tests were conducted on the USS Delaware, a Virginia-class attack submarine. If all goes well, the Navy plans to equip every submarine with this cutting-edge drone starting in 2024. This game-changing technology opens up new possibilities for submarine operations and enhances the Navy's surveillance capabilities. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development! #USNavy #Submarines #DroneTechnology #Innovation #UnderwaterOperations #MilitaryTechnology #Surveillance #Scouting #YellowMoray #REMUS600 #USSDelaware #FutureOfNavy

USMC Special Operations 🇺🇸 🇹🇼 🇨🇳 🇷🇺 🇦🇺 🇯🇵 The #Taiwan #Straight will represent the single most important strategical #battle-reservoir of Earth’s entire coming physical #future. (Into the 2100’s) This location is Earth’s highest #flashpoint vulnerability [CHN/USA]. Flashpoints are volatile location dependent #situationals where poor #military decisions between opponents cause a chain reaction leading to #escalation and belligerency. This usually perpetuates open, and then total #war. Crisis #response mitigation and #diplomacy can prevent flashpoints from igniting into conflict, but only intentional coordination and #treatise can sustain peace. ☮️ | 💥 The Taiwan Strait singularly stands as the highest locational #vulnerability for critical #destabilization of our society on #Earth. 🌏 #Peace here, in Taiwan, and continued peace between minor and major #superpowers means avoiding overt global conflict for our countries and communities. This means honest #mitigation, #association, #intentions and #negotiations. - Jon Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) The White House

The recent breakdown of the U.S. Navy's challenges in the "Hellscape" provides critical insights into the multifaceted issues facing the fleet today. Resource constraints are significantly impacting the Navy's ability to maintain readiness and modernize its fleet. Budget limitations are creating a challenging environment where prioritization of resources is essential. Technological advancements by adversaries, particularly China and Russia, are rapidly evolving. This competitive environment demands swift adaptation and innovation to maintain technological superiority. Personnel challenges are another significant concern. The Navy is grappling with recruitment and retention issues, making it difficult to maintain a highly skilled and ready force capable of meeting global demands. Operational demands around the globe are stretching the Navy's capabilities thin. The increasing need for naval presence in multiple theaters is impacting overall readiness and effectiveness, creating a strain on resources and personnel. The future of naval operations depends on overcoming these hurdles and adapting to an ever-evolving security environment. The future of defense will be increasingly unmanned, and drone swarms represent a pivotal shift in how nations can achieve security through innovation and strategic ingenuity. **Sources:** https://lnkd.in/gHYJpNMm https://lnkd.in/g6QydeKB

This document announces an #industryday for the #Submarine Launched #Unmanned #Aerial System (SLUAS) hosted by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Program Executive Office Undersea Warfare Systems (PEO UWS). Here's a summary of the key points: 1. Date and Location: August 5, 2024, in Washington, D.C. at CACI, 300 M St. SE. 2. Purpose: To discuss the #USNavy's #SLUAS requirement and procurement strategy for Fiscal Year 2025. 3. Focus: SLUAS All-Up-Round (AUR) support, handling system, and life cycle support functions. 4. Registration: Required by July 29, 2024, with a limit of three attendees per company. 5. One-on-one meetings: Available upon request, scheduled after the main event or in the following week. 6. Security: Attendees must submit a visit request in DISS and bring photo ID. No foreign visitors allowed. 7. Agenda: Includes program overview, procurement schedule, statement of work, system requirements, and Q&A. 8. Classification: Information up to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) level may be shared. 9. Disclaimer: This is not a solicitation for proposals. Participation is at the attendee's expense and does not guarantee future contract opportunities. 10. Follow-up: Any future solicitations will be announced on the System for Award Management (SAM) website. https://lnkd.in/gCuzsvYZ The document emphasizes that this industry day is for information sharing and feedback gathering, not for proposal submissions or contract awards.

Excellent bit of Engineering

The U.S. Navy PMA 263 has selected Kraus Hamdani Aerospace to provide the K1000ULE solar-electric VTOL UAS. It will be fielded by the United States Marine Corps Small Unit Remote Scouting System. The Navy ultimately selected the K1000ULE through a comprehensive down selection evaluation process. Once in the hands of the U.S. Marine Corps., the attributes above will enhance the Navy’s capacity to perform Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance operations simpler, faster, and more cost-effective with the ultimate objective of saving lives. Additionally, the Navy will get enhanced long-range communication capabilities enabling continued coverage in denied and contested environments. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gguDkGE3

The Marine Corps’ XQ-58A Valkyrie, a highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, successfully completed its second test flight February 23, 2024 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The XQ-58A provides the Marine Corps with a testbed platform for developing technologies and new concepts in support of the Marine Air Ground Task Force, such as autonomous flight and unmanned teaming with crewed aircraft. The Marine Corps’ continued experimentation with the XQ-58 is sponsored under the Department of Defense’s Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve program, which accelerates the delivery of capabilities to the joint force. Today’s successful flight is a key milestone in implementing Project Eagle, the service’s aviation modernization strategy in support of broader Force Design modernization efforts. The XQ-58A and other Project Eagle research and experimentation platforms will inform capabilities needed in future conflicts out to 2040. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab and the Deputy Commandant for Aviation’s Cunningham Group, an internal working group responsible for planning and implementing Project Eagle, played an instrumental role in coordinating across the Department of Defense for support for the flight. This joint collaboration was supported by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; the U.S. Air Force’s 40th Flight Test Squadron; the U.S. Air Force’s 96th Test Wing; the Naval Air Systems Command; and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s AIRWorks. This broad team facilitated ongoing research, development, test, and evaluation for the aircraft for its first two flights. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gVHQ25n8

MAWS GbR receives order for second national supplementary study The German MAWS GbR (a consortium of ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH, HENSOLDT Sensors GmbH, and Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG) was awarded the contract for the second national supplementary study for the Franco-German Maritime Airborne Warfare System (MAWS) project on April 25, 2024. MAWS pursues the approach of a system of systems for networked maritime reconnaissance, submarine hunting, and maritime target engagement. These are carried out using manned and unmanned platforms in conjunction with ground stations. Data links for networking and an AI-based cloud solution that is used to analyze the sensor data obtained are essential for this. The study includes the development of concrete solution proposals for the German naval aviators (analysis phase part II, CPM process of the BMVg) in addition to the interim solution Boeing P-8A Poseidon. https://lnkd.in/dAGN3k_B